break his holy Order in Nature The first is the Moral Law the Law written in every Man and Womans heart teaching Rom. 2. 15. them that they ought and may not do any act or thing that is against Nature but according to the light in Nature and Doctrine of the Apostle Paul for a Man to have that is to wear long hair it is a shame to him so a breach of the Moral Law. Secondly That Law is broken that saith a Man shall not put on a Womans Garment that is any covering that is Womens natural covering But long hair is Womens natural Deut. 22. 5. covering therefore that Man that weareth Womans hair on his head weareth Womens natural covering and so liveth in the breach of this Law also Thirdly a third Law is Man shall not suffer his locks to grow long and what is meant by long hair forbidden Man to wear hath afore been Ezek. 44. 20. shewed when it can be made to serve to perform the end to wit the end in the sign God gave in Nature Women long hair namely for a covering to cover her Eye to teach her subjection to Man whose glory she is so is he to her by that sign a covering to her Eyes Now then where can it be shewed that God when he called his People out from the World that he accepted them into the Covenant of Grace with himself until they were by Repentance cleansed from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit that 2 Cor. 7. 1. is error in Faith false Worship and disorder in Nature which is the next thing in order to be confidered We read when God called his People out of Egypt they were to be cleansed from the Idols of Egypt and all the disorder in Nature they had learned among them before they were joyn'd to the Lord because the Lord is holy and therefore they were required to be holy in all manner of Conversation 1 Pet. 1. 15. Now being cleansed from all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit hear what the Lord said concerning them after they were degenerated Exod. 19. 5. to put them in mind what a holy People they were when they entered into the Covenant of Grace with the Lord as 't is written I remember thee the kindness of thy youth the love of thine Espousal When thou wentest after me in the Wilderness Jer. 2 1 2. Isreal was holiness to the Lord a holy Nation a pecâ—liar Treasure to the Lord. The manner of this Marriage-Covenant was Thou hast avouched this day the Lord to be thy God and to walk in his ways and to keep his Statutes and his Commandments Deut. 26. 16 17 18. Judgments to hearkento his voice And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people as he hath promised thee and that thou shouldst keep all his Commandments Then were they charg'd to be Loyal to their Head and Husband in keeping his Commandments as it is written After the doings of the Land of Egypt wherein ye dwelt shall ye Lev. 18. 2 3. not do after the doings of the Land of Canaan whether I bring you shall ye not do neither shall ye walk in their ordinance Ye shall do my Judgments and keep my Ordinances to walk therein I am the Lord. Thus were they to keep themselves clear from all the Idolatry of those People and becaase they were not to do after the manner of the People in the breach of Gods Order Deut. 22. 5. in Nature as they were now cleansed so they should walk as the Lord commanded them saying A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to man neither shall a man put on womans garment for all that do so are an abomination to the Lord. Now will not the People of God in this day consider this That whatsoever Man or Woman that liveth in the breach of Gods Order in Nature even in the things they wear they are abomination to the Lord. What then is Woman forbidden to wear to wit that pertaineth to Man but that which naturally pertaineth to Man And what more naturally pertaineth to Man but short hair because even Nature it self teacheth If a man have long hair it is a shame to him c. and that 't is closely taught by the Apostle that 't is a shame for a Woman to be shorn or shaven as 't is written If it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven let her be cover'd again Likewise 1 Cor. 11. 6. a Man shall not put on a Womans garment that is whatsoever is Womans natural covering but long hair is giver to Woman for her natural covering therefore long hair is called Womans glory but Mans shame By all which 't is clear That that Woman that cutteth her hair shorn or polled like â— 15. as Man is to wear his hair as before shew'd and that Man that does suffer his locks to grow long according to what afore hath been prov'd in long hair and that even Nature it self teacheth what is long hair or that Man that weareth on his head the long hair of Woman cut from Womens head do live in no less sin than that they have against Gods Order in Nature chang'd the Natural use into that which is against Levit. 18. 22. Nature and in so doing in this particular thing or any other thing that is done against Nature and daily live in they are as saith the Scripture abomination to the Lord. Now shall any Christian Man and Woman that is put in mind what God in his written word hath in these things warn'd them of not to err lest they incur to themselves Gods sore displeasure Or shall Christians account it a light thing to live in the known breach of Gods Law yea not only this Deut. 22. 5. Law but the Moral Law written in every Mans heart which teacheth Man that he shall not do any act or thing that is against Nature as aforesaid But 't is against Nature for any Christian Man to wear long hair in suffering his own locks to grow long as aforesaid how much more is it against Nature for a Man to wear on his head the long locks of Women Womans natural covering Womans glory Womans badge and sign of Womans subjection to Man her Husband a practice never suffered in any true Church of God because 't is a sin of a high nature for as aforesaid short hair pertaineth to Man and long hair pertaineth to Woman Now for a Woman to cut her hair short or shorn short by her ears and on her forehead and for a Man to cover his head with that long hair Womans covering is clearly as aforesaid to change the natural use into that which is against Nature How can these be accounted the true Church of God that know not Gods Order in Nature If they do know it then 't is nigh to Psal 19. 1â— 2 Pet. 2. 10 Numb 15. 30. Levit. 19. 2
