Chapter V

THE RELIGIOUS SANCTION: "SUGGESTIONS FOR THOUGHT"
(1860)

The religious sanction behind Miss Nightingale's life of work--
Resumption of her theological speculations--Printing of her
_Suggestions for Thought_--General character of the book. II. Miss
Nightingale and John Stuart Mill--Her introduction to Benjamin
Jowett--The book submitted to them--Mill's advice that it should be
published, Jowett's that it should not--Literary imperfections--Her
impatience of literary revision. III. Scope of the book--Vehemence
of style--Explanation of Mill's and Jowett's contrary advice. IV.
Origin of the book--Sketch of her theological system--Thoughts on
Prayer--God as Law--Influence of Quetelet--Doctrine of human
perfectibility as explaining the existence of evil--Freewill and
Necessity--Belief in a future life--The philosophy of history--
Motive for human conduct. V. Miss Nightingale's attitude to current
creeds, Protestant and Catholic. VI. Spiritual intensity with which
she held her creed 468