Edward Hoare, M.A Part 17

"LAMBETH, _June_ 12_th_, 1889.

"MY DEAR MR. h.o.a.rE,-Pray give my love and the a.s.surance of my loving prayers to your dear father.

"I had your letter this morning at Hereford.

"As some old writer says, it is 'like the descending of ripe and wholesome fruits from a vigorous and steadfast tree' when G.o.d calls to Him so single-minded and true a servant-all contests over, and charity having triumphed more and more to the end. Tell him, as you think fit, how much I have always felt that he helped and comforted me in my trying place. I have always had his sympathy and genial counsel, and his _prayers_. And his strength has been _consecrated_ to the last. In what honour he pa.s.ses to the last peace! May it be wholly ???d????, as the old Greek prayers say. Once more you are all sure of our prayers, and of the prayers of how many through Christ who loves him ever.

"Most sincerely yours, "E. W. CANTUAR."

Again his congregation a.s.sembled in daily prayer-meeting, as before; and when it was supposed impossible that he could live out the day the C.M.S.

Committee met and poured out their pet.i.tions to G.o.d, asking that their veteran friend and adviser might yet be spared if it were His will.

The prayer was answered, and once more he rose from the bed of sickness, wonderfully unchanged. Compared with past years, we saw that the outward man was peris.h.i.+ng, but we saw also that the inward man was being renewed day by day. Before long he was again in the pulpit, and it was more than three years after this that he preached the sermon upon "Confirmation" to which reference has been already made, as well as one upon the "Agnus Dei," delivered after the Archbishop of Canterbury's famous judgment.

To Bishop Perry:-

"TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _January_ 10_th_, 1890.

"MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,-I cannot tell you how much I have felt about dear Carus. When we think of his age we cannot be surprised, and when we think of his love, his fidelity, his maintenance of the truth, and his great attractiveness we know not how to part with so valuable and pleasant a companion. But as far as you and I are concerned the parting is not likely to be for very long. As we see one after another of our old friends gathered to their rest, it would be madness in us to forget how near we ourselves may be to the banks of the river, or to lose sight for a single moment of the blessed Hope set before us in Christ Jesus. I trust we may all be kept looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious reunion of the Resurrection morning and of the Coming of the Lord. I must acknowledge that for my own part I find myself better able to realise the prospect of that final reunion than the thought of our gathering before the Throne in the intermediate waiting time; but I am persuaded that both are taught in Scripture, and that when we are no longer entangled in the body we shall see wonderful things in the spiritual world, and when we do how shall we ever praise G.o.d enough for His marvellous love in making a perfect atonement for people so unworthy as we are! I don't know how it is with others, but I find myself there is scarcely any sentence in the Prayer-Book which so expresses my own mind as those words, 'We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Thy table'; but, thanks be to G.o.d! we depend upon the worthiness of that blessed Saviour by whom every claim of the whole law is more than satisfied. Remember me most affectionately to Mrs. Perry, and believe me

"Your loving and faithful Friend, "E. h.o.a.rE."

Letter to Bishop Parry after seeing a report in the papers that he was dangerously ill:-

"DEAR EDWARD,-We are all truly sorry to hear that you are not so well... . But how can we thank G.o.d enough for the unspeakable privilege of knowing that all such matters are safe in the hand of the Lord! I often think of those words of St. Paul, 'We know that all things work together for good,' etc. He did not say 'we think,'

or 'we hope,' but 'we _know_,' thereby expressing the full persuasion of his soul in the infinite love and perfect power of our blessed Saviour in combining all things so that they may work together for our good. I delight in the thought that it is our privilege to rest in that full, calm, deliberate persuasion, and that, looking away from everything in ourselves, we may look to Him in peaceful trust, as an eternal object that will not vary with our own variations of thought and feeling. May He keep you in His own right hand, and raise you up if it be His will; and above all, whenever the time of our departure comes, and it must come to us both before very long, may He fulfil present persuasion by giving us an abundant entrance into His everlasting Kingdom.

"Believe me most faithfully yours, "E. h.o.a.rE."

To Mr. Storr, upon hearing of the wonderful collections for the C.M.S. in Matfield and Brenchley:-

"_February_ 24_th_.

"DEAR MR. STORR,-I wonder whether there is any information respecting the things of this world given to those who are at rest with their Saviour? If there is 'joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth,'

may we not believe that there is also joy when the Lord's work is prospered among His people that are on earth? If it be so, I am sure your dear father's heart will be gladdened by the good report sent me in your letter. It is delightful to see the permanent results of faithful work such as his was at Brenchley. He is gone, but the light which he lighted is still burning, and I hope will long continue to burn to the glory of G.o.d."