lightly esteemed Now is not Christ despised by Men that breaketh his Order in Nature and is not this a horrible thing when such Men as are Ministers of the Gospel who represents Christs Person in Office in his Church who are required before they may officiate in the Office of a Pastor that they be blameless Now is this to be blameless in the service of God to come in 1 Tim. 3. 2. the presence of God with the forbidden thing on his head whenas all things that are forbidden Men are unclean to them and maketh Man unclean Now if Men are told In vain do Mat. 15. 8 9. they worship God teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men surely in vain doth they worship God that live in the breach of Gods Order in Nature From whence then cometh long hair to be worn by Men seeing 't is not of God We have seen it sprang among the Heathens as in Egypt there Israel learnt it as also to serve their Idols but when they came out thence they were cleansed Levit. 18. 2 3. from both and ever after charged as 't is written No more to do after the manner of Egypt wherein they dwelt nor to do after the manner of Canaan whither they were going either in Worship or in Nature contrary to the Table of Gods Law which was added to the Covenant of Grace when they came out of Egypt because of transgression to make sin to appear to be sin either in Worship or in Nature as these two Scriptures shew Levit. 18. 2 3. Dout. 22. 4. So likewise we have seen that the Lords People being seventy years captive in old Babylon learnt their ways in wearing long hair therefore they were corrupted as well Priest as other though not all which when they came out they were cleansed from as all that came with them to enquire the way to Sion with their faces thitherward saying Come let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant Jer. 50. 5. Heb. 13. 20. to wit of Faith in Christ that shall not be forgotten so were they as 't is written And the Children of Israel which were come again out of the Captivity and all such as had separated Ezra 6. 21. themselves unto them from the filthiness of the Heathen of the Land to seek the Lord God of Israel did eat to wit of the Passover Then Israel was cleansed and their Vessels sanctified and made fit in holiness for the Lords use in his service as 't is written Israel was holiness to the Lord and they Jer. 2. 2. were command so to be as it is written not only to them then but to the Gospel-Churches now by the same word Be ye holy for I am holy and therefore they must be separated and 1 Pet. 1. 16. to touch no unclean thing neither in Worship or in Nature and then saith the Lord I will receive you and be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty Having these Promises saith the Apostle to the 2 Cor. 6. 16 17 18. 2 Cor. 11. 2. Jer. 2. 2 3 Ezek. 16. 9. Exod. 19. 5. Isai 65. 23. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Corinthians whom he reproved for being degenerated in that they did among other things walk in the shame to Nature puts them in mind of their first state when espoused to Christ as Israel was of old as it is written to Israel I remember thee the kindness of thy youth the love of thy Espousal when thou wentest after me in the wilderness Israel was holiness to the Lord a holy Nation a holy Seed the blessed of the Lord and their buds with them Even so by the same Gospel Covenant the Corinthians and other Churches were put in mind how they were espoused to their Husband Christ so were the Saints by calling a holy Nation a holy Seed and hereupon 1 Pet. 2. 9. 1. Cor. 1. 2. saith the Apostle to them when they were defiled in any thing Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. Psal 93. 5. perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Seeing then Holiness becometh the Lords dwelling-place for where but two or three are gathered together in his Name he dwelleth Mat. 18. 20. there so 't is clear that long hair the shame to Nature must not as it had not its original from God abide in the City or true Church of God who dwelleth there no more now than of old but as wickedness it must as by the Wings of a Stork Zach. 5. 8. 9 10 11. by the censure of Gods word be bore up between the Heaven and the Earth in the face of the Congregation and be sent from whence it took its original into Babylon the Land of Shinar into its own place And as of old with which the spiritual Babylonians were spotted withal so long hair was not the spots of the Lords People of old no more now but Deut. 32. 5. the spots of the Man of Sin the bagde of spiritual Egypt and Babylon which is the next thing in order to prove We read in the Apostacy after the Apostles decease how Rev. 6. 13. 1. 20. Jer. 17. 13. many Stars or Ministers of the Churches together with many Churches fell away from the heavenly Profession they once made of Christ to an earthly Whose God was their belly whose Phil. 3. 19. glory was their shame for they minded earthly things Now among the many Stars there was one who strove for preheminence 3 John. v. 9. and God suffered it so to be as a plague to the World that refused his Son for their Saviour unto whom was Luke 11. 52. Rev. 9. 1. 2 Thes 2. 11. given a Key not of true saving Knowledge but of strong Delusion by which he opened a bottomless pit out of which pit arose a great smoak as the smoak of a Furnace so powerful were his Errour and Heresie which he managed according to fleshly Wisdom which is said to come from beneath so Jam. 3. 15. not of God from above therefore it is earthly sensual and devilish By reason hereof the Sun and Air to wit the Sun-light of the Gospel was so darkened from the true light as it shined according to the teaching of Christ and his Apostles and also the Moral Law was corrupted from the true sence and meaning thereof as it had been opened and explained by Christ and his Apostles which may likened to the Air or lesser light in Nature as the effects doth prove for as touching true Faith the Followers the Worshippers of the Beast were destitute of so were they likened to cruel and 2 Thes 3. 2. Mat. 3. 7. Rev. 9. 5. unreasonable Creatures a Generation of Vipers and Scorpions for cruelty as the Apostle hath taught The Lord deliver me from unreasonable men for all men have not faith Even so the light in Nature was
the eyes as aforesaid So then we see as long hair is a sign in Nature of Womans subjection to Man which the Apostrate Christians were not only polluted withal but also from the end in the sign as by a borrowed speech they were charged to be the subject of the Man of Sin Apollion their head having Rev. 9. 7 8. faces of men and hair as the hair of women And will not the Christian Churches in this day consider these things that long hair in Men is a sign of subjection to the Man of Sin and therefore is so insufferable a thing to be worn by Men in the Churches of God And where doth the fault chiefly lie that this disorder is suffered that Christ is therein dishonoured in the Churches in this day even at the Ministers door because they shun to declare all the Act. 20. 27. Rom. 15. 4. 1 Cor. 10. 11. Counsel of God to warn the People concerning this Sin. For to what end did the Lord give the Law to Israel when they came out of Egypt and still 't is written for our Learning and Admonition on whom the ends of the World is come That Deut. 22. 4. a Woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to Men one thing especially is short hair and neither shall a Man put on a Womans garment or natural covering one thing in special is Womans long hair Womans natural covering And to what end did the Lord give the Law when his People came out of Babylon buf to teach us as them that Men should not Ezek. 44. 