What surprises me the most in regard to the method of study which I have described, is, that although there are certain branches of knowledge for which I have a kind of repugnance, there is not one for which I have an exclusive predilection, or in comparison with which I hold all others light, as I perceive is the case with a great many young people; so that what particular branch of science I may ultimately devote myself to will in a great measure depend upon my future position and opportunities. Could but this position soon be determined in some way or other! It is very satisfactory to me to find that you are likewise of opinion that I ought as soon as possible to present myself for examination. We had just determined to submit the matter to you by the next post, when your letter arrived. But this hitches on the same point as all our other affairs, viz. the point of the purse; for my clothes are in such a dilapidated condition that I can hardly appear here with decency, let alone undertake a journey to Berlin. How willingly would I satisfy your wish in regard to earning some money, were there but the least opportunity here for doing so! I am living in the hope, that if I get so far as to pass my examination, some little place or other may turn up for me in Berlin, or at least be found through means of Berlin influences. For however impatient I may be to enjoy the happiness of seeing you again, and speaking with you, which my sister has lately described with such lively expressions of joy; however desirous I may be to revisit my fatherland, and more especially our little Anhalt, it would nevertheless be very painful for me were I obliged to return to the paternal roof like a poor abortion, which, under the present circumstances, would in a great measure be the case.

What you write about war and the preparations for war has greatly surprised us, as here we were under the impression that we were living in profound peace. It has since then been my fervent prayer that we may be spared this calamity, and that you, best of fathers, may not in your old age be exposed to the dangers and difficulties of a military campaign. In the most affectionate anxiety about you, I commend myself to your fatherly love, as

Your dutiful Son.

The Father to the Son.

[XLVI.] Reichenbach, 6th May, 1790.

MY DEAR SON,

Yesterday, praise be to God, I spent my birthday cheerfully, and thankfully in company with your sister; cheerfully and thankfully, because of my happiness as a father, of which I felt so conscious, while united with you all in spirit; for Lottchen spent the greater part of the forenoon in reading to me portions of yours¹ and Carl’s letters. And I beg you, nay, command you, in advance, dear son, not to upbraid her for having done so, if you would not that I in my turn shall reproach you, as indeed you deserve, for having so misjudged me, and having in consequence felt so little confidence in me, as to have deprived me of many a pleasure which I might have derived from your letters, had you not, as I fear you have, classed me among those morose parents who despoil themselves of the joys of their old age because they know not how to be children with children, and youths with youths. If you go on in this way, dear son, which however, I trust you will not, now that you are in Berlin — I shall hear nothing of what is stirring in your soul at the sight of the many works of art (the imitator of what is most beautiful in nature) which will enrich you with joys as yet quite new to you—joys which must ever draw you nearer to Him who is the creator of them, and who is all love. And do you think, dear son, that you will be doing honour to your blessed mother, or that you will be giving satisfaction to your fond old father, if, either from misplaced timidity, falsely called filial reverence, or what is worse—but which, though you may dislike to hear it, must be named:—if, from selfish motives, you continue thus to conceal all that is youthful and attractive in yourself from your loving and sympathizing father, who never misconstrues what is simply human; and if, for the sake of representing yourself to him as a staid man, you rob him of many a pleasure of the heart? Had you but once gladdened me on my birthday with a pleasant piece of poetry, such as the verses you have addressed to Selma, or something similar, I could forgive you everything else. But, indeed, even as it is, I will forgive you in the hope that in future you will afford me some compensation for the deprivation of your personal company which I endure in my old age, by writing more naturally and more openly to me.

And now, dear son, I will once more pray for God’s grace and blessing on your examination, if it be not already over, and on your trial sermon, and if it be His will, wish you every success in your endeavours to find a means of livelihood in Berlin. Seek, as often as you can, the society of Professor Garve, whom I visited in Breslau, and who told me that he was about to leave for Berlin. Present my respects to the gentlemen who are to examine you, and more especially to the court preacher, Mr. Sack, whose father examined and ordained me, and thank them in my name for the trouble they have taken in your behalf.

[XLVII.] Schweidnitz, 7th May, 1790.

… . There is one part of your last letter but one, which I have forgotten to touch upon, and which I must therefore now refer to. I mean that in which you take part for what you term the oppressed section of the theologians. Refrain from so doing, dear son; by all that is dear to you I entreat you to take no side whatever, not even that of the orthodox, but search for and honour truth wherever you find it. The manner in which attempts have been made to enforce the use of the Catechism is to me also most repugnant; it ought rather to have been simply recommended as a lesson book in conformity with the doctrinal standard of the whole of Protestant Europe; for that a certain doctrinal standard is necessary you cannot surely deny. There is not a Protestant country in Europe without one, not even enlightened England, and our Augsburg confession is so intimately interwoven with the political system of Protestant Europe, that no state can give it up without incurring danger. And what is ultimately to become of our Bible, the rudimentary book of religious knowledge which God has bestowed upon man? If they go on expounding it as they do at present, twenty years hence it will no longer be an elementary book for the people, because they will not be able to understand it without teachers and commentaries, consequently it will in a certain measure be taken from them, and then we shall again be plunged into a darkness like that of the Catholic times, when the people were not permitted to read the Bible.

