New-York daily tribune., 1845-12-15

vouch for the perfect truth Of all Mr. W hite oPh
ions We even think we see traces OF the eiiect Oh
his peculiar life and peculiar trials IN co'orS soine
portions of his belief But this we KNOW ana II is
this we are anxious 10 proclaim iha' He'c as a
man of such healthy tone Of mind that the carciu!
lest training in superstition could not make MN
biroi man with such calm trust IN ms heason'
guided bv his Conscience, that he was willing 70 ol-
low wherever they should lead with such deep de-
yotion 10 the cause of Truth that he was Wiling 10
suffer all things for her sake and above all mat ms
!" Nationalist and "uubeliever IN crceds and
docmas. was man possessed OF such deep, unhesi-
tatn. faith in God as his Almighty Father and his
friend. as no sickness or sorrow or any OF lie $
worst sutferinCs could for moment shake. 1t is 10
The book picture OF deep and pure religious
faith, unmarried by enthusiasm, unwarped by bgo-
trv but resting rock OF adamant upon the
calm conclusions OF his Reason, that we would
chiefly direct attention Most precious has II been
to us and we would that others might share the
gift
We have said that we thought could see
traces Of the influence of our authors peculiar lie
upon his faith. OF what consequence wc esteem
its effect the tone of our previous remarks Will show
We could not restrain asionshment when we
saw MIR. w hite charged in a respectable religious
periodical with dying without any belief IN fu-
iure life" How the author OF that review could
bring himself 20 make such charge, we confess
ourselves unable TO explain. That Mr.. White,
ence of "A morbdly excited Imagination or religious
belief had i,nbbed unreasonable fears OF the exer
else of that faculty we will not deny we think 1t
possible that his fear oiorning false ade0S OF
future state obscQrcd the faith he really had IN lis
existence, even from himself but how his strong
OF this sort, standing SIDE 6y Stde as
Mey do with others that express such an unhesi
tatng trust in the infinite love and goodness OF
God-how any OF his most doubtful words could
be tortured INTO such a charge, we are III loss 10
understand That ii may be understood what kind
of - disbelief" this was we will give some OF the
most striking passages.
God canno, have formed his intellectual creatures to
break like bubbles and be To die with i'm
pcit trust Him. but without drawing absurd pictures
of future Lille is the only rational conduct OF which
the subject admits.
Wiring to Prof Norton not long before his death
he thus describes his emancipation from hs iormer
errors:
" am free but his truth bestowed this gift upon me I
Most certainly it has II by truth we understand the
discovery and rejection OF error. The phanoms that
haunted my soul have completely vanished; but what
positive truth supports my moral belngf One whlch
cannot reduce 10 logical process but which has the
strongest foundation in the very essence oi my soul
am certain that God by the light which lighteth every
man that cometh into the word dwels in my soul IL
then that make my nearest approach TO that lnetia
BILE Being whom | love more than lie. lherc nave
constantly found him in proportion AS have ceased TO
RELY for hope philosophical doctrines consecraed by
Divines into doeluas far from denying the eX-
istence OF individual after DEATH but snoud be
on the other hand miserable had TO tortity be-
lief that doctrine by constant search after anaoges,
probabiliiies-and OF all by revelations depen1-
ing for authority upon written documents and the inter
probation OF pathological difficulties Why then should
step out of the path so clearly marked our or me Dy
Providence could more firmly believe in God,
could not trust in him with more hla confidence were
to stand on any other foundation than that which
have found within myself.
And again, writing TO the same friend, ne says:
MY physicians have long declared to me their opn.
ion that recovera declaration which filed me
with JOY and the accomplishment OF which, like nope
delayed, now makes my heart wither. feel no enthu-
sasc rapures does my imagination trained not to
take the lead venture suggest any OF her material
pictures But ! have the most calm assurance within
me- that the God whom at all times have loved and
whose will | have always most sincerely wished to
obey will provide Tor that happiness Tor which
may be best fitted. Free from oil heoiQg'cal fears, no
terrors surround me while waiting for the long.desred
dismissal from this life. heartily thank God who has
so disposed the events Of my mental course that do
lind in myself even trace OF the superstition in
which ! was most auxiously educated. This indeed
more than repays all my suherinss.
If this is "to die without any belief IN future
life" then we say give us the unbeliever's death
for we challenge the most bigoted adhcrent Of
creed, the most confident believer in an imaginary
paradise to furnish an example OF more pure, more
clevating, more entire trust.
The most striking characteristics of Mr.. Whites
mind were an intense love OF the truth and rare
courage in pursuing it, joined to that true humility
and reverence which alone can preserve us IRON
error in that difficult and trying path.
Christianity he says was properly expressed
by Jesus himself as hJeHy-hbcrty from dogmas
and practices means Of spiritual safety l. c sal
vation; under the acknowledgment OF God as our
Father and OF conscience as his voice. He oellevcd
it to be mans duty seek the truth controlled by no
authority save his own conscientious Reason
TO ask by What rule we are 10 be guided Is The
same az TO ask by what rule we are 10 use our eyes
All tha, we have 10 do is TO be on our guard against
SeiGshReSS and to decide aginst our TENDENCIES in
case of doubt Error under such moral determin-
alton cannot do any substantial harm.
Elsewhere he thus beautifully describes the re-
suit of his own experience in such course:
"perceivius the limited range of our facul-
ties in this state OF existence 20 that extent we should
use them ieariessy, but still under the guidance OF con
science assuring ourselves that nothing but the pure
love OF Truth which is Identical with the love OF God,
urges us forward The best proof OF sincerity is in
my opioniou and according to my own experience
feeling not of triumph but of increasing modesiy which
the farther we proceed the fully convnces US that
our postiue knowledge Of the subjects on Which We are
engaged must always continue 10 be very itte that we
finally upon that true tcth winch consists IN
fiidl trust Him who brought into this state of
isence and whose paterna bencvoence may DC clearly
perceived by every grateful heart
DO not disturb the tmid > he says elsewhere.
wv hat q strange unreasonable demand! II amounts
10 this; let the thinking be all over the world the
slaves OF the unhlnklng. Mankind under that sys'
tenn might be compared 10 family where the chill
drcn had the privilege of filling the rooms with
houses OF cards oblising the poor people TO declare
they beheld substantial buildings, and preventing
nevertheless their moving about, from fear of acci
dents to the little structures.
When his friends dissuaded him from making
public his dissent from the doctrines of the Church
of England this was the entry in his journal
of all my present trials is equal TO that which
the ptfur my
vince me tha. far from being bound IN conscience de-
csre nv dissent from the Church OF England there is
duty incumbent upon which requires my continuing
10 ali external in that Church cannot help
looking round in bewilderment and distress, as II
were en- the point of asking myseli-ls virtue then
phantom and honesty empty sound I. Are the best
men agreed in tha, view and am only fanatic who has
taken literally principles which were never intended TO
be strictly followed
We wish our limits allowed US 10 multiply quota
tious. but enough has been given 10 furnish some
faint image of the man. And when il is remenl,
bcred that starting with this spirit and these prlncl
plies from the very abyss OF Roman Catholic super
stition after careful training and long experience Us
priest OF that church. he struggled step by step
up into the pure light OF the simple faith IN which
he died and that in this book composed OF his let