1840.] 



HIS FATHER'S DEATH. 



27 



up if we required it ; but he greatly desired to defer it, as he 

 wished the last examination at York to be a creditable one. 



While corresponding on this subject, the news reached 

 us of our father's death, on his voyage from Naples (April 5, 

 1840) ; and Philip came to Bristol, where he remained two 

 or three weeks. We took long country walks together, bring- 

 ing home flowers for our mother : I never felt more grate- 

 ful for the beauty of the spring. Our bereavement called 

 forth the living reality of faith, and made the doubts which 

 our college inquiries had suggested appear merely specula- 

 tive. The mystery of his death seemed to clear up the 

 mystery of his life. We knew nothing as to his mortal end, 

 and immortality seemed brought to light. He had " walked 

 with God ; and he was not, for God took him " — took him 

 from the cloud and the burden under which of late he had 

 been walking, to the Father's house. When we all met that 

 Easter Sunday in our mother's room, she saw how clearly 

 the visioned glories all appeared v to us, and warned us 

 that, if we were on the Delectable Mountains, we might yet 

 again have to traverse the Valley of Humiliation. But deeply, 

 tenderly, sadly, as we felt our loss — a loss we could never 

 forget — we felt that with him it must be well. It was a time 

 of holy communion for the family. On the Sunday after the 

 funeral sermon, I went to preach at Frenchay, a village five 

 miles from our home. Philip accompanied me, and we walked 

 back together, enjoying the beautiful sunset, and the songs of 

 the birds, and the loveliness of the foliage. We were very 

 happy as we poured forth our hearts to each other, and con- 

 ferred on the highest themes. 



The feeling how little can be known from letters is in- 

 creased as I read those which I next received from Philip. 

 No one could guess from them what had happened. He wrote 

 in the highest spirits, expressing the delight of the college that 

 three former students had taken their degrees at the University 

 of London.* Before 1839, no strict Dissenter could obtain an 



* The Revs. J. Rohberds, T. Hincks, and R. L. Carpenter took 

 their B.A. degree in the first division, May, 1840. 



