Edward Hoare, M.A Part 14

Towards the end of November Mr. h.o.a.re preached for the first time after his recovery, and his friends rejoiced to see that few traces remained of his long and alarming illness. His sermon was ent.i.tled "The Best Teacher," and in the course of it the preacher said: "I believe that lately G.o.d has been teaching us all. He teaches at different times and in different ways. His teaching is not always the same in form.

Sometimes He gives His teaching by the voice of His teachers, and sometimes by their silence; sometimes by giving them power, and sometimes by taking it away. Now I believe that He has taught us all by His blessing on the ministry in this church during the twenty years we have wors.h.i.+pped together, for it was twenty years yesterday since I became inc.u.mbent of this parish. I thank G.o.d I believe He has taught many of you during that time by my own preaching, and I thank Him with my whole heart for the blessed results which He has given in His mercy. But I am not sure that this last year has not been the most teaching year of the twenty. I am not sure that He has not taught us all more by laying me on one side than He did by permitting me to preach. He has certainly taught us how He answers prayer, in a manner that no preaching could ever have done, and we meet this day with such an encouragement to pray as many of us never had before. But that is not the only lesson that G.o.d has been teaching us during the year. I know not how it has been with you, but for my own part I recognise many others which He has deeply impressed on my convictions. I do not mean to say that He has taught me new truths, but that He has made old truths, the grand old truths of the Gospel that I have loved for years, more precious than ever, and has filled my soul with an earnest desire, if it please Him to restore me to my ministry, to preach those truths as I have never done yet."

After that sermon he never flagged, but steadily rose again in health, and in the years that followed many a one was known to say that, although his preaching had always been clear, powerful, and convincing, yet after his illness it had gained a special characteristic-now he always seemed to speak as one who had come from the Saviour's presence and had heard His voice.

CHAPTER XIV _BOOKS AND SPEECHES_

Canon h.o.a.re never published any large theological work, but whenever any event "was in the air," or some religious point was brought into special prominence, a small book on the subject was sure to appear, written with his masterful clearness and power, that just served the needed purpose and put into men's hands the teaching which they sought.

A few of the best-known of these little books are the following: _upon the Prayer-Book_-"Baptism," "Doctrine of the Lord's Supper," "Absolution and Confession," "Our Protestant Church," "Morning and Evening Prayer,"

"Articles of the Church of England"; _upon the Bible_-"Witnesses to Truth," "Inspiration"; _upon Prophecy_-"Rome, Turkey, and Jerusalem,"

"Palestine, Egypt, and a.s.syria," "Egypt and the Prophecies"; _upon the Religious Life_-"Redemption," "Sanctification," "Conformity to the World"; and many others, some of which have had a great circulation.

His papers read at Diocesan Conferences and before large gatherings of clergy at Islington and all over England were models of clear thought and well-expressed ideas; if these could be collected together they would form a valuable handbook upon the most important spiritual and practical subjects.

But although Canon h.o.a.re was widely known by his small books and papers, and by the stream of visitors that attended Trinity Church during their sojourn at Tunbridge Wells, it was as a regular Congress speaker that he was familiar to members of the Church of England at large. His writings were read by the same sort of people who came to hear him preach, people for the most part with religious views like his own; but at Church Congresses all shades of opinion are represented, and although at earlier gatherings of this sort violent partisans tried to put down speakers of the Evangelical party by "exhibiting," as a witty Dean expressed it, "symptoms of the foot and mouth disease!" yet better feelings gained the day, and soon the calm and fearless speeches of many whose names will readily occur to the reader caused them to receive a welcome even from opponents. Ill-advised attempts were made at first by members of their own party to hinder Evangelical men from attending the Congress, but wiser counsels prevailed, and Canon h.o.a.re was one of those who felt that, unless he and other leaders were willing and able to stand up in defence of their principles on the Congress platform, the days of Evangelical truth were numbered. The sagacity of this view soon became apparent, and it has led to a kindlier feeling between men holding different theological opinions, as well as to a diffusion in unexpected quarters of teaching such as that which men like Canon h.o.a.re were well qualified to give.

The Vicar of Holy Trinity was asked on various occasions to speak at the Devotional Meeting that always closes the Congress week, and in reference to this the present Dean of Norwich once said to the writer, "I always call Canon h.o.a.re the Grand Amen."

Extracts from family-letters:-

"FAREHAM, _October_ 12_th_, 1874.

"At Brighton I was most kindly and comfortably entertained, but I cannot say I enjoyed the Congress. There was an immense attendance, and such a crowd that it was almost more than I could bear. The result was that I heard but a portion of what was said, and with that portion I must confess I was ill satisfied. The Evangelical clergy had to sit hour after hour listening to all kinds of things without the opportunity of saying a word. I was the only one called up on the subject of Church services, though a great number had sent in their cards, and I should think nearly ten Ritualists and High Churchmen were called up one after another. I did not in the least satisfy myself, though, as I had trusted it in the Lord's hands, I am satisfied that that which I said He gave me, and there I leave it.

But the result was very painful, for as the audience did not know of all the cards, it appeared as if I was the only speaker on our side and my poor words the best that could be produced. I am not surprised at those who prefer to go quietly on their way and do the Lord's work at home. But are we not to fight manfully? Yet how are we to do it if our hands are tied as they were there?"

"TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _August_ 6_th_, 1875.

"I hope you may have a happy Sunday. I propose to preach on the Song of the Redeemed in Rev. v. 9, as the winding-up of my course of sermons on Redemption. My subject is 'What do they think of it in Heaven?' and I fear there is a great contrast between their thoughts and ours. If it fills the praises of those who know most about it, surely it ought to fill the hearts of us who are saved through its power!"

"TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _May_ 26_th_, 1876.

