But it is different with philosophical, and, we may add, theological truths, which are supported solely by speculative considerations.In these departments {155} we may discuss and doubt as we please, without doing any injury." What injury can ever come from ingenious reasoning and inquiry? The worst speculative sceptic I ever knew was a much better man than the best superstitious devotee." Those who think they can reach truth in these matters are at liberty to cherish their conviction, provided always that they do not thereby disturb their neighbors.But the time is coming, and already wise men see that it is coming, when mankind will not concern themselves with such speculative questions, or will engage in them only as a gymnastic to the intellect, or as a means of showing that ultimate truth is unattainable by man.
It was, I believe, on such grounds as these that Hume justified himself in his sceptical doubts, and his sceptical solution of these doubts.He thought they might stir up inquiry on subjects on which no truth had been reached; and tend to confound the dogmatism and restrain the disputations in philosophy, and the fanaticism and superstition in religion, which had wrought such mischief; and prepare the way for a reign of universal toleration.As to religious belief, it could be supported only by speculative arguments, derived from an absolute causation, or from miracles which cannot stand a searching investigation.So far as men follow a moderate and tolerant religion, Hume was rather pleased with them, and he evidently shrank from the fanatical atheism avowed by some of the more advanced followers of the system in France.If there be a world to come, it will clear up itself when it comes; and, meanwhile, there are duties which we must perform, from a regard to ourselves and our relation to others.There had hitherto been no science of metaphysics; but there could be a science of ethics (and also of politics) founded on the circumstance, that certain acts are found to be agreeable and useful to ourselves and others.
It is in this way we are to reconcile certain seeming inconsistencies in his character.He had no settled faith in any religion, yet he went to church, at least at times; he wished his servant to go to church, and he mingled in the counsels of the Church of Scotland.He never committed himself to deism or atheism.He wrapped up his thoughts on these subjects in his bosom, perhaps with some feeble hope that he {156} might get light; but the cloud seems only to have settled more deeply upon him.When the pert Mrs.Mallet met him one night at an assembly, and boldly accosted him, "Mr.Hume, give me leave to introduce myself to you: we deists ought to know each other," " Madam," replied he, " Iam no deist: I do not style myself so, neither do I desire to be known by that appellation." He did not avow himself an atheist in Paris.Sir Samuel Romilly has detailed a characteristic anecdote told of him by Diderot.He dined with a large company at the house of Baron D'Holbach."As for atheists," said Hume, " I do not believe one exists: Ihave never seen one." " You have been a little unfortunate,"said the baron: " here you are with seventeen of them at the table for the first time." We may suppose there was some sincerity in the statement he made: " I have surely endeavored to refute the sceptic with all the force of which I am master, and my refutation must be allowed to be sincere because drawn from the capital principles of my system,"only he was not prepared to review his system.In writing to Elliott, he says he wishes to make Cleanthes, the theist, the hero of the dialogue.Adam Ferguson told his son, who reports the incident, that one clear and beautiful night, when they were walking home together, Hume suddenly stopped, looked up to the starry sky, and said, " O Adam, can any one contemplate the wonders of that firmament, and not believe there is a God! " Dr.Carlyle tells us, that when his mother died he was found in deepest affliction and a flood of tears, upon which Mr.Boyle said to him that his uncommon grief arose from his having thrown off the principles of religion; to which he replied: " Though I throw out my speculations to entertain the learned and metaphysical world, yet in other things I do not think so differently from the rest of the world as you imagine." In whatever way we may account for it, there was evidently a consistency in the character of Hume which made him respected by his worldly friends, who thought a man might be good, though he had no godliness.
The all-important question is, How is this spirit to be corrected, this error to be met?
<First>.It must be firmly maintained that an honest mind can spontaneously attain such truth, secular, moral, and religious, {157} as is needful to its peace and progress.This truth does not lie deep down in some pit, which can be reached only by deep down, or whence it can be drawn only by the cords of lengthened ratiocination; it lies on the surface, and may be seen by immediate perception, or picked up by brief discursive processes.By this spontaneous exercise of our faculties and common observation, we reach the existence of God, the accountability of man, and a day of judgment.By such an easy method we rise to a belief in the Word of God, and in the spiritual verities there set forth.We should hold that man reaches all this by as natural a procedure as that by which he comes to know what path he should take in the common affairs of this life.No doubt be will at times meet with difficulties, but this only as he may be beset by perplexities in the affairs of this world; and in the one case, as in the other, the sincere mind has commonly enough of light to guide it.