Few, indeed, comparatively, have there been in the world, with minds so dull and darkened as wholly to deny the existence of a Divine Creator, when His foot-
augment the stock of knowledge, that must pass to future ages."
That his private thoughts were often different from what might be implied from his published writings, was declared by himself on an occasion, when his sincerity could not be questioned. "David [Hume]," says his biographer, "and the Hon. Mr. Boyle, brother of the Earl of Glasgow, were both in London at the period when David's mother died. Mr. Boyle, hearing of it, soon after went into the apartment (for they lodged in the same house), where he found him in the deepest affliction, and in a flood of tears. After the usual topics of condolence, Mr. Boyle said to him, 'My friend, you owe this uncommon grief to having thrown off the principles of religion; for if you had not, you would have been consoled with the firm belief that the good lady, who was not only the best of mothers, but the most pious of Christians, was completely happy in the realms of the just' To which David 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.'"—Life, vol. 1, p. 294.
This interesting anecdote places the character of Hume in a softer and more pleasing light, than that in which we are accustomed to contemplate it. His biographer remarks, "Those who knew him solely by his philosophical reputation, will perhaps believe him to have been
Parous deorum cultor et infrequens
[i.e. but little disposed to worship]. But this does not seem to have been the case, at least in his outward conduct. We find him, in writing home from France, casually mentioning his not having seen [his friend] Elliott's sons 'in Church;' and, on another occasion, making a like allusion, indicative of his having been a pretty regular attendant at the ambassador's chapel. He is said to have been fond of Dr. Robertson's preaching, and not averse to that of his colleague and opponent, John Erskine."—Ibid. vol. 2, p. 452.