20. shave their heads nor suffer their locks to grow long but only poll their heads And is it not a perpetual Rule to warn Men they shall not break Gods Order in this thing in Nature and to take off all excuse that some have made when told of wearing long hair by the words of the Apostle Doth not even Nature it self teach you if a man have long hair 't is a shame to him Yea but say some how long must Mans hair be when 1 Cor. 11. 14. Nature it self teacheth 't is a shame to Man to wear We see the Objection is answered by the Lord himself They shall only poll their heads and not suffer the locks to grow long Now as aforesaid seeing Womans hair is called long when it will cover her eyes because it will then perform the end in the sign God gave Woman long hair for to teach her subjection to Man her Husband the covering of her eyes therefore for Man to wear that length of hair that will perform the Female sign to wit that will cover the eyes is against Mans Nature to wear being the sign of the Wifes subjection to Man her head And thus even Nature it self teacheth it is a shame for Man to have long hair so then the word shorn or polled is to cut out the womanish length of hair a covering to her eyes and then it will not bear the name Long hair And thus all the suffering Christians both Ministers and other by their practice understood the word Poll or Shorn to cut their hair short that it could not be made by drawing it forward to cover their eyes is evident If this be not the true sence and meaning of the words let the courteous-minded speak and prove by Scripture what other Rule there is then according to the word polled or shorn for Men to cut their hair by and so to wear it If then the sin lieth at the Ministers door because they do not teach the People their Duty in this thing as the Minister in the Ages past did by example of the Prophets and Apostles What then is the reason they do not teach against Mens wearing of long hair or the wearing the long hair of Women because they themselves are chief Trespassers in this evil thing for if they should teach against it they should openly condemn themselves although their Consciences beareth witness in them that they do evil unless the Conscience be so fear'd as were some of the Jews who taught others the Duty of the Moral Law and had not taught themselves therefore the Apostle reproved those Teachers by the very Heathen as 't is written For when the Gentiles which Rom. 2. 14 15 16 17 18 21. have not the Law do by nature the things contained in the Law these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves which shew the works of the Law written in their hearts their Conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or excusing one another Behold thou art called a Jew or behold thou art called a Christian and restest in the Law and makest thy boast of God and knowest his will and approvest the things that Rom. 2. 29. Rev. 2. 9. Rom. 2. 17. 18 19 20 21. are more excellent being instructed out of the Law and art confident that thou thy self art a guide to the blind a light of them that are in darkness an instructer of the foolish a teacher of babes which hast the form of knowledge and truth in the Law Thou therefore which teachcst another teachest thou not thy self Thou that preachest a man shall not steal dost thou steal Thou that makest thy boast of the Law through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God. Now then whatsoever Man or Woman doth against Nature Jam. 2. 1 Cor. 11. 14. is a breach of the Moral Law but for a Man to wear his own locks long is against Mans Nature therefore a breach of the tenth Commandment which saith Thou shalt not covet to wit the forbidden thing but Womans long hair is Womans covering therefore is forbidden Man to wear therefore for a 1 Cor. 11. 13. Deut. 22. 4 Jam. 2. 10. Man to covet that God hath forbidden Man is sin as 't is written A man shall not put on a womans garment or natural covering Now hear what the Apostle James saith Whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all What need had every Christian especially every Gospel-Minister â—â— see-that they walk circumspectly because they must not teach the People in words only but in purity in all their actions as 't is written Be thou an example to the believers in word in conversation in charity or love in 1 Tim. 4. 12. spirit in faith in purity for as dead flyes cause the ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour so doth a little Eccl. 10. 1. folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour For are Tit. 1. 9. not Men by the Churches of God chosen into Office because they excell others in the Word of God and when they Rule well they are worthy of double honour not only to be esteem'd of for the Works sake but care to be taken to maintain 1 Tim. 5. 17. them But when they give an evil example to the People in wearing on their heads the forbidden
be awakened Christ will come as a Thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garment and not be found in as miserable condition as the Church of Laodicea when she boasted she was rich Rev. 3. 17. and wanted nothing then was she wretched miserable poor blind and naked The Lord help all therefore to 1 Cor. 13. 5. examine the state they are in and to make their calling and election sure that so they may be ready when Christ cometh to enter in with Christ into the Joy of their Lord 2 Pet. 1. 10. which is and shall be the Prayer of him who is thine in all Christian Duty Tho. Wall. A Loving and Christian Tender humbly offered to the Pious and Serious Consideration of the Ministers of the Gospel and to all others it may concern FOrasmuch as we are taught a Eccl. 3. 1 7. to every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the Heaven so that I humbly conceive as there is a time to keep silence and there is a time to speak It is now in these last days of Apostacy when the Ministers of that glorious Name or Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who are taught by the Apostle to be Examples to the Believers b 1 Tim. 4. 12. in Word in Conversation in Charity or Love in Spirit in Faith in Purity so that among other Proofs of their Ministry that the Ministry be not blam'd they may approve themselves to be the Ministers of Christ by pureness do c 2 Cor. 6. 3 6. on the contrary opposite to Purity or Pureness give an evil Example to the Believers in walking in the shame to their Nature either in suffering their Locks to grow long and othersome in wearing the Locks of Women in Perriwigs contrary to the express d Ezek. 44. 20. Word of God and light e 1 Cor. 11. 14. of Nature whereby they have chang'd the natural use into that which is against Nature which is a great dishonour to God our Creator and shameful reproach and disgrace to the Christian Religion as shall by the help of God be made to appear and that this evil being winkt at by the Ministers is the inlet to many other evils in the Churches of God. And although I do acknowledge my self the unfittest of any to undertake a work of this nature yet seeing the Ministers whose work it is to set the f Isa 58. 