I wish, my dear son, that you would read attentively Lessing’s Education of the Human Race; you will therein find many luminous thoughts on various matters that are warmly disputed by modern thinkers; and, in addition to this, I will lay before you an example borrowed from my own life, and beg you reflect whether it is worth following. During twelve years, at least, I preached, though a real unbeliever. I was at that time firmly convinced that Jesus had accommodated His discourses to the notions, and even to the prejudices of the Jews; and this opinion induced me to think that I ought to be equally modest in reference to the established popular belief. Never, therefore, did I feel at liberty to dispute the article concerning the divinity and atonement of Christ, because I knew from the history of the Church, and from the experience of other persons, that since the first foundation of Christianity these doctrines had given consolation to millions of men, and led them to repentance; and, although I was not myself convinced of their truth, I used to apply them in furtherance of morality and love to God and man, whenever the subject would admit of it. I wish that even should you not come to a decision in favour of the rectitude of this mode of proceeding, you would, at least, never publicly attack the doctrines in question. In Berlin I suppose you will have opportunities of reading Müller’s Philosophical Essays; there is undoubtedly much that is true and excellent in them; and I also recommend you to read Hemsterhuis’ philosophical works if you can get them, and Bacon, Novum Organum Scientiarum. You will then see, dear son, that true philosophers and independent thinkers are very modest people, and seldom wed themselves to a party, which, indeed, it is necessary to refrain from if one would search for truth.

I hope that as soon as you can command the necessary leisure you will write explicitly to me; and ah! how heartily I would rejoice if you could prevail upon yourself to write to me every day, openly and honestly from your heart, as to your best and most affectionate friend.

And now, my dear son, I commend you to God and to His mercy, and press you with fond love to the heart of

Your tender and affectionate Father.

Do write sometimes to poor dear Carl; but take care not to disturb his faith.

[XLVIII.] Anhalt, 27th January, 1791.

Far too long, dear son, you let me wait for accounts from you; for when, after a protracted period of unsettled life, I found myself, in the middle of November, again at home, and in the tranquil enjoyment of a domestic happiness which frequently made me, in mind, gather my absent children also around me, painful uneasiness about you often disturbed my pleasure. “What may our good Fritz be doing now? I hope no untoward accident has happened to him on his long journey!” were often my words; and the thought forced itself so repeatedly on me, that I am almost tempted to believe it was a secret foreboding of the mishap that you met with, but from which I trust you have now entirely recovered. Thank God that you are now out of danger, and probably quite well again. The bad leg was, no doubt, a consequence of the irruption, which Lotte mentions cursorily, that you suffered from on the journey, and which struck in. In future be careful not to treat such things with too much contempt, and let this occurrence be an incitement to you to make yourself acquainted with Tissot and Haller; and, upon the whole, to give more attention to your physical state. This matter gives me also occasion to prefer a complaint against Charlotte, on account of the miserly idolatry with which she broods over your letters; for, had she forwarded your letter to me, I should have been spared much uneasiness about you. You must not conceal from her that I am hurt at this. The good girl has indeed been in very delicate health for some months; but it seems to me that this ought rather to have awakened the desire to procure her old father a great pleasure by communicating your letter to him. But enough of this! I forget, while complaining, the good old saying, that love flows downward; and, on the other hand, I also console myself with the thought that Lotte probably calculates upon reading the letters to me when I visit her, and enjoying them together with me.

The Reverend Mr. Sack has, it seems, done a very kind thing by you. I value his service very highly, and wrote to thank him, and he has sent a very friendly answer to my letter. You are now, my dear son, by God’s merciful providence, removed from much sorrow and tribulation into a very suitable position, with which, as I see with pleasure from your letters, you are quite content. Let, therefore, your heart overflow with thankfulness to the all-good Guide of your youth, who has directed the whole course of your life, and let it increase your trust in Him. On me and mother you will confer great pleasure if you will write often and circumstantially, so that we may be able in thought to follow you in your regular daily avocations, and also be allowed, from time to time, to take part in the more or less pleasant events that may occur.

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Footnotes

1. None of the letters from Schleiermacher to his sister during this period are extant. ↩