SPIRITUAL LETTERS
of EDWA!R> KIHG, D.D.
late Lord Bishop of Lincoln
SPIRITUAL LETTERS
OF
EDWARD KING, D.D.
LATE LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN
EDITED BY
REV. B. W. RANDOLPH, D.D.
Canon of Ely and
Principal of Ely Theological College
A. R. MOWBRAY & CO. LTD.
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First Impression, November, 1910
INTRODUCTION.
EDWARD KING, the writer of these letters, was the son
of the Archdeacon of Rochester, the Ven. Walter
King, and grandson of the Bishop of Rochester, Dr.
King, who held that See during the first quarter of
the nineteenth century. He was born at Stone,
December 29, 1829, and after being privately edu
cated by tutors, he went to Oriel College, Oxford,
and took his degree in 1851. After a short period
of travel he was ordained in 1854 by Bishop Wilber-
force to the Curacy of Wheatley, the village at the
foot of the hill leading up to Cuddesdon. That he
never lost his love for Wheatley and for the charm of
village life the letters in this little volume abundantly
testify. It was the same year in which the Theological
College at Cuddesdon was founded. Four years later,
in 1858, King became Chaplain of that Institution,
when the Rev. Alfred Pott (afterwards Archdeacon of
Berkshire) was Principal, and Henry Parry Liddori
was Vice-Principal.
In 1863, on the death of the Rev. W. H. Swinney
(who had succeeded Mr. Pott in 1859), King was made
Principal. During his tenure of office, first as Chap*
lain and then as Principal, the College was from time
to tnnei . the object of considerable suspicion ; and
vi INTRODUCTION.
though the attacks made on it by Mr. Golightly and
others are now happily forgotten, it was no easy task
to which King had been called.
Under all the strain of controversy, however, he
kept quietly on, exercising an altogether unique
influence over the students, and setting a stan
dard in regard to the devotional life and ideals
of Theological Colleges, which has profoundly in
fluenced the English Church. His lectures and
addresses were full of deep spiritual power, and made
a lasting impression on successive generations of
men.
In 1873 Mr. Gladstone nominated Canon King
to the Regius Professorship of Pastoral Theology
at Oxford, with a Canonry of Christ Church annexed.
The ampler opportunities which this position afforded
him were taken advantage of, and he became in a
very few years the paramount religious influence in
Oxford, exercising an extraordinary fascination over
all kinds of undergraduates, and honoured and loved
also by the senior members of the University.
On the resignation of Bishop Wordsworth of
Lincoln early in the year 1885, Mr. Gladstone recom
mended King as his successor, and he was consecrated
on S. Mark s Day in St. Paul s Cathedral Dr. Bick-
ersteth being consecrated to the See of Exeter at the
same time in the presence of a vast congregation.
It was on this occasion that Dr. Liddon preached one
of his most memorable sermons, and anticipated for
his friend an Episcopate which would rank " here
after with thpse which, in point of moral beauty, stand
INTRODUCTION. vii
highest on the roll of the later English Church with
Andrewes, with Ken, with Wilson, and with
Hamilton."
How completely this prediction has been fulfilled
all the world knows. The Bishop enjoyed an Epis
copate of twenty-five years (all but seven weeks),
and died on March 8, 1910.
The letters in this volume have been selected by
the present writer out of those which many kind
friends of the Bishop have been good enough to send
him, or from those which he has himself at various
times received.
He desires to express his grateful thanks to those
who have entrusted him with letters. His design
has been to give to the world a small volume of
Spiritual Letters ; he has, therefore, somewhat rigor
ously excluded all such letters as would not naturally
be found in such a category, or which might more
properly be included in a Biography.
The first nineteen letters were all written to the same
correspondent, who, as a boy at Wheatley, began
his acquaintance with King in 1857, and who kept up
a yearly correspondence with him from that date till
1909.
The other letters are of a more miscellaneous char
acter, and it has been found difficult to arrange them
very satisfactorily in order of subjects. The Frag
ments at the end, which are taken for the most part
out of longer letters, will not be thought the least
precious part of the volume. Simplicity, tenderness,
sympathy and love combined with deep spiritual in-
viii INTRODUCTION.
sight these are the notes which seem to dominate
every one of these letters, while ever and anon there
are flashes of that quiet humour and playfulness
which those who knew the Bishop will recognise as
one of the most delightful and never-failing traits of
his beautiful, inspiring, and uplifting character.
B. W. RANDOLPH,
THE ALMONRY, ELY.
Feast of St. Hugh of Lincoln, 1910.
LIST OF CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE.
I To a Pupil Teacher Growth in Character ... i
II To the same Knowledge and Wisdom ... 2
III To the same On the Bible 3
IV To the same On saying "No" .... 6
V To the same On Worship 8
VI To the same Now become a Student at Culham
Training College . . . . . . . 10
VII To the same On Humility 12
VIII To the same On Holidays 13
IX To the same On Conversion 14
X To the same The Gospel Life 15
XI To the same On the Breaking up of Home. . . 17
XII To the same On Blessings in the Church . . . 18
XIII To the same On his Marriage 20
XIV To the same On Making Progress . . . . 21
XV To the same Village Life . . . . . . 22
XVI To the same Village Life . . . . . . 25
XVII To the same Old Age 26
XVIII To the same The Psalms 28
XIX To the same The Old Ways 30
XX To an Ordinand On his Parting from a Friend . . 31
x CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE.
XXI To the same On Beginning his Clerical Work. . 33
XXII To the same On his Holidays at Home ... 35
XXIII To the same On his Ordination to the Priesthood . 38
XXIV To the same On Reading 40
XXV To the same On God s Discipline and Guidance . 43
XXVI To the same On his Decision to remain at his Post
for the Present instead of going to Zanzibar . 45
XXVII To the same On Development of Character . . 47
XXVIII To a Friend On his Marriage 48
XXIX To a Father On the Birth of his first Child . . 50
XXX To a Priest On Difficulties in a Country Parish . 52
XXXI To a Priest On Change of Work .... 54
XXXII To one of his Younger Clergy who had entered on
a New Sphere of Work 55
XXXIII To the same 56
XXXIV To a Priest On leaving his Diocese . . . 57
XXXV To the same In his New (and more Southerly)
Parish ......... 59
XXXVI To the same On Love of Souls .... 60
XXXVII To one of his Chaplains Confirmations 61
XXXVIII On appointing one of his Clergy to a Benefice . . 62
XXXIX To an Old Friend Parochial Work ... 63
XL To a Priest In Sorrow 64
XLI To One of his Clergy On his accepting a Benefice . 65
XLII To a Priest working in the Colonies Ritual
Troubles 66
XLIII On Confession ft . 68
XLIV To a Priest On Hearing Confessions . . 70
XLV To a Priest On Confession 72
XLVI To a Missionary Bishop On Confession ... 76
CONTENTS.
XI
CHAP. PAGE.
XLVII To a Candidate for Ordination 78
XLVIII On Daily Communion 80
XLIX To a priest in Weak Health in Charge of a Hospital
On Fasting 82
L To a Lady On Troubles 83
LI To the same On asking Forgiveness ... 84
LII To a Lady who was Depressed because she was
not making Progress ...... 85
LIII To a Priest A Moral Case ... .86
LIV To a Priest A Moral Case 88
LV To a Nurse in the Diocese of Bloemfontein . . go
LVI To a Young Lady Thanks for an Altar Frontal . 92
LVII To a Friend On the Illness of his Son, who was
a Candidate for Ordination ..... 94
LVIII To a Priest The Athanasian Creed ... 95
LIX To an Old Friend Old Age ..... 96
LX To a Young Man On the Presence of God . . 98
LXI On Presbyterians wishing for Communion . . 99
LXII On the Marriage of one Unbaptised . . . 100
LXIII To a Priest A Case of Discipline .... 101
LXIV A Dispensation 102
LXV To a Lady A Rule of Life 103
LXVI Mysticism 105
LXVII Respecting a Young Man in an Office who found
himself compelled to make Misleading Statements
in his Correspondence, yet wished to be Con
firmed 107
LXVIII Nonconformists ....... 108
LXIX To a Priest On the celibacy of the Clergy . . 109
LXX Suffering , , . . . , . . .no
.
XII
CONTENTS.
CHAP.
LXXI
LXXII
LXXIII
LXXIV
LXXV
To one who had recently been appointed Tutor in
a Missionary College ......
To the same
To the same .
To one of his Chaplains Missionary Work .
To a Lady, who in undertaking New work, was
acting rather against what the Bishop had Advised
LXXVI When asked to be Patron of a Choral Society
which proposed to give performances of Oratorios
on Sunday
LXXVII To one of his Younger Clergy On his desire to
join the Society of S. John the Evangelist,
Cowley
LXXVIII To a Young Priest On Home Life . .
LXXIX To a Priest of the Diocese - On Communion with
God ....?;....
LXXX To a Working Man ...
The Letter of the Foregoing
LXXXI To some Friends with whom he had Travelled
Thanking for Presents
LXXXII Bible Reading
LXXXIII To a Lady On Fasting Communion .
LXXXI V To the Members of the Guild of S. Barnabas for
Nurses . . . . . . .
LXXXV To the same . .
LXXXVI To the same
LXXXVII On Friendship
LXXXVIII The Burden of Life
LXXXIX Pageants
XC To a Friend Wordsworth s Poems . . .
XCI To a Lay Reader of the Diocese who had sent him
a copy of an Address to Sunday School Teachers
in
"3
"5
116
117
ri8
119
120
123
I2 4
125
127
128
I2g
130
134
137
138
139
I 4 2
CONTENTS.
Kill
CHAP. PAGE.
XCII To a Priest On the Death of his Sister . . . 143
XCIII To a Priest On Confession 144
XCIV To one who had lost his Mother . . . .146
XCV To a Friend On the Death of his Married Daughter 147
XCVI To a Lady On the Death of a Sailor Lad . . 149
XCVII To a Friend Dr. Liddon s Funeral . . .150
XCVIll On the Death of Dean Church 151
XCIX To a Lady On the Death of his own Sister . . 152
C To one whose Brother had been Drowned at Sea . 153
CI To his Cousin On the Death of her Sister . . 154
CII To one who had lost his Father . . . .155
CIII To a Young Man On the Death of his Father . 156
CIV To a Priest On the Death of his Child . . 157
CV To a Young Lady On the Death of her Brother . 158
CVI To a Lady On the Death of her Brother . . 159
CVII To the same On the Death of her Father . . 160
CVIII To a Friend On the Death of his Mother . . 161
CIX To one of his Clergy On the Death of his Wife . 162
CX To a Lady On the Death of her Father, an Old
Friend of the Bishop s 163
CXI To a Lady On the Death of her Mother . . 164
CXII To a Lady On the Death of her Father . . .165
CXIII To a Friend On the Death of his Wife . . .166
CXIV To One of His Chaplains On the Execution of a
Criminal ........ 167
I CXV To the same 168
CXVI To the same On the Execution of another Criminal 169
CXVII To an Old Friend who had heard that he was not
well 170
xiv CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE.
CXVIII In Reply to one who had Written to him on his
Eightieth Birthday 171
CXIX To an Old Friend In reply to a Birthday Letter , 172
CXX To an Old Friend 173
CXXI To one of his Clergy ; 174
CXXII The Bishop s Last Letter to his Diocese ; Written
six days before he Died 175
FRAGMENTS 176-184
BISHOP KING S
SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
i.
TO A PUPIL TEACHER GROWTH IN
CHARACTER.
STONE, 1858.
Thank you for all your letters. You know I have
had much to think of lately ; indeed, at such times it
seems more proper to be quiet in thought than to
speak or write much.
It is a time to learn rather than to teach.
I hope you have not (or rather / have not) given
very much trouble to your family about the house. I
hope, if all is well, to return on Thursday. I shall be
very glad to be near you all once more. This world
is so full of changes, C , that we cannot tell how
long we may be together. I think it would be a great
pleasure to me if God should see fit to leave me near
you until your character is firmly settled in the right
way. It would give me great pleasure, though I do not
deserve such a reward. If only you are really good,
humble and earnest, I will willingly be content that
God may teach you, protect you in soul and body,
and form your whole mind according to His Will,
and bless you in yourself, and if He spares you in
2 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
your future work. This is ever, C , the daily and
earnest prayer of one who, through much weakness,
loves you dearly for Christ s sake.
Yours affectionately.
God bless you all !
II.
TO THE SAME KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM.
STONE, DARTFORD, March i, 1859.
I am very sorry to hear that your mother is ill. I
hope one of you will write and tell me how she is.
I have not written to any of you because I am
afraid I may have already given you more trouble
than is good for you from my own weak health, and
I am afraid that I shall make you too sad, when you
ought to be happy and cheerful.
We leave all to our God, Who loves us far better
even yet be spared us, but the doctors say we must
expect the trial to be a long one.
We leave all to our God, who loves us far better
than we love ourselves or one another. I am trying
to learn what I have often said, " Thy will be done."
I trust you are going on well. Be pure, honest,
humble, earnest. Strive by reading, with prayer and
meditation, to obtain "the mind of Christ." Get all
the knowledge you can, labour to become a perfect
master of all the subjects you may have to teach.
KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
You must have this knowledge, but always remember
that knowledge and wisdom are different things.
"Knowledge is proud that she knows so much,
Wisdom is humble that she knows no more."
Look out S. James iii. 17. Remember it when
your blackboard and chalk are ready. Remember
me to R. R. and all your family.
God bless you all ! I am, my very dear C ,
Yours very affectionately.
III.
TO THE SAME ON THE BIBLE.
STONE, July 30, 1859.
Thank you for your two letters. I am not sorry
that you have met with an opponent while you are yet
with us. At the same time I would advise you not to
talk more than is necessary with such persons. It is
much easier to throw dirt than to wash it off. I shall
be very glad to talk over all that he has said. One or
two things I may mention now.
A.
i . Your friend says that he has
(a) Studied ) the Bible and does not
(6) Thought over J believe it.
Now, giving him credit for having done this, I am
not the least surprised that he does not believe it,
unless he can add that he has
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS
(c) Done (i.e., put into practice) all that he has
read!
If any man will DO His Will, he shall know of the
doctrine, whether it be of God (S. John vii. 17).
2. If your friend is now forty years old, was good
as a boy and young man, and has really for the last
twenty years with prayer and fasting studied the
Bible, putting INTO PRACTICE AT ONCE all he read, and
still does not believe, I shall be glad to know who he
is that I may hear more about him.
But even if he has done all this I shall not be
shaken.
We sometimes find a calf with two heads, or a child
born with no arms.
So there are extraordinary kinds of minds, which
puzzle us, but which we know quite well are not the
regular intended pattern, but in fact they are mental
monsters, just like the calf or the child.
B.
i. With regard to Cain s wife, you are quite right
in thinking that the Bible does not profess to contain
a full account of everything. It is a guide Book for
fallen man, pointing out the way back to eternal
happiness. The Way that is, Christ our Saviour.
2. If you were to ask me to tell you how to go to
Oxford, would you think me a wise guide if I were to
tell you where all the roads would lead you which
branch out of the way you want to go. I should have
to mention them to tell you to pass on, but that would
be enough.
So you must not expect the Bible will satisfy your
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 5
curiosity, and, indeed, if you believe our God to be
our Father you will not expect that His love would
allow us to be so much bothered, for good.
I shall be very glad to talk this over with you again.
You see, C , these questions are only to be really
answered by those old deep quiet thoughts. It is for
this reason that I want you to think.
C.
i. When your friend says the Bible is only like
any other history,
May I ask :
(1) What other histories he has read?
(2) Which of these are as old as the Bible?
(3) Which of them contain so many wonderful
types and prophecies?
The children are talking to me while I am writing,
so I must stop. I hope you will enjoy your holidays.
I hope to be back Saturday, the 6th.
God bless you, my dear C . Give my love to
Yours very affectionately.
6 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
IV.
TO THE SAME ON SAYING "NO."
WOODSIDE, DARTFORD, January 10, 1860.
Many thanks for your good wishes. I hope you
will always keep up the same warmth of heart, but
you will find the world makes many cold.
I am very glad that you have had such a good holi
day. It is not so easy to live well out in the world as
it is at Cuddesdon.
I am not surprised, at least not very much, at your
not being at church. At the same time, I expect
C did not feel quite right, and possibly thought
he was wrong, and so you really were, my dear C .
But you see how hard it is to live in the world with
kind people who are not very religious, and not to
give up one s own time, and yet not to offend. One
of the best ways to say " No " without offending
people is to be free from selfishness. If you are
always ready to do anything for anybody, when you
say "No " people will understand that it is not want
of goodwill on your part, but from real principle, be
cause you do not think it right to do what they ask
you to do. Don t forget this selfishness, i.e., pleas
ing oneself is often the root from which the difficulty
of saying " No " springs.
If you had cleaned Mr. A. s boots, held his horse
in a snow storm, posted his letters in a pouring rain,
given him the sugar out of your tea, waited two hours
for him without a growl, you might, after years of
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
such conduct, have said " iVo " without any danger
of giving offence. The sugar, the boots and the
letters are all in your power. But the " No " BY
ITSELF is often really too much. But then observe it
is our fault that it is too much. It might have
been within our power.
But you are tired of this, I can see.
The doves came quite safe. I take them to
morrow to my brother s children.
God bless you.
8 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
V.
TO THE SAME ON WORSHIP.
ST. LEONARDS, January 17, 1863.
I have had such a quantity of letters to write, and
have been so much put out of my way by the inces
sant eating and drinking which goes on here, that I
have never written to you to thank you for your letter
from Addington, and I am very glad to hear a good
account of you all, and to know that you had been
helping to keep up the services (I am not going to
write you a sermon), but I advise you sometimes to
consider the two views (or uses) of worship :
(1) To ask for things for ourselves.
(2) To render the glory which is due to God.
People do not think enough about the second
point. They only pray or go to church when they
want something. The devil tries to make them think
it would be an act of pride to offer God anything, but
He says plainly: "Whoso offereth Me thanks and
praise he honoureth Me."
And we know among ourselves how pleased a
mother is with a present from her children, and so
will you be just as much pleased by the attention from
your children as I have been by all your loving affec
tion and attention for the last six years to myself.
Don t forget then that it is a poor selfish thing only
to have services when we want to get something. It
ought always to be kept up as much as we can here,
and really always in heaven.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. ,9
But you know all this, my dear Charlie, just as well
as I do. I only fear that the ignorant mass of half
hearted Christians at may make you doubt these
truths.
Your most grateful and affectionate.
io BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
VI.
TO THE SAME NOW BECOME A STUDENT AT
CULHAM TRAINING COLLEGE.
ST. LEONARDS, January 25, 1863.
I am afraid you have no second post at Culham, so
that this will not be ready for you on your arrival,
as I wished. However, it will not be displeasing to
you, I dare say, in the morning in the midst of your
new friends.
Many thanks for your letter. I am very glad you
are through your examination. No doubt you arc
all the better without the first class, and so am I, as
it saves me my ten pounds! But I mean to give you
half, and will send you ^"5 as soon as I get back.
This will help for the books, etc. If I forget please
remind me.
And so now you are really at college !
I hardly know what to say to you. However,
go on in your old way. Don t be in a hurry to
change for new ways, which others would persuade
you are better or more independent, or more telling
in the world. Beware of smart dealing, swaggering,
loud talking, showing off your knowledge, thinking
yourself a great government man!! etc. All these
things are simply poor. Pray don t be tempted by
them, my dearest C . You must be careful at first
with whom you make friends. There are no doubt
some very nice fellows, but there are sure to be some of
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. ii
both sorts, and the bad ones are generally first to
make friends.
Don t fall into the so-called little acts of dishonesty
in regard to lessons, etc., but treat your masters as
you have always treated me. Do not be dis
appointed if they do not take much notice of you ; it
may be all the better for you.
Make good use of your opportunities for learning;
work away. Drawing is a useful thing, and keep up
your music. I need not add that you must keep from
all real harm. Simply get out of the way of all bad
conversation; go a\vay from it; it is poison and con
temptible. Don t stand it, but leave the fellows.
Keep to your services. The Holy Communion
every Sunday I think you may do, and the rest as
often as you can. A few years of discipline makes
the rest of life much easier.
God bless you.
12 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
VII.
TO THE SAME ON HUMILITY.
CUDDESDON, Tuesday.
I am indeed glad that you have got on so well.
