THE following letter was written by Krummacher (the author of books on Elijah, etc.) to his brothers, and is dated 23rd October, 1858. Krummacher was appointed Court Chaplain at Potsdam to King Frederick William IV in 1853, and in this position enjoyed relations of the greatest intimacy with the king.
“If, as you say, a tone of sadness pervades my last letter, there is reason for that in the heavy, heavy trial that has fallen upon our dear king, and, in him, on the land, the Church, and the kingdom of God, and on me also. On the day before his departure from Sans-Souci, I spent half-an-hour with him in the queen’s cabinet. He came forward to me, as I entered, with a firm step, almost quite to the door, stretched out his hand to me, and said, ‘I am glad, dear Krummacher, that before my departure for Meran, whither I have been ordered by the doctor, though I would much rather remain here, I have again the opportunity of seeing you.’ And, approaching nearer to me, he continued, disclosing the feelings of his heart: ‘Krummacher, you find me very sad.’ And what a view I had into that heart! The deepest sorrow he felt was, that he had not been able to accomplish so many things as he had intended for the welfare of his people. But there was yet perfect resignation to God his Lord. He often repeated to me the humble question, ‘Krummacher, do you believe that the Lord will have mercy upon me?’ Then, on my uttering comforting words to him, which poured out from my heart like a stream, what a look he directed heavenward, with loud weeping and sighing! Again with calm, yea, joyful words, he said, ‘I resign myself into the hands of the Lord; let Him do with me as seems good in His own sight.’ On my saying, ‘The Lord has always been with your Majesty; He has crowned your reign with great and numberless blessings,’ he seized my hand and said, ‘Yes, I will hope in Him. He will receive me graciously.’ He afterwards asked me respecting the condition of the congregation at Potsdam, and then about the proceedings of the Hamburg Kirchentag . . . My separation from him was very affecting. ‘Bear me still on your heart in prayer,’ said the king as he stretched out his hand to bid me farewell. And now, while addressing to him words of comfort, I almost forgot that I stood before my king. He was to me a brother! Oh, how dear the king is to me!”