March 12

"The end of that man is peace."—Psalms 37:37.

WHAT a noble epitaph is this!—The end of that man is peace. This be the verse that you grave for me!

May my end be peaceful, because my sin is forgiven. The sting of death, its edge, its anguish, its virus, is sin; but when sin is cancelled, because Jesus has "paid it all, all the debt I owe," the sting is gone for ever. When the pardoned man dies, it is no leap into the dark; it is a falling into the embrace of the Saviour. There is now no condemnation, and all is well. I know Him whom I have believed.

May my end be peaceful, because my work is done. I must not stand idle in the market-place, or I shall be full of regrets and griefs when I am called away from my unaccomplished tasks. I must embrace every opportunity and redeem every minute, and rest will be sweet when it comes;—after the working day, the quiet night. The evening will bring slumber to the tired body, and a soft nest to the worn spirit in the paradise of God.

May my end be peaceful, because my future is bright. Before me are ease from pain, and immunity from sorrow, and the heart and life entirely emancipated from evil, and the society of the holy, and the sight of Christ's face, and the full enjoying of God to all eternity. It baffles my imagination to paint it now; but one day I shall arrive and attain and reap and triumph. O hope that conquers fear! O long and fruitful years of heaven!

"Golden-heidit, ripe, or strang, Shorn will be the hairst or lang; Syne begins a better sang."