You see if you would but believe me you might save
yourself much anxiety, instead of being afraid where
no fear was. I should think about this if I were you,
and while you keep up fresh and trembling all your
old nervous humility, just throw yourself back on the
fact that God made you what you are, and, therefore,
do not fear failure or want of power.
You know I am a wretched shaky old thing
frightened to death, but I try to get the better of it.
I do think that perfect humility, being content to be
anywhere where God places one, does cure a great
deal of nervousness, and so leaves one s mind more
free to do its work. . . . But come and see me, and I
will finish my sermon then.
God bless you, and guide you, and fit you for His
holy love.
I am, yours most affectionately.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 13
VIII.
TO THE SAME ON HOLIDAYS.
CUDDESDON, June 21, 1864.
In case I do not come over to-day, which I hope to
do if I can, I write to say I should not urge you to
take work in the holidays.
(1) You are not likely to be idle, and to fall into
the danger of idleness.
(2) You will not learn much in a few weeks that
you will not learn over and over again
when you are at work.
(3) You will gain more by quietly resting and
looking at your present work and future
life, and by going about and seeing other
people and their difficulties, and learning
their thoughts of life.
[Cultivate] love for all that are in the dark, love for
all in trouble anxiety. The world is unsatisfying,
and yet how much there is for us to do in it. All
these sort of thoughts are very valuable. They are
the cleansing and mending of our net, which can only
be done in times of rest. So I should not urge you to
get work ; yet if you are bent upon it I shall wish you
heartily success in it.
God bless you and keep you.
14 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL
IX.
TO THE SAME ON CONVERSION.
CUDDESDON, WHEATLEY, February 27, 1865.
I am dead tired and ought to be in bed, but I will
not let another day go by without writing to you.
Thank you for your affectionate letter. As for con
version, don t let that bother you. The fact is there
are two sorts of conversion :
(1) From a life of thoughtless sin to godliness.
(2) In a life of godliness to a closer walk with
God.
The first, thank God, you know nothing of, nor do
I, but the second we both practise, and need to prac
tise every day. Do not be put out by this. You
will see before long that their view of one conversion
once for all does not practically do. They will sin
again, and need fresh conversion.
I hope to come to you in the summer. I should
enjoy a talk with you very much.
All goes on here well (thank God); the college is
full and all work well. I have just got a new set of
bellringers, which I am very glad of. Bellringers
ought to be a godly set, nearly like choirmen. It
only wants perseverance and to get the idea into
people s heads, and then it will come.
I send you a card I have made for some of my
young men, just to remind you of old days. Get
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
some plan for Lent; read something. Now, good
night.
God bless you, and fill you with His wisdom and
His holy love.
X.
TO THE SAME THE GOSPEL LIFE.
VICARAGE, CUDDESDON, WHEATLEY,
September 12, 1865.
Pray do not think that you have given me need
less worry. I cannot say that I am not anxious to see
the temptations of the world safely conquered by you,
but this anxiety is not more than anyone must have
for their children in the faith, and I am sure you are
going on far better than ninety-nine out of a hundred,
but you know that I long to see a real and simple
imitation of the Life we nave shown to us in the
Gospels. It seems to me that if people go on allow
ing themselves to shape their lives so much more by
the circumstances of the world than by the Gospel,
they will be in danger of disbelieving the truths of the
Bible itself.
I am anxious to prove, if it please God, in my own
life that the Gospels are true.
I know one must make a horrid mess of the matter,
and be sorry not to be what you would like to be.
16 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
Still, that is a very different thing from not trying at
all, and simply following with the mass.
All you want, my dear C , is to keep on, on, on,
and you will find the blessing some day even in this
life, and I need not add in the next. God bless you,
my dear child, and make your Sundays real holy
days, not working days. You will gain more by so
doing.
God bless and guide you, and love you.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 17
XI.
TO THE SAME ON THE BREAKING UP OF
HOME.
OXFORD, April 8, 1865.
Just a line to thank you for your nice note. I can
quite understand how you must feel the breaking up
of the old home. After all, in spite of position, non-
our, money, there is something in the memory of
home which speaks of a higher pleasure than those
things can give us. It tells us, I think, of the true
joy in the eternal home, to which, I trust, we are one
by one being taken. The world certainly is not satis
fying and must always be full of trouble, and divi
sion, and confusion. We must do our best in it, and
with it, but our real life, and rest, and satisfaction is
not to be looked for here, but above.
Take all the care of your health you can. I should
be inclined to get help in teaching, so as to rest a
little, and then go bravely on, and trust to God to
order all for the best. We never can tell how it is
to be.
I am always glad to hear of you, and you must
look to me for a little news of the old country now.
God bless you and your friends. Wishing you
all the holy joy and hope of Easter.
i8 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XII.
TO THE SAME ON BLESSINGS IN THE CHURCH.
CUDDESDON VICARAGE, WHEATLEY,
April 1 6, 1868.
Thank you for your kind letter and invitation to
come and see you. I should enjoy it very much, but
I cannot get away very well. My sister is to be mar
ried (D.V.) next Tuesday, and we are all more or less
in a muddle preparing for it, and then term begins
again.
I am very thankful you can give such a good
account of yourself and of your work. The Church
has many enemies just now, and infidelity is making
itself felt in high places, but I see no reason in that
for fear; indeed, I rejoice because I believe it will
make people think and look a little deeper into
things, and then we shall, please God, win them back
to the old way of the Church. People have gone
wild these last fifteen years in England from liberty
of thought, and now, poor things, they are beginning
to see that they do not know what to think, and in a
little time more will be glad of some quiet, simple,
good, sensible people to guide them. Then we must
be ready, C , to do our best. England has been
sadly ignorant of the Church it has possessed and up
held for the last 200 years. I am not sorry its sleepy
foot is beginning to wake up, though it will cause
some pain at first, and, perhaps, cause some to fall, but
it had much better go through that, and we shall get
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 19
on better after a bit. All these anxieties about the
Establishment need not trouble you. It is too big a
thing for you or me to have much to do with, or to
try and change, but the Church existed for 300 years
without being joined to the State, and could just as
well exist again. It is very bad for the State, and I
think wrong, unless it gives back all the property,
to separate, but as far as the Church is concerned it
will not be necessarily essentially injured. Simply,
you need not worry about it.
The Church holds its powers from our Blessed
Lord, not from the Queen or Parliament, and no man
can take them away.
This is a long letter about the Church, because you
used to say I never taught you anything about it.
Now, dear C , here is a sermon for you ! But I will
stop. I am very glad your school does well. The
old high, quiet, simple, supernatural way is the most
powerful, and the most peaceful, because it is inde
pendent of this world s offers. If people would make
up their minds to go straight for the next world they
might throw their hats up in this, and be bright and
happy.
God bless you, dear child.
20 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XIII.
TO THE SAME ON HIS MARRIAGE.
CUDDESDON, WHEATLEY, October 11, 1868.
I have not had a moment to send you my best con
gratulations, and to wish you every blessing. I was
quite surprised to hear it, but not the less glad. I
know how hard it is to work on through life alone
that I am quite glad to think you will have someone
to take care of you. I hope you will have a happy
and useful life together. If you both try and live to
do God s Will you will be happy. God bless you !
My dear C , I will certainly (D.V.) come and
marry you, and I will send you 20 for a wedding
present to spend as you please. Tell your future wife
she must promise to take great care of you, or I will
not come and marry you.
Every blessing be with you both.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 21
XIV.
TO THE SAME ON MAKING PROGRESS.
FOLKESTONE, October 21, 1869.
This time I am the first to write! In fact, I am
trying to turn over a new leaf, and really look upon
letters as a duty ; this is about the 2ioth I have written
this vacation. I am afraid I shall fall back when
term begins, so I will just write to you and have my
boast. How are you, my dear child? I hope quite
strong again, but write and say as I want to know.
I was very glad to see you this summer, and to see
you getting on so well, and more old and settled in
ways of thought. Every year will, I hope, add to
that. One gets wiser and less drawn away and put
out by trifles, but it is difficult to realise the true value
of souls and the reality of the great world to come in
the midst of a business world or a world of pleasure.
Here it is all pleasure, the dressing of the people is
really wonderful. Poor things, they can have very
little to think about. How is your school and your
choir? I am trying to learn to sing tenor. I mean
to practise this winter.
I go back to Cuddesdon to-morrow. Now, good
bye. Tell me how you are. Remember me most
kindly to your wife. God bless you.
22 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XV.
TO THE SAME VILLAGE LIFE.
CUDDESDON VICARAGE, WHEATLEY,
July 22, 1871.
It is simply work that has prevented my writing,
or perhaps I ought to say work and want of method.
For a man of good business habits would, I fancy,
find more time, but it is difficult to reduce spiritual
work, and the heads and hearts of people, to the
formal business rules of the world. Anyhow,
whether by my fault or not, I find letter writing one
of my greatest troubles.
I am very glad your school is doing well, and I am
glad to see you have taken the children to see the
beasts. Those little kindnesses do a great deal of
good. Our school is not what I could wish it to be.
This year the village was quite upset by scarlet fever,
and the schools closed, so it is not fair to judge, but
still it is not up to the mark. I hope, however, it
will improve, for the master, I think, likes us, and is
anxious to please. He is good at the organ, and,
with the help of Mr. Eichbaum, the choir is very
much improved. The services are quite pleasant
now. We have had for nearly twelve months a
children s service, at three, every Sunday afternoon.
.We sing a metrical Litany and then catechise them.
We are doing the Acts of the Apostles, and this and
a few hymns and prayers takes about fifty minutes.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 23
The children are in the best part of the church, and
we have no regular choir, so it is their own service,
but several parents come and seem to like it. I like
it myself very much. I enjoy talking to children.
If you think you could have one I will send you one
of our little Litany books.
I do not wonder, dear C , at your feeling pressed
by the conflict of opinions; but, thank God, 1 see no
reason to change. I should very much like to have a
walk and talk with you as of old. The old way of
simple Christian brotherhood seems to me still to be
the way. People get influenced by the world and sel
fish, and proud, and idle, and there are also so many
bad people that one is apt to become suspicious, and
disbelieve in people, and so to treat them with a kind
of hard reserve. But that is no good; a full dis
interested love always ready to help, always longing
to help most in spiritual things. This is what is
wanted to raise people from the sour, unbelieving,
materialistic thoughts, which the rough struggle of
life too often produces.
I have been obliged these last few years to spend
the best of my time in reading, but if I should be
free from the college I should go on in a parish just
as we used to at Wheatley. That was a simple, un
worldly affectionate life, and that is what we want.
I do not think people are simple enough in their re
ligious relations. I wish we could be more open and
united in the use of the churches as houses of prayer
and praise. I have done very little, alas! in
the parish, but, thank God, a few enjoy very much
24 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
being with us. The simple carter lads require to be
surrounded with a constant flame of love to save them
from the hardness which their life with the animals
and rough men bring on them. Our dear country
poor for I feel more suited to them than others re
quire to be helped one by one. They are very
ignorant, have very little time, work very hard, and
often with poor food ; they require a great deal of lov
ing watchful sympathy. If it please God, I should
rejoice to give myself wholly to spiritual work.
Sometimes I think I should still like to go over to
Australia and work there, but I fear my health is not
equal to much rough work, but we must see ; no doubt
it will be arranged for the best. Now I have sent
you quite a long letter. Don t mind the difficulties
of religious thought, and don t get out of heart, or
hard, or selfish, or merely worldly-wise, but strive to
live a life in union with God, and that will fill you
with wisdom and love, and preserve in you that
spiritual freshness which is so splendid in teaching
the young.
God bless you, dear C , and guide you and
support you in your work.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 25
XVI.
TO THE SAME VILLAGE LIFE.
LINCOLN, January 8, 1895.
It seems only yesterday that you used to come
down to my room with dear G. and J., and we used
to sit and talk together. I don t know that I have
ever been happier. I was thoroughly happy with
you all at Wheatley. I ought to be very thankful for
all God s great goodness to me. I did not think I
should live so long. I think our way of looking at
things was the right one. We saw where true happi
ness was to be found. I long to promote the same
kind of spirit in our country parishes. The Lincoln
shire people are very nice, strong-headed, deep-
hearted, religious people. My happiest time is when
I am confirming in the country parishes. That I
enjoy immensely. Thank you so much for your
prayers. I am sure it is that which has kept me on.
I should have broken down long ago but for that.
I must stop now. I forget we are not sitting over
the fire at Wheatley. It was very nice, wasn t it?
I hope you are able to keep the same spirit of sim
plicity and love round about you. Good-bye, my
dear C . Don t forget me in your prayers.
With my love and blessing to you all.
26 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XVII.
TO THE SAME OLD AGE.
CHARD, St. Peter s Day, 1905.
In heart I feel just the same as when we were all at
Wheatley together, with dear J. and G. and you and
H. I often look back to those days with the greatest
thankfulness and pleasure; we were all very happy.
Thank you so much for your kind letter. I was
very glad to get it, and to hear that you are so com
fortable and happy. I know you have given up the
school, but I don t quite know what you are doing.
Write and tell me, and what your children are doing.
I should have been so glad to have seen you again
if I had gone to Cuddesdon, but I could not go. I
hear of Wheatley sometimes from James White. I
had not heard of the death of . He and Joseph
were good-living men. When I saw your black
paper I was afraid you had lost your dear wife.
Remember me to her. So many of one s old friends
have passed away. I must soon think of retiring
even if I live. I am very grateful to you for your
prayers. Don t forget me now, for I need all the
more help as I find my strength naturally failing
me. I have indeed many reasons to be thankful to
God for His great goodness to me through all these
years. I am, thank God, free from pain and able to
get through my work. Your letter pleased me very
much, because there was a spirit of content and hap
piness which I was most glad to see, and the love for
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 27
your flowers brought back the memory of our old
walks. I still love flowers and birds as much as ever.
All the education work is sadly altered. I look back
to the old school days with increasing value.
Now, good-bye. God bless you, dear C , and
give you grace and peace to the end, and ever
remember me in your prayers!
28 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XVIII.
TO THE SAME THE PSALMS.
LINCOLN, January 21, 1907.
I was very glad to hear from you again. I want to
thank you very much for your last kind letter, so full
of old affectionate memories. I thought of you when
I read the account of Mr. G. s death in a paper
which his daughter sent me such a nice account of a
well-spent life. I was so thankful to see it; he was a
very nice-dispositioned man, and apparently he kept
the same to the last humble, kind, true to his church,
choirmaster, churchwarden, and fond of flowers. He
always was a good man, we must try and follow him.
I am sorry you are bothered about the different
schools of thought. It is partly that we are growing
old (I am quite old ! !), and so we must expect changes
and new ways of looking at things, but do not let this
worry you. I think you must have been reading
something about the "New Theology" of Mr.
C . There is not much new in it. It seems to be
Pantheism in its tendency. I should leave all that, if
I were you, and keep to the old lines of the Church.
I have found increasing comfort in the Psalms and in
the collects of our Prayer Book. The collects for this
week and the fifth Sunday after Trinity are very
comforting when things seem to be going wildly.
All is really under the eye and hand of God. I find
reading a period of history and saying those collects a
great comfort. You see what the world has gone
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 29
through under God s hand. The 2nd Psalm is a
great comfort, and the 2Qth Psalm, the gth verse
" The Lord sitteth above the water-flood," or "The
Lord sat enthroned above the flood." Well, if He
could guide the ark over that He can guide us now !
To learn to trust in God is a great thing, and to keep
asking God to teach us as in the iiQth Psalm again
and again.
You see, C , I keep to the old way, and I find
more and more how it supports and satisfies me. If
I come your way I will certainly let you know, for I
should very much like to see you again. Don t for
get to pray for me. I pray for you every morning.
God bless you, and keep you, and guide you.
Yours affectionately.
30 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XIX.
TO THE SAME THE OLD WAYS.
September 8, 1909.
I am very sorry that I have been so long thanking
you for your last kind letter. I find it very difficult
now to do more than attend to important letters of
business.
I am very glad to hear that you are keeping well,
though I am sorry your wife is poorly. Good health
is indeed a wonderful blessing. Many of your dear
brothers have gone, and your sisters too. I look
back to the life at Wheatley with the greatest plea
sure, with all of you, and dear Mr. G. he was
a nice-minded man there was a real bond of dis
interested love between us all.
People now are trying to make themselves happy
without religion, but it is a hollow, heartless kind of
happiness, not worthy of the name. I believe the
love of God must stand first, and then, in God, we
can love one another. People want to have social
security and comfort, but without religion, without
the Church. We must hold fast to the old way of the
love of God, and the love of one another as taught us
in the Bible and the Prayer Book, and we want the
Church for the sake of the ministry of the Word and
Sacraments, by which God teaches us, and gives us
His grace.
God bless you, dear C , and guide you on to
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 31
the end, which is really the great beginning! Re
member me in your prayers, as I do you, every day.
God bless you and all like you.
XX.
TO AN ORDINANDON HIS PARTING FROM A
FRIEND.
CUDDESDON, March 11, 1873.
I should have written last night, because I felt you
must be a little silently sad. But, dearest child, it
will all be right. The more we can throw our wills
in with the great Will of God, which is being done by
good people round us, the stronger our lives become ;
so it is much better that H. should carry out his
father s wish, and that you should give up, rather
than break off, and begin on your own independent
wills.
And then, do let me assure you that the heart is of
such immense capacity if we only give it up to God to
discipline, that these woundings are rather prunings
for greater beauty and richer fruit. Had you gone
with your good friend it might have narrowed the
circle of your love, and you would not have had the
sense of freedom to love all who may be waiting to
be won by you to Him through your real love for
them. Now there is a sense of solitude, of sadness,
32 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
but believe me that will be more, infinitely more, than
filled by that which is to come. These acts of divine
discipline are simply invitations to trust our hearts to
Him. He says in them to the heart: "Open thy
mouth wide and I will fill it." You will be more
free, C. will be more free, not feeling you are
bound together to his exclusion, and you may, I
think, do a great work for dear H., if you can
love him, and win him and make him love you ; you
will be helping another soul to realise what he be-
lieves but does not quite feel, the unity of all in
Christ, and all the while your greater love for God will
give you new capacities and power to love your old
friend at Wantage more and more.
So, dearest child, there is a great work beginning
for you.
May He Who made you and redeemed you sustain
you to do all His Will. . . .
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 33
XXI.
TO THE SAME ON BEGINNING HIS CLERICAL
WORK.
CUDDESDON, June 19, 1873.
I cannot wait any longer without talking with you ;
it seems such a long time since we met, and all this
last year you have been so much in my mind and
heart that it is difficult just at present to get on. I
thought of you all on Sunday, and I am very glad the
good Eichbaum says you all got on so well. You
had the hardest sort of preaching possible in preach
ing at the Union. Poor things, they are so divided in
their interests, and often so hard. I am glad you did
not forget the children. You must have felt it, I am
sure, very much helping at the early Celebration it
is most wonderful. Every year I feel more and more
unfit. It is a very great pleasure to me to think of
you all at work. Tnere is a very great opportunity
for you. I am sure we must be full of hope brave,
self-sacrificing, victorious hope. To me, thank
God, all these troubles of the intellect, and all our
ecclesiastical and social anxieties, are full of hope.
They are but, I believe, the pain and labour which
will issue in the birth of more truth, more true liberty,
more true union between man and nature, and man
and God, a bringing us in all things nearer to Him.
Only, dearest child, in all this we must keep quiet and
steady in our personal union with Him. Whatever
victories there may be for us we must remember to
3
34 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
rejoice, " because our names are written in heaven,"
because by His loving overruling of our lives we are
being drawn nearer to Him and to one another in
Him. May He help us so to live out our separate
lives here that we may live together hereafter.
God bless you and keep you.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 35
XXII.
TO THE SAME ON HIS HOLIDAYS AT HOME.
INNSBRUCK, Sunday, August 24th, 1873.
This is just one line to give you confidence, and
help you to take a steady aim on the First! I know
you will be rather bothered, dear man, as to what
is really best, but, I think, you are quite right to go
simply on and shoot. It would, I know, seem un
grateful to the opportunities your father has provided
lor you, and seem a little like setting yourself up,
and all that, from which I know you would recoil, and
then it will do you good in health to get another good
turn in the fresh air away from schools and cottages,
and to feel again the original freedom which you used
to feel, and it will refresh you mentally, and be a
change, and get you out of the pressure of work.
I am not saying all this out of false kindness, be
cause, I think, it is telling you to do what you like (I
love you too truly for that), but because I do value so
highly a natural growth in holiness, a humble grate
ful acceptance of the circumstances God has provided
for each of us, and I dread the unnatural, forced,
cramped ecclesiastical holiness, which is so much
more quickly produced, but is so human and so poor.
