"Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woolen and linen together." - Deuteronomy 22:11
Though the true believer, who like the king's daughter is all glorious
within, cannot but know, that as meat commendeth us not to God, so
neither doth the necessary dress, which, since the fall, is become
suited to cover our sinful bodies, make a part of our holy faith; yet
it is highly proper, that persons professing godliness should use great
plainness of apparel. The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, we are
told, is of great price in the sight of God. But who should have
thought that such a precept as this of Moses had a gospel
signification! And yet as Christ was preached under types and figure
through the whole law, we may reasonably suppose that not a single
command was then given but what had an eye to him and his great
salvation. But if we find the Lord so strict respecting the outward
dress of the body, what may we conclude the Lord would enjoin
respecting the inward clothing of the soul? If woolen and linen were
offensive to be worn together, surely, we cannot appear before God in
the motley dress of Jesus's righteousness and our own. The fine linen,
scripture saith, is the righteousness of saints. With this, which Jesus
puts on his people, nothing of our own woolen garments must be worn.
The righteousness of a creature, had we any, which in fact we have
none, cannot be suited to mix with the righteousness of the Creator.
And no man that is wise for salvation, would put the old piece of our
corrupt and worn out nature upon the new garment of the renewed nature
in Christ Jesus. When therefore the Lord saith, "thou shalt not wear a
garment of divers sorts;" my heart replies, no, Lord! let me be clothed
with the robe of thy righteousness, and the garment of thy salvation;
then shall I be found suited for the marriage supper, when the King
comes in to see his guests at his table.
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