“THE BLESSED HOPE.”

A SERMON

ON OCCASION OF THE

DEATH OF MRS. FRANCIS CUNNINGHAM.

BY THE
REV. E. HOARE, M.A.,
Incumbent of Trinity Church, Tunbridge Wells.

Tunbridge Wells:
PRINTED BY JOHN COLBRAN, LIBRARY, HIGH STREET.

1855.

The substance of the following Sermon was preached at St. Peter’s, Lowestoft, on Sunday, the 19th of August, 1855, after the death and funeral of Mrs. Francis Cunningham, the beloved wife of the beloved Vicar of the Parish.

With great animation of spirit, and remarkable energy of natural character; with an unwearied watchfulness over the young, and a no less laborious care for their parents; with a fervent missionary spirit, only equalled by her zeal in the work at home; with real natural eloquence, and an admirable tact in her intercourse with all kinds of character; with a tender sympathy for the afflicted, and a most friendly kindness to all who needed friendship; and above all, with an unceasing spirit of believing prayer, she laboured for forty years in the parishes of Pakefield, Kirkly, and Lowestoft, in the happy service of the Saviour whom she loved; till at length after meekly receiving at her Lord’s hand the gradual decay of voice and strength, she peacefully fell asleep in Him on August the 12th, 1855.

“The path of the just is as a shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

1 Thessalonians, 4. xiii.

“But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

This world is full of sorrow, for the simple reason that it is full of sin, and wherever sin is, separation and sorrow are certain, sooner or later, to follow in its train.  So have they followed at this present time, for the event that has brought us together is a separation that has called forth a general sorrow throughout the place.  It has not been merely respect that has led to so kind and almost universal an exhibition of feeling throughout your town, for respect is, after all, but a cold thing, and there has been nothing cold on this occasion.  There has been a deep and tender sympathy, the mournful sense of real bereavement in very many affectionate hearts.

Now let us none suppose that real, true, heartfelt, and sympathizing sorrow is inconsistent with the christian character, for if such a thought could be for a moment entertained, it would be removed at once by the one simple statement, “Jesus wept.”  The tears of true sorrow, therefore, are in perfect harmony with the character of Christ.  Sorrow is not eradicated by the Gospel, but has its character changed by it.  The Holy Spirit does not harden the heart against grief, but comforts the mourner in the midst of it.  The deep waters are not frozen, so that the child of God can coldly walk across dry footed; but they retain their character, and are deep waters still; and the believer is held up in passing through them, so that, though deep, they cannot overflow him.  The effect is much the same as that of the coloured glass upon the light; the light shines still, but a new hue is