Do not let me deceive you. I believe we need to be
separated off from the world, only let us be gentle,
and not rash in pushing ever nearer to Him. I do
36 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
hope we shall never lose in England the true manly
independent spirit which our clergy have.
There is a great deal in the foreign clergy which we
should do well to copy, but there is a good deal also
which we should be very foolish to envy, and most
unwise to adopt. I had a very valuable talk with
Dollinger about this. He was most clear about it.
Now, I have always felt, dear man, that you may
become by God s grace just one of the sort of priests
that England wants. I need not tell you of the social
manly gifts you have got these. All I want to do is
to beg you not to despise them and throw them
away, but to raise them and devote them to the higher
and more spiritual part of the priestly office. I have
been rejoiced to see how everybody likes you, but all
that must bring danger to you, and, unless very care
fully watched, will end in a hollow popularity, loss of
individuality, and self-contempt. Be on your guard,
dear man, in all that side of the matter, and yet don t
throw it all up, and hang your head, and look like a
whipped pointer. In spite of all I say, I expect you
won t care for the shooting so much this year, and
by degrees, I believe, you will give it quite up, and
find that God has led you naturally to take a delight
in higher things. Only go gradually, and, as far as
possible, naturally, taking the circumstances God
gives you, and trying to serve Him in them. Real
love of God, real love of man, a real living for the
world to come, a real humility; these are the great
strong elements of the Christian life. You will say
then : " Am I to go on shooting when I am a priest."
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 37
No, dear man, I could not recommend you. I have,
of course, no sort of right to stop you, but I could not
recommend you, as I do now, and for two reasons :
(1) Because of the great mystery of the priest
hood, and the greatness of the work it in
volves; and
(2) Because I hope you will by that time not
really need it, or wish it, but be naturally
interested in supernatural thoughts and
works.
And now, dearest friend, only one word more.
Forgive the troublesomeness of my love, and crumple
all this, as I told you last year, and ram it to the very
bottom of your gun, and blaze it at the first bird
you see, and shout again in freedom: "There goes
the old Principal"; and yet, when you have killed
your bird and eaten it, digest also one or two of the
thoughts which you may remember were on the paper
that helped to kill the bird. Once more, good-bye.
Enjoy a free, happy, homely holiday, and may He
teach you and bless you, not according to the measure
of my, but His, love. , . ,
38 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XXIII.
TO THE SAME ON HIS ORDINATION TO THE
PRIESTHOOD.
CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, May 30, 1874.
Thank you for thinking of me. I am so glad that
again nothing has hindered God s good purpose for
you, and that He is gradually unfolding to you His
eternal love for you, and His choice of you to be
so near Himself in His great work of restoring men.
I hardly like to make any noise with my voice to
one round whom I doubt not the angels will be
gathering, and to whom God the Holy Spirit will
come with new powers, to teach you and guide you to
guide and teach others. My joy is to think that my
dear and merciful Lord will take you. Twenty years
ago to-morrow He took me in the same Church, and
for twenty years He has put up with me, and never left
me, nor let me wholly leave Him, but led me on till
at least I can say, honestly, "There is none like
Him," and honestly I can joyfully trust that He will
do for you as He has for me, more than even I could
ask or think. Yes, dearest friend, with all my sin
cere love for- you, my greatest joy is to think now He
will take you nearer to Himself. Only, dearest
friend, do not measure your priesthood by mine. No,
I have often told you I am not what you may all be,
but this is making a noise. So, good-bye. Just sim
ply give yourself to God, never mind what you feel,
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 39
your being weary or excited, or put out by some
trifles, but that will pass, and the great supernatural
fact will remain.
God bless you, and make you a priest according to
His own Will.
40 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XXIV.
TO THE SAME ON READING.
LONDON, January 14, 1873.
I am afraid you may have been expecting to hear
from me before this, when you were so kind as to
write so really about yourself to me. And, indeed,
dearest child, you ought to have heard if it had not
been for my wretched laziness. Alas! I have given
way so miserably to the excuses of a not strong body
that I fear I have greatly missed the good I might
have done if I had been more diligent with my letters.
I am trying to do better, and, if it please God to spare
me to recover this, or rather, perhaps, not to add to
it, I should be most thankful.
You say yourself, dear friend, that you suffer from
temptation to idleness, i.e., idleness in reading,
for I should not think you were ever an idle, lazy,
lethargic man, and so I should think it would be well
to keep the point clear. If I am right I mean I
think you will find the work of visiting, preaching,
teaching in school classes not difficult to you. Neither
will you be much tempted in them to idleness; but
in reading, in patient intelligent culture and progress,
that is where I expect you need consideration, resolu
tion and help. Do let us have a good deal of talk on
this when we meet, but I must say one or two things.
First of all, I am afraid of your reading too hard,
for (as I said) I do not think you are a lazy man.
YOU have a strong will, and you rule yourself by it
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 41
well, and I am afraid of your driving yourself too
hard through intellectual work. I should like to
speak of ourselves as in the same boat. I wish you
would talk more, and write more. There is a certain
men-tal crudeness, abruptness, almost a hardness,
your thoughts being as it were wrapped up, involved
too tight. This I long to see unfolded, softened, ex
panded. I do not know how to express what I mean,
or what remedies to suggest, but I should say :
Need of intellectual culture.
Need of deepening in spiritual love.
For the first, my own plan with myself Has been
never to consider myself likely to do anything in an
intellectual way, but I regard reading as a duty to
enable one to carry out one s vocation in dealing with
the souls of men. In this way it has helped me, and
it may you, to go quietly, regularly, laboriously on
with intellectual work, regarding it as a means to an
end, and hoping rather that God would bless one s
well intentioned, well regulated efforts than expecting
any great result in itself, and keep the labour of read
ing always by one, and to view it under the shadow
of the Cross to read by the lamp of sacrifice ; and that
not impulsively, but in a spirit of quiet self-devotion.
Do you know a book by Henri Perreyve, called
La Journee d un Malade? There is a beautiful chap
ter in it called Courage et Travail. Do you see, dear
man, at all what I mean? I think you need to talk
the question out mqre fully of intellectual work,
42 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
then you will be able to deal more clearly with" the
specific temptation and weariness in that part of your
duty. But then, dearest child, I must add a word on
the other head. We both need deepening more and
more in divine love in fact, real love of God and love
of man in God, or God in man, makes all labour light
and, therefore, reading; and we need to be more
kind, more considerate, less selfish even in carrying
out religious plans, more ready to acknowledge
God s Presence in others, and to fall in quietly and
brightly with their different ways freedom from any
religious harshness, a docile, child-like, simple, lov
ing spirit. This, dearest child, is what I long for
for you, and for myself, and which I feel, through
the very effort to read and work, to be in danger of
missing. It is so difficult to be firm without being
hard, consistent and not obstinate. The remedy, I
believe, more humility, more love.
Now, dear man, I must stop.
Now don t read too hard, but realise it as a duty,
and let us talk when we meet. I go back to Cuddes-
don on Friday till Monday, and then I am going
away again to my brother in Essex. His children
knock me about, and do me heaps of good. I
should like you to know them.
God bless you, dearest friend. Remember me in
your prayers. . . . Don t be afraid of bothering me
with letters. These sort of letters are my greatest
pleasure,
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 43
XXV.
TO THE SAME ON GOD 5 DISCIPLINE
AND GUIDANCE.
BUXTON, July 22, 1874.
Thank you for your second letter. It was very
kind of you. The first made me anxious. I do hope
you will see your way. One thing, dear friend, let
me press on you, be sure of God s love, do not think
of Him as keeping back punishments to stop you
from future pleasures and success. That is not it.
He may most likely, almost certainly, see that you re
quire discipline, which may involve correction and
suffering, on account of the past, but it will be so
managed as to be rather preparation for future work,
and fitness for greater blessings from Him. An abid
ing sorrow for sin, a readiness to take all crosses, and
troubles and suffering as being what we deserve is
quite right, and not inconsistent with what I mean.
The truth rather is that it is difficult to get punish
ment enough unless one is very careful to watch the
many daily, most delicate but most consistent and
efficacious, means of discipline which God gives in
daily life. Our pardon we must ACCEPT, we can
never work out our sins guilt by any amount of
suffering. I want to get you quite clear in this, be
cause you sometimes write as though you feared God
had some punishment in reserve. Make up your
mind to take anything from Him once for all, and
then let the grateful love cast out the fear.
44 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
This does not mean that you should shut out the
wish to lead a life of self-denial and self-devotion,
above what many are called to. It only means if you
feel called to it go into it in a spirit of grateful hope.
One other point, dear friend, if you will let me speak
plainly. You evidently need care in checking im
pulses and feelings. You will get all right, I believe,
but I would be careful, for this reason. I should
think to continue at home work, for a time at least,
would be best, and for the same reason best to continue
where you are (though other reasons may alter this),
and get a steady habit of self-control, so as to do the
Divine Will in little daily duties this is the inner
armour of the saints but I cannot tell what He may
tell you, or where call you. That must be waitecl
for. All I feel able to do is to suggest these pre
liminary thoughts which you need, I think, where-
ever you may be. Do not be offended at my writing
so plainly; time, perseverance, gentleness will help
to make it all plain.
God bless you and guide you. . . .
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 45
XXVI.
TO THE SAME ON HIS DECISION TO REMAIN
AT HIS POST FOR THE PRESENT INSTEAD
OF GOING TO ZANZIBAR.
BUXTON, August, 5, 1874.
Thank you for your letter. You never need fear
" wearying me " if I can be any use. Your letter
was a distinct relief to me, and, as far as I can see,
I think you have decided rightly. I think you could
probably not do more service for the Church than
by staying with Mr. B. at A., and I think it will
be best also for yourself to take a steady piece of
work after prayerful consideration, simply from choice
of the Divine Will through many conflicting im
pulses. This, I hope and believe, must bring its re
ward, and add to you right confidence, and peace,
and happiness : and work from duty in a spirit of
hopeful love is, perhaps, the safest and happiest state.
There are those who work from a spirit of love with
out any consciousness of duty, and that may be the
highest state; but most of us need sometime or other
the strengthening and purifying of our will under the
test of duty or obedience. Only, dearest friend,
don t let my hard, rough, dull words distress you.
You know when I write to you I never say anything
in praise; hence I take for granted that you know how
highly I think of you, and how much I love you, but
my object is to help you on to be better still, and you
do need to be more free from acting from impulse and
46 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
changing motives. I might fill the letter with prais
ing you for all you have done, and say how much you
are liked by everybody, and how good it is of you
even to think of spending your life, or the brightest
years of it, in a heathen slave market. All this I do
see, and am most thankful for, but you have got to
get, by God s help, to heaven yourself, as well as take
others there, and, as you have asked me to help you,
I feel bound always to keep sternly true, and only to
try to lead you on, forgetting that which is behind.
Pray do not let my letters distress you, be sure they
are meant in love, and be sure they must be written in
much ignorance and full of imperfection.
But I am very thankful that you have decided as
you have, and done it as you have by seeking to know
His Will.
There is indeed a prospect of plenty of work in
England just now, under conditions which will need
patience and courage.
God bless you.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 4?
XXVII.
TO THE SAME ON DEVELOPMENT OF
CHARACTER.
OXFORD, October 11, 1874.
You were indeed quite right, and your kind letter
was an unexpected and undeserved refreshment. It
was truly kind of you, and I thank you for it, but
even more thankful am I if you have gained any
good. I thought it was simple, and real, and I en
joyed it very much, especially the feeling that dear
E. s life was now telling so beautifully. His patience
and self-denying watchfulness of us all were most
beautiful and helpful.
I think all you say in your letter about yourself is
quite right. I should not attempt so much to undo.
Even what you feel you did beyond what was strictly
right was done with a mixed intention, partly good,
and I should rather trust to the untrue falling off by
itself, only taking care for the future not to add to the
unreal. In this I think you will, please God, gain
clearness, and strength, and peace. Do not be over
scrupulous at first, and expect not to be quite right
at once, but if you aim at the greater simpleness of
purpose, sincerity of character, I think you will find
you are working in the right direction. I shall only
ask you to believe how much I feel your kindness.
You have often refreshed, and helped me, and I thank
you very sincerely for it. To see you getting on so
well is a greater pleasure to me than I can express,
God bless you and guide you. . . .
48 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XXVIII.
TO A FRIEND ON HIS MARRIAGE.
ROTTERDAM, Sunday, July 30, 1876.
This direction will a little explain to you my un
accountable silence I I got your letter just before I
started on the ist of July, and I have been meaning to
write ever since, and now your second letter has
reached me. What shall I say? First, forgive me !
and then, may God indeed bless you I Dearest
friend, Christian marriage is to me one of the greatest
mysteries with which we have to do, and most sin
cerely do I wish you both all the mysterious fulness of
the blessing of the many mysteries into which you
enter; and for your own character, dear friend, I think
it will be just what you want to save you, I trust,
from that wretched selfish hardness into which I am
conscious in my single life to have fallen. You must
be very happy, dear friend. I can conceive no earthly
happiness greater than to be given by God the whole
of the earthly, nay, more than earthly, the whole of
the human love of another. This is one of God s
greatest gifts, one of the closest symbols of what He
is, and of the union between Himself and us. May
you richly enjoy this great gift, and may it enlarge
the power of your love, and help you to turn with yet
a larger heart to His, and Him. It must be a great
rest for you. It ought to give you a good lift clean
away from vanity and care of what others think,
knowing you have not the thoughts, but the love of
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 49
one, and you can tell her that her religious business is
to love her husband and yours to love her. That is
wonderful ! And then, if it should please God, to
give you yet another mystery, and give you children !
This adding to the number of eternal beings is more
than any angel or archangel is allowed to do. Great
are the mysteries, dear friend, into which you are
entering. May He Who only knows so guide you
both that you may fulfil all His mind.
As to marrying you, the only difficulty is my re
sidence. I am bound hand and foot from August
25th to September I5th, and in the Long [Vacation]
it is difficult to get a substitute. Still, if I can, I will ;
and also I hear a rumour about cleaning the cathedral.
All this I shall know when I get back, and I will write
again.
Now, good-bye. I shall be so glad to think of you
settled and free from all those vanities and selfish
hardnesses, which, alas! I know too well too often
make up the character of the so-called harder single
life. It need not be so I know, but too many of us,
when alone, live with self and worse, and the pre
sence of another would help to drive all that self and
worse away. To have the presence of another re
generate person given to one is indeed another Sacra
ment of grace, a new way of being with Him.
God bless you a thousand times, dearest friend,
and lift you far away above all that I can ever say or
think, and help you with a new and renewed power to
tell the people that He is Love. . . .
50 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XXIX.
TO A FATHERON THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST
CHILD.
OXFORD, S. Stephen s [Day], 1877.
I am so glad. Thank you so much for letting me
share your joy so quickly. It is indeed a wonderful
gift, and must be the letting loose of new floods of
love. Love, I believe, descends. Parents love their
children more than children can their parents, so that
children can only enter into the fulness of the parents
love by becoming parents themselves. This is a
wonderful true law, running down to the love which
animals have for their young, and then running up to
the endless, unchangeable ineffable knowledge sur
passing love of our Father which is in heaven. So,
dearest friend, this should give you a new glimpse
into the love which has taught you from your youth
wp. Pardon all this sermon, but it is nice to keep
finding out fresh proofs of the unexpected love which
is waiting for us descending and ascending, and
ready alwavs to descend.
Dearest friend, if I can come I will, but we go to
St. Leonards on Monday for a fortnight, and mv
good mother says you ought not to have your little
one christened for a month, and begs your good wife
will be careful not to catch cold. She sends her
kindest congratulations and best wishes, so does J.;
but let me hear nearer the time, and if I can I will
run up and back for the great mystery. Now, good-
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 51
bye. Give my kindest rejoicings to your dear wife,
and may He Who has given, yet give beyond what
you ask and think.
God bless you. . . .
52 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XXX.
TO A PRIEST ON DIFFICULTIES IN A COUNTRY
PARISH.
LEIGH, ESSEX, January 19, 1871.
How good of you to be so good natured when I
have been so neglectful, and, after all, I think I had
better say nothing. So much depends on the small
circumstances of the case and place, which only one
near can know, so I really think the best advice I can
give is to refer you to Mr. H., whose judgment would,
I should think, be good. For the rest I should try
and win the hearts of the servants and poor, and so
make them my champions. If they found good and
comfort from the catechising I expect it would soon
get round to the ears of my lord and lady, and
they would come. Win them by touching their
hearts. Try and think what THEY want in their
spiritual life, not merely what you want to tell them.
The poor, and many others, are mostly right in their
heads , they go wrong in their affections and in their
wills, and we must go after them where they go, and
meet them where they are wandering, preaching to
them in sermons full of love, and showing them how
to get power and strengthen their wills. In this way
we must come to them in parables and human ways,
and attracting them to us by the human side, leading
them on to the divine. This is, I believe, the prin
ciple of the Incarnation. Man would not look up to
God, so God came down to man, and walked before
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 53
him, and with him, and attended him in his daily
life, that leading him to Himself He might in the end
carry him up to God. See, dear person, we must
come down, and be very simple and kind, and help
them where they need help. So you will win them,
and as they find you winning their souls to God, so
they will find their true peace, and they will soon tell
the great people by their own transformation what
good there is in the services of the Church. Good
bye. This is no good, I fear. God bless you and
help you to win them back to the Divine.
$4 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XXXI.
TO A PRIEST ON CHANGE OF WORK.
OXFORD, August 3, 1877.
Pardon my delay. I am very sorry to see that you
are not settled, as I had hoped in work that suited
you.
I am sorry I do not know anyone with whom you
could exchange, but I will not forget your wish. I
will most gladly help you if I can.
May I venture to ask whether you have considered
finally the necessity for change? If you are free to
teach, and the money arrangements are sufficient, I
should really question whether you were not pro
videntially in your right place. One often does most
when one is not most aware of it. / should not choose
the University to work in if I had my choice. I
would rather be with the simplest agricultural poor,
but it is not so arranged. Do write to me again, and
say if you really must change on grounds of doctrine
or finance. I think you would do the rich a deal of
good.
God guide you, dear friend, and bless you. . . .
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 55
XXXII.
TO ONE OF HIS YOUNGER CLERGY WHO HAD
ENTERED ON A NEW SPHERE OF WORK.
January 5, 1895.
Thank you so much for writing, and for sending
me the card and verses of dear old Canon A. Please
give him my kindest remembrances.
I am very glad you are so happy, and I hope the
experience will be just what you want. It is wonder
ful what can be done if only we go the right way.
Nothing is so beautiful as the beauty of good people;
it is most refreshing. I long to see it brought out in
the country villages. I believe it might be done with
God s help, if people only would not run away from
one diocese to another ! That, you see, is my jealous
condition of mind ! No, I am really glad you are
where you are, because I hope it will enable you to
work all the better somewhere hereafter.
God bless you and keep you.
Believe me always,
Yours most affectionately.
56 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XXXIII.
TO THE SAME.
1895-
Your letter was a great help and comfort to me. It
was very good of you to write.
As one gets older it is a great help and encourage
ment if any who are beginning life can make any use
of one in any way. You may reckon on my love
whenever you want it.
I should always be glad to see you, if you think it
would refresh you in any way.
God bless you and keep you.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 57
XXXIV.
TO A PRIEST ON LEAVING HIS DIOCESE.
November 29, 1901.
How can I at all thank you for your loving letter?
I am sincerely sorry to lose you from my diocese, both
for my own sake, and for the sake of my people, for
I always felt that you would love them in the highest
and best way. You have done this, I know, as far as
you could in your small parish. I am sorry you
must leave them, but I trust you are quite right, and
do so under the clear order of the doctor, for he is
God s voice for us in matters of health. I wish I
could have done more for you. Indeed, I feel I have
been useless to you, except so far as you say you have
been able to get good for yourself. One of the hard
parts of a Bishop s life is the distance he has to be
from individuals; especially the poor. I often long
to stop in a village after a Confirmation, and see each
one separately, but one comes and goes, and we don t
meet again ! I know for myself it is a most merciful
and providential discipline. In a parish I should be
too much absorbed in individuals; but it is hard to
keep loving without some little response, and so,
dearest brother, your letter is a real comfort and help
to me, and I will try and keep on, and do better, and
love my dear people more and more, even though I
never hear of their love as you have so kindly let me
hear from you. We need truth and love. S. John s
Gospel is full of both words^ truth and love. The
58 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
truth, the faith in its true proportion. This keeps us
steady, and enables us to open and guide the minds,
as well as the hearts of the people.
