our Master the Saviour of the world—your past life seems to fit you for it with its varied experiences-your Cambridge connection-your Oxford friendships--which are real—your physical gifts, as well as moral and spiritual ones.

I cannot write more, but only pray God as I finish to give you right judgment.

I hoped that it was just possible that I might see you yesterday in London, to have your counsel on a letter which I forwarded to Lightfoot by the morning post.

It was an offer to offer the Bishopric of Calcutta to me if I would intimate that I would accept it, this method being adopted on account of the unadvisability of having such a place declined. I can't and ought not to enter into the questions which surge about it. But after talking to Lightfoot and hearing what he could tell me of views as to the future of that Church, I think that all the Light I can yet attain does not enable me to see that I can leave my children. Six children from sixteen to four years old are surely not meant to be left in the wilderness—and the promise is to those who give up delights, not those who forsake duties.

I can't think that this is a "call." I see rather an angel with his sword drawn standing between two walls. One word from you.

I have ventured to take nearly a week to weigh the proposal which you conveyed to me. It was made with a delicacy for which I am grateful; for I had hoped that the See of Calcutta would not go begging.

1876

BISHOPRIC OF CALCUTTA

401

The work and the scene of it, the new aspects of Church-life and hope there, and the prospect of a multiplication of Sees which I understand to be growing definite, are attractive almost beyond my powers to resist; and hitherto I have been so happy in life as never to have had to resist what seemed Calls to work: therefore I soon felt that I could set aside all lesser difficulties.

But one difficulty is insurmountable. Even if a man with a family is ever free for such a mission, I am circumstanced so peculiarly that we could not, if I left England, secure the sound religious training of our children, who are now between the ages of sixteen and four.

Tékva exei TIσrá' is a Pauline note of a Bishop. Whatever other charge is offered, these six souls have been committed to me-and after praying for light I cannot see how to leave them in danger of darkness. I must therefore, and without a question, and only now wondering that such an offer should in God's Providence have come to me so placed, say that I should not be able to entertain the offer of the Bishopric of Calcutta. Your ever affectionate,

E. W. BENSON.

May, 1876.

Reasons for and against accepting the Bishopric of Calcutta. A paper drawn up by E. W. B. for his own consideration.

Pro.

1. (a) Receive it as a call from God.

(b) Quid hoc ad Iphicli boves? Would vanish by its becoming a definite proposal. (Ans. to b con.)

B. I.

Con.

1. (a) The channel used is a Statesman's offer which has been made to one and refused. Thus the element of human deliberation is so large and so distinct in determining the ultimate result, that there is no excuse for omitting any human consideration in deciding.

(b) It is only a tentative proposal, dissimilar to any case of "Follow me." I think the Apostle would have been excused from answering the question of a disciple, "If He should ask you will you be prepared to say Yes?" None of them had this trial.

1 To have believing children.

26

1 "For the sake of the Gospel," Mk. viii. 35.

I've only just come in, too late I fear for you to get my note before setting off for Lambeth. I have been hearing Liddon at St Paul's. Very beautiful and very eloquent-yet the art part of it does not seem so unattainable. But he unites many charms. His beautiful look and penetrating voice are powerful over one-and then his reasoning is very persuasive. He does not make leaps, and dismiss one with allusions, or assume that one knows anything. He tells it all from beginning to end and seems to assume nothing. But all his physical and intellectual structure is quite swallowed up in spiritual earnestness, and he is different to other preachers in that one feels that his preaching in itself is a self-sacrifice to him—not a vanity nor a gain; I do not mean that one feels others' preaching to be these, but with him one is conscious that it is the opposite. He does not look as if he were in pain, yet you can't help thinking of it. I gather from his sermon that there is no danger (as has been thought) of his taking up Disestablishment. The subject was the Feast at Levi's. Besides the more obvious applications, he said the Church too must be like her Master in order to do His work; must eat with publicans and sinners-cannot leave the world to itself, as Donatists and Puritans would, but must sit down at its feast of art, literature, society, government, legislation-not always unhurt by it, for she is not sinless like her Master-but still she is bound in this way to work out His scheme for the world.

Mr Prescott Knight is older, but he says he has improved my portrait-he does not let me see it-I am to sit to-morrow again. It is rather dreary work, but not quite so dreary as preaching to the faded velvets and glorious gold vessels at St James's.

Your loving husband,

E. W. B.

To Professor Lightfoot, who had asked to be allowed to dedicate his edition of the Epistle to the Galatians to

E. W. B.

THE CHANCERY, LINCOLN.

Aug. 24, 1876.

MY DEAR LIGhtfoot,

If I had learnt my Kempis and my Tauler' (“Select Discourses of Dr John Tauler") properly, I should at once say it mustn't be--but I haven't, and I can't say so-so now I shall be immortal and shall cease to aim at it for myself, and shall go down to posterity like a flaw found in the marble just when the statue is finished, which nobody can cut away because it would destroy the completeness of the image they have of you and your loving works.

Oh how we do wish you would come and see us. Pray take it into your head and come how and when you can. I want to talk to you about endless grave matters-specially about the two dear boys you speak so kindly of. Religious education is indeed a difficulty such as had no existence when we were lads. It is plain enough to see the difference between worldliness and religion, but unbelief now wears a chasuble. I mean a vestment on which the word religion is joyously worn. And unbelievers pretend that no one is religious except non-Christians. I sadly want you to give me some light, but I want a single eye even

more.

Your ever affectionate,

E. W. B.

To Canon Crowfoot, on the death of his little

baby-girl' Monica.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

29 Aug. 1876.

We have been trembling all day between hope and fear for you-whether the little life has been lent you for hours or for years. It is gone doubtless with some impressions from earth, great as the mystery is, which it could not have had but for being with you and being in trouble—and it has left an impression with you which will make earth different and heaven too to you

1 The German Dominican and mystical writer (1290—1361).