1. Trump of Gods Word to their mouths as the Priests lips of old was to preserve Knowledge yet when the Priests omitted their Duty as it is written g Jer. 2. 8. Mal. 2. 7. The Priest said not Where is the Lord they that handled the Law knew me not the Pastors transgressed against me So that God called Amos h Amos 7. 14 16. a Herdsman a gatherer of Sycamore Fruit to drop the Word of the Lord against the House of Isaac even so when the Priest and Teacher of the Law in the days of Christ neglected to teach the weighty matters of the Law i Matth. 23. 23. Mercy Judgment and Faith the Lord called poor k Matth. 4. 19. Fishermen to preach the Kingdom of God therefore let none be offended because God hath chosen the l 1 Cor. 1. 27 28 29. foolish and base things of the World the things that are despised even Babes in Christ that no flesh should glory in his presence whenas the Learned in this day are altogether silent some peradventure through slavish fear do not reprove this sin the shame to Nature in Mens wearing of long Hair lest they should offend the Rich among them others being themselves guilty of this sin in wearing long Hair the shame to Nature do not reprove those that do wear long Hair so that the work of God in this thing is wholly neglected as in some other things not here to mention therefore for the honour of God and the love I bear to all Gods elected Children that are fallen m Mat. 24. 24. into this sin have I made bold to shew my Opinion as one that hath obtained mercy knowing assuredly that all that shall read these lines that have like spirit with David will not be offended but rather with like gracious heart will say with him n Psal 141. 5. Let the Righteous smite me and it shall be a kindness and let him reprove me and it shall be an excellent Oyl that shall not break my head because to such who have the seed of Gods o Luk. 8. 15. 1 Joh. 3. 9. Job 19. 28. Word in their hearts p Prov. 27. 5 6 9. Open rebuke is better to them than secret love and faithful are the wounds of a friend whenas the kisses of an enemy are deceitful Therefore saith Solomon him that justifieth the wicked the people shall curse but to them that rebuketh shall be pleasantness and upon him shall come q Prov. 24. 24 29. the blessing So then to the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because * Isa 8. 20. there is no light in them Now because the matter here to be treated of is concerning the breach of Gods order in Nature for the better understanding thereof it is good we take some observation concerning the holy Order God created Man and Woman in as they were purely natural forasmuch as that was not first which is spiritual but that which * 1 Cor. 15. 46. is natural Therefore we read God who created all things for his pleasure s Rev. 4. 11. made every thing perfectly good t Gen. 1. 31. set in most perfect and happy order Man the Lord created after his own Image in the Image of God created he him Male and Female created he u Gen. 1 27. them so that Man among other Endowments in Nature bore Gods Image in w vers 26. Soveraignty being Lord of the Earth x Psal 8. 6 7 8. and Sea chief Ruler under God over all the plenty therein so that Man of all earthly Creatures was made in subjection to God only and hereupon Man is called the Glory y 1 Cor. 11. 7. of God. The Woman God made for Man of his own kind given to Man by God in a Marriage-state z Gen. 22. 22 23. for comfort and procreation of his own kind She also was made in subjection to Man her earthly Lord and Husband and hereupon is Woman called the a 1 Cor. 11. 7. Glory of a Man. This being that holy Order God created Man and Woman in the Man the Womans b 1 Cor. 11. 2. head the Woman in subjection to Man the Man the Glory c vers 7. of God the Woman the Glory of the Man it was therefore the pleasure of God to give unto Woman a sign in nature differing from Man to teach her subjection to Man whose Glory she is namely long hair and
othen and as the breach of the Lavv vvas sin in them so it is novv and and as the vvages of sin vvas death to them so it is novv in Men that vvear Womans long hair Womans natural covering and likevvise sin in Women that cut off their hair their effeminate glory and badge and sign of their subjection to Men their Husbands for Men to vvear and the more to be lamented vven the Leaders of the People that should be Guides to poor Souls in the vvay of Righteousness are the Leaders of others in this act of Unrighteousness What good vvill the vain boasting of these Preachers do them in the last day Let them hear vvhat the Great Judge vvill say to them as it is vvritten When ye shall say Lord Mat. 7. 32. Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out devils and in thy name have done many wonderful works I profess I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity Joh. 10. 27. for you are not my sheep because my sheep hear my voice and follow me neither have ye my seal for every one that nameth the name of Jesus having this seal let theâ— depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2. 19. What then are all gone out of the way in this particular that are called Christians for whatsoever difference are among Men in other matters they almost all agree to suffer their own locks to grow long or else to wear the long hair of Women Now to be plain with all sorts of People that hear the name Christians without respect of Persons or manner of their Religion seeing the matter here treated of is concerning the breach of GOD's Order in Nature onely First The Roman Relegion who make cutting Mens hair short to be a part of their Religious Order so that as Writers Mr. Prinn Vnloveliness of Love-locks p. 11. and his Auther Guaquinus verum Pol. Tom. 1. p. 74. say Pope Benedict the Ninth injoyned all the Polonians upon release of Cazimiz the First their King who had entred into Religion to cut their hair short above their ears and not to suffer it to grow long yet these People how generally do they wear the long locks of Women in Perriwigs and so transgress the Law of God in Nature and other written Laws of God and also the Decree of the Pope and yet they plead for Infallibility and that their Church cannot Err whenas in this particular they are but Hearers of the Word and not Doers of the same all such saith the Apostle James their Religion is in vain Jam. 1. 22. Secondly There are another People that press all People that hear them to mind the Teachings of the Light within because they say this Light is Christ and this Light every Man hath Col. 1. 16. It is granted that as Christ is the Eternal Word of God by whom all things was created is the Light that every Man and Woman hath that is born into the World and this Light is but natural as the Scripture saith The first man is of John. 1. 9. 1 Cor. 15. 46 47. Eph. 5. 14. 2 Tim. 3. 