“Dear Rosser,—I do not like your last letter, and why should I not tell you so? You rejoice in having made a convert to Atheism. I think there is something unnatural in a zeal of proselytism in an Atheist. I do not believe in an intellectual God, a God made after the image of man. In the vulgar acceptation of the word, therefore, I think a man is right who does not believe in God, but I am also persuaded that a man is wrong who is without religion.
“But if a zeal in proselytism in such a cause might, under certain circumstances, be right, think how it shows in a young man conforming in all outward shows with the Church of England—regular in frequenting her worship, and even joining her in her most solemn act of communion. Do you think that this character looks well. Oh! shut up your thoughts on this subject for the present in your own mind. Do you think there is no danger of their growing too mature? Or would you be ashamed of reflecting deeply and patiently before you finally cease to reflect and examine in a question, which all mankind in all ages have agreed to regard as of the deepest importance?
“I am also displeased with your telling me of your
letter to Wooler, advising him to leave
a question you think contemptible to the Whigs. Formerly I took some pains to
convince you that the Whigs, as a party in the state, were of the highest value
to the public welfare, and constituted the party to which a liberal-minded and
enlightened man would adhere. My pains, I see, were thrown away. It is possible
I was wrong. But was it necessary
| 264 | WILLIAM GODWIN |