To one of his daughters:-

"NEWCASTLE, _July_ 31_st_, 1890.

"May the Lord grant you a very happy birthday, and follow it up by the very best of new years! I wonder where we shall all be this time next year; one thing only do I know, _i.e._ that we shall be safe in the Lord's hands, so that all will be well. If safe in Him we shall be safe anywhere, whether in Heaven or on earth, whether in the Home above or in some dear old dwelling here. Let the Spirit of G.o.d be on the tabernacle and all will be well.

"We are prospering, and hope to return on Tuesday. I have quite given up all thought of Stirling, and am looking forward to home with great pleasure."

[Written with the aid of a typewriter.]

"TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _August_, 1890.

"What do you think of this? I have been contriving a plan for writing without seeing: I hope it will answer, but as yet I get on very slowly."

[Also typewritten.]

"TENCHLEY, _October_ 12_th_, 1891.

"I am thinking of you very much in your return to our dear old home, and trust the Lord Himself is with you. I do not like the thought of your being alone, but there is a great difference between being alone and being _lonely_, and lonely we need never be if only we have the companions.h.i.+p of our Father in Heaven, and that I trust you are enjoying.

"We are hoping to return on Thursday, if G.o.d permit: I trust it will please Him to grant it.

"Let us all pray that there may not merely be three sisters, but the three sister-graces, Faith, Hope, and Love, abiding together in our happy home."

"THOUGHTS ON OLD AGE.-1891.

"Its temptations:-

"1. _Indisposition to exertion_.-In many cases there is real physical inability. The old muscles are worn out, so that 'the gra.s.shopper becomes a burden,' and every movement requires effort.

The natural result of this is, we move as little as possible and are glad to have as much as possible done for us. But there is very often a still worse result-namely, that we are apt to leave things undone altogether; we do not like to give in, but when the time comes for action we shrink from the exertion.

"2. _Selfishness_.-Aged people meet with a great amount of attention; their comfort is a matter of continual thought to many loving hearts. Household arrangements are all made to suit them; young people are exceedingly kind to them; they read to them, write for them, help them in every possible manner, and do all in their power to minister to their happiness and comfort. The result is that the old man is apt to consider himself as much as others."

In his latter years there was an added joy in visiting the homes of his married sons and daughters.

The circle of interest widened in sympathy with the joys and sorrows of his grandchildren, and it is no small proof of the tenderness and strength of his character that a man of his age, with so much to occupy his mind in public and private things, could find time for letters to the boys and girls of the second generation. The two following letters are instances of this.

To one of his grandsons:-

"TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _February_ 7_th_, 1890.

"DEAR CHRIS.,-I have been thinking of you every day, and praying to our Heavenly Father to make you a good and happy boy.

"I know it is a very sad thing for you to lose Louis, but I have also been thinking what a delightful duty it puts upon you, for now you have your father and mother all to yourself, and are the only boy at home to attend to them and try to make them happy. I think this is a great pleasure and privilege, and I expect to have a nice letter some day from your mother to say that dear Chris. is so good and attentive that he makes the home quite cheerful. But we are such fallen creatures that you cannot do this unless the Lord Himself helps you.

So I trust He will do so, and make you a joy to your father and mother.

"Your affectionate Grandfather, "E. h.o.a.rE."

To one of his granddaughters:-

"TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _February_ 24_th_, 1891.

"DEAR LETTICE,-I am very glad to hear that you are so happy and prosperous, and I often think what a happy arrangement it has been for your early education. I am sure we ought all to be very grateful to your uncle and aunt for their kindness in making it. How much kindness we meet with in life! I am sure there is kindness for the old, for I am receiving it every day, and I am equally sure there is kindness for the young, for I am constantly meeting with persons who are spending their whole lives in making them happy. But what are we to think of the lovingkindness of the Lord? David says it is better than life, and so I hope you will find it. You have a name that means joy, and I hope the joy may be, not in your name only, but in your heart. For the last two days I have had a great joy in my home, and I shall leave it to you to guess what it is. It is the visit of a lady for whom I feel a great affection. She has sons and daughters who are great friends of mine, so that I wish she had brought some of them with her. You must guess who it can be, and also find David's words about lovingkindness (Psalm lxiii. 3).

"The loving old Grandfather, "E. H."

Extracts from letters to his married daughters:-

"TUNBRIDGE WELLS, _November_ 11_th_, 1890.