2. Jude v. 19. the earth earthy so that that was not first that is spiritual but that which is natural and after which is spiritual which spiritual Light all Men have not for all Men have not Faith neither have all Men the Spirit of Christ as it is written They separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit Yet these Men who Boast they have the Spirit of Christ why then are they not led by it for as many as are led by the Spirit of Christ they are the Children of God which Spirit teacheth Rom. 8. 14. Man he shall not suffer his locks to grow long and also the Light or Law in Nature telleth them the same for doth not 2 Cor. 11. 14. even Nature it self teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame to him and yet these Men either suffer their locks to grow long or else the very Teachers among them wear the long hair of Women in Perriwigs as well as others among them let these Men for shame no more boast of the Light within seeing they know not the Teachings of the Light of Nature unto whom it may be justly said as Christ said to the Jews that rejected Christ the Light of Life without and he written Word of God that taught them that he was Christ the Light of Life John 8. 24. which if they believed not Job 8. 24. they should die in their sins the Light in them was Darkness how great then is that darkness in these Men that boast of the Matth. 6. 23. Light within and have not the Light in Nature to teach them it is a shame for a Man to wear long hair much more a shame for them to wear the long hair of Women in Perriwigs no nor yet the Women-Teachers among them have not so much Light to teach that Men should not unman themselves to become effeminate in coveting their Glory in wearing on their heads the long hair of Women Womans natural covering so that these have not yet the Light of Nature teaching in this thing but have also rejected the Word of the Jer. 8. 9. Lord What Wisdom is in them as saith the Lord. Thirdly To all other Christians who in Word do acknowledge the written Word of God to be the Rule to walk by both in the matter of Faith and Worship and also in things natural yet in this particular they are but Hearers of the Word and not Doers of the same and so deceive themselves in that they plead that upon some cases a Man may wear the long hair of Women in Perriwigs Their plea is to this effect You know in the late Persecution how the Ministers of the Gospel and many other principal Men in the Congregations have been sought for by the Informers to be taken and carried to Prison so that they did wear Perrwigs to disguise themselves if it had not been for that they would not have wore them Ans We are taught by the Doctrine of the Gospel that we may not do evil that good may come for a good Tree Rom. 3. 8. bringeth nor forth corrupt Fruit saith Christ and seeing it hath pleased God to give us an unexpected deliverance so Luk. 6. 43. that we may say as Judah did of old when the Lord turned again the Captivity of Sion we were like them that dream Psal 126. 1 2 3. Isai 49. 23. Rev. 12. 16 16. The Lord hath done great things for ur in giving us a King according to his pomife to be a Nursing Father so that the Earth hath helped the Woman and opened her mouth in the Kings Declaration and swallowed up the Flouds of Penal Statutes and whatsoever else the Dragon cast out of his mouth by his Instruments to carry away the Woman the Church of Christ
Spiritual Armour To Defend the HEAD FROM THE SUPERFLUITY of NAUGHTINNESS Being a Loving and Christian TENDER Humbly offered to the Pious and Serious Consideration of the Ministers of the Gospel and to all others it may Concern WHEREIN IS PROVED That it is Unlawful for Women to cut their Hair polled or shorn and Men to wear the same to cover their Heads Together how Men and Women ought according to the Written Law of GOD and Nature to wear their Hair. Thus saith the Lord Stand ye in the Way and see and ask for the old Path where is the good Way Jer. 6. 16. The Woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a Man neither shall a Man put on a Womans Garment for all that do so are abomination to the Lord Deut. 22. 5. Neither shall they shave their Heads nor suffer their Locks to grow long they shall only poll their heads Ezek. 44. 20. Doth not even Nature it self teach you If a Man have long Hair it is a shame to him 1 Cor. 11. 14. LONDON Printed for the Author and Sold by William Marshal at the Sign of the Bible in Newgate-street 1688. TO THE READER Christian Reader THE drift and intent of these Lines is not to shew the many manners and ways the Pagans or most part of the World have or do wear their hair but the main end is to shew in what order God created Man in respect of his hair and that the Lord in all Ages hath by his Servants called upon his redeemed ones to keep his Order in Nature yea in respect of wearing their hair as well as in other things that so his Order in Nature be not broken in any thing And as it is oft-times the pleasure of God to imploy on the Lords Message to his People the weak and despised ones according to the Prayer of the Lord Jesus to his Father I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth Mat. 11. 25 26. because thou hast hid these things from the Wise and Prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight So that they oft-times seeing their own insufficiency for so great a Work have pleaded with the Lord to be excused but because the Lord will send by whom he will send he commanded them not to be afraid of the faces of the Persons although they were great Persons and powerful in the World but to rest upon Gods Promise For I am with thee to deliver thee therefore gird up thy loins and Jer. 1. 6 7 8 17. arise and speak unto them all that I command thee lest I confound thee before them or break thee in pieces And although all extraordinary Messengers as Prophets and Apostles are ceased yet God hath his ordinary Servants whom he sendeth with his Message to his People Isai 8. 20. 1 Joh. 4. 1 2. according to his written Word by which all Spirits or Doctrines must be tried in all that Men write or speak to inform the Lords People as the mind of God And as of old God had ordained Priests and Levites to teach the Deut. 33. 8 11. Mal. 2. 7. People from the written Word of the Lord Jacob Gods Judgment and Israel his Law whom the Prophets reproved for neglect of this duty so he hath ordained Pastors and Teachers now to teach to be instant in season and out of Eph. 4. Rom. 12. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3 4. season to reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine But when the Priests as well as the Levites neglected their Duty to have compassion on the Man that fell among Thieves wounded stripped of his Raiment and Luk. 10. 31 32 33. left half dead in Sins and Trespasses then by the example of the Samaritan other Christians Duty it is to have compassion on every poor Soul fallen into sin Now because the Pastors and Teachers in this Day whose Duty in this Treatise shall be shewed ought to have compassion on such of their Brethren as are fallen into sin as this sinful shame for Men to wear the long Hair of Women in Perriwigs but do not then it is the Duty of others whom the Lord Jesus biddeth go and do as the Samaritan did though he be no Pastor Priest nor Levite Luk. 10. 