And John was clothed with camel’s hair.
Rules for sobriety in diet
1. It must not exceed our means.
2. It must not exceed our station.
3. It is to be taken at fit times-when hunger dictates (Psalms 145:15; Ecclesiastes 10:16-17).
4. We must use such food as may serve to maintain strength and health of body, not such as tends to the hurt and overthrow of our health.
5. Our food should be such as may make us more fit for performance of the duties of our calling and of God’s service. (G. Petter.)
The Baptist’s plain fare
Coarse meat they were (locusts), but nature is content with little, grace with less. Bread and water with the gospel are good cheer. Our Saviour hath taught us to pray for bread, not for manchet or junkets, but downright household bread; and Himself gave thanks for barley bread and broiled fishes. A little of the creature will serve turn to carry thee through thy pilgrimage. One told a philosopher, If you will be content to please Dionysius, you need not feed upon green herbs. He replied, And if you can feed upon green herbs, you need not please Dionysius; you need not flatter, comply, be base, etc. (John Trapp.)
Why did John Baptist use such mean apparel and diet
1. It was agreeable to the custom of the place were he lived, and easy to be had there.
2. That he might resemble Elias, in whose spirit he was to go before Christ.
3. Because he was a Nazarite from his mother’s womb.
4. Preaching the doctrine of repentance, he practised mortification in his own person.
5. That he might procure reverence to his person, and authority to his ministry.
6. To leave us a pattern and example of sobriety and temperance. (G. Petter.)
Rules to be used in the use of apparel, that it may be sober and moderate
1. According to our ability and maintenance in goods or lands.
2. Answerable to our station and dignity, in that place and calling wherein we live.
3. According to the laudable custom of that country where we live.
4. Such as may serve to express the inward graces and virtues of the mind, such as modesty, humility, etc. Therefore it must be comely and decent, not gaudy or garish.
5. Following the example of the most grave and sober men and women that live in the Church and are of our own rank; not after that of the lightest and vainest sort of the people.
6. Our apparel must be worn and used to the right ends for which it is appointed by God. (G. Petter.)
Wild honey
A good old French bishop, in paying his annual visit to his clergy, was very much afflicted by the representations they made of their extreme poverty, which indeed the appearance of their houses and families corroborated. While he was deploring the state of things which had reduced them to this sad condition, he arrived at the house of a curate, who, living amongst a poor set of parishioners, would, he feared, be in a still more awful plight than the others. Contrary, however, to his expectations, he found appearances very much improved. Everything about the house wore the aspect of comfort and plenty. The good bishop was amazed. “How is this, my friend?” said he; “you are the first man I have met with a cheerful face and a plentiful board. Have you any income in addition to the stipend of your cure?…Yes, sir,” said the clergyman, “I have; my family would starve on the pittance I receive from the poor people I instruct. Come with me into the garden, and I will show you the stock that yields me an excellent interest.” On going to the garden, he showed the bishop a large range of beehives. “There is the bank from which I draw an annual dividend. It never stops payment.”