“How this wonderful union of divine power, and the creature’s free agency is effected, belongs to higher matters than we can reach. We only know, as I said before, that we know nothing, if we are not free. The arguments of a necessitarian may seem irrefragable, and convince you that you are impelled to every action; but in the moment that you close his book you feel that you can open or shut it at pleasure, and call up, or dismiss at will, those motives from your mind, which shall be the proximate and immediate causes of your so doing.
“In like manner Berkeley has perhaps convinced you in the abstract that you cannot vouch for the existence of matter, and that ideas or shadows are all that you can answer for; but do you really and substantially believe less in the existence of a bullet which blows out the brains of a fellow creature, or that of the sword which pierces his body, because Berkeley assures you that they are only ideas, and you are not able metaphysically to contradict him?
“You have, my beloved brother, honoured me so far as to consult my understanding upon these great, these awful subjects, and nothing could tempt me to accept the office of guide, conscious as I am of my own weakness, were I not firmly persuaded, that while mortal affairs require human strength to unravel their intricacies, and overcome their obstructions, humility is the only pilot to heaven.
“I was once led astray in the mazes of a bewildering philosophy which grew darker and more uncertain the farther I presumed to penetrate its recesses. I found torches, indeed, blazing at the portals, and proud of a little daring, I entered on the labyrinth, vain-gloriously resolved to reject all clue, and clear a passage for myself; but the damps of ignorance and doubt soon extinguished the glaring lights that illuminated the entrance. I found myself ere long involved in the thickest obscurity, and when the abyss threatened to engulph the groping wanderer, was grateful for that aid which in the pride of my own strength, I had indignantly rejected. Assisted by revelation, I retraced my erring steps; and am now contented with such measure of knowledge as God vouchsafes to his creatures, as well as resolved never more to tempt the paths which lead but to confusion worse confounded.
“Where difficulties present themselves, I thankfully incline to that side which is the least obscure; and, as a belief in necessity, besides the natural contrariety of its existence with the evidence of our senses, which proclaim us free agents, would involve an absolute and unqualified rejection of the Christian scheme, I find no hesitation in abandoning it to the winds.
“Natural religion presents God to our contemplation in the wonderful unapproachable character of sovereignty, wisdom, and power. The Christian sees him brought home to our hearts, and domesticated with our gratitude, our tenderness, and admiration. In Jesus Christ we behold the Emanuel, the God with us; redeeming in his love, sustaining by his spirit, astonishing by his mercy. If I turn from the only door, the only way, the only shepherd that is provided for me, and look to myself for a staff of support through the valley of death, what do I find? Alas! infirmity so pitiable, sin so inseparable from every purpose and every performance, that I am ready to give my suffrage to the truth of Hooker’s eloquent, but melancholy avowal, that ‘the very best action of the most virtuous human being, requires to be forgiven.’”
You have now, my dear friend, an outline of the plan upon which we set out with our search after Truth: and from the moment in which the conversation that I have reported took place, my brother has passed some hours of every day in reading and talking on these solemn subjects.
Butler’s Analogy with Wilson’s excellent Letters of Explanation; Gregory’s Letters and Chalmers’ Evidences, have particularly delighted him. We have read Tremaine together, and some parts of the reasoning contained in the third volume of that valuable little work have most powerfully impressed his mind, while others have failed of satisfying him. My principal objections to Tremaine are, that the author contents himself with allowing us to suppose that the hero becomes a Christian. Secondly, Dr. Evelyn, though a very worthy, and a very sensible man, appears more like a good humoured country gentleman, than a clergyman, the professional piety of whom might have been added to his counsel without detracting from its force. It is a pity also that so strong a stimulant as love should be allowed by possibility to mingle in the motives to conversion, and by so doing, sully the integrity of change. With these defects, however, and some inequalities in the argument, Tremaine is a charming work, and breathes nothing from beginning to end, which is not calculated, in some way or other, to render people wiser and better who read it; a character which it would be a great happiness were to be able with truth to attribute in this age of novels to many of the most celebrated amongst them.
Having said so much of my invalid’s mind, I must mournfully add of his bodily frame, that it gradually declines, yet so imperceptibly, that it requires such minute observation as strong affection can alone awaken, to perceive the progress of decay. My dear children, and our friend Mr. Otway, unite in kindest remembrances to you. Speak of us all to our poor neighbours with affectionate recollection, and tell them that I long to re-visit my little valley, and am only supported through the pain of absence from home, and the fatigue of more society, than for many years I have been accustomed to, by the pleasant assurance that I am not uselessly employed. The remarks of my young people, in a land of strangers, furnish me too with a perpetual source of gratification, they are so true to nature and good sense, as well as feeling. We continue to hear constantly from Arthur, who is happy in the company of Mr. Charles Falkland, a young man whose friendship I anticipate for my Frederick with great pleasure. We hear also of Lord and Lady Crayton, of whom I wish I could add that our accounts are agreeable. Lord C. is, I fear, ill calculated to make my poor niece happy; and they both exhibit, but too faithfully, a specimen of fashionable marriage. I tremble, as I look forward, and bless God when I gaze with thankfulness on my children, that they have been preserved from the vortex of folly, which draws thousands daily into its dangerous and seductive abyss. Can all the riches of the East, added to all “the boast of heraldry, and pomp of power,” supply the place of domestic love, or compensate for the absence of moral virtue? I sometimes feel like an old picture that, after having been hung up during a century, has suddenly received the gift of animation, and descended from its frame to mingle in the social group. The world, even as seen at this distance from our metropolis, appears almost as new to me as to my girls; and, I am sorry to confess, how little find in it to gratify my mental taste. Perhaps retirement may have soured my disposition, but if this be not the case, society is not improved in this kingdom. We are encircled by people of princely fortune; and luxury, in all its fertility of invention, reigns throughout this rich and beautiful country. But, oh! how much I miss the England of my early recollections! Mr. Otway and I often mourn over the progress of what is falsely called refinement, which has made the lower classes forget the simple sobriety, the active industry, the nice cleanliness of former times, and has rendered the higher orders a disgusting engraftment of foreign manners, customs, and language, upon a British stock. My dear home! My pure mountain breezes and rational fire-side, I sigh to behold you once more! Adieu, my valued friend. I hope to hear from you before we leave Marsden, and am,
Sincerely yours,