37. Levit. 19. 17. in Office and those that so do are the only Neighbours to those fallen into sin wounded in Conscience that do pour the Oyl or Name or Gospel of Christ which being Cant. 1. 3. applied to the wounded in sin is as Ointment poured forth whereby the hanging-down hands is lifted up and Heb. 12. 12 13. feeble knees is strengthned This being the very end of this Work in a day of so great necessity when sin not only this the shame to Nature is suffered but many other Evils in the Churches in this day for which Judgment ere long will begin at 1 Pet. 4. 17. the House of God as it did on the Primitive Churches as Mr. Fuller in his History of the Holy Wars hath shewed See Mr. Fullers History of the holy Wars p. 6. c. 6. in these words The Sins of the Eastern Countries chiefly their damnable Heresies hastned Gods Judgments on them and in the Western parts Heresies as an Angle caught single persons when in Asia like a Draw-Net it took whole Provinces the staid Wits of Europe were not so easily removed out of the old road and track of Religion whilst the active and nimble Heads of the East were more desirous of Novelties more desirous and cunning to invent distinctions to cozen themselves more fluent in Language to express their Conceits as always Errour groweth fastest in hottest Brains Hence it was the Melkites Maronites Nestorians Euticheans Jacobites overspread those parts then it was just with God to suffer them that would not be convinced by Christian Counsel to be subdued by the Pagans Sword. And again It may seem admirable that that senceless Religion should gain so much ground on Christianism especially having neither real substance in Doctrine nor winning Behaviour in Ceremony to alure Professors being but the scum of Judaism and Paganism sod together and here and there strowed over with a spice of Christianity If this be not a word in season to consider how like this Rev. 16. 1 17. is to the day we live in when the last Vial of Gods wrath is poured into an earthen Air as Air is likened to Wind or Doctrine how is it that Men see not how all Doctrine Eph. 4. 14. is corrupted not only of Faith but the Doctrine of the Moral Law fitting all for Judgment the great sign of Luk. 18. 8. the latter Day approaching near as the days of Noe then Mat. 24. 37. 1 Pet. 3. 20. Rev. 16. 15. Mat. 24. 43. scarce Faith found in eight Souls Now the Kingdom of Heaven is likened to ten Virgins half naught and will not the Church
Tim. 21. the sin of presumption to live knowingly in the breach of Gods Order in Nature How can such have any grounds to believe they can accepted of the Lord in his service seeing the Lord will be sanctified in all that draw near unto him in keeping his holy Order in Nature as his Order in his Worship and that the person must first be accepted of God before his Offering or Service can be as Vessels sanctified prepared fit for the Master the Lord Jesus Christs use in his service To add hereunto that which Mr. Henry Ainsworth hath noted out of the Hebrew Writers on these Words A Woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to man among other things they say A Woman may not put on a Mans Ornament or to poll her head like a Man and a Man that putteth on a Womens Attire and a Woman that putteth oâ— a Mans is to be beaten by the Magistrate To which he also gveth his understanding of this Precept saying it concerneth natural honesty and seemliness which hath perpetual Equity his proof is 1 Cor. 11. 4 5 6 14 c. It was given to prevent many evils that may arise so that the Attire of the Body signifieth the Ornament of the Mind Psal 132. 9 16. Rev. 3. 18. So Men should not change their Natures to become effeminate as the Egyptians and Babylonians threatned to be like Women Isai 19. 16. Jer. 50. 32. 5. 30. Secondly Again when the Lord after seventy years Captivity called his People out of Babylon to build his Temple before the Lord would accept of them into Covenant with himself and to eat of the Passover they with all other that Ezra 6. 21. Neh. 9. 1 2 3. came with them must separate themselves from all filthiness of the Heathen of the Land And among the many filthinesses of the Heathen which the Priest as well as others were defiled was long hair Now because the Priests work was to teach the Lords People the difference between the Holy and Prophane and cause them to discern between the Unclean Ezek. 44. 23. and the Clean and this they could not do until themselves were cleansed from the same namely from long hair the shame to Mans Nature and therefore the Command came first to them namely to the Priest as 't is written Neither shall they Ezek. 44. 20. shave their heads nor suffer their locks to grow long they shall only poll their heads Now why the Priest might not shave their head because Num. 6. 9. Levit. 14 8 9. Acts 21. 24. 1 Cor. 11. 15. Judg. 13. 5. 1 Sam. 1. 11. Deut. 17. 6. that was commanded to the Nazarite and Lipers only in their Cleansings as a Ceremonial Rite now ended by Christ nor might they suffer their locks to grow long because that was an effeminate badge a shame to Mans Nature to wear and also in such Men as were born Nazarites a sign or figure for the time of their lives only so that they must only poll their heads and this is natural agreeable to Gods Order in Nature and agreeable in sence with the word Shorn Thus in the mouth of two Witnesses every Truth is establish'd So then having proved both by the Apostle and Prophets that the manner Man was created in respect of his hair and that the Sons of Adam in all Ages were to wear their hair so is according to the word of the Lord polled or shorn as is manifest by the written word of God when the Lord called his People out of Egypt and out of Babylon and now since the coming of Christ in the Flesh all that were called to become Members of the true Church of God were to reform their hair according to the word polled or shorn that so in this thing they might be cleansed from the filthiness of 1 Cor. 6. 11. the Flesh according to the Moral Law. Now if there be any other Rule revealed for Christians to cut and wear their hair in these last days of the Gospel let it be made manifest by such as do deny that their hair is not to be reformed by the Word of the Lord polled or shorn But that it is so to be reformed is clear else the Apostle would not have set Mans short hair by the word Shorn in opposition to Womans long hair in these words If the woman be not covered let her 1 Cor. 11. 