The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and WomenMarvin, Frederic Rowland
History
The Last Words (Real and Traditional) of Distinguished Men and Women
Marvin, Frederic Rowland