And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Ver. 29. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory] In all his bravery, which doubtless was very great, in the day of his espousals, especially, when his mother crowned him, Song of Solomon 3:11. Herod's cloth of silver did so dazzle the people's eyes in a sunny day, that they deified him. a Alcisthenes the Sybarite's cloak was sold to the Carthaginians by Dionysius for 120 talents. And Demetrius, king of Macedon, had a robe royal so stately and costly, that none of his successors would wear it, for avoiding of envy. There is no doubt but Solomon's royal robes were very sumptuous, being so mighty and wealthy a monarch. Great ones may go arrayed according to their state; and they that are in kings' houses wear softs, Matthew 11:8. Yet is it reckoned as a fault in the rich man, Luke 16:19, that he was often clothed in purple and fine linen, b and God threatened to punish even princes and kings' children, and all other such as are clothed with strange apparel, Zephaniah 1:8. The Jews for affecting the Chaldaean habit were soon after carried captive into Chaldea, Ezekiel 23:15. And what heavy things are thundered against those curious dames of Jerusalem by the prophet Isaiah, who being himself a courtier, inveighs as punctually against that noble vanity as if he had lately viewed the ladies' wardrobes. Our Saviour finds fault with the scribes that loved to go in long clothing, Mark 12:38; and St James with those Christians that would fawn upon a gold ring and a goodly suit, James 2:2. In the year 1580, great ruffs, with huge wide sets, and cloaks reaching almost to the ankles, no less uncomely than of great expense, were restrained here by proclamation, saith Mr Camden. c And need we not the like law now, when so many prodigals turn rents into ruffs, and lands into laces, Singulis auribus bina aut terna dependunt patrimonia, as Seneca hath it, hang two or three patrimonies at their ears, a pretty grove upon their backs, a reasonable lordship or living about their necks. This is far from that humility wherewith St Peter would have young men clothe themselves, 1 Peter 5:5; and from that meek and quiet spirit, wherewith, saith he, the holy women of old adorned themselves, not with plaited hair, and golden habiliments, 1 Peter 3:3,4. Cyprian and Austin say that superfluous apparel is worse than whoredom: because whoredom only corrupts chastity, but this corrupts nature.
a Acts 12:22. Hunc homines decorant quem vestimenta decorant.
b ενεδιδυσκετο, Verbum est quasi frequentativum, quo luxus divitis illius epulonis arguitur.
c Vestium curiositas deformitatis mentium et morum indicium est. Bern. Fulgent monilibus, sordent moribus. Salvian. Cultus magna cura, magna virtutia est incuria. Cato.