If ever you would like to come to us for a few days
rest believe me you will always be welcome. I have
written to the Bishop of Winton about you. God
bless you and your dear wife and children, and guide
you and make you a true guide and blessing to them.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 59
XXXV.
TO THE SAME IN HIS NEW (AND MORE
SOUTHERLY) PARISH.
September 9, 1902.
Pardon my delay in thanking you for your most
kind letter, far too kind, dear friend, but very com
forting. Old age is apt to be depressing and to make
us feel useless, and a kind word of love cheers up an
old Bishop as well as a young child. I am afraid
I must not do what you so kindly want ; my work will
be pretty constant as soon as I get back. But some
day, if I may, I should love to come and see you all
again. Why not come to us for the Retreat? It
begins on Monday, September 22nd, and ends on
the 26th. I will keep a room for you in case you can
come. It will do you good, and do us good to have
you with us again.
I hope you are keeping well, and Mrs. M. and
the children. Everybody says the south people are
much more difficult to rouse in matters of religion
than the northern. But in time, please God, you will
win them. You must go half steam, but with the full
power of your love. They are shy, and meek, and
afraid. Like fishing in the clear slow chalk streams
of Hampshire, it requires very fine tackle and a
delicate hand! God bless you, dearest friend, and
guide you. My love and blessing to you all. Always
your loving.
60 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LfiTTEkS.
XXXVI.
TO THE SAME ON LOVE OF SOULS.
January 22, 1904.
How can I possibly thank you for all your good
ness to me and mine? Thank you indeed for your
kind gift to our Grimsby Fund. It shall be entered
on the list of donations as you wish. It is most
generous and good of you. I thank you too for the
most attractive looking gift more directly for myself.
I have sometimes thought what an interesting book
might be written by such a treatment of the Psalms,
but I did not know it had been done. 1 I shall look
forward with great delight to reading it. I have
already dipped into it, and I think it will help me with
my Lent letters on the Bible. And for all your kind
words I cannot attempt to thank you, dear friend, but
they are a great comfort to me, not because I deserve
them (I know that), but because they convey the in
estimable comfort of responsive love. At Wheatley
and Cuddesdon and Oxford I enjoyed through God s
unspeakable goodness such abundance of love, that
the more formal life of a Bishop, I fear, does make me
cold, and hard, and selfish. You, dear friend, have
helped to keep alive the earlier and simpler life of love
that is the end of life. Do come again whenever
you like, and forgive the little attention that I showed
you. Please thank your dear wife and the dear
1 Prothero " The Psalms in Human Life," which his corresponden
had sent to the Bishop.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 61
children for their kind Christmas gift. Accept my
love and blessing to you all.
XXXVII.
TO ONE OF HIS CHAPLAINS CONFIRMATIONS.
July, 1891.
I am in a mess! But I must write a line to thank
you for yours.
I began at 4.30 this morning, and made a wretched
sermon at B., where we went last evening, and we
have had a long, but lovely, day. Quite ideal, if I
was only fit for it. Do pray with all your might for
better Bishops. These people might be angels and
archangels straight off, if we were only decent ! It is
most sad.
6a BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XXXVIII.
ON APPOINTING ONE OF HIS CLERGY TO A
BENEFICE.
April 29, 1895.
I did not know till your Vicar told me of your own
sorrow. May God comfort you all. I know how
much the tearing up of the old home love tries one.
Pardon me if I go on at once to another matter,
which I can hardly keep from you. You will probably
have heard that your good Vicar has most nobly
undertaken the work at C. for me. Now I want to ask
you if you will take charge of S. John s in his place?
You know the work, and you are known there, and, I
think, with God s help, you might add to what you
have already done by taking charge of the parish.
It will be a new and great responsibility, but one
which, with God s help, I believe you will be able to
bear.
You will, of course, find new demands on your own
personal judgment, but that only means that the time
has come for you to make the offering of yourself to
God in His Church complete, and to do the bit of
work He has prepared you for. May God guide and
bless you in your decision.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 63
XXXIX.
TO AN OLD FRIEND PAROCHIAL WORK.
LINCOLN, December 31, 1901.
Ah I those Cuddesdon days were very wonderful 1
I fear I have fallen below the high aims and hopes
we had then. It is hard sometimes when people go
wrong; but thank God I believe in the people, and
love them down to the ground. I am never happier
than when I go to our little country parishes and talk
to the dear things.
God bless you, dear friend, and make you a bless
ing to others.
Always your most sincere and affectionate.
64 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XL.
TO A PRIEST IN SORROW.
LINCOLN, January 28, 1908.
Pardon the delay in thanking you for your most
kind letter for my birthday. It is very good of you
to remember one still. As long as you can, don t
forget me in your prayers. I need them more and
more as strength declines.
I am sorry your good son is going out of my diocese,
but I am glad he is married and that he has a home of
his own. I trust he will be happy.
I was very sorry to hear how much sorrow and trial
you have had, and still have. We cannot under
stand the mystery of sorrow. We can " see Jesus,"
the " Man of Sorrows," and see how His earthly
ministry apparently was a failure. They did not care
for Him wonderful and purifying example for us all,
warning us against the dangers of popularity and
apparent success. May we keep the seed of the Word
pure, and keep following His example. If you will
send me a postcard in about ten days I will send you a
copy of my Charge. Perhaps some of it you might
like.
God bless you, dear brother, and your family and
parish. , , ,
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 65
XLI.
TO ONE OF HIS CLERGY ON HIS ACCEPTING
A BENEFICE.
January 16, 1909.
Thank you very much. I am very glad and thank-
full that you have felt able to accept C. It
is a comfort to me, for I hope that, after so many
years of hard work, you will be more comfortably
placed, and yet there is full and interesting work to
do. I shall be anxious to find a successor for S.
John s, but I shall have your prayers, I am sure.
May God bless and guide your work for the Church
in this diocese for many years to come, if it be His
Will.
I shall be anxious to know how the house difficulty
works out. You had better look at B. s house ; but I
feel pretty sure that the stabling and gardens there are
all too large.
66 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XLII.
TO A PRIEST WORKING IN THE COLONIES-
RITUAL TROUBLES.
SWITZERLAND, August 27, 1898.
I have often wished for half-an-hour to write to you,
and now, being here on my holiday, I can get it.
How are you getting on? I hear of you from time
to time from H., and he always reports of you all as
" well."
I daresay you have seen in the papers all about the
ritual troubles. I hope they will be overruled for
good. Some men had been adopting all kinds of
mediaeval and modern Roman ways, for which there
is really no sort of authority in the Church of Eng
land, or in the Primitive Church. Now, I hope we
shall come back nearer to the true English position of
Holy Scripture and the Primitive Church. We need
not be surprised if the zeal of some young men car
ried them too far in the matter of Confession and
Eucharistic doctrine.
I believe most of them will be willing to come back
to the Church of England standard, and the young
ones who are coming up can have the danger made
plain to them. One loves the zeal and self-devotion
of many of the men who have been led on too far ; but
some, I fear, are in danger of losing sight of the
highest and most spiritual things, and becoming
humanly ecclesiastical. I hope in a little time all will
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 67
settle down, and be better than before, because nearer
the truth.
God bless you, dear B., and your wife and children.
Let me hear from you again before long. . . .
68 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XLIII.
ON CONFESSION.
LEIGH, ROCHFORD, January 15, 1869.
I am sorry that, being from home, your letter has
not reached me till this morning, and, therefore
(unless, as I hope, Mr. D. may have told you of my
absence), you will not have been saved the trouble of
going to Cuddesdon to-day. I hope to return on the
22nd, and I shall be very glad to see you any day
(except Monday, the 25th) you name. Perhaps I can
then explain to you some of the points in your former
letter. On the power of absolution you would find
Bishop Andrewes sermons on "The Power of the
Keys " very valuable. I think they are in Volume V.
of his works.
I would recommend you to come over if you please,
and talk over these points of difficulty, and to get
them, so far as may be, settled, and then you will be
more able to prepare yourself in Lent, as you pro
posed. Do not be surprised at finding difficulties.
At first it almost must be so, but, by degrees, please
God, you will see your way quietly and firmly.
God help and bless you.
P.S. I may add some short answers to the questions.
It is not possible to mention each instance of
sin, it is enough to mention the kind of sin and
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 69
number, and the chief instances that indicate the
degree :
(a) Kind;
(b) Frequency;
(c) Degree.
Confession does not imply penance necessarily.
Penance does not imply abstaining from Holy
Communion necessarily.
See Bishop Andrewes.
See clearly, and resolve by God s help to devote
whatever fragments of broken health you may
have, just as thoroughly as you would devote a
whole strong unbroken life.
Heads of self-examination :
(1) Deeds.
(2) Words.
(3) Thoughts.
Tendency of my character through not reach
ing to any outward or inward act.
70 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XLIV.
TO A PRIEST ON HEARING CONFESSIONS.
CHRIST CHURCH, April 12, 1880.
As a first and general rule I should decline to hear
trie confession of young girls without the leave of
their parents. Generally speaking, either the parents
give leave after they are convinced of the sincerity of
their child s distress, or the distress is found to be
one that need not hinder the child from communicat
ing with a quiet conscience. When young people
are confirmed to a great extent the parents admit by
the act that their children have reached years of dis
cretion, and, therefore, may judge for themselves.
But still, as confession is regarded more or less as
an extraordinary act, it is hardly honest to assume
that it is permitted unless definitely allowed. I do,
therefore, desire even confirmed young women to get
leave from their parents, at least as long as they may
be reasonably supposed to be living under their
parents guidance.
If, AFTER INSTRUCTION, a young person feels unable
to communicate without confession, and yet cannot
get her parents leave, I should receive such a one to
confession. I should let this be known as your
general practice.
With regard to the Sisters, I would not let them
interfere with my own rules, but, if they think
differently, let them make known their opinion and
practice, and then, if thoroughly understood, you
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 71
might receive those sent to you by the Sisters, it being
understood that in placing the child under the Sisters
influence the parents left its future treatment to their
discretion.
Of course, all general rules need equitable adjust
ment, but a clear open line of conduct is far better
than suspicion.
God bless you and guide you.
72 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XLV.
TO A PRIEST ON CONFESSION.
CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, June 19, 1883.
Your letter needs no apology. If I can help you I
shall be thankful.
It is not easy to explain many of our religious acts
so as to be satisfactory simply to the logical faculty.
It may seem unreasonable to have an absolution in
the daily office, and in the Holy Communion, and to
repeat the Lord s Prayer, asking for forgiveness, so
frequently in one Sunday morning service; and yet
when the moral and spiritual side of our nature is
appealed to, these acts and prayers are found to have
a real place, and to be not contradictory to our reason.
With regard to the particular matter about which
you ask, the following is the line of thought which has
seemed to me most loyal to our Prayer Book, and most
satisfactory to people s needs :
(i) Confession to a priest is not necessary, God
will pardon on true repentance; therefore
confession of our sins to God, with true sor
row and purpose of amendment, and prayer
for pardon through Christ, will bring
pardon.
The necessity of confession to a priest once
a year was not enforced till the Council of
Lateran (1215 A.D.).
Dr. Pusey has a long note on this in his
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 73
volume of Tertullian in the Library of the
Fathers; Notes L. and M.
(2) Our Prayer Book says, as you know, in the
exhortation to Holy Communion, that if a
person cannot find peace in this way, then
their duty is to go to the priest for confession.
We should, I think, teach people this, and
trust to the Holy Spirit to guide them when to
come.
(3) In the case of sickness, as you know, we are
to move the sick person to make a special
confession if there is any weighty matter.
Here again, if we all did this, I think a
great number would be able to see what they
ought to do, without any great difficulty.
(4) If you look at S. Augustine De Symbolo,
section 18, Remissionem Peccatorum, you
will see that he speaks of three ways in which
sins are forgiven, " Ergo tribus modis
dimittuntur peccata in Ecclesia, in Bap-
tismate, in Oratione, in humilitate majofi
penitentice." S. Augustine considered
prayer, i.e., the Lord s Prayer, to be suffi
cient for cleansing the daily faults : " Ad haec
(levia peccata) quotidiana oratio delenda
sufficeret." The graver sins (adulteria aut
aliqua facta immania) he would expect good
Christians to keep free from (nolite ilia com-
mittere).
If you look in S. Augustine s Sermones ad
Competentes (57, 58 Bened. ed.) you will see
74 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
the sort of sins he calls " levia," and which
would be covered by the Lord s Prayer. We
ought, perhaps, to remember that S. Augus
tine was speaking very much to people pre
paring for Baptism as adults, and, therefore,
they would start with their eyes more open
than some of us did. However, it comes, I
think, to this :
(a) Our Church does not make confession
to a priest necessary.
(b) She instructs her children to guide
themselves with God s help, by God s
law, if they can ; if they want help then
to come to a priest.
(c) In sickness our Church urges con
fession to a priest, if there has been
weighty cause.
(d) The Church of England bids her clergy
teach what Holy Scripture teaches, and
what the Fathers have gathered out of
the same.
S. Augustine and others would say, Try and live on
with only such daily faults as the Lord s Prayer will
cover, but if you have fallen into the greater sins then
you had better get the help of the priest through
confession and absolution.
I know that many good people use confession who
have not fallen into the greater acts of sin, but who
have sinned in will, and, if they are real in such use of
it, I think our Church allows it, and S. Cyprian and
S. Gregory the Great speak of sins of thought, and
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 75
Origen speaks of going to a priest in matters which
are doubtful ; but, on the whole, if we keep to the
general line of our Church s teaching, I think the
rest will be made clear to us as we want it.
I venture to send you a letter I was obliged once to
print, but do not read more of it than you like. The
references may help you. 1
If I can help you any more I shall be very glad to
do so.
May God guide you and bless you, and make you
a guide and blessing to others.
1 Letter to Rev. C. J. Elliott, published by Parker, Oxford.
76 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XL VI.
TO A MISSIONARY BISHOP ON CONFESSION.
MURREN, August 1 8, 1905.
Pardon my not making time to write to you, and
thank you for your two kind letters ; but you know how
difficult it is for a bishop to be good !
I am here on my holidays with F. and R. The
former sends his respectful love ; the latter would if
he dared. They are a great help and joy to me.
In answer to your two letters, I fear it was partly
my fault in being too secularly cheerful, and so not
helping you as I might have done in higher things.
Indeed, in those ways it often occurs to me that I
was more use as Canon King than E. Lincoln. But,
I suppose, if, as we trust, we are working with, and
for God, then we may expect not to see exactly what
we are doing, because the plan is His, and we only
see a little part of it.
As to confession by letter, I have heard of it, but
never adopted it. I should venture to recommend
waiting till you can get to New York, or till some
Bishop comes, or Cowley Father.
I have not seen Bishop Churton s book, though I
think I saw a notice of it in the Guardian. The ex
perience of my life would lead me to look most to
God s individual care and discipline of our souls. Of
course I go to confession still. But God s discipline
seems to me most wonderful and awful, as well as
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 77
most merciful in its adaptation to our real needs, and
the real needs of our character.
Have you seen Illingworth s last book, Christian
Character? It is excellent, showing that the real aim
is the union of one s whole personality will, reason,
affections, body with God.
If I live, come and see us again. That God may
guide, and support, and bless you is the sincere prayer
of your most sincere and affectionate.
78 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XLVII.
TO A CANDIDATE FOR ORDINATION.
CUDDESDON VICARAGE, WHEATLEY,
October 6, 1871.
Thank you for your letter. I am sorry you have not
been well, and that you have had so much anxiety in
your family, and on your own account.
I hope you have done nothing but what will turn
out well in the end.
I do not know P. or Mr. T., but I will hope that it
is all well. If, when you go down to see the place you
find anything that seriously makes you doubt, I will
gladly give you my advice if you will kindly tell me
what the point is, and, if it is necessary (which we need
but suppose), I should think Mr. T. would release you
from your engagement. With this possibility of
liberty I should be quite at rest, and wait to see the
place. I shall hope that you will then see no reason
for altering your decision.
Regarding yourself :
(1) I would recommend you to begin, and say
daily the Veni Creator.
(2) To set apart half-an-hour, if you can, for
meditative reading, such as the Memoriale
Vitce Sacerdotalism or Heygate s Ember
Hours, or his Good Shepherd ; or Dr. Pusey s
Commentaries on Hosea or Jonah might be
well used with reference to your Ordination.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 79
(3) I should recommend you to go to confession
before your Ordination. If you are not com
ing this way I could advise you to go to some
priest elsewhere. I may be in London in
Advent for a night, and would gladly see you
then.
That God may guide and bless you in your pre
paration for His great service is my sincere
prayer. . . .
8o BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XLVIII.
ON DAILY COMMUNION.
CUDDESDON, August 25, I
Many thanks for your letter.
With regard to daily Communion. I am not able
to find out from history that it was ever the general
practice of the whole Church. All I can find out is
this :
In the Acts of the Apostles it is probable there was
daily Communion ; but observe, it was in connection
with the Apostles themselves, and, perhaps, would not
prove more than that the clergy [should] offer any
nearest to them the opportunity.
For the first eight hundred years daily Communion
did exist in some places, but was not the general
custom.
Early in the fifth century the great Augustine was
asked his opinion on the point, and he said that he
thought weekly Communion ought to be the general
thing; but, more than that, he would leave to the
consciences of his people. He compared those who
wished for daily Communion to Zacchaeus, who re
ceived our LORD gladly, and those who feared more
than weekly, to the Centurion, who would not ask
Christ to come under his roof. Both these, he adds,
did receive Christ.
Hence I do not find that the mass of Christian
people were ever daily communicants (except, per
haps, at the very first).
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 81
My own opinion is that I am not able to attempt
daily Communion myself; but, if it please God to
spare me, I think, as a priest, I ought to be able, and,
most likely, by God s help, I shall do so. 1
For yourself I should be quite happy if you and all
the laity were weekly communicants. Still, if we end
our days together I believe you might be just as much
and more fit for daily Communion than myself ;
hence I would press it upon no one, but allow it to
any, specially the clergy.
God bless you, my dearest Charlie. Give my best
love to dear old father and mother, and your sister.
I am still on my back, but much better really quite
well.
l When he became Bishop, he always had a daily Celebration in
his Chapel, and nearly always was himself the Celebrant.
82 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XLIX.
TO A PRIEST IN WEAK HEALTH IN CHARGE OF
A HOSPITAL ON FASTING.
CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, August 21, 1877.
Thanks for your note. Certainly eat meat when
ever you feel you want it.
And for the first six months I shall advise you to
eat meat every day, Fridays and all. After that you
could, perhaps, tell better how you could manage. If
two fasts come together I should still certainly eat
meat on one of them (i.e., after the six months).
After six months you might find that you could make
a difference if the work is lighter in the hospital. If
on any particular Friday you felt not to need it, then
be ready to go without it.
But for six months EAT.
"God bless you and preserve you. You are doing
good to us outside, besides your patients.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 83
L.
TO A LADY ON TROUBLES.
CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD,
St. Peter s Day, 1876.
I have been so unsettled in my movements that I
could not answer your letter before, and now I go
away to-morrow till August loth (about). I hope you
will be able to get on. Take the daily troubles as the
very best discipline you could possibly have. They
are simply God s own words to you. He sees what
you want. Bear the daily work patiently, and try
to make the Church your comfort and resting place.
Don t be surprised or disappointed if you are not
always bright and happy ; such blessings are indeed
most precious, but not necessary, and brighter days
may very likely come quite as soon as you are ready
for them.
God help you and bless you.
84 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LI.
TO THE SAMEON ASKING FORGIVENESS.
CHRIST CHURCH, November 6, 1877.
I am sorry to hear of your anxiety, but these
troubles which come to us, and are not brought by
ourselves, come freed of half their weight. We can
trust them that they are for our good. With regard
to your question, I do not, perhaps, know exactly all
the circumstances, so that I may be more or less advis
ing in the dark ; but, as far as I can see, I should
recommend you to ask forgiveness from your mother
while you can, not because I have any doubt about
your being forgiven, but such a course is the most
natural. Almost all people, more or less, would do
so; for all in different degrees must be conscious of
imperfectly rendered duties; so that there would be
nothing strange in your doing so, and I think it is
the safest course to take. You might regret not hav
ing done so when too late. For yourself, too, it would
probably be the best thing to do. If you are con
scious of some degree of failure there will be some little
amends. So I should advise you simply to ask God s
help and guidance to do it. I must add very sincere
congratulations, and good wishes, on the help and
hope of happiness which God has so lovingly granted
you.
