thusiasm," when alluding to the greatness and wisdom of the Deity.[1] Yet what an utter absence is there in his writings of recognition of the Divine presence and providence. What a lifeless waste of barren speculations—dreary and cold, for want of the shining upon it of the living Sun of Righteousness! Could such writings possibly flow from a mind, possessing a true acknowledgment of God, and consequently pervaded by the idea of the Divine power and influence? The truth is, Hume's pride of intellect and desire for fame—with the pleasure of exercising acuteness and ingenuity,—were what led him away into those wintry regions of metaphysical speculation, causing him to shut his eyes against the light of Revelation, which would have guided him in the true path. Thus, he virtually blotted out the thought of the Divine Being from his mind—preferring, rather, in his intellectual pride, to lead himself, even though it were into the depths of error, than to be led by his Heavenly Father, even into the ways of truth and peace.[2]
- ↑ "The son of his valued friend, Ferguson, remembers his father saying, that, one dear 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 that there is a God?'"—Burton's Life of Hume, vol. 2, p. 241.
- ↑ Hume confessed that his love of abstract speculation was what had led him into trains of reasoning, which he acknowledged were not likely to be very profitable or lastingly esteemed. He should have considered that loose speculation on such subjects was "playing with edge tools." He says, addressing a friend, "I assure you, that without running any of the heights of scepticism, I am apt, in a cool hour, to reflect, that most of my reasonings will be more useful in furnishing hints, and exciting people's curiosity, than as containing any principles that will
