issimulation, to all views or desires of self-interest, and to all
undue respect or consideration of creatures. All its desires and views
are reduced to this alone, of attaining to the perfect union with God.
Unfeignedly to desire this one thing, to belong to God alone, to arrive
at his pure love, and to do his will in all things, is that simplicity
or singleness of heart of which we speak, and which banishes all
inordinate affections of the heart, from which arise the most dangerous
errors of the understanding. This is the essential disposition of every
one who sincerely desires to live by the spirit of Christ. That divine
spouse of souls, loves to communicate himself to such.[31] His
conversation (or as another version has it, his secret) is with the
simple.[32] His delight is in those who walk with simplicity.[33] This
is the characteristic of all the saints:[34] whence the Holy Ghost cries
out, Approach him not with a double heart.[35] That worldly wisdom is
not subject to the law of God, neither can it be.[36] Its intoxication
blinds men, and shuts their eyes to the light of divine revelation. They
arrogate to themselves the exclusive privilege of learning and clear
understanding: but the skepticism, the pitiful inconsistencies, and
monstrous extravagances, which characterize their writings and
discourses, make us blush to see so strong an alliance of ignorance and
presumption; and lament that the human mind should be capable of falling
into a state of so deplorable degeneracy. Among the fathers of the
church we admire men the most learned of their age, the most penetrating
and most judicious, and at the same time {147} the most holy and
sincere; who, being endowed with true simplicity of heart, discovered in
the mysteries of the cross the secrets of infinite wisdom, which they
made their study, and the rule of their actions.

Footnotes:
1. L. 2, adv. Julian, c. 8.
2. L. 2, adv. Rufin. p. 415.
3. In Isa. c. 60.
4. S. Hieron. in Catal.
5. L. 1, de Trin. p. 1-10.
6. Exod. iii. 14.
7. The contrary is certainly a mistake in Dr. Cave; for St. Jerom,
writing against Jovinian, says, in {} p. 175, that though the church
was sometimes obliged to make choice of married men for the
priesthood, because virgins, or unmarried, could not always be
found, they notwithstanding lived ever after continent. _Certe
confiteris, non posse esse episcopum qui in episcopatu filios
faciat: alioqui si depreh