God bless you, , , ,
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 8s
LII.
TO A LADY WHO WAS DEPRESSED BECAUSE
SHE WAS NOT MAKING PROGRESS.
August 23, 1881.
Pardon my delay. I do not know any book
definitely to meet the case you ask about. But in
Keble s Spiritual Letters there are some which would
be very applicable. I should recommend that book,
if your friend has not got it. Like all K. s writing,
it is so gentle and so strong, so clear and so deep, so
high and so well balanced. Any of the volumes of
his sermons, too, would be sure to be useful, and give
your friend a steady and hopeful mind. Hope is a
duty, and brightness, inward if not outward more or
less should go with it. I delight in Ezekiel, with
the rainbow round about, and the brightness. He is
the prophet of hope.
I hope you are well, and your brother. My love to
him, and to you.
God bless you and take care of you.
86 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LIII.
TO A PRIEST A MORAL CASE.
CUDDESDON VICARAGE, October 19, 1868.
My first pleasure in writing is to disappoint you in
being able to say, like other wicked people, " he never
writes." You see, dear man, the horrid injustice
which men of real businesslike habits are liable to,
from an envious and ignorant public !
I was very glad to hear you were at work, and on
the whole satisfactorily.
The drunkard I should have loved more if he had
not had his pocket picked, or, rather, if he had not
wished it to be filled. Still, you must love him for all
that. It requires experience to know people. It is
better to be over charitable than over strict. I am
sure we must run the risk of the charge brought
against our Lord of being too easy with sinners. It
is a great difficulty, but that is the line, I am sure. I
should try and get the poor man to take up really a
life of self-discipline. Probably he lives on the
chance all the year, and then breaks out. If he would
aim at doing anything as a duty, at times when not
tempted to break out he would be gaining the habit of
self-control, which would be ready made when the
temptation to break out came. He is probably care
less as a habit. It is not possible often to conquer
one s sins, unless one cuts away all, then each goes.
He is probably sulky, selfish, swears, lazy, proud,
conceited, and has fifty other faults. Cut them off,
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 87
and he will see that being once better he is better able
to go on.
Never mind being weary of visiting, go on. It is
very wearying and unsatisfactory at the time, but it
tells in the end, and contributes to their confidence in
you.
God keep you, dear D. Your sympathy and
appreciation of Christian refinement were a great
comfort to me. Good-bye. Remember me in your
prayers. , . .
88 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LIV.
TO A PRIEST A MORAL CASE.
OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, February 12, 1901.
It is very sad. I hope to write a letter to you all
shortly ; but it can only be by slow degrees, and the
gradual raising of public opinion that we can hope
for improvement.
I think you acted quite rightly in burying, and
entering the names of the poor children.
The queston of marriage is more difficult :
(1) Being so young, they may hardly know their
own minds, or whether there is fair prob
ability that their characters would suit one
another. If there seems to be fair prospect
of their suiting one another as from stations
of life, dispositions, etc., and as far as you
can tell a real attachment beyond mere pass
ing animal passion if they show any peni
tence, and willingness to wait and suffer for
their sin, then I should incline to their
marrying. If there is none of this, but
rather bitterness and mutual recrimination, I
should not advise marriage, but leave them
alone (except so far as trying to bring them
to repentance).
(2) Where they should be married is also difficult.
I think it depends chiefly on the effect on
others in the parish. If we could use full
discipline and feel sure of their penitence,
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 89
after confession and absolution, they might
(after a year, say) be admitted to Holy Com
munion, and then be married in church (the
difference between the first and second
Epistle to the Corinthians is less than a year,
I believe).
Short of this, I think it must turn (i) on their own
penitence; (2) on the effect on the parish. If their
general reputations had been good, and their families
good, and you could hope well of their future, I should
incline to marrying them, as quietly as possible, with
out bells, in the church. If you think it would be a
scandal to the parish, I should advise the registry
office, and try and do my best to bring them in due
time to Holy Communion.
It is very sad. May God have mercy upon us and
help us.
90 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LV.
TO A NURSE IN THE DIOCESE OF
BLOEMFONTEIN.
CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, July 10, 1880.
I hope you will forgive my sad delay in thanking
you for your letter of December aoth, 1879. ^ is not
that I have forgotten you, but my life is a busy and in
terrupted one. I have never learnt to work in a steady
businesslike way ; so many things are left undone. It
is very difficult to keep a bright free spirit with much
business routine, but I hope to do better. I was so
sorry to hear that you had been so ill ; but, thank God,
I hope you are by this time well and strong again, and
able to nurse others. I am not surprised that you
found the work at first a little disappointing, but I
hope before this you have been able to see that the
thing to do in life is to add to the real steady work of
the building as it is really rising all round, and not
to build up a perfect little tower of one s own. Prob
ably your very power is your weakness. I mean the
scientific conception which you have of nursing makes
you distressed at the disorderly haphazard, rough and
ready kind of way in which it must, much of it, be
done.
I should think your best way would be to watch all
this, and get as many bits as possible into proper
shape and order for some future scientific combina
tion, but to be Content to say, like David: " I have
prepared with all my might for the house of my God."
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 91
He gathered materials, but never saw them put to
gether, or the building rise from the ground.
Some day probably God will give you one who will
catch the scientific fire from you, and the torch will be
handed on ; all things need patience and humility, but
these are the flowers, and fruit, and beauty of scientific
life. It is hard and hideous without them, so I am
glad to think that you are really receiving just the
double training that is best for your real perfection.
I hope you have got to know the good Bishop well. 1
He is one of the ablest and best men I have ever
known. He has a noble mind and heart, but he
chafes at little things. Please give him my most
respectful but sincere love, if he is near you.
Let me hear from you when you can. Your life is
valuable to us here as an evidence of faith in a world
beyond. Thus you are all helping us at home more
than you can tell. Keep bravely, cheerfully on, for
you have a blessed life before you. Let all your
scientific schemes and dreams be knocked about and
smashed up continually, yet keep steadily contem
plating the organised perfection of your work so it
will be really suited to the place and people, and be a
real living organism, and not a mere imported patch
for the poor natives and colonials to stare at.
Now, good-bye. God bless you, and guide you,
and uphold you, and give you a humble and a brave
victorious spirit.
1 Bishop Webb.
92 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LVI.
TO A YOUNG LADY THANKS FOR AN ALTAR
FRONTAL.
LINCOLN, Epiphany, 1892.
It would be, I think, almost the whole truth if I were
to say that the greatness of the gift has been the true
cause of my delay in thanking you. No doubt there
has been some sloth, or shrinking from effort, but
that which made the effort necessary was not careless
ness, but a most real and serious appreciation of what
you have done.
I do not know where I have seen any work more
pleasingly beautiful than the altar frontal which you
have sent me.
Where harmony in colouring is really good, it is a
very real and restful pleasure to those who are capable
of seeing it. We know how abundantly this is pro
vided for in nature, but in art it often fails. In your
work you appear to me to have succeeded wonder
fully.
I am, therefore, truly grateful to you for the magni
ficence and beauty of the gift which you have been
so good as to send me.
But this is not really all, or the greater part of that
which caused this reply to your letter to be an effort
such as I have mentioned.
This gift represents, I know, the kindness of many
hearts.
When I looked over the long list of names which
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 93
you had so carefully written out for me I felt moved
and ashamed, more than I can say, to think God should
have given me such an abundance of love. This is
wonderful enough to make one silent, except in
prayer.
But even this is not all ; for, indeed, the greatest
ground of thankfulness has yet to be expressed. It is
that you have done all this to me as His servant. It
is a gift not so much to me as to my office; that is,
to your Bishop as the servant of Jesus Christ sent to
watch over you in this diocese. It is for His altar
that you have worked this beautiful frontal, and there,
please God, I will remember you. I can only add
may God bless you all for your kindness to His
servant.
94 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LVII.
TO A FRIEND ON THE ILLNESS OF HIS SON,
WHO WAS A CANDIDATE FOR ORDINA
TION.
April 17, 1904.
I am so very sorry to hear from the Principal of
Cuddesdon that your dear son is so unwell and unable
to undertake his examination this week. The Prin
cipal asks if he might do the papers in a month s time,
when I hope he may be well again. If he is well
enough he may certainly do this ; either coming here
or having his papers at Cuddesdon. Then he could
be ordained at Trinity. Failing this, he might
possibly be able to do the papers later on, and be
ordained in September at Ely. I think there will be
another wanting Letters Dimissory, and I could ask
Ely if he would ordain them for me.
I hope, however, he may be able to do the papers in
a month s time. I am so very sorry for him, and for
you, dear friend. How hard it is to hold up under
the different trials that come upon one ! But no doubt
all is ordered for the best, as we shall one day see,
please God. God bless you, dear friend, and your
son.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 95
LVIII.
TO A PRIEST THE ATH AN ASIAN CREED.
LINCOLN, July 26, 1904.
It was very nice to hear of you again, though I am
sorry you are so distressed. Whatever the committee
may suggest with regard to the Athanasian Creed I
hope nothing will be done till after the next Lambeth
Conference, as we are bound up together at least with
the Church in South Africa, etc.
Meanwhile, there will be time fof people to express
their minds and wishes. Many people, I suppose,
would hesitate if we were proposing for the first time
to require the creed as it stands to be recited in the
public service on great festivals. Such an order was,
I believe, a new departure when we made it in the
reformed Prayer Book. And also it may be said that
the use of the minatory clauses is not in analogy with
the use of the anathemas connected with the other
creeds.
At the same time I voted against any alteration at
the present time. I fear it would do harm and make
people think that we might yield in essentials.
The real question for people to ask themselves is :
"Is any faith necessary?" That is really what the
minatory clauses come to.
Do not be more distressed than you can help, dear
friend. God will take care of His truth. We .must
do our bit in our day, and trust the future to His
everlasting power and Jove,
96 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
I hope we shall meet at Cuddesdon ; with my love
and blessing. . . .
LIX,
TO AN OLD FRIEND OLD AGE.
LINCOLN, June 27, 1905.
Thank you so much for your most kind and sym
pathetic letter. I quite know what you mean, and
your own letter gives the true answer, "The desire
for something that the world cannot give." We
must look " up " and "on " rather than back for real
satisfaction ! Have you seen Evans sermon 1 on dear
Bishop Woodford as founder of Ely College? If not,
write and make him send you a copy. It is beautiful
and excellent, and rekindles old warmths of love, but
that ends with looking forwards. "The natural
evening is the spiritual morning."
We must not mind, but rather be thankful for the
disappointments and dissatisfactions which years
bring to us. It is God s way of cutting the lesser
strings that tie us to the life below. It will be easier
for us when we get to the end. It is not so easy as I
thought it would be to keep bright, and cheerful, and
i Sermon by Rev. Canon A. R. Evans, who was Chaplain to
Bishop Woodford throughout his Episcopate. Printed by G. H.
Tyndall, Ely.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 97
full of hope as one gets old. One saw it all in my
dear mother, and in one s folly one thought one
would do as well, but I see now how wonderful she
was, and what a failure I am.
You must come and see us again. Are you going
to Switzerland? I hope we shall get away for a
month or so early in August.
Good-bye, dearest friend, " Better to have loved
and lost than never to have loved at all."
Cuddesdon days do make one sad sometimes, but
they were, and are, full of hope for better things to
come.
With my love and blessing. . . ,
98 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LX ?
TO A YOUNG MAN ON THE PRESENCE OP GOD.
LINCOLN, February 21, 1889.
I thank you for your letter.
I am not surprised at the trouble which you ex
perience, but I hope you will see your way before
long. It is not necessary to be always thinking
directly of God. Indeed, it is not possible. Some
times, of course, we ought to, and can, do this, but at
other times we must give our minds to what we are do
ing, even if it is playing and amusement. We may,
of course, commit the chief periods of our time and of
our occupation to God by a short ejaculatory prayer,
as we do before and after meals, and before reading
the Bible. So also before any study, and after any
study, and such a word of prayer to bless our games
that they may be innocent and refreshing to us, and
to those with whom we play. In this way we can
carry out the words " I have set God always before
me," and adopt the motto, Laborare est orare.
Ejaculatory prayer is also possible during work and
play, but in the main you should be satisfied with
commending your work or play to God, and then
throw yourself into it heartily. .Write again when
you like.
God bless you, and guide you, and comfort
you. . , f
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 99
LXI.
ON PRESBYTERIANS WISHING FOR
COMMUNION.
1909.
Pardon 1 When Presbyterians have come to Eng
land for two or three years meaning to go back to
Scotland, and remain Presbyterians, I have not felt
able to admit them to our Communion, as they are not
confirmed, nor do they wish to be.
I am afraid the same applies to Lutherans. If they
are likely to stay in England, and wish to be con
firmed, of course there would be no difficulty.
Could not your friend get to Grimsby now and
again for her Communion in the Scandinavian
Church? (Chapman Street, Grimsby). I am very
sorry. How are you? My love to you both, , ,
ioo BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXII.
ON THE MARRIAGE OF ONE UNBAPTISED.
LINCOLN, May 23, 1890.
I have thought over the difficult case which you
send me of the unbaptised young man. I think it
would be unreal to marry him in the Church with our
service before he is baptised. Baptism is the coven
anted basis of all the sacramental acts which are given
in the Church.
I am sorry to disappoint him, but, if he cannot be
baptised first, I should advise his marriage at the
registry, which is valid marriage, and hope that
he would some day after Baptism and Confirmation
receive the Blessing of the Church.
With regard to the other sad case, I do not see what
we can do unless they are willing to live apart, except
withhold the Communion until it may be desired in
articulo mortis.
These are sad cases, and one feels deeply for them,
but We are guardians of the Faitli and Sacraments.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 101
LXIII.
TO A PRIEST A CASE OF DISCIPLINE.
OLD PALACE, LINCOLN.
A. s was a very bad case, and has caused a grievous
scandal amongst us. He has been in debt in more
than one place in the diocese, and in the county gaol
till within a few months ago.
While I freely agree to his being accepted as a peni
tent to the Holy Communion, I feel that it would be a
very serious shock to Church people if it were known
that he was celebrating at the altar. A person whose
moral sense has been so shattered requires the help of
discipline to enable him to realise his sin ; for his own
sake, therefore, I could not allow him to celebrate the
Holy Communion.
I fear you may think me hard ; but, alas ! experience
teaches one the need of discipline in such cases.
I hope you are all keeping well.
God bless you, and guide you, and refresh you, with
the increasing consciousness of His presence and His
love.
P.S. I fully appreciate B. s Christian kindness to
wards A., but I am sure he would wish me to
maintain the discipline of the Church, painful as
it is to do it.
loa BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXIV.
A DISPENSATION.
OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, January 29, 1906.
Thank you, and as this year will probably be a
special occasion, and you may wish to please the
officers, I will dispense you from keeping the Lenten
fast on that occasion.
As a rule, I quite agree, we ought, by our examples
as well as precepts, to uphold the rules of the Church.
May God guide and bless your work.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 103
LXV.
TO A LADY A RULE OF LIFE.
OXFORD, December 17, 1874.
I will gladly offer you the best advice I can.
i. As to " Unregulated ways."
You can only expect in a life in the world to
bring our minor features under rule, e.g.,
(1) Hours for sleep going to bed and
getting up.
(2) Meals (time, quantity, quality).
(3) Work.
(4) Devotion.
(a) Private.
(6) Public.
These main features of the day may be ascer
tained in most circumstances, so as to have an
average of regularity.
2. Working only for self-improvement.
(i) You cannot tell when, or where, your
own powers may be called forth.
Fenelon spent ten years of his life in
teaching young religious women, but
the result of his experience so gained was
the so-called cause of his appointment
to be tutor to the king s son. We can
not tell. If as far as you can tell from
your own reason and conscience and the
advice of others, you see nothing else to
104 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
do than improve yourself, do it heartily,
not for self (as though God had let you
off His service), but for Him; getting
ready and making yourself as useful as
you can for the time when He may call
you to some more direct work for Him
self.
3. " Repeating Faults."
(1) It depends what they are.
(2) The Lord s Prayer seems to imply them,
with a daily need and a daily debt.
(3) Sometimes a change of circumstances,
place, occupation, companions, is help
ful to get a closer line drawn between
little failings and the right state.
(4) Confession.
I can only repeat the Church s advice, try
and get on without it; if you can t, use it.
God guide and bless you.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 105
LXVI.
MYSTICISM.
August 9, 1904.
I am so sorry I have been so long in thanking you
for your most kind and loving letter, and for the ex
ceedingly interesting and valuable book, 1 which you
have been so good as to send me. How you must
have valued and enjoyed the friendship of such a man.
There is a great deal that is most inspiring ; indeed,
the whole of his personality and tone of mind is so.
And I hope to keep it by me to keep me up on the
high spiritual level. There is just one caution, I
venture to think, needed. It is a characteristic, much
of that line of thought, the danger of running into a
kind of ethical Pantheism, I mean the danger of los
ing the self to the degree of extinction by absorption.
I have noticed the same in Westcott, and , and
Moberly in different degrees.
It was the danger of Quietism, and even Fenelon
was thought to have sympathised with it too much.
No doubt most of us are only too far the other way,
and are only beginning to see the perfection of the
individual through corporate union.
I think if one takes the highest possible standard,
we have the true safeguard: " One as we are one "
that is, with the ineffable distinctions of the Three
Divine Personalities.
1 Forbes Robinson s Addresses.
106 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
Pardon all these ill-natured remarks, but I only
make them because I have so much comfort and en
couragement in your sympathy that I point out a
possible danger as a proof of my love. I am very
sorry you have not been feeling quite well, but I hope
Montana will quite set you up. That is where we
first met !
Please remember me most kindly to your dear wife,
and the dear children, and also to your friend whom
I confirmed. I am so glad and thankful that he keeps
on so well.
We shall be delighted to have you with us in the
house for the Retreat. Good-bye. Keep out in the
air all you can.
God bless you, and guide you, and lead you on, and
give you grace to teach others.
Believe me always,
Yours most affectionately.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 107
LXVII.
RESPECTING A YOUNG MAN IN AN OFFICE WHO
FOUND HIMSELF COMPELLED TO MAKE
MISLEADING STATEMENTS IN HIS COR
RESPONDENCE, YET WISHED TO BE CON-
FIRMED.
October 31, 1905.
These cases are so difficult and sad ; they belong to
one of our greatest national difficulties and hindrances
to the work of the Church. On the whole, my ex
perience has worked like this : A baptised person ought
to be confirmed, but the Church does not say exactly
when. I fear to tell a young person to silence their
conscience; it opens such a dangerous door. I
should, therefore, advise the young man to wait,
asking God s special help and protection, and hope
that a way will be made clear for him in time. I
should tell him, in case of sudden sickness and fear of
death, to make known his case to a priest, and ask for
Holy Communion. It is very hard. My love and
blessing to you all.
io8 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXVIII.
NONCONFORMISTS.
LONDON, November 4, 1906.
Let me thank you very warmly for your letter; and,
though I do not feel able to do what you kindly wish,
believe me I am heartily with you in your desire to
promote good will and brotherly love amongst all
men, and especially among Christian men. I need
hardly say I have never had any harsh feeling to
wards Nonconformists, and, I might add, especially
not towards Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists,
because I have always felt that it was the want of
spiritual life in the Church and brotherly love which
led them to separate. The more we can draw near to
Christ ourselves and fill ourselves with His Spirit,
the greater power we shall have for unity. What we
want is more Christlike Christians.
May God guide and bless your efforts to draw all
nearer to Him, and in Him to one another.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 109
LXIX.
TO A PRIEST ON THE CELIBACY OF THE
CLERGY.
LINCOLN, June 8, 1887.
As to the important matter on which you ask my
advice, I will say that I think S. Paul puts before us
the unmarried life as the higher state; but then, you
must remember, he adds " for those who are called to
it."
If you had been living as you were, or, if you
thought the higher life would help your ministry best,
then I should advise you to try for it. I gather, how
ever, from your letter that you think a married priest
\vould do most good in the sphere to which you have
been called. I think, then, you are quite free to
marry. I need not add " only in the Lord," which,
as you know, would mean someone who would under
stand your priestly life and help you in it.
I am single myself, but simply because I never felt
called to anything else.
