University of Virginia Library

June ye 1st.

Mr. Michael Wigglesworth, the Malden Minister, at
Uncle's house last night. Mr. Wigglesworth told Aunt
that he had preached a Sermon against the wearing of
long Haire, and other like Vanities, which he hoped
with God's blessing might doe good. It was from
Isaiah, iii. 16, and so on to the end of the Chapter.
Now, while he was speaking of the Sermon, I whispered
Rebecca that I would like to ask him a question,

which he overhearing, turned to me, and bade me never
heed, but speak out. Soe, I told him that I was but a
Child in years and knowledge, and he a wise and
learned Man; but, if he would not deem it forward in
me, I would fain know whether the Scripture did anie
where lay down the particular fashion of wearing the
Hair.

Mr. Wigglesworth said that there were certain general
Rules laid down, from which we might make a
right application to particular cases. The wearing of
long Haire by men is expressly forbidden in 1 Corinthians,
xi. 14, 15; and there is a special word for
women, also, in 1 Tim. ii. 9.

Hereupon, Aunt Rawson told me she thought I was
well answered; but I, (foolish one that I was,) being
unwilling to give up the matter soe, ventured farther to
say that there were the Nazarites, spoken of in Numbers,
vi. 5, upon whose heads, by the appointment of
God, no Razor was to come.

“Nay,” said Mr. Wigglesworth, “that was by a
special Appointment only, and proveth the general
rule and practice.”

Uncle Rawson said that long hair might, he judged,
be lawfullie worn where the bodilie Health did require
it, to guard the necks of weaklie people from the cold.

“Where there seems plainlie a call of Nature for it,”

said Mr. Wigglesworth, “as a matter of bodilie comfort,
and for the warmth of the head and neck, it is no
wise unlawful. But for healthy, sturdy young people
to make this excuse for their sinful Vanitie, doth but
add to their condemnation. If a man go any whit
beyond God's appointment and the comfort of Nature,
I know not where he will stop, until he grows to be the
veriest Ruffian in the world. It is a wanton and shameful
thing for a man to liken himself to a woman, by
suffering his Haire to grow, and curling and parting it
in a Seam, as is the manner of too manie. It betokeneth
pride and vanitie, and causeth no small Offence
to godly, sober people.

“The time hath been,” continued Mr. Wigglesworth,
“when God's people were ashamed of such
vanities, both in the home Countrie and in these parts;
but since the Bishops and the Papists have had their
way, and such as feared God are put down from Authoritie,
to give place to scorners and wantons, there
hath been a sad change.”

He furthermore spake of the gay apparel of the
young women of Boston, and their lack of plainness
and modestie in the manner of wearing and ordering
their Haire; and said he could in no wise agree with
some of his brethren in the Ministry, that this was a
light Matter, inasmuch as it did most plainlie appear

from Scripture, that the pride and haughtiness of the
daughters of Zion did provoke the judgments of the
Lord, not only upon them, but upon the men also.
Now, the special sin of women is Pride and Haughtiness,
and that because they be generally more ignorant,
being the weaker vessel; and this sin venteth
itself in their gesture, their haire and apparel. Now,
God abhors all pride, especially pride in base things;
and hence the conduct of the daughters of Zion does
greatlie provoke his Wrath, first against themselves,
secondly their fathers and husbands, and thirdly against
the land they do inhabit.

Rebecca here rogueishly pinched my arm, saying
apart, that, after all, we weaker Vessels did seem to
be of great consequence, and nobody could tell but
that our head-dresses would yet prove the ruin of the
Countrie.