Human nature is the same now as when Adam hid from the presence of God; the consciousness of wrong makes us unwilling to meet those whom we have offended.

He was baptized as an infant by Bishop Francis Asbury. In 1859 Bishop Simpson changed his residence from Pittsburgh to Evanston Illinois where he accepted the position of President of the Garrett Biblical Institute (now Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary). Matthew's uncle also was Matthew Simpson who also emigrated from Ireland to America in 1793.

For the Brisbane Bears player see Matthew Simpson (footballer).