E. He who fearest is not made wise in love; because what is feared is not hoped for, but dreaded as an evil. I would remove all fear, for thou canst not fear and be free. When thou fearest, thou art in bonds, and when thou art in bonds, thy heart is unreconciled to thy condition. It is not satisfactory to thyself. Thy unreconciliation is dissatisfaction with thy condition. Thou wouldst hope for better things, but thy mind hath been instructed in many errors which remain to disturb thee. M. Thou hast said, in thy pilgrimage with us, that what I believe was true. E. I said, as I believed; but thou wilt understand that belief is not always correct. Thou canst believe because of my saying; but thou canst not know without investigation and tangible facts. The circle, which bids me labor for thy good, walk not by faith but by wisdom. They are not controlled by opinions or faiths, but by actual experiments. It is not actual experiments and demonstrations of facts which weary thy mind, and paralyze thy industry, but it is thy opinions and doubts. They are the messengers of discontent and trouble. If thou wouldst distrust thy distrust, and doubt thy doubts, thy mind would feel the inspiration of hope. When thy mind hopest for good, thy confidence is superior to thy doubts. Then the despondency of thy condition vanishes. M. But what have I to hope for? E. Thou wilt ask, what is there which I may not hope for? There is no good, which thou mayest not attain. The wisdom of circles, whose glory thou hast not seen, may be thine by receiving it. But thy doubts cause thee to reject thy own good. When the prize is offered thee, thou refusest, because of thy unbelief. Thy doubts distrust and reject the best good. They rob thee by thy own consent. It is, indeed, no wonder to me now, why thou shouldst not advance, and become more happy. I would advise thee, but thy wisdom apprehends mischief from me. Now, I am not of thy circle, thou fearest some evil intention is with me. The worst evil thou canst suffer, is the evil of resisting wisdom. M. I would not resist what is wise and good, but I would know that it is wise and good before I receive it. E. How canst thou know what thy wisdom rejects? When thou askest aid, how canst thou be benefited, so long as the aid is rejected? Must not the aid be received to help thee? Wouldst thou require tangible evidence, or demonstrations of its usefulness before thou wouldst accept what thy necessities demand? Thou askest for the proof of a thing, when thou rejectest the only means which can give thee the required satisfaction. As well might the ignorant say, “I will receive instruction when I am satisfied by experience that it will be for my advantage, and not before,” as for thee to demand knowledge of a subject before thou receivest the lessons, which will make thee know the truth of the subject. M. Then, I must receive what thou sayest as truth, and test it by my experience.