Again his congregation assembled 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 petitions to God, 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 perishing, 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 10th, 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 God 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 God! 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. Hoare.”
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 God 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. Hoare.”
To Mr. Storr, upon hearing of the wonderful collections for the C.M.S. in Matfield and Brenchley:—
“February 24th.
“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 God.”
To one of his daughters:—
“Newcastle, July 31st, 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 God 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.”