I have the highest view of married life; indeed, I
believe our English parsonages for purity of life may
well compare with the old monasteries and the
modern clergy houses.
I should make it a matter of prayer, and feel quite
free. That God may guide you to know and do His
.Wijl is the sincere prayer of yours affectionately,
i io BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXX.
SUFFERING.
LINCOLN, Sunday.
Thank you for telling me. I do indeed sympathise
with you. But our likeness to our dear Lord is not
complete unless we may suffer.
I like to think that the glorious visions of the
Apocalypse were given in a time of suffering, at the
end of a life. We may expect " good wine " at the
last. How unlike the way of the world! I will not
forget to think of you and your dear sister. May He
Who knows best do His Will.
With my kindest regards and sympathy,
Yours affectionately.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS, in
LXXI.
TO ONE WHO HAD RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED
TUTOR IN A MISSIONARY COLLEGE.
CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, September n, 1880.
You remember the songs of the " goings up "
beginning " When I was in trouble," so I am happy,
and hopeful, that you have begun more or less in
misery .
Dearest friend, I long at once to offer myself as
junior Boots, or as something in the establishment,
where I should be allowed instantly and always free
access among the men. I quite envy you seeing such
a lot of work that obviously wants doing close to your
hand. It is delightful to know that you are in it.
But, seriously, I am sorry things are so needlessly
stiff. There must be an immense loss of power. I
should aim at absolute oneness, all higgledy piggledy.
Anyhow, that must be the end to aim at. Mean
while, it is true, no doubt, that a Christian higgledy
piggledy is easier at Oxford or at Cuddesdon than at
. The different social power must be a seri
ous difficulty, and probably you will have to feel
your way keeping up old-fashioned social barriers
before you can safely trust to their perceiving the
necessary order and harmony in a real Christian com
munity. It will want heaps of" talk MOUNTAINS of
talk with individuals, and you will have to be worn
out and out, and done for, and broken-hearted, and
miserable, and not understood, and deceived, before
ii2 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
you begin to get the right sort of relation which is
absolutely necessary for the students sake now, and
to enable them to know what to do when they go out,
be ordained, and preach, and give meditations; and
get them to see that you are heart and soul in earnest
to bring them one and all, not to yourself but to the
mind of Christ. Then they will love you, and you
will soon be hopelessly entangled in heloless love for
them, and you will be broken-hearted again, and
suffer miseries, and then the life will begin !
Dearest friend, you will think I am wild, but it
would take three or four sheets to get off the first
necessary wild confusion at thinking of such a place as
, bound hand and foot in Donism. Horrible!
Yet be patient, and wise, and work with others.
Do not be tempted to break away, but lead all on to
gether, or as many as will. Pray write again, and I
will be more sensible next time.
God bless and guide you, and fill you with wisdom
and love to guide and love them all, and the heathen
in them.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 113
LXXII.
TO THE SAME.
OXFORD, September io> 1881.
I am sorry you are so squeezed, but it must be so,
more or less. Anyone who has a high ideal and love
of perfection must be prepared to suffer. I am very
fond of the Prophets. Among other things, they
seem to have suffered a great deal. "Sat down
astonied," or "dumb," or "sat in silence seven
days," all implying the strain consequent upon a
higher and wider vision. So no doubt S. James is
right in telling us to take the Prophets as examples of
PATIENCE. At first one fancies they had a brilliant
time of it, but I expect not really. Do you know
Ezekiel? He is the prophet of hope to me, the rain
bow and brightness round about. The prophet
Ezekiel, with his vision of the dry bones, and the
water increasing, flowing from the Temple, is full of
progress and hope. The Prophets are a great help to
me. So you must not be in despair, dear friend. By
degrees you will, please God, get on.
I should make a quiet gentle push to get Friday
Meditations. One slides away from personal piety
so very easily and in so many respectable ways, that
unless there is a systematic consideration of the unseen
spiritual life there is always danger of even a religious
community becoming mere " Multus religionis
nullius paene pietatis," as someone has said.
What you want is simple elementary instruction on
8
it 4 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
"How to be good," just enlivened and made bright
and attractive by the personal experience of the man
who gives it, and anecdotes from biographies, so as
to make it living, personal, touching. I think you
would all find the good of it. If the Warden did not
like always to take it, you might divide it out amongst
yourselves, only keep simple ! . . .
Don t over worry, dear friend, and yet you must
have a share in the sufferings, depression and amaze
ments of the Prophets if you are really to lead men in
the way of God.
God bless you, and comfort you, and guide you,
and refresh you with the consciousness of His loving
presence. . . .
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 115
LXXIII.
TO THE SAME.
OXFORD, November 23, 1882.
Dearest, dearest thing ! I am so sorry for you, and
yet it must, must be. Oh, you would not be worth
your salt in such a place. Only by breaking your
poor heart into pieces over and over again can you
hope to make them begin to think of believing that
there is such a thing as love !
Don t mind, be miserable, but don t stop loving
them. And don t go to Africa just yet come and see
us first.
How I wish I could help you, but I can only say
you will never regret all the misery you go through ;
and it is not lost, no, not one bit of it. Not one drop
of heart s blood that falls from a love-broken heart
ever gets lost; angels look after it if men don t, and it
bears its fruit.
Trust, dear friend, and love on, and don t forget in
your prayers sometimes.
Your very affectionate.
n6 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXXIV.
TO ONE OF HIS CHAPLAINS MISSIONARY
WORK.
May, 1890.
I am off to China by the first boat ! Will you come?
I am just back from the meeting where a beautiful
C.M.S. missionary straight from China has been
preaching at least what 1 call preaching talking the
Gospel with all the fervour of a living missionary.
Most crushing! Eleven years and no results, and
five deaths I Then three converts, and then another
death ! Then another year, and then 7,000 ! And
such beauties ! My dear child, if you and I get just
in, it will be only by holding on to the extremest tip
of one of their pigtails! Certainly those C.M.S.
people have got a hold of " the faith in Jesus," which
is most refreshing and vivifying. I could only think
of that line in Keble for to-day,
" Not quite an outcast if I prove." 1
We must really wake up. But this was meant
to have been quite a sober letter of thanks, dear thing,
for all your help and niceness these last days. God
bless you for it, and your work, and make them a
blessing to thousands of millions. God bless you and
support you.
1 The Christian Year. First Sunday after Easter.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 117
LXXV.
TO A LADY WHO, IN UNDERTAKING NEW
WORK, WAS ACTING RATHER AGAINST
WHAT THE BISHOP HAD ADVISED.
LINCOLN, January 9, 1900.
I thank you very much for your kind letter, though
the responsibility weighs heavily upon me. Still, I
offered the best contribution that I had, and I offered
it as a contribution to help you to make up your own
mind, and I am still of the same opinion. You are
quite at liberty to tell A. that you have my full
approval in remaining. I feel that you have a very
real and valuable work to do here, and that it would be
vastly easier to find some one to take up the work for
the Grey Ladies than the work here, which depends so
much on your own personality and family connec
tions. I ought, perhaps, to say that I may be too
much inclined to follow the natural setting of life.
I see so much danger in humanly devised religious
organisations. Simplicity, quietness, real looking to
God and living with Him are all so easily endangered,
even by religious organisations. I only say this that
you may guard yourself against what may be
prejudices.
May God guide and bless your decision, to your own
happiness and the highest good of others,
n8 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXXVI.
WHEN ASKED TO BE PATRON OF A CHORAL
SOCIETY WHICH PROPOSED TO GIVE
PERFORMANCES OF ORATORIOS ON
SUNDAY.
January 30, 1905.
It is long indeed since I heard of you, but I remem
ber you quite well, and your good father.
I am very sorry not to feel able to do what you ask.
For your sake I should be very glad to do it, but I
hesitate to promote a movement which, however good
in itself, may be abused by leading people to sub
stitute listening even to sacred music for going to
church.
I know there are two sides to the question, but I
have an old-fashioned jealousy for the religious Sun
day, and am afraid of doing anything that might
lessen its religious power. I am sure you yourself
desire to do good, and to keep people from harm.
May God guide and bless you in your effort.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 119
LXXVII.
TO ONE OF HIS YOUNGER CLERGY ON HIS
DESIRE TO JOIN THE SOCIETY OF S. JOHN
THE EVANGELIST, COW LEY.
April 14, 1891.
Ah ! You naughty child ! I was afraid you would
flit off and leave me with my poor lads and the turnips !
Well, dear child, I will not hinder you. If we are
to have Religious, you are just the sort of child to
make the life, by God s grace, what it ought to be.
So you must go, if you think you ought, and God
bless you, though I am very sorry to lose you.
God bless you, my dear child, and guide you,
120 BISHQP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXXVIII.
TO A YOUNG PRIEST ON HOME LIFE.
September, 1888.
I am very glad you have been at home and seen and
felt as you have ; whenever home breaks up (as, alas !
it must) you will look back to this summer as a gift
of pause before the end, and as a real and wonderful
ordering of the " Father of all." What our
behaviour to Him must be in His sight is beyond all
imagination !
I quite understand and agree about the feelings of
wonder and awe and admiration at a Mother s
courage and self-effacing love, and the pain inexpres
sible when children show "unconcern." The sight
of all this cannot but give you a new and most real
reverence and self-hating tenderness towards the
mystery of family life; and this, dear child, is just
what I want you to get, not that you should neces
sarily be married, any more than I am, but that you
should increase in self-hating reverence for others,
and grow in the general apprehension that others are
a few million times better than oneself and only to be
interfered with with awe !
But I might spare you all this, as we shall (D.V). so
soon meet. I am thankful for my holiday, which has
been a real refreshment, and I hope to try to do a
little better. I see some things, I hope, a little clearer,
if I cafi only keep down the dust of daily toil and
manage to retain my own individuality without selfish-
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 121
ness. Any kind of public life must be a self-sacrifice.
" He saved others, Himself He cannot save," is true
of all who would try to follow Him. Smashing is in
the bond, though it may not be exacted to the full.
Good-bye; God bless you and guide you.
122 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXXIX.
TO A PRIEST OF THE DIOCESE ON COMMUNION
WITH GOD.
LINCOLN, May 15, 1885.
Thank you for your trustful letter.
I shall be only too glad and thankful if I can help
you as you propose. Indeed, it is my great wish, if it
please God, to help on clergy of the diocese into peace
ful communion with God, that they may then be
enabled to do the same for their people. When you
come we will find a time for you to tell me all you
wish. It is not all at once, very often, that we can
attain that even and consistent living with God which
in His time may be ours; and which, when attained,
is such a rest.
That this may be yours, and that you may be en
abled to bring others to the same is my sincere prayer,
God bless you and comfort you,
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 123
LXXX.
TO A WORKING MAN.
OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, September 3, 1909.
As I am staying at Folkestone for a few days I have
a little more leisure time than when I am at Lincoln,
so I am writing to thank you for your kind letter of
last January. I hope you keep well, and all your
family, and that they are all well in the old home at
. Remember me very highly to your father
when you see him, or are writing, and give my love to
Edward and Willie ; I hope they are well, and doing
well both in soul and body. It wants a deal of energy
and courage to keep up to the mark in religion
nowadays. There are so many good-living people
who are almost indifferent to religion. It is very dan
gerous, and sometimes very sad when they suddenly
break down altogether. The world goes ahead won
derfully railways, telegraph, telephone, steamships,
and now aviation ; we must hold fast by the
faith, or there will be a great smash. I am not against
worldly progress, but it must be with God and for
God, or it will have to be stopped.
God bless you, dear [Tom], and all your family,
i2 4 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
THE LETTER OF THE FOREGOING
To THE REV. B. W. RANDOLPH.
DEAR SIR,
Seeing your letter in the daily Press re the late Bishop of Lincoln s
Spiritual Letters from him, I had the great honour of knowing him
the whole of my life through me being a native of Leigh, where his dear
brother, the late Canon King, was Rector. My father was one of
his Sunday School teachers there until the time of his death, and one
of my brothers, Willie, was a servant of his, and went with him as
his servant to Christ Church from Cuddesdon. You may, perhaps,
remember him, as he was at Oxford some years with him. And then
a younger brother, Edward, went to Cuddesdon as a servant after
wards. You will see by this how it is I knew him so well, for when
he used to visit his brother at Leigh he always used to call on us at
our home.
We met in London some thirty years since, when we promised to
write each other, say, once a year, just to keep in touch with each
other. Our letters were very homely ones, really about our family,
and would not interest other people, but the last one that I send you
may be of interest to you.
I may say that I am a working man ; have been in my present
place close on thirty years; also a Sunday School teacher, though,
perhaps, this is not to my credit, rather to my dear ones and teachers
who have passed to their rest. That I may live a life here below so
that at the last I am found worthy to meet them all, is the very
earnest prayer of
Yours sincerely,
TOM
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 125
LXXXI.
TO SOME FRIENDS WITH WHOM HE HAD
TRAVELLED THANKING FOR PRESENTS.
LINCOLN, January 14, 1891.
If you were not YOU I should really seriously fear
that you would be offended at my apparent ingrati
tude ! But I know how kind you are, and you also
know that the reason of my silence is really pressure of
work on one who never was very strong, and who is
getting old and not, I fear, more active.
But how am I to thank you even if I try? It is
really too good of you to shower such beautiful and
valuable presents upon me.
The bag is most beautiful, and I am sure will im
press the various footmen in the houses where I stay
with a much higher idea of their Bishop than they get
now from my poor black bag which you so often helped
me with.
And then the wonderful wrapper for my rugs, and
umbrellas, and stick cases ! People will not know
me ! I have often wished for (not to say coveted) such
a luxury when I have been struggling with my bulging
bundles of rugs and coats I
I quite long to set off again. It makes me blush to
think how you struggled with my bundles last autumn.
And what am I to say for the charmingly arranged
book of photographs? So full of memories ! It is too
good of you. The cow and the bell, I think, must
come first, and you are both excellent, and the hay
126 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
cart is a great memory, and your own home, which is
a pleasure yet to come for me. I think the photo
graphs excellent. It is really wonderful. And then
after all this came the book on Socialism, as if you had
nothing to do but think about my interest and
pleasure ! And then all your letters and good wishes.
Well, dear friends, it is impossible to thank you,
and under all lies the great joy of all that all this is
bound up with Church principles, and is part of the
enjoyment of the Communion of Saints. I hope you
have had a happy Christmas. I fear your anxiety for
your good sister-in-law must have made your Christ
mas grave, but not, I hope, unhappy. Such Christian
resignation and hope are the elements of encourage
ment and joy.
I am with my sister at C. for five days, but go home
to-morrow.
I am waiting to see what the appeal will come to. I
do not mean to defend the judgment before the P.C.,
but to stand on the decision of the Archbishop of
Canterbury. This will, I think, be the clearest course
for Church people to understand.
If I am not in gaol you must come to me for Easter !
Good-bye, dear friends, my love and blessing to you
both.
May God bless you for your kindness to His
servant. . .
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 127
LXXXII.
BIBLE READING,
CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, December 31, 1883.
"What little I know about it I should say a mixed
[method is best].
The critical often keeps one awake, opens one s
eyes. Only remember, dear Charles Marriott says :
" The utmost that criticism can do is to prepare and
correct text for the reading of the spiritual age."
Still, I think it often opens one s eyes. I mean,
without a commentary one does not crack the nut. I
want you to teach me a great deal when you come
to -.
Let us try and begin to get hold of something. I
think I have begun to see my way to the alphabet of
morality, but I have hardly begun Christianity, and I
was fifty-four on Saturday ! God bless you and guide
you through the new year, and on and on !
Yours affectionately.
128 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXXXIII.
TO A LADY ON FASTING COMMUNION.
LINCOLN, Febuary, 19, 1905,
Septuagesima.
I am sorry you are distressed about the matter of
which you write. I do not think you need be so any
more. No doubt the first aim of us all should be to
receive the Holy Communion as our first food in the
day that is, fasting.
But that rule should be subject to the higher law of
equity, and in cases of sickness or constitutional weak
ness or old age a person should be dispensed from it,
either by a formal dispensation, or, if that cannot be
readily obtained, by trusting to God s loving mercy,
Who never requires us to do more than we can. I am
sure you will do well to take what will enable you to
receive the Blessed Sacrament without injury to your
health, or causing you undue anxiety about your
body.
I should advise you to do this and not to diminish
the numbef of your Communions.
May God guide and bless you.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 129
LXXXIV.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GUILD OF
S. BARNABAS FOR NURSES.
THE OLD PALACE, LINCOLN,
Christmas, 1888.
I think it a very great privilege to be in any way
connected with you, because you are the special friends
of the suffering. In the great day of Judgment, the
Saviour says that those who have waited upon the sick
in a right spirit will be surprised to find that they are
saved. You have many trials, many temptations,
many spiritual privations, but Jesus is watching you,
and if you will look to Him, and keep with Him as He
has told you in His Holy Church, you need not be
afraid, but work on bravely in the midst of sadness
and suffering of body and mind, looking forward to
the rest and glory which are not far off.
Mav God give you strength of bodv and spirit for
your blessed work through the New Year, and may
your skilful, tender, patient love lead those to whom
you minister to the knowledge of the love of God.
Accept my blessing on yourselves, and for those to
whom you minister. God bless you and keep you.
130 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXXXV.
TO THE SAME.
THE OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, January,
When I look back over the year which is so nearly
gone, I can see nothing but the unexpected and rare
delight of our Festival at S. Barnabas, at the end of
June that still remains in my memory as an epoch in
my life. It seems to shut out all other things con
nected with our Guild. It seemed to me like a dream
realised in the Church of England a dream of
beauty, and holiness, and self-sacrificing love, such as
we dreamed of some forty years ago, but hardly hoped
to see, and now the dream has come true, and far
more. " So He giveth His beloved (in) sleep."
Those of you who were there, will remember the
service in the church, the Te Deum, and all that the
good Vicar did for us ; and all that your dear chaplain
said and did, with all his natural grace and sanctified
love. It was a realised dream to me, for which I
cannot express my thanks.
I have been told that it might perhaps be helpful to
some of you if I were to give you some thoughts this
year on the value of Conversation.
I have often handed on to you some wise sayings
from Bishop Butler, who has been one of my life-long
and most valued companions. He has a wonderful
sermon on "The government of the tongue."
It is not to the negative warnings which he gives,
that I think it needful to call your attention, the dan-
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 131
gers of not " bridling the tongue." These arise
mainly from three causes, as you know :
(1) Not observing the obvious occasions of
silence.
(2) Not checking the propensity to tale-bearing,
and unduly talking over people s characters.
(3) Not subduing the eager desire to gain atten
tion, which appears to be an original disease
in some.
But it is upon the positive side of conversation, its
value rather than its danger, that I wish to speak.
" The chief purpose (Bishop Butler observes) for
which the faculty of speech was given man, is plainly
that we might communicate our thoughts to each
other, for business, and for our improvement in know
ledge and learning. But the good Author of our
nature has not only provided us with things which are
necessary, but also with many things for our enjoy
ment and comfort.
"Besides the necessary light which He has given
us for our work, He has given us an endless variety of
pleasures, through the beauty of colour and form, in
the clouds, and in the flowers, and in people s faces.
" There are secondary uses of our faculties. They
administer to delight as well as to necessity. The
secondary use of speech is to please, and to be
entertaining to each other."
I can easily imagine that in your work, " conversa
tion " may form one of your dangers, or opportunities
for great good.
The first great governing rule we may take from the
i 3 2 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
Book of books, Proverbs xxxi. 26, " She opehethi her
mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of
kindness." These are the essential conditions of
edifying 1 conversation; to be "sensible and kind."
But under the word wisdom, much may be included ;
it is here spoken of as the mark of a woman s lips, yet
the same word is used to express the knowledge of
Solomon : a very wide field indeed is open to you.
The difficulty is how practically to make use of the
opportunity.
Perhaps the first thing is for you to try and realise
that by fitting yourselves for the opportunities of con
versation, you would be adding another qualification
for your work.
The method of fitting yourselves would be, I sup
pose, by increasing your general knowledge through
reading. You must not be disappointed if you can
not do very much ; still, it is wonderful how much may
be done when there is the will.
Your line of reading should be determined by your
own natural inclination. There are different lines for
you to choose between : poetry, biographies, histories,
together with stories chosen, whichever interests you
most; your time for reading will be necessarily very
broken and irregular, but where there is a will there is
a way. Our true love does not mind waiting, and
being interrupted ; it is always there, and ready when
the opportunity comes.
