Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-10-13

tectlons oil our hearls are all open 10 our
inspection. Why then is it hard for one
so far to know himself, as to be able to
pencil his own true picture with cousid.
cradle exactness. The main difficulty
arises from the binding aud deluding bias
that we have toward ourselves. 1t is by
reason OF this kind of sophistry, that
though we discern the mote in the eye Of
another, we perceive not the beam in our
own; that though we are clear sighted
quite enough with respect to the faults of
our neighbours, we are blind as beetles
with respect TO fully as great and even
greater faults in ourselves that at best,
we weigh our own faults with more than
some grains of allowance, but the faults
of others, all hu. cur near friends, we
weigh. without any allowance at all and
tina, we magnify into shining virtues those
deeds OF our own, which We should think
lightly Of if done by any in whom we had
no particular interest.
The sophistry with which we cheat
ourselves runs into our special intercourse
and our dealings. In estimating the char
aciers of those about us, we are apt to
Judge of them according to the particular
bearing they have to ourselues. Ii they
are near of kin, or close friends, our fa-
vouritism blinds us to their faults, magni-
fies in them every thing that has the APP
pearance of excellence but If they are
aliens from our hearts, we are full enough
apt to judge them with all that severity
which appearances can any ways justify.
so, too, 10 matters of deal, it is a hard
thing indeed for one to determine right 10
ones own cause; the opposite positions OF
mine and thine not nnfrequently swaying
men of honest intentions. For which
reason it is, that in all the intercourse and
business of life, the frequent use or ap
plication of the golden Tftie is, in point of
morals, of such Unreasonable Importance
since, in innumerable cases, it is only
by exchanging places, in thought, with
those with whom we have to do, that We
can know, for certainty, how to do them
justice.
And not only is the daily application of
that divine rule so necessary 10 all our bu
siness, but it is alike necessary 10 the
management of conflicting opinions. The
free exercise Of Private judgment, is what
every man grudges to others. And hence
LII is. that disputes Of opinion are so com
monty acrimonious. Whereas, If we
were no less willing that others should en-
Joy the free exercise of private judgment
than to enjoy it ourselves our disputes
would be concluded with fairness, and
without wrath and bitterness.
From the Fed Republican and Bait Telegraph.
Consider the liies of the field, they
toll not, neither do they spin yet sag
unto you, Solomon in all has glory mas
not asrayed isiee one Of these"
10 a few remarks may be able to
make on the above text, ! am not uncon.
scious of the ridicuIe shall receive from
the votaries of fashion. But l care not
for these il gain the appreciation Of the
genuine admirers of simplicity Of dress.
= 4 virtue and her frlends frienu,
" Still may my voice the weak defend"
Our Saviour always endeavoured TO
make his discourses familiar by compari
SONS, which by their simplicity we're calcu
lated TO convince the most ignorant Of bis
audience, from the most noble king seated
on his throne, and surrounded by numer-
GUS train Of courtiers, to the most INDECENT
peasant placed in his lowiy cottage, and
lencompassed with poverty, all his doc
trines were plain and easy 10 be compre'
hended. LII speaking Of the folly OF our
taking too much thought about dress, what
a beautiful metaphor does he employ to
iiIumine the subject! He does not (like
some ofour modern pulpit orators too fire.
quently do) attempt 10 instruct his hearers
by display of elaborate arguments and
pompous words No doubt on that occa-
sion there stood 10 his presence, priests,
lawyers, and the most learned Of the Jew
ish Rabbi perhaps adisplay of eloquence
| to these might have been the most accepta
bic, and would have gained him the most
exalted praises. But he behoIds in the
multitude number of the unlearned and
simple people Of the country TO whom in
order that they might understand, sim.
lplicity Of language was necessary.
Consider" says he, "the lilies Of the
field, they toll not neither do they spin !;
yet / say unto you, Solomon in all his elo-
Try was not arrayed like one ofthese." The
lily was flower well known to the hus-
bandman, every day he was accustomed