6. also be shorn For who doth the Apostle mean by the word Also be shorn but that as Man is to wear his hair shorn so that he useth the word Shorn by way of reproof to Woman for wearing her hair uncover'd and therefore saith the Apostle If the woman be not covered let her also be shorn as Man was created or shaven as were the Nazaritâ—s but if it be a shame for a woman to be shaâ—en or shorn let her he covered vers 5. For if the woman be not covered it is all one as if she were shaven Forasmuch then as all Sin is the breach of Gods Order either in things Spiritual or Natural and hereupon is that Royal Law divided into two Tables that maketh Sin appear to be Sin The first to make manifest when in Worship any thing be done contrary to the first Table of Gods Law it is sin in matter or form or any act or thing he done in Nature contrary to the second Table of Gods Law it is sin so then as concerning things Natural whatsoever Man or Woman is forbidden to wear to wit that which God hath given to woman as her natural covering Man is forbid to covet or desire even so by the same Law whatsoever Woman is forbidden to wear that pertains to Man that â—he ought not to desire or covet But Woman is forbidden to wear short hair because it pertaineth to Man therefore that Woman that coveteth or desireth to wear her hair polled or shorn like unto Man liveth in the breach of the Tenth Commandment Thou shall not covet is Exod. 20. 17. guilty of the sin of Covetousness in desiring that thing that even Nature it self teacheth is a shame to her Nature to wear so that it is not only a sin against God but a dishonour to her Head namely her Husband even so that Man who desireth 1 Cor. 11. 5. or coveteth to wear his locks long contrary to the Word of the Lord polled or shorn breaketh Gods Order in Nature and is guilty of the breach of the Tenth Commandment in covering his head with the natural sign of his Wifes subjection to him 1 Cor. 11. 4. which is a sin against God in dishonouring Christ his head in despising the Image of God in which he is created head of the Woman and saith also that he is not the glory of God because he by wearing long hair the sign of Womans subjection to Man saith he is no more in subjection to God than the Woman is and that the Woman is not in
subjection to Man her head but equal in power with her Husband and this is prov'd by the Apostle in these words For a man indeed ought not to cover his head that is with long hair Womans glory 1 Cor. 11. 7. because he is the image and glory of God So then it is clear that that Man that weareth long hair the sign of Womans subjection to Man which is given to Woman to teach her she is the glory of Man her Husband saith he is neither the Image nor glory of God Even so that Woman that either cutteth her hair short polled or shorn with its ends hanging out short by the ears and so stand staring out on her forehead saith she is not the glory of the Man or weareth her hair uucover'd saith she is not the glory of the Man as aforesaid Now is this practice a light thing in Christians let the prudent judge Moreover what a higher degree of the breach of Gods Order in Nature is it fit for Man to wear the very hair of Women Womens natural covering Womans glory the very natural badge and sign of Womans subjection to Man Is not this a sin of a high nature in changing the natural use into that which is against Nature And what is it that defileth Man but sin By it therefore persons are unclean so unfit to teach or partake of the holy thing of the Lord in his Church seeing then that it was not lawful for Gods People of old to suffer their locks to grow long much more unlawful to wear the long hair of Women Womans garment or Womans natural covering for all that do so were abomination to the Deut. 22. 4. Lord And that these were not admitted into the House or Temple of God of old for this sin and like open pollutions in Nature is evident for we read Porters were set at the Gate 2 Chrn. 23. 19. of the Lords House that none that was unclean or any thing might enter therein And is it not so commanded under the Gospel The Porter is commanded to watch and saith Christ the Lord What I say unto one I say unto all Watch to see Mark 13. 34 Revel 21. 27. that there enter not into the City or Gospel Church any thing that defileth or worketh abomination Now then we have seen by the Word of the Lord that they do work abomination to wit even that Woman that weareth that which pertaineth to Man to wit short hair c. that Man which putteth on or weareth Womans natural covering namely long hair even the long hair of Women because that is Womans natural covering as 't is written If a woman have long hair it is a glory to her not to wear for ornament but to 1 Tim. 2. 9. teach her although covered she is the glory of Man her Husband Numb 6. 18. so that that Man which weareth Womans natural covering worketh abomination before the Lord therefore such are unclean and were not fit to touch the holy things in the Church of God even so it is now for the Lord who is Levit. 22. 1 2 3. holy requireth holiness in the persons of his People because they are the People of the Holy Ones therefore the Lord will be sanctified in all that draw near unto him in his service so that 't is written Be ye clean that bear the vessells of the Lord 1 Thes 4. 4. Isai 52. 11. John 15. 3 And hereupon the Lord gave strict Laws upon pain of death to his People that none in his uncleanness should touch the holy things of the Church of God forasmuch as that was not only a defiling of the things themselves but of the Name Levit. 22. v. 15 2. 32. Jer. 15. 19. of God also so that if the Priest took not away the precious from the vile they were not as Gods mouth and broke Gods Law and defiled the holy things for which Gods indignation was poured out against them Ezek. 22. 26. 31. Now shall any perswade themselves that that which is a shame to Mans Nature and a sin against God in such as wear long hair or Womans long hair doth it not defile the Man seeing he breaketh Gods Order in Nature If it had not been a sin and such a sin as was not to be suffered in any true Church of God the Apostle would neither have blam'd the Men in the Church of God for wearing long hair nor have told them That if any seem to be contentious as to plead against his reproof he brought against Mens wearing of long 1 Cor. 11. 16. hair that they had no such custom to wit as they were Apostles and had care of all the Churches to suffer it namely That Men under the profession of Grace should walk in the shame to Nature a practice never suffer'd in any true Church of God in any Age of the World till this and therefore saith the Apostle we have no such custom to suffer it neither the Church of God if they walked with God in keeping his Commandments because God who is a God of Order hath Col. 2. 5. joyn'd Order unto Faith to be kept by all his People being the two most respected things in the Churches of God and why because without faith none can please God no more can Heb. 11. 6. the Works or Service done unto God be accepted of the Lord if not done according to his appointed Order To give an instance herein we read the Lord had given a plain Law concerning the carrying of the Ark the Levites were appointed to carry it upon their shoulders but they must not touch it the Pâ—iest 1 Chron. 15. 2. Numb 4. might only touch it But this Order was not observ'd when they carried the Ark in a Cart with Oxen A Levite drove the Cart when the Oxen stumbled the Levite put forth his hand out of a good intent to stay the Ark from falling for which he was struck dead And hereupon King David with Israel lamented saying The Lord our God made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order And 1 Chron. 15. 13. was not the breach of Gods Order one of the ruines of the Primitive Church so how like is this day to that time as the Apostle Jude hath shewed the manner of the Apostacy how it began even while the Apostles were living to wit first Jude v. 3. how few they were that contended for the Faith once giveâ— to the Saints the Faith of Gods Elect so that Men spake evil of the true Doctrine of Faith as it was the Faith of Jesus so Christ was deny'd in the works of Faith and was in the name by many only profest as 't is written concerning such But these speak evil of those things which they know not to wit the Doctrine Jude v. 10. of Faith but what they know naturally as bruit Beasts in those things they corrupt