However, whatever you may do in this way, remem
ber that its real value will depend upon the rectitude of
your real self, your inner motive. That motive many
JUNG S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 133
a poor patient will be able to perceive and appreciate,
though they very soon fall asleep under your attempts
to raise the standard of conversation. They will
know when you are really unselfish in your efforts,
they will appreciate the absence of frivolity, and any
want of charity, if you always open your mouth with
wisdom," and if "the law of kindness" rules your
tongue.
They will notice if you never touch upon things that
are unholy, and are always ready if invited to talk on
holy things.
Such an inner rectitude is, you know well, only to
be maintained by the aid of the Holy Spirit, by fre
quent prayer, by the study of God s Word, by
strengthening and refreshing your soul through the
Blessed Sacrament at the Altar, and by careful attend
ance to your own rules.
I do not know whether what I have written will be
any help to you ; but at least you will see that I am
anxious to do anything that might, in however small
a degree, make your good work better.
It is with the greatest thankfulness and hope, that
I still hear the same high report of your lives, and of
your work.
Your loving, self-devoted lives are a constant wit
ness to me (for which I have no words to express my
thankfulness) of the presence of Christ in His Church.
May God continue to guide and bless you, and
those to whom you minister.
134 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXXXVI.
TO THE SAME.
OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, December 20, 1909.
Yet once more, by God s mercy, I am allowed to
write to you !
First let me express my thanks to Almighty God for
this continued goodness towards us. I hear our num
bers have entered the fifth thousand! That is very
wonderful, as you are not drawn together like the
members of a money-making insurance company, but
simply by the power of the faith, and the golden cord
of God s.love.
And then, next, let me thank you for perseverance
in your work, though in the constant presence of
sickness, and suffering, and death.
I have nothing new to say to you, my dear children
in Christ, but I have just been reading a book
addressed to clergymen, which puts one side of the
truth with fresh vigour. He says his book "starts
from the truth that there is an Incarnation in the priest
which is to save the parish." " That Christ is in the
priest reconciling the parish unto God."
This is said specially of the clergy, but it is also true
of you, and of every true Christian man and woman.
It is your great work to bring the Likeness, and Mind,
and Spirit of Christ into the sick room, into every
ward in the hospital, and into every mind and heart
of every sick person in the ward.
It is your great privilege to represent the sympathy
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 135
and the love of Christ, and to show how they can live
independently of earthly reward, without the praise
of men or the surroundings of luxury. You attend
with patient cheerfulness the sick and the poor, the
thankful and the unthankful, the patient and the com
plaining. In the Spirit of Christ you can "Weep
with those who weep," and " Rejoice with those who
rejoice." In the children s ward you can play with
the children, and help to make them happy. You
bring amongst them the spirit of Him Who made
the marriage feast of Cana cheerful through His first
miracle. Into the chamber of suffering and death you
bring the spirit of Him Who wept by the grave of
Lazarus. Your unfailing care and tenderness for the
sick and dying will be an evidence to them that you
value life for something beyond its use in this world.
Your calmness and steady confidence in the hour of
death will help them to lay firm hold of the " Sure and
certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life."
Let this be your New Year s thought, " I am to
carry on the great work of the Incarnation."
This is no mere fancy, but the truth based upon the
great words of Scripture, "The Word was made
Flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His Glory,
the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full
of grace and truth. . . . And of His fulness have we
all received." Through the Incarnation God and
man are linked together most mysteriously, so that
our Saviour could say, " Inasmuch as ye did unto one
of the least of these My brethren, ye did it unto Me."
Your prayers, your Bible, and the Blessed Sacra-
136 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
merit, are the great means by which this precious truth
is kept alive in your minds and hearts. It is a super
natural truth a truth of God s special revelation : see
that you are careful to make full use of the supernatural
means by which the great truth is retained.
May God continue and abide with you, and bless
you, and refresh you with the increasing consciousness
of His presence and His love.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 137
LXXXVII.
ON FRIENDSHIP.
LINCOLN, January 2, 1888.
Thank you so much for your kind note, and good
wishes for the new year. I most heartily return them.
Few things are a greater comfort and support, as one
gets on in life, than sincerity in friendship. There
seems to be many outward forms of friendship
ecclesiastical an attempt to love everyone; political
a form of mere ambition ; but the real disinterested,
pure, genuine Christian friend is a real comfort and
support, and such you have been, dear friend, all
these twenty-eight years ! It sounds a long time ; and
yet I can go back in memory to those Cuddesdon days
without any effort. They seem to live on with me.
I am so glad you are well. There is nothing like
Switzerland. I was in the Engadine last year (1887),
and enjoyed it immensely. Do you know it? The
air is splendid.
God bless you, dear friend, and guide and comfort
you and your flock through the New Year and many
more.
I am, yours ever affectionately.
138 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LXXXVIII.
THE BURDEN OF LIFE.
May 26, 1904.
Your letter was a great pleasure and comfort to me.
I have been somewhat hard pressed lately with work
and worries, and your loving words reminded me of
old days, and revived the old spirit of hope.
I wish I could help you, dearest man, with a
Curate. I will keep you in mind, and let you know
with pleasure if I find anyone.
I am so sorry for your disappointment and worry
with . Life is a great discipline. Indeed, at
times it seems almost more than one can bear. For
me it gets easier in one way that it cannot be much
longer. If I can only hold on till it pleases God to
say "It is enough !"
Ah ! dearest old child, when one looks back at one s
old ideals, I am afraid one sees one may have
thought too much of oneself, and been too ambitious.
A humbler, quieter life might have been safer, but
one did not know what was coming, and so went on
step by step, and now one sees how much there is to
be done that one cannot do !
Pardon such selfish thoughts, but the constancy of
your love will always be one of my most real comforts.
How simple our old Cuddesdon life was ! But how
real and happy !
Shall you be at Cuddesdon?
How are you?
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 139
With my love and blessing.
Believe me always, your most affectionate.
LXXXIX.
PAGEANTS.
June 28, 1909.
I am conscious of having felt something uncomfort
able at the thought of the clergy acting. I certainly
cannot imagine dear Lord Alwyne, or Dean Church,
dressing up t and posing to be looked at by hundreds
of people ! and they, and such as they, have been our
elevating models. But I feel also that this way of
acting, and putting pictures into all the newspapers,
is a concession to the weakness of the general mental
power of the public. They have not power, ap
parently, to realise truth except through the eye. It
seems to suggest want of mental power and imagina
tion, not to say " laziness " and " hurry." So I have
never been to any pageant, and I hope they will not
want one here in my time. But, having said all this,
I am quite willing that they should go on (I am not
quite sure about the clergy acting), and I hope they
will encourage people to read and try to exercise their
minds more. Examinations, and lectures, and re
views tend very much to lead people to live upon other
people s thoughts. .You remember Cowper:
140 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTEkS.
" Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one,
Have ofttimes no connection. Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men,
Wisdom is minds attentive to their own."
(THE TASK The Winter Walk at Morn).
I wish people would read Cowper, and Words
worth, and Crabbe.
But I forget that I am writing and not talking.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 141
XC.
TO A FRIEND WORDSWORTH S POEMS.
LINCOLN, December 23, 1897.
There are only two people I can think of on this side
of Paradise who would think of giving a Christmas
present in eight volumes! So I write at once to thank
you with all my heart for the wonderful continuance of
your love and goodness to me, and all about me. It
is a most beautiful and usable Wordsworth, and I am
particularly glad to have it, as he seems to suit
me. His love of all nature, and his constant use of it
are a link to higher things which I greatly love ; and
his philosophical reflections, which some might think
heavy, and others not purely metaphysical enough,
just suit my capacities, so his poetry rests and re
freshes me with new strength of head and heart, of
thought and love. I shall often take a volume about
with me.
How are you all? I trust well, and happy, and
making all round you happy, I have no doubt. We
are all well, D.G.
With my love, and best Christmas blessings.
142 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XCI.
TO A LAY READER OF THE DIOCESE WHO HAD
SENT HIM A COPY OF AN ADDRESS TO
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS.
September 10, 1906.
Thank you very much for sending me your address
for the Sunday School teachers. You are quite right,
" Love " is the golden thread which God wants us to
use. It will draw us to Himself and to one another.
God bless you and your work.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 143
XCII.
TO A PRIEST ON THE DEATH OF HIS SISTER.
OXFORD, January 8, 1875.
I must send a hurried line to assure you of my sin
cere and affectionate sympathy. I remember your
sister so well ! I am sure you feel dreadfully cut in
two, in spite of all the true comfort ! for one does feel
a dreadful void, and sinking sickness, in sorrow which
rends the heart. Just now I seem to realise it, be
cause we are in great anxiety about my dear brother s
eldest boy, who we fear has been lost off the West
Coast of Africa. My poor brother will be dreadfully
distressed ; yet, dearest friend, this is the divine reality
of the discipline we are under. We may be sure it is
right, right for them who go before, and right for us
who are left. It helps us to keep detached, and makes
life more a Passage, and helps us to give up the idea
of resting here, and so we meet troubles better.
God bless you, dearest friend, and comfort you and
give you strength to bear this trial, that it may bear its
full fruit.
144 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XCIII.
TO A PRIEST ON CONFESSION.
CHRIST CHURCH, February 14, 1883.
Thank you for your letter, which I have read and
destroyed.
First, as to the general question of going to con
fession, or not.
As you have been, and no doubt would wish for it
if you were ill, I should say you were free to go, or not
to go, in between, assuming that you would go in this
intermediate time, if you felt any particular need.
I should say you were free to go or not, under these
circumstances, as you judge it will be best for you.
But, as you ask what I should advise, I can only
add:
People are very differently constituted. To some
going to confession is a great effort, and strain, and
seems to make a considerable demand on their ner
vous power. If this is so with you, and you are
conscious of being over-scrupulous, it might be well
to try your freedom for a year or two to see if you got
stronger.
Another question would be whether you could go
less frequently than you have done of late.
For myself, I go three or four times a year, not
more, and I should have recommended you, therefore,
something of the same kind.
In fact, subject to your own judgment, that would
be my advice, to put aside all scruples as far as you
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 145
can, make it as little a strain as you can. Do not feel
bound to go, and yet, three times a year, or Advent
and Lent, try to go.
Then, as to the person.
I can quite understand what you feel. T used to go
to the dear Dr., 1 but for some years, to save him
trouble, I have always gone to Father . For this
reason I should be inclined to recommend him to you.
He is most simple, kind, and full of common sense,
and not the least likely to encourage scruples, or to
weaken anyone. The difficulty, perhaps, is catching
him; but he is often in London, and he is always
ready, poor dear man, if he is not actually engaged.
Of the other two I should think perhaps the
best for a priest, as being both younger and more of
a theologian. Be simple, dear friend, and trustful.
God takes care of us, and sends us trouble to humble
us. ...
If I can help any further or at any time always write.
God bless you, and guide you, and help you to
trust His love.
l Pusey.
JO
146 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XCIV.
TO ONE WHO HAD LOST HIS MOTHER.
LINCOLN, June 10, 1887.
I am so sorry for my delay in writing to you, not
only about coming to you, as you kindly ask, but to
assure you of my sincere sympathy with you in your
great, great sorrow.
I wish I could come to you, but I am engaged to
the full now, and I dare not add more. I was so
grieved for you, and dear Reggie, when I heard of
your terrible trouble. I know by experience how blank
it makes things no one to tell all the little things
of interest to ! No one to keep waiting for one and
to help on one s self-planned plans! It is a terrible
loss and blank. The point of unity in the family
seems gone. But, dear friend, you will have help to
bear it, and in time you will understand and see how
all has been ordered in wisdom and in love.
Life never can be quite the same. But you would
not wish to have it otherwise as you see the wisdom and
the love which has ruled all.
A new nearness to God, a purer intention, a more
direct living for the world beyond, a new freedom and
sense of independence to the world, its frowns and
smiles, and firmer courage ; these, dear friend, are
some of the gifts and consolation I believe you will
find in God s good time. Meanwhile you can trust
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 147
yourself to the prayers of the Church for those in
" Trouble and sorrow."
My love and blessing to you and dear R.
Yours affectionately. . . .
xcv.
TO A FRIEND ON THE DEATH OF HIS
MARRIED DAUGHTER.
LINCOLN, January 17,
Thank you for your great kindness in allowing me
so quickly to be with you in your great sorrow, for so
it must be even to the most Christian heart. I had
hoped, and prayed, that, if it pleased God, you might
all be spared this great pain, but He Who did not
withdraw the cup in the garden knows what is best.
On this we may most surely rest, and in time, or in
eternity, we shall know this. At present we may not
be able to do more than accept and believe it, but
such acceptance is surely most blessed in its fruits, for
it is the union of our will with His Will, and this is a
central point of the restoration of the divine likeness
in us, and our especial preparation for our eternal
communion in heaven. Through suffering we are
perfected.
I am thankful to hear that you have all been sus
tained. I do not doubt that you will be, only I feel
that the strain on the dear husband, and on dear Mrs.
148 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
V., and on you all must be terrible. But I do not
doubt He will sustain you.
I return (D.V.) to-morrow. You will have made
your arrangements for Saturday, but anything I could
do you know I shall be glad to do. I shall be en
gaged in the morning, but free in the afternoon. I
only say this, not to intrude, but to assure you of my
readiness to express my sincere sympathy in any way
I can.
God bless you and support you all.
I am, yours very affectionately.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 149
XCVI.
TO A LADY ON THE DEATH OF A SAILOR LAD.
LINCOLN, December 3, 1889.
Pardon my delay in returning these most interest
ing and precious letters. I have ventured to write a
few unworthy words to poor Mrs. H., if you think it
well to send them. I am sure you must have suffered
very much from this sad occurrence. But I am sure
you may have the greatest comfort. This world is so
full of difficulty and danger that one could not wish
any back again who have been taken while on the
right path. They have been saved we know not
from what dangers of the young which might have
ruined them.
It is very difficult not to be quite brokenhearted
when such sorrows come, and life seems almost im
possible at times ; but He Who is the Life can support
us, and He will. It must be, I am sure, a very great
pleasure and satisfaction to you to feel that you did
so much for the dear lad, and that he has won such a
good testimony. I have, you may like to know, on
more than one occasion spoken of the good lad s life
and death in my Confirmation addresses; so that the
seed is scattered for a wider and continuing life, and
not really lost. Please God, in Paradise we may meet
those whose prayers and early death may have helped
to bring us there.
May you, by God s blessing, one day join them,
and then you will know that all your pain, and love,
and sorrow were not in vain.
150 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XCVII.
TO A FRIEND DR. LIDDON S FUNERAL.
LINCOLN, September 19, 1890.
I must thank you this I cannot really do for all
your most indulgent care of me. I am afraid I was
very selfish and distracting in return, but it was a
great pleasure and comfort to me, and especially at the
last. It will always mark our little tour together !
St. Paul s was most wonderful. I never shall forget
the effect of seeing the coffin carried from the choir
down to the dome. It seemed to be floating on into
a sea of living faces, which, in thousands, were gaz
ing at it from every part of the great nave and dome.
It looked like a foretaste of the welcome in Paradise.
It was most beautiful. Good-bye! Please give my
grateful thanks to your dear husband for all his loving
care.
My love and blessing to you both. . . .
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 151
XCVIII.
ON THE DEATH OF DEAN CHURCH.
LONDON, December 9, 1890.
The good and great Dean of St. Paul s has gone,
at least we cannot consult him as we used. It is very
terrible. This last part of the pathway of one s life
wants more courage and self-reliance than the earlier
stages, where one had so many on either hand to con
sult. It teaches one terribly the folly of not living in
the closest communion with God, the nothingness of
popularity and human praise. Faith in Him and in
His presence seem the only remedy against abject
cowardice and flight. I have seen this more or less
clearly all along, but the clouds of earthly things have
left me more liable to fear than might have been.
What a beautiful life his was! so splendidly free
from all this earthly dross and clouding; so pure, and,
therefore, so strong. He seemed to combine the old
Tractarian spirit of retirement with the highest and
best modern culture and refinement. His wisdom
and unostentatious knowledge were so wonderful.
His loss after dear Liddon s seems terrible. Per
haps it means that our natural strength is being re
duced because God has some great victory to win for
His Church, and may we nut hinder it!
152 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XCIX.
TO A LADY ON THE DEATH OF HIS OWN
SISTER.
OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, July 29, 1892.
I must add a word of special thanks to you for your
kind words of sympathy.
You have had so much sorrow that you know what
it is.
I feel as if I had been in a storm, and my sails were
split, but sail mending is apostolic work, and I trust
that God will give me skill and power to make them
strong enough (when, after a bit, I put out to sea
again) to finish my course.
Sorrow has its strengthening side, has it not? It
seems to take away the dross of the fear and love of
the world. I hope it may be so, and that I may, if it
please God, have strength to serve the diocese better
than I have done.
With my love and blessing.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 153
C.
TO ONE WHOSE BROTHER HAD BEEN
DROWNED AT SEA.
LINCOLN, November 2, 1892.
Your terrible letter reached me last evening. I
don t know what to say ; it is beyond all words. Just
not to be quite stunned or fall is as much as you can
hope for for the present, then it will become a new
power to you. Your life won t be quite the same.
What people call a blow leaves a mark, but for good
under God.
I will write to your dear mother. What it must be
to them we cannot think ! But He, Who gave His
only Son, knows!
God bless you, my dearest child, and support you
through this suffering, and rest, and enable others to
rest more completely in His love.
Always yours most lovingly. . . .
i 5 4 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
CI.
TO HIS COUSIN ON THE DEATH OF HER
SISTER.
April 29, 1894.
I have heard from Clevedon of your great loss and
sorrow, and must write one word to assure you of my
sincere sympathy. Dear A. s life was one of great
patience, but we must rejoice for her that now she has
the full vision of Paradise without any veil between.
May I say, dear cousin, how often I have expressed
my admiration to my sisters at the way in which you
have devoted your own life to take care of your dear
sister? We all of our generation owe you a debt of
gratitude for the example of unselfish devotion which
you have set us. May He, Who only can, now be
your stay and comfort ! I am sure, after a little time,
you will look back with thankfulness and comfort to
the many years you have lived together, though it will
be hard for you at first to know exactly what to do.
There is a verse in the Psalms which has helped me
sometimes : " I see that all things come to an end, but
Thy Commandment is exceeding broad." In time
you will see what His Will for you is, and then, I
doubt not, find happiness in doing it again here on
earth for a little longer, and then enjoy doing it for
ever in heaven with those who have gone before.
May God bless and comfort you.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 155
CII.
TO ONE WHO HAD LOST HIS FATHER.
September 18, 1899.
Thank you for your note.
I did not know that your dear father had been called
away. It is a very unique epoch in one s life when
that call comes, and life never seems quite the same
after it. One loses the feeling of the safety of child
hood, and seems thrust out into the cold. Yet it must
be so, and we know it is God s own plan, and, there
fore, the best. And, as you say, there are grounds
for thankfulness that you have all been spared a long
and painful watching. No doubt all is done well.
R.I. P. I am sorry you cannot come for the Retreat.
Would you like to come and stay with us for the
Conference?
Please offer my sincere sympathy to your dear
mother and sisters. God bless you and comfort you.
156 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
cm.
TO A YOUNG MAN ON THE DEATH OF HIS
FATHER.
August 24, 1901.
I have seen in the papers what trouble you are in
through the loss of your dear father, so I am venturing
to write to assure you of my sincere sympathy.
I know by experience what a great event in one s
life such a loss is it seems to take away an old pro
tection that one could feel safe under, and to push one
out into the front, in the open as it were. I am sure
you will feel it very much, dear man, not only for
your own sake, but for the sake of your dear mother,
for I think you told me she was living. The broken
life of widowhood must be terrible; and yet the same
Hand that made the two one can support them for a
while apart, and then unite them together again for
ever. May God uphold you all, dear friend, accord
ing to your different needs. He can, I know by ex
perience, and I trust that He will. Then you will find
that the withdrawal of this support will give you new
strength, and though life will never look quite the
same, yet you will feel that all is well done, and you
will know the special sense of comfort and power that
comes from Him as the God of the fatherless and
widow. It will all help you to trust Him more and
more. I am glad to think that you have the special
love of one to comfort you. May God bless you both,
and comfort you with the increasing consciousness of
His presence and His love.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 157
CIV.
TO A PRIEST ON THE DEATH OF HIS CHILD.
OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, April 7, 1904.
