1890 COREESPONDENCE WITH DE. ASA GEAY 155> 



is to prove an affirmative. If it is to be an eternal 

 sleep, no doubt it is better to live as we are than in 

 the certainty of a Godless universe. But although 

 Tve cannot find any sure answer to this momentous 

 question, I cannot help feeling that it is reasonable (al- 

 though it may not be orthodox) to cherish this much 

 faith, that if there is a God, whom, when we see, we 

 can truly worship as well as dread. He cannot ex 

 liypotliisi be a God who will thwart the strong desne 

 which He has implanted in us to worship Him, 

 merely because we cannot find evidence enough to 

 believe this or that doctrine of dogmatic Theology. 



But I do not know why I should thus trouble you 

 with my troubles, unless it is that the kindness of 

 your letters has broken through the bars by which 

 we usually imprison such feelings from the world. 

 Anyhow, I thank you for that kindness, and hope 

 you will forgive this somewhat odd requital. 



Very sincerely yours, 



G. J. EoMiNES. 



' Tlie desire to worship Him.' 



These words are the key-note of the rehgious 

 history of the pm-e and noble character which I am 

 trying to describe. 



The letters, so touching in the momentary breaking 

 down of reserve, give, as it were, a glimpse of the 

 inner hfe, give an indication of the struggle, the per- 

 plexity, the sorrow which eleven years later ended in 

 'Eternal Peace.' 



Readers of the lately pubHshed ' Thoughts on 

 Eehgion ' will see how gradually he grew to perceive 