my brâ—thren though a man say he hath faith and have not works can his faith save him Now to respect persons in the way of Faith is a breach of the Moral Law how much more for a Man to do that act that is not only a shame to Mans Nature but a great dishonour to the Lord our Creator afore shewed in Mens wearing long hair Moreover how many Commendations Râ—v 2. 2 3 4 5. had the Church of God at Ephesus and yet wanting the root Faith that worketh by Love for which the Lord threatned to remove her Candlestick except she repented and did her first Work. Now as Faith is to Believe so Love is to Obey and hereupon Christ hath taught If a man love me he will keep my words but he that lovâ—th me not keepeth John 14. 23. v. 24. not my sayings This was the great sin in the Church of the Ephesians the keeping of the Commands of Christ was neglected so was she charged to have forsaken her first Love the Love of her Espousal in the day they by Covenant were Espoused or Married to Christ their head the Agreement Eph. 5. 32. Deut. 26. 16 17 18. 2 Cor. 11. 2. Rev. 19. 7 8 9. Jer. 50. 5. was as it is written of old Thou hast avouched the Lord to be thy God and to walk in his way and to keep his Statutes and Commandments and to bearken unto his voice and the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar People as he hath promised thee and that thou shouldst keep all his Commandments The breach of this Covenant made in Christ was the reason the Church of Ephesus Candlestick was threatned to be removed as it is written to Israel ro wit Judah of old Their root shall be rottenness and their blossom shall go up as the dust because they have cast away the Law of the Lord and despised the Word of the holy one of Israel Isai 5. 24. Now then if as the Apostle hath taught Whosoever shall â—eep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all Jam. 2. 10. And is not one point of the Law of God that Men shall not suffer their locks to grow long Hear what the Scripture saith when Gods People of old were told of their evil doings and would not hear then they that were yesterday Gods Mica 2. 8. People are said to be rissen as an Enemy when they refused to obey him Now what saith Christ the Lord to such Bring those mine enemies that would not that I should Luke 19. 7 14. Matth. 21. 43. John 15. 14. reign over them and slay them before me yea the Kingdom shall be taken from them and given to a people bringing forth the fruit thereof for ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you Now then what was the vain boasting of the Jews in their half keeping the Commands of God as it is written Hos 12. 8. Ephraim said I am become rich I have found me out substance for in all my labours they shall find no iniquity in me when at that time they were charged to be without the true God without teaching Priest and without Law even so the Church of the Leodiceans boasted I am rich and increased with 2 Chron. 15. 3. goods and have need of nothing At which time he was wretched miserable poor blind and naked when she had only Rev. 3. 17. Zac. 11. 5. Prov. 13. 1. the outward gifts left as Preaching and Praying which God giveth to very Hypocrites But love to God in keeping his Commandments was not by her regarded Hear what the Apostle saith to such a Church-state Though I speak with the tongue of Men and Angels and have not love I am become a 1 Cor. 13. 1 2 3. sounding brass and tinkling symbal though I have the gift of prophecy and of under standing all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not love I am nothing and though I give all my goods to feed the poor and my body to be burned and have not love it profiteth me nothing So then it is not every one that saith Lord Mat. 7. 21. Lord shall enter into the King dom of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father that is in Heaven Now I 'll appeal to the Conscience of the Ministers in this day whether it be not the Will of God that Men shall wear their hair polled or shorn and whether it he not against the Will of God that Men should wear either their own locks long or the locks of Women Now this having been proved so great a sin what have the Faithful to do that mourn to see this abomination so overspread in the Churches of God. to call upon their Ministers to justifie the practise of Mens weariag the long hair of Women in Periwigs as to bear their Testimony by preaching against it and that all that will not be reformed todeal with them according to Gods holy Order as it is written If thy brother sin tell him of his fault if Mat. 18. 15 16 17. Gal. 6. 1 2. Jame 5. 16. Lev. 19. 17. Rev. 22. 14. he hear thee thou hast gained thy brother if he refuse to take one or two and admonish him if he hear not them to tell it to the Church that so the Church may admonish him if he refuse to hear the Church to cast him out forasmuch as none have right to the Tree of Life but those that keep the Commandments of God See and read the Scriptures in the Margin But if the Minister with the greatest part do stand to justifie this or any other evil practise then the sealed ones marked of God to be saved from the destruction when the multitude will persist Ezek. 9. 4. Hos 2. 1 2. Isai 66. 5. John 9. 34. Mal. 3. 16. in evil must plead with their Mother plead that she no longer remaineth the Wise of Christ than she is obedient to all his Commands though they are cast out as it is written Your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my name sake then these that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name and they shall be mine ye they shall walk with mâ— in white for they are worthy Rev. 2. 4. Again one might be astonished with Daniel for an hour to Dan. 4. 19. consider that ever Christians after sixteen hundred years practise of all the suffering Christians and five hundred years of that time of this whole Nations wearing their hair according to the Word of the Lord polled or shorn as the ancient Effigies of the Nobility and Gentry and others do shew that ever Men should be so bereaved of the sence of Nature