Early Letters 



beforehand if necessary. Please do not forget this. — Yours, 

 A. R. W. 



P.S. — Write by next mail, as circumstances have 

 occurred which make it possible I may return home this 

 year.— A. R. W. 



P.S. — You allude in your last letter to a subject I never 

 touch upon because I know we cannot agree upon it. How- 

 ever, I will now say a few words, that you may know my 

 opinions, and if you wish to convert me to your way of 

 thinking, take more vigorous measures to effect it. You 

 intimate that the happiness to be enjoyed in a future state 

 will depend upon, and be a reward for, our belief in certain 

 doctrines which you believe to constitute the essence of true 

 religion. You must think, therefore, that belief is voluntary 

 and also that it is meritorious. But I think that a little con- 

 sideration will show you that belief is quite independent of 

 our will, and our common expressions show it. We say, '' I 

 wish I could believe him innocent, but the evidence is too 

 clear " ; or, ^^ Whatever people may say, I can never believe 

 he can do such a mean action.'' Now, suppose in any similar 

 case the evidence on both sides leads you to a certain belief 

 or disbelief, and then a reward is offered you for changing 

 your opinion. Can you really change your opinion and 

 belief, for the hope of reward or the fear of punishment ? 

 Will you not say, ^* As the matter stands I can't change 

 my belief. You must give me proofs that I am wrong or 

 show that the evidence I have heard is false, and then I 

 may change my belief " ? It may be that you do get more 

 and do change your belief. But this change is not voluntary 

 on your part. It depends upon the force of evidence upon 

 your individual mind, and the evidence remaining the same 

 and your mental faculties remaining unimpaired — ^you can- 

 not believe otherwise any more than you can fly. 



Belief, then, is not voluntary. How, then, can it be 

 G 81 



