The Hillsborough recorder., 1861-09-11
ON SIMPLICITY.

There is q simplicity that is defect, and
a simplicity that is great virtue. Simple
city may be want Of discernment. When
We speak Of q person as simple, We may
mean that he is credulous, and perhaps vul-
gar. The simplicity that is virtue, is some-
thing sublime; every one loves and admires
it; but il is difficult to say exactly what This
virtue is.
Simplicity is an uprightness Of soul that
has no reference to self; it 10 different fra.n
sincerity. and il is still higher virtue. We
see many people who are sincere, without
being simple; they only wish TO pass far
what they are. and they are unwilling to ap-
pear what they are not; they are always
thinking Of themselves. measuring their words.
and recalling their thoughts, and revie sing
their actions, from the fear that they have
done too much or too little. These persons
are sincere, but they are not simple; they
are not at ease with others, and others are
not at ease with them; they are not free. in
genuous. natural; we prefer people who are
less correct, less perfect, and who are less
artificial. This is the decision Of man, and
il is the judgment Of God. who would not
have rs SO occupied with ourselves, and thus.
as il were. always arranging our features IN
a mirror.
To be wholly occupied with others, never
to look within, is the state Of blindness OF
those who are entirely engrossed by what is
present and addressed TO their senses; this
is the very reverse OF simplicity. To be ab.
sorbed in selfi whatever engages Us, wheth.
er we are iaboring for our fellow beings, OF
Tor God, to be wise in our own eyes. resers-
ed, aud full Of ourselves. troubled AZ the leasi
thing that disturbs our self-complscency. is
the opposite extreme. This is false wisdom,
which. with all ITS glory. is but little less ab.
, surd than the folly which pursues only pleas.
ure. The one is intoxicated with all that 4
sees around it; the other with all that il im'
4 gines IL has within; bot it is delirium 10
! both. To be absorbed in ths contemplation
OF aur own minds, is really worse than to b
engrossed by outward things, because IL ap
pears like wisdom, and yet is not; we do no
think Of curing IL; we pride ourselves upoI
: it; we approve Of it; Il gives us an unnata
y raj strength; il 10 q sort Of frenzy; we ar
!. not conscious Of Il; We are dying, and VI
J think ourselves In health.
Simplicity consists in just medium, ~
! which we are neither too much excited, no
. too composed. The soul 10 not carried ava,
n BY outward things. 90 that IL cannot max
I all necessary reflections; neither does ]
make those continual references to self. tha
/. jealous sense Of its own excellence multi
y plies. That freedom Of soul. which look
y straight onward in It's path. losing no time Z
: reason upon is steps. to study them. or z
contemplate those that II has already taken
n is true simplicity.
: The 6rst step in the progress Of the sou
!. Is disengagement from outward things. ina
s /. nav enter into itself. and contemplate ID
!, true Interests: this 10 wise self.love. Th
: second is, to join to this the idea Of Got
/ whom il fears; this u the feeble beginning
: Of true wisdom; but the soul Is still hres
4 upon itself; Il is afraid that Il does not lea
' God enough: il is still thinking Of itself
5 These snSieties about ourselves are FAR re
!, moved from that peace and liberty, which |
4 true and simple love ins?iresj but II 10 no
Y vet time Tor this; the soul must pass througl
: this trouble; this operation Of the Spirit 9
( God in our hearts cones to us gradually
q approach step BY step TO this simplicity. u
the third aud last slate. we begin TO think 0
c God more frequently. we think Of ourselvei
1 less. and iasensibly We lose ourselves IN him
The more gentle and dseile the soul Is. th'
q more Il advances in this simplicity. IL doe
: not become blind 10 its own defects, and un
! conscious of its imperfcctionsj u - mers
i than ever sensible Of themj il fesls herre
j Of the slightest sin; II sees more clearly ID
E own corruption; bat this insensibility dseI
!, not arise from dwelling upon itself, bat b,
the light IRON The presence Of God We sec
how Ear removed We ars from Infinite purity.