1–7 October 1838

Letter to W. Silsbee. — I read in your letter the expressions of an earnest character of faith, of hope, with extreme interest ; and if I can con- tribute any aid by sympathy or suggestion to the solution of the great problems that occupy you, I shall be glad. But I think it must be done by degrees. I am not sufficiently master of the little truth I see, to know how to state it in forms so general as shall put every mind in possession of my point of view. We generalize and rectify our expressions by continual efforts from day to day, from month to month, to re- concile our own sight with that of our compan- ions. So shall two inquirers have the best mu- tual action on each other. But I should never attempt a direct answer to such questions as yours. I have no language that could shortly present my state of mind in regard to each of them with any fidelity ; for my state of mind on each is nowise final and detached, but tentative, progressive, and strictly connected with the whole circle of my thoughts. It seems to me that to understand any man's thoughts respecting the Supreme Being, we need an in- sight into the general habit and tendency of his speculations : for, every man's idea of God is the last or most comprehensive generalization at which he has arrived. — But besides the extreme difficulty of stating our results on such ques- tions in a few propositions, I think, my dear sir, that a certain religious feeling deters us from the attempt. I do not gladly utter any deep convic- tion of the soul in any company where I think it will be contested, no, nor unless I think it will be welcome. Truth has already ceased to be itself if polemically said ; and if the soul would utter oracles, as every soul should, it must live for itself, keep itself right-minded, — observe with such awe its own law as to concern itself very little with the engrossing topics of the hour, unless they be its own. I believe that most of the speculative difficulties which infest us, we must thank ourselves for ; each mind, if true to itself, will, by living forthright, and not importing into it the doubts of other men, dis- solve all difficulties, as the sun at midsummer burns up the clouds. Hence I think the aid we can give each other is only incidental, lateral, and sympathetic. If we are true and benevo- lent, we reenforce each other by every act and word. Your heroism stimulates mine ; your light kindles mine. And the end of all this is, that I thank you heartily for the confidence of your letter, and beg you to use your earliest leisure to come and see me. It is very possible that I shall not be able to give you one definition, but I will show you with joy what I strive after and what I worship, as far as I can. Meantime, I shall be very glad to hear from you by letter.

Once I thought it a defect peculiar to me, that I was confounded by interrogatories and when put on my wits for a definition was unable to reply without injuring my own truth : but now, I believe it proper to man to be unable to answer in terms the great problems put by his fellow: it is enough if he can live his own defini- tions. A problem appears to me. I cannot solve it with all my wits : but leave it there ; let it lie awhile : I can by patient, faithful truth live at last its uttermost darkness into light.