A Victorian’s Religious Beliefs

CONVICTION

The word conviction is more often mentioned in relation to evil, than to good. But it is as easy, and it is as fair, for a man’s mind to be convinced of his good, as his evil deeds. Until he has done food or evil deeds he cannot be convinced of either kind. But the Rule is that all mankind mark their history with a little that is evil, and much that is good, and as man moves onwards he is very well convinced, in his own mind, of both his evil and his good. And generally, man is willing for even other people to convince him of his good deeds, it is an easy thing to do. But if they try to convince him of his evil deeds he is furious, and they are defeated. Still the man himself is self-convinced, for every cruel and sinful deed draws a black mark across his soul, for him to glare at in his loneliness, and in his dreadful silence. And, in proportion to the vileness of man’s sins, this miner conviction will in some degree hold him down, body and spirit, until he shall truly repent. And even then, sin’s heavy influence will long float in his memory – “For their works do follow them”.

George Burgess – June 1899