ge, his dress and his table, exhibit some appearance of
elegance and wealth; and if a man live in a large and opulent city, he
must be somewhat expensive in his style of living, that he may exert an
influence in the higher walks of society. Then, country towns, and small
villages, take pattern of the large cities, and the plea goes down
through every rank and every grade. Scarcely a Christian can be found,
who is not familiar with the doctrine. It is a very convenient doctrine.
In a _qualified_ sense it may be true, but in its unlimited
interpretation it may be made to justify almost every article of luxury
and extravagance.

It seems to be conformity to the world, and the world has always been
_wrong_. The principles of the Gospel have always been at variance with
the maxims and customs of the world. _Conformity is always suspicious._

Again, the doctrine cannot be applied to all places. Suppose a
missionary conform to the society around him. Instead of raising up the
heathen from their degradation, he would become a heathen himself. The
descent to heathenism is easy. The influence of comparing ourselves with
ourselves, and measuring ourselves by ourselves, is felt by those living
among barbarians as well as at home, though the insidious influence
leads in another direction. If there is a man on earth, who, more than
any other, needs to cultivate neatness, taste and refinement, both in
his mind and in his whole style of living, it is the man who is
surrounded by a heathen population. Here, then, the rule contended for
fails. Travel round the world, and how often will it fail?

Let us turn away, then, from this fickle standard, and look to reason
enlightened by the Word of God. Shall we not then find, that
substantially the same style of living that is proper in one latitude
and longitude, is proper in another; _substantially_ the same, paying
only so much regard to the eyes of the world, as to avoid unnecessary
singularity and remark; and that this rule, founded on the principles of
the Gospel, makes a proper provision for health, mental cultivation, and
a neat, sober and just taste? Are not these the real wants of men
allowed by the Gospel, whether they live in London or in Ethiopia?

But the ground on which I choose to rest this inquiry more than any
other, is the perishing condition of our dying race. Is fashion,
splendor and parade, appropriate in a grave-yard, or in the chamber of
the dead and dying? But the wh