Friday, November 14, 2008

Dressed Gloriously in the Robes of Gospel Righteousness

A selection from a letter by Thomas Charles to a female acquaintance that had made remarks in a letter to him about modest dress. He agreed with her but made a spiritual application in his return letter, written August 14, 1795.

What a glorious change – the garments of salvation instead of our own filthy rags! “Take away the filthy rags from him” – gracious words! Instead of driving him and his filthy garments into destruction, he is saved, as a brand plucked out of the burning; and he is clothed with a change of raiment. What a dispensation of abounding grace is here! The sin destroyed and not the sinner! – not saved in his filthy raiment, but saved and washed and dressed gloriously in the robes of gospel righteousness. How shall we adore, wonder and praise, when we appear above, thus completely arrayed!

Thomas Charles’ Spiritual Counsels: Selected from his Letters and Papers, by Edward Morgan, first published in 1836, reprinted by the Banner of Truth, 1993, pp. 379-80.

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