would much rather trample it under foot." Where the wife is
of such a disposition, she will so much the more please her husband.
Therefore they are to take this into consideration (says St. Peter),
that they adorn the inward man, where there is to be a quiet spirit,
one that cannot be ruffled; not only that they do not run into
excess, so that they may be kept from confusion and shame, but, his
meaning is, that they should beware that the soul remain unruffled,
and in the true faith, and that this be not forsaken. Thus is derived
a heart such as does not break forth and busy itself as to how it
shall appear before the world. Such a heart is a precious thing in
the sight of God. If a woman were to adorn herself with pure gold,
precious stones and pearls, even to her feet, it would be exceedingly
splendid. But you cannot attach so much to a woman that it shall be
preferable to that superior ornament of the soul which is precious in
God's sight. Gold and fine stones are precious in the world's esteem,
but before God they are an ill-savor. But she is truly and nobly
adorned in the sight of God, who goes forth with a meek and quiet
spirit; and since God himself accounts it precious, it must be a
noble thing. A christian soul has all that Christ has, for faith, as
we have said, brings us all the blessings of Christ in common. This
is a great and precious treasure, and such an ornament as none can
sufficiently prize. God himself makes much account of it. Thus the
husband should withdraw and dissuade the wife from ornament, so long
as she is inclined to it. When a christian wife gives ear and
reflects, and determines thus, "I will not care for ornament, since
God does not regard it,--but if I must wear it, I will do it to
please my husband," then is she truly adorned and attired in spirit.
Hereupon St. Peter now gives us an example of holy women, that he may
draw wives to a christian conduct, and says:

V. 5. _For after this manner did holy women of old time adorn
themselves, who set their hope on God and were subject to their
husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord._ As these
women adorned themselves, he would say, so do ye also, as Sarah was
obedient to her husband Abraham, and called him her lord. So
Scripture speaks, Gen. xviii., where the Angel came to Abraham and
said, Within a year shall Sarah have a son; then she laughed and
spoke thus: "Now that I am old, and my Lord is old also, shall I yet
have plea