86 MEMORIAL SKETCH. 



about them, but to apply myself to the business of the time, and 

 find their practical solution in the doing it. Still, it is when 

 prevented by bodily indisposition from so escaping them that 

 these sources of uneasiness make themselves felt ; and, as it 

 would be too much to expect all sunshine, I must regard these 

 as the clouds. I am now and then comforted by the know- 

 ledge of the large toleration which men of great religious 

 experience have for difficulties like mine. Both Mr. Martineau 

 and Dr. Sadler (to whom I have most freely opened myself) 

 have assured me that I ought not to make myself unhappy 

 about them, and that they would rather be in my position than 

 in that of many who believe themselves much safer. 



Through the difficulties here indicated, Dr. Carpenter, 

 after no long interval, worked his way. The strong religious 

 needs of his nature found their satisfaction in the view of 

 the world depicted in the later essays in this volume. His 

 intellectual fidelity was far too steadfast for him to be con- 

 tented with anything short of real intelligible conviction. 

 And partly under the stimulus of the preaching and the 

 writings of his friend, the Rev. James Martineau, and partly 

 through the natural development of his own philosophical 

 principles, he laid firmly in his thought the bases of the 

 Theistic interpretation of the world. Moreover, he was 

 peculiarly susceptible to sympathy, though the subjects on 

 which he was exercised did not admit of frequent speech ; 

 and the presence by his side of a most tender and discern- 

 ing companion who (as one who knew her well, said) " leaned 

 " on him, but in whose very leaning there was persuasion," 

 brought to him a helpful influence more easily understood 

 than described. He did not dwell on special theological 

 points ; but his doubts and difficulties were of the kind to 

 be met by evidence of the reality of religion in man's nature 

 and experience. Had he been shut up to the alternative 

 of the Calvinistic scheme of redemption or agnosticism, 

 he would doubtless have joined the ranks of those who 



