ut some invention of their own, by which they expect to be
saved from the consequences of sin. But all their self-righteousness
will be no better defence against the storms of God's wrath, than
fig-leaf aprons against the withering influence of a vertical sun, or
the perpetual frosts of the arctic regions. The coats of skin, which the
Lord made for our first parents, were perhaps designed to represent the
righteousness of Christ, with which he would clothe his people. This
opinion appears the more probable, from the common use of this figure,
when the righteousness of Christ is spoken of, as imputed to Christians:
"He hath _clothed_ me with the _garments of salvation_, he hath
_covered_ me with the _robe_ of righteousness." "And to her [the church]
was granted, that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white;
for the linen is the righteousness of the saints." "For in this we
groan, earnestly desiring to be _clothed upon_ with our house which is
from heaven; if so be that being _clothed_, we shall not be found
_naked_. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:
not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon." "And being found
in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God
by faith." The real design of clothing, then, may be summed up in the
following particulars: 1. A modest covering for our bodies. 2. A defence
against the hostile elements. 3. An acknowledgment of our spiritual
nakedness and exposure to the wrath of God; and our need to be clothed
with the righteousness of Christ. Whenever we pervert it from these
ends, to the gratification of our pride or vanity, we not only do not
glorify God therein, but we commit actual sin.

A few things are necessary to be observed, in relation to your
apparel:--1. _All that you have is the Lord's._ You have nothing but
what he has given you; and this you have solemnly promised to employ in
his service. You have no right, therefore, needlessly to squander it
upon your person. The apostle Paul, in the text quoted at the
commencement of this letter, directs women to adorn themselves with
modest apparel; and forbids the wearing of costly ornaments and jewelry.
The apostle Peter also repeats the same exhortation. The love of finery
displayed by many of the females of our congregations, some of whom are
professors of religion, is directly at variance with t