I am very glad of the opportunity of expressing to
you my very sincere sympathy in your recent most
sad loss. I must express my regret that I did not
write at once, but you know how fully my time is
occupied.
One great consolation we may have in the death
of the young, that they are taken away from the evil
and trials of this life to the brighter and far happier
life above. For them we may indeed feel thankful,
but that it makes another shadow on the path of those
who are still following on here below. Yet shadows
are made by sunlight above, and I trust that God in
His loving care will give the comfort and strength to
you and Mrs. to follow bravely on till you meet
again those who have gone before.
I am sorry to see that Mrs. has been ill, and
hope, please God, she may soon regain her strength.
Believe me, with sincere sympathy.
158 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
CV.
TO A YOUNG LADY ON THE DEATH OF HER
BROTHER.
LINCOLN, May 11, 1904.
I am so sorry ! I mean for all of us who are left ;
for dear Walter we know we may be glad and thank
ful. I like the phrase " The gate of death," and to
think of it as the "garden gate " that opens into the
" Garden of Paradise." There is rest and peace, and
light, and sure and certain hope, of even greater
glory.
Dear W. seemed so well when we met at Morton.
I am so glad we met ; he seemed so happy, and I was
so glad to hear of his Bible Class. I am sure his life,
and teaching, and now his early death, will touch
many. It is a great thing to leave such a memory.
Hut you, dear K., and your dear father and mother
must miss him, I know, terribly. Please give my love
to them, and assure them of my sympathy and my
prayers, and Mr. W. joins with me in saying this, but
botfi feel we have lost a friend. I am so glad you were
with him, and able to read to him.
I shall think of the 2^rd Psalm as his, and remem
ber him. We cannot be too thankful that all was so
peaceful, and that he was spared a long weary illness.
God is indeed merciful. So, dear K., we must try and
follow trustfully and bravely on, looking forward to
meeting again.
God bless you and comfort you all.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 159
CVI.
TO A LADY ON THE DEATH OF HER BROTHER.
August 12, 1905.
Your kind letter telling me that your poor dear
brother had passed away from us into the better world
above has just reached me. I thank you very much
for telling me. I was very anxious about him, and
hoped he might have lived ; but in truth he does live,
and in a fuller and better life than we can live here.
God often gives more than we ask or think. We
asked life for him, and now God (we may truly believe)
has given him a long life, even for ever and ever.
But, of course, I know you must all feel sad at losing
him, and his poor widow especially. Will you say a
kind word to her from me, and give her my blessing,
and may God comfort her and take care of her? He
is the God of the fatherless and widow. And may
God comfort you yourself, and his mother and
brothers. Death is not the end of life, but rather the
beginning of the higher and better part of life. The
collect for Easter Eve speaks of death as a " gate "
" through the grave and gate of death," and I like to
think of death as a garden gate leading into Paradise,
which is the garden of God. There all is bright and
happy, and we may trust it is so with your dear
brother. He set us all a good example, and we must
try and follow on and look forward to meeting again.
160 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
CVII.
TO THE SAME ON THE DEATH OF HER
FATHER.
LINCOLN, May 17, 1909.
How good of you to write !
I am so sorry for you, and your dear mother; for
your dear father we may indeed give thanks. It is
far, far better to depart and to be with Him ! Thank
you for telling me of the beautiful example of his
patience. We must try to follow on. It will be a
great comfort to you that you have been able to help
and comfort him so much at home, and your dear good
husband too. My love to him. Give my love to your
dear mother, and assure her of my prayers.
I shall always remember my happy visits to Han-
thorpe; all will seem bewildering for a while. But in
God s good time He will show you what He yet has
for you to do. For the present, just trust to His mercy
and rest in His love like a child. That is all we can
do, and we may do it, and it is enough!
My love and blessing to you all. . . .
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 161
CVIII.
TO A FRIEND ON THE DEATH OF HIS
MOTHER.
December 18, 1905.
Thank you for telling me of your dear mother s call
to the 1 better world, R.I. P. But you will feel the loss,
I know. Life is never quite the same after such a
loss. One feels left, and pushed on into the front, out
in the cold; but it is the divinely appointed way in
which we are gradually to sever from this life, and
prepare for the next, which is the real abiding life.
You have your own home comforts, D.G. They will
shine out all the brighter and more comforting now.
God bless you all and comfort you.
u
162 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
CIX.
TO ONE OF HIS CLERGY ON THE DEATH OF
HIS WIFE.
LINCOLN, December 31, 1906.
Thank you so much for telling me yourself.
I always think of you as one of my first friends in
the diocese, and I shall like to think now of the same
little churchyard with still more precious memories.
One by one they seem to be gathered in, generation
after generation. It is hard sometimes to work with
spirit, knowing how soon the work will pass to other
hands, but really the work is not ours. We are only
labourers in His vineyard, so we must try to do a good
day s work each day, day by day.
And you, dear brother, will find it, I fear, far harder
to have any heart for life; and yet He knows and
feels for our sorrows, and can and will heal the broken
hearted, and give fresh gifts of faith and hope, so that
you will have strength given you, I trust, and finish
the work God prepared for you to do, and then will
come re-union and rest.
That God may comfort and uphold you is the
sincere prayer of yours very sincerely. . . .
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 163
ex.
TO A LADY ON THE DEATH OF HER FATHER,
AN OLD FRIEND OF THE BISHOP S.
UPPER HOUSE OF CONVOCATION,
February 3, 1907.
Thank you very much for writing to tell me, though
your letter has indeed been a great shock and grief to
me. I did not know that my dear old friend was ill.
We were so much together at first, and though we
never met but seldom of late years, yet he was always
the same and the bond of real affection was never
broken. You will, I am sure, miss him very much.
Indeed, it becomes very hard to keep a brave and
cheerful interest in life when so many are leaving us.
We must be thankful for the comfort of their love, and
try and look forward and upward to the life above.
This life seems to be the place for making friendships.
The next, we hope, will be for enjoying them. I am
writing this in the midst of the discussions of Convo
cation, as I did not like to let the day pass without
writing. I shall be with you in spirit to-morrow.
May God guide, and support, and comfort you in
your great loss.
164 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
CXI.
TO A LADY ON THE DEATH OF HER MOTHER.
OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, January 11, 1909.
I must send you one word of sincere sympathy in
the loss of your dear mother, for, though she had been
spared to you for so many years, yet, when the time
comes to leave, the loss is irreparable. It is a golden
link broken with the past, and yet you have the best of
comfort in this case when you look to the present and
the future. Rest, and peace, and love, and light, all
increasing to the perfect glory ! We would not have
it otherwise. R.I. P.
May God comfort you, and your good husband,
and all around you.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 165
CXII.
TO A LADY ON THE DEATH OF HER FATHER.
LINCOLN, June 4, 1909.
I cannot tell you how much I feel for you all in the
sudden reverse of your hopes.
I read your kind letter first (thank you very much
for it), and among the other letters was one from
Mr. , telling me all was over ! Well, we know it
is the Lord s doing, and your dear father would not
wish us to wish it otherwise. I shall ever remember
his beautiful, patient, trustful example all through
your dear mother s illness, and his own long illness.
It was wonderful how he continued his work. It
always did me good to be with him, and I shall try
and follow his example.
May God support, and comfort, and guide you. I
am sure He will. Just rest quietly in His love, and in
His own good time He will show you what you have
to do, and then when your work is done you will look
forward to joining again those who have gone before.
God bless you and keep you.
1 66 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
CXIII.
TO A FRIEND ON THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE.
OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, February 9, 1910.
It is very kind of you to tell me yourself of your
great sorrow and irreparable loss. May He, Who
only can, support and comfort you. At first I can
well believe the blow must be too crushing to allow us
to do more than say "Thy Will be done." But in
time, I hope, the brightness, and the wisdom, and
love in which He ever acts, will appear through the
darkness of the present cloud, and you will feel new
strength to carry out the things that you have prayed
over and planned together, so that your life will still
have the consciousness of her presence helping you
to persevere till you meet again.
That God may support and comfort you, and your
family, is the sincere hope and prayer of yours
sincerely.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 167
CXIV.
TO ONE OF HIS CHAPLAINS ON THE
EXECUTION OF A CRIMINAL.
LINCOLN, July 17, 1891.
I want you, if you can, to pray for the poor thing,
A S in the gaol here; he only has till
Tuesday week. He is not at all hardened. He has
been confirmed and a communicant often, and hopes
to be on Sunday week. One cannot help feeling
almost a desire to be hung or shot instead of being
buried as if one was good.
I am sure the poor thing understands the Gospel
and all that the Gospel was meant for. It is most
helpful to see a man in the power of the faith facing
death in good health and young. We don t do credit
to the faith by living till the body falls to pieces
through old age or disease.
Pardon all this, but pray. God bless you. . . .
i68 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
cxv.
TO THE SAME.
LINCOLN, July 28, 1891.
Thank you indeed for thinking of him and me. It
was most humbling. I had not the principal part to
do this time; but we all hope the end was good. It
is very terrible. I am very thankful that I was en
abled to do the little that I did. Religion seemed to
have plenty of strength, and to spare, in the midst of
all those terrible surroundings.
But it is very awful, and one fears that one may
be presumptuous. R.I. P.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 169
CXVI.
TO THE SAME ON THE EXECUTION OF
ANOTHER CRIMINAL.
LINCOLN, December 4, 1893.
You have seen, I daresay, that we are in trouble
here again. A poor dear Grimsby fisherman; it will
all be over a fortnight to-morrow. Will you please
remember him, H R , and ask that he may
be forgiven and accepted, and for me that my sins
may not hinder my helping him. We have every
hope for him, he is really most beautiful. I am just
back from the gaol, so my hand shakes, but not for
him ; it is a great privilege if we are only equal to
it. But you will remember poor Richard, 1 and
understand that I cannot help asking God to hear his
prayer for me now, if it be His Will. I think it is, it
seems so easy.
With my love and blessing,
Always yours affectionately.
P.S. Perhaps you could ask a few of the men to
pray. 2
1 The reference is to a criminal to whom he had ministered in a
similar way seven years before.
2 His correspondent was at a Theological College.
170 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
LAST LETTERS.
CXVII.
TO AN OLD FRIEND WHO HAD HEARD THAT
HE WAS NOT WELL.
LINCOLN, October 10, 1909.
Thanks for yours. Only old age! So, with rest, I
may yet go on a bit. Give me your prayers, that I
may be patient and thankful.
God bless you, dear child. Always your loving.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 171
CXVIII.
IN REPLY TO ONE WHO HAD WRITTEN TO HIM
ON HIS EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY.
December 29, 1909.
It is wonderful indeed to have been preserved so
long. My great fear is staying on to the injury of
the Church. . . . Have you ever noticed the differ
ence between the Prayer Book version and the Bible
version of the 9Oth Psalm, verse 10. Instead of " We
are gone" the Bible version is "We flee away."
That is much brighter, and more suggestive of the
truth of the continuous life.
The word for " Flee away " is the same as that used
in Psalm 55, " Flee away and be at rest."
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
CXIX.
TO AN OLD FRIEND IN REPLY TO A BIRTHDAY
LETTER.
LINCOLN, December 31, 1909.
Thanks, dearest old child.
Don t forget me now to the end.
Always your loving.
Dear old Seymour ! R.I.P.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 173
cxx.
TO AN OLD FRIEND.
LINCOLN, The Holy Innocents, 1909.
It is very good of you to have remember me so long !
Thank you very much for your kind wishes. It is
indeed wonderful how we have got on !
We must keep quietly to the old ways, and trust.
The great comfort is knowing that the Church and
the world are both under the eye and control of our
Blessed Lord. He is Head over all and over the
Church. One s only anxiety should be to know and
do His Will, then calmly, thankfully, lovingly to
trust.
With my love and blessing for the new year.
Believe me,
Always yours affectionately.
174 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
CXXI.
TO ONE OF HIS CLERGY.
LINCOLN, February 4, 1910.
I was very much disappointed in not being able to
come to you for the Confirmation, but I have been un
well, and obliged to obey my doctor. I was glad to
see what a nice number of candidates you had your
self, and very evenly balanced, boys and girls. I
should have enjoyed being with you very much ; but
the great Gift is the same through whomsoever it is
sent. The Bishop told me all went very well, but he
was rather hurried at the end.
That God may continue to guide and bless your
young people is the sincere prayer of yours. . . .
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 175
CXXII.
THE BISHOP S LAST LETTER TO HIS DIOCESE;
WRITTEN SIX DAYS BEFORE HE DIED.
OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, March 2, 1910.
I fear I am not able to write the letter I should wish
to write. I have for some time been praying God to
tell me when I should give up my work. Now He has
sent me in His loving wisdom a clear answer. It is a
very great comfort to me to be relieved from the re
sponsibility of leaving you.
All I have to do is to ask you to forgive the many
faults and innumerable shortcomings during the
twenty-five years I have been with you, and ask you
to pray God to perfect my repentance, and strengthen
my faith to the end. All has been done in perfect
love and wisdom.
My great wish has been to lead you to be Christlike
Christians. In Christ is the only true hope of unity
and peace. In Him we may be united to God and to
one another.
May God guide and bless you all, and refresh you
with the increasing consciousness of His Presence and
His Love.
I am to the end,
Your friend and Bishop.
176 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
FRAGMENTS
I.
May, 1878.
The more I see of life the more wonderful it is, but
it all points to this world being only the little short
beginning. The real life we are all being prepared
for is above. There we shall see the wisdom of our
sorrows.
II.
July, 1877.
Thank you for your last kind letter. You must not
over worry yourself about your advance in the
Christian life. It is very simple, the love of God and
love of man. That is perfection ! Keep your heart
with God, and then do the daily duties, and He will
take care of you. He knows, and watches and leads
us on. God bless you, dear and all yours, and
fill you with His wisdom and holy love. . . .
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 177
III.
FLORENCE, September, 1888.
I think the two pictures that have helped me most
are the round Botticelli and the Madonna del Car-
dellino in the Uffizi. The extreme purity of the
beauty of the first is beyond any mere copy of the
human, and the difference in the expression in the
two Infants, the del Cardellino is still more sugges
tive of the Unseen.
The infant Baptist, you remember, is presenting
the little bird, arid evidently says: " Isn t it pretty."
Like a simple child, the infant Saviour is pleased, but
evidently says: " If you had seen what I have, and if
you knew what I have to go through." It is a most
helpful and yon-side picture.
IV.
AFTER DR. LIDDON S FUNERAL.
September, 1890.
It was a great comfort having you with me, and I
trust will prove an historic link for you with Mr.
Keble, and Dr. Pusey, and the Tractarian standpoint.
We shall need to stand firm, but God can save by
many or by few.
It was most wonderful ! I hope I shall never forget
the welcome of those faces as the coffin floated on
towards them.
12
i 7 8 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
V.
February, 1892.
If Bishops could only be in Retreat for nine months
(with the Book of Leviticus 1 ), and were confirming
for the other three, the candidates would go straight to
Paradise. They are most lovely. I do wish you had
been with me. I never can be thankful enough for
such a refreshing day. If we could only do it
decently !
VI.
August, 1893.
The purely evidential man seems to me like men
who are for ever studying Bradshaw, but never mak
ing a start. What I hope rather to do now is (D.V.) to
spend what remains in trying to understand what it
is to be a Christian. I think it ought to be the remedy
for a great many of our bothers, and make us restful,
and hopefully happy, with a simple sense of freedom,
and with a royal beauty and courage.
VII.
April, 1894.
I love sitting in my chair by the window. It is
too delicious! I must really try to be more restful,
and spend all my time in giving thanks for all the
great goodness which God has given me. I do hope
l The book he happened to be reading devotionally at the time.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 179
there is some real Evolena-like progress in the Church
of England that spirit of restful dignified content
ment which ought to mark all true Churchpeople. I
am sure you must be seeing something of it in your
own little village.
VIII.
September, 1894.
.... I feel decidedly better refreshed and
stronger and that desire to do things much better,
which is such a refreshing and sustaining gift, and as
long as one can hope to improve one can work.
IX.
January, 1896.
When I think of all God s mercies to me I am
ashamed of my want of trustfulness and cheerfulness.
Old age is beginning to be a reality, and it seems to
require special help. I sometimes fear whether one
ought not to give up work and attend to oneself more.
Perhaps that will be settled for me.
X.
February, 1897.
I wonder how our good friends at Evolena are? I
constantly think of their simple out-of-the-world life,
and it seems to me the highest. I suppose we ought
i8o BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
not to run away from where we are placed ; but I am
sure we lose a great deal in losing simplicity. We
had a magnificent exhibition of simplicity and resting
in the Archbishop s * speech at Canterbury at the
luncheon after the Enthronement. Did you read it?
He is magnificently simple.
XI.
October, 1897.
Sometimes I long for rest, but I believe if one had
more faith, and trusted to one s daily bread to give
strength for the daily duties, one would have power
enough. To be thankful in looking back over the
past, and content and cheerful in the present, and
trustful and hopeful in looking to the future, is what
I am trying to aim at.
XII.
S. John the Baptist, 1901.
Ah ! how many precious memories your kind visit
awoke. How can I ever be thankful enough for the
blessings I received through you all at Cuddesdon !
Do not forget me in your prayers, that I may be faith
ful to the end.
l Temple.
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 181
XIII.
November) 1901.
How wonderful the goodness and loving-kindness
of God is! "Like as a father pitieth his own chil
dren." I suppose you can understand that better
than I can, but it does seem wonderful the certainty of
the love to go back to, again and again. Good-bye,
dear friend; don t forget me. I shall need your
prayers more and more now to the end, and don t for
get to pray for me after that, that God may continue
to do for me what He will know I shall need.
XIV.
TO DEAN LV CROCK AFTER A VISIT TO
LICHFIELD.
August, 1902.
I must send you one word of thanks for my very
pleasant and helpful visit, and all your great kindness.
It was very wonderful to see a cathedral coming out
into the full expansion of its many-sided power in the
services, and the building, and the college, and the
life in it, and through it, making its impression on the
city and neighbourhood.
i8a BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XV.
November, 1902.
I still go on in my simple superficial way, loving
flowers, and birds, and the sunlight on the apples, and
the sunset, and like to think more and more of the
verse " With Thee is the well of life, and in Thy light
shall we see light." And so again: " Thou openest
Thine hand and fillest all things living with plentious-
ness." The flowers and the birds, and angels and
men, all things that are ! !
I feel more and more how utterly superficial one s
knowledge is, but it seems, D.G., to be in the right
direction, and to be more and more attractive, and I
hope, please God, is leading one nearer to the One
Beginning and End of all.
XVI.
April, 1906.
It is so good of you to be so true and such a delight !
The longer one lives the more one values true friends !
I like to think of this world as the place for making
friends, and the next for enjoying them ! I sometimes
am troubled when I think how little I have seen of old
Cuddesdon men, but, please God, when we meet in
Paradise, it will all come back again, and then go on
and on, as Dr. Pusey used to like to translate the
Hebrew word for eternity, " For ever, AND YET!"
BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS. 183
XVII.
October, 1906.
It is hard sometimes to keep brightly on with so
many of the old supports and comforts removed, but
we know " Power belongeth unto God," and He can
put it forth in the way that is best. We want more
faith, and hope, and love, and to turn more to His
mercy and loving-kindness, which every year seems
more wonderful.
XVIII.
AFTER THE ANNUAL VISIT TO THE BISHOP AT
THE OLD PALACE, LINCOLN, OF THE
MEMBERS OF ELY THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE,
Ascension Day, 1907.
Many, many thanks, dearest child. I am glad you
got safe back. It was very refreshing having you all.
As Milman said of a visit to Cuddesdon : " It was like
a breath from the Garden of Eden before the door was
shut." My love and blessing to all.
XIX.
Undated.
I am so sorry you are not well, especially your
throat, for just now it is most important to read LOUD
and make as much noise as we can in the service, and
not be creeping about in a mousey saintly way.
184 BISHOP KING S SPIRITUAL LETTERS.
XX,
January, 1908.
.Thank you so much for your loving words :
"He loved them to the end!"
This is our standard!
I was seventy-eight two Sundays ago! So you
must keep up your love a little longer, and then in
Paradise it will (D.V.) be like Cuddesdon again.
XXI.
August, 1908.
I have always had a real sympathy for the
Wesleyans and Primitives as people who wish to be
good, but I do not believe we shall win them by giving
away our Apostolical and Catholic position.
.
BX King. Edward
5199 Spiritual letters of
.K52A1? Edward King
1910