"I fear I shall not be home to welcome you on Thursday, but hope to arrive that evening if G.o.d prospers me on my long journey to Southport and back. I am sure my paper ought to be very good, if I go such a long way to deliver it! I am thankful to say it is completed, and as good as I know how to make it; so I hope the Lord will accept it and make it useful. {201} I certainly have been producing a great deal lately, but by no means with uniform success.

The Lord has not let me feel that I have the power in my own hand, and has sometimes thoroughly humbled me, more especially in my speech for the Jews, which was a failure. But I was encouraged in my sermon about them which I preached last Sunday and which is being printed."

"OTTERY ST. MARY, _October_ 7_th_, 1876.

"I am writing this letter, though I am not sure that I shall not be with you as soon as it is. But I know you will be glad to hear from me if I can reach London in time for the post.

"I rejoice to think the Congress {202} is over, and am thankful also that I went to it. I believe that the paper was accepted of the Lord. It provoked no controversy, and was most kindly spoken of next day by one of the Ritualistic speakers: I had great reason therefore to be thankful. Some of our people did admirably, manifestly helped of the Lord, and I do not think the truth suffered. But we sadly wanted more Evangelicals; the Ritualists put on a number of young men, many of them foolish fellows and poor speakers, but they got more people on their legs than we did.

"Now for a race between my letter and myself; I wonder which will win!"

(MISSION), "MANCHESTER, _January_ 30_th_, 1877.

"You will be thankful to hear that the Lord is prospering us. We have had some desperate weather, and the congregations have of course been much less than they would have been. But you know I am not dependent on numbers, and have sometimes found the richest of blessings amidst a little flock on a stormy night. I hope we had such an one last night. It is almost impossible that the weather could have been rougher, but there was a capital congregation, considering, and profound attention. I believe also that there are many seriously impressed and others already greatly helped in their faith."

"YORK, _May_ 29_th_, 1877.

"I am delighted to hear a good report of you all, and rejoice to think how happy you must be now that the work is finished and the scaffold down. Notwithstanding all hindrances, it is an easier matter to beautify the outside than to reform that which is within.

We cannot set the heart right with Portland cement!

"I cannot say much about myself. I hope the Lord may have given His blessing, but I have not had the sense of power as in former days: possibly I have not sought it so much from the Lord; possibly people expect more from me, and are disappointed at what they hear.

"It is curious to find how 'Rome, Turkey, and Jerusalem' is read and thought about. I hear of it in all directions, and people express a great interest in it.

"The owner of the enclosed letter was also interested about 'Inspiration,' as he remembered the address when originally given, and I promised to send him a copy."

"CATERHAM, _April_ 14_th_, 1878.

"I hope you are enjoying a peaceful Sunday; but I cannot bear to be away from you, for I do not feel very happy about you. I have felt afraid that I was not sufficiently grateful for all your kind care of me, and that I sometimes seemed cross when I ought to have been full of grat.i.tude! But I did not feel poorly enough to justify all the care that was taken of me. I hope I may be all right by the time I come home, and that if I am not I may at all events be in a more thankful and submissive spirit. I think it is a very possible thing that a man living with a party of young people does not always realise what they are feeling, and so does not show that tender sympathy which is the beautiful peculiarity of a mother's love. But I have often prayed that I may be a mother as well as a father to you all, and, I trust, may be enabled to meet your hearts' desires more fully than I have ever done yet.

"But, oh! what a wonderful mercy it is that in the recollection of all our defects and failings we may fall back on the finished Atonement! 'The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.'

There is a resting-place for sons, for daughters, and, blessed be G.o.d, for fathers."

"KING'S LYNN, _October_ 9_th_, 1878.

"I hope that you have been interested about the Congress, and have read carefully Canon Tristram's most interesting speech in the _Times_ of Sat.u.r.day. It is one of the most remarkable addresses I ever met with, and I rejoice to find how well it is reported in the secular papers. Do read it together, if you have not done so already.

"I do not know what to say of my own speech, and am puzzled by the way in which it was received. My own friends were most cordial, but what astonished me most was that - - and - {204a} came after the meeting and thanked me for it. {204b} What it was for which they felt grateful I cannot imagine. I delight to hope that G.o.d may have helped them to see His Gospel more plainly than before; but He knows, and He only."

In the year 1879 there came an earnest request for a Mission Tour in some of the dioceses in India, similar to the one alluded to on a previous page as emanating from Australia. He was anxious to accept the invitation, but his medical adviser in London, Sir William Jenner, absolutely forbade the undertaking, and it had to be given up.

The description of the death of an old and valued servant is very characteristic. The writer well remembers the calm that pervaded the household next morning, and the mingled sorrow at the loss of a faithful friend and yet of thanksgiving at the thought of one of their household being called to the Palace of the King.

"TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _March_ 8_th_, 1880.

"I hope you all enjoyed a happy and peaceful Sunday yesterday, as we did at home, notwithstanding the solemn, but peaceful, event with which ours concluded. F- had pa.s.sed a bad night and felt poorly in the morning, but she came to prayers as usual. She did not go to church, and H- went to Dr. Marsack for some medicine. During the day she lay on her bed a good deal; but when we went to evening church she was in the kitchen with S-, sitting in her chair, reading her Bible. S- went into the pantry for two or three minutes, and when she returned there was our faithful friend with not a muscle moved or a feature changed, but the spirit gone. Her Bible was open at the text on which I had been preaching in the morning (2 Cor. v. 1, 6); and so, gently and without the slightest struggle, the knowledge by faith was exchanged for that by sight and she entered into the visible presence of her Lord... .

"When I came home from Southborough I found her laid out in the little room, looking just the same as usual, with a perfectly peaceful, tranquil appearance, with no more disturbance of expression than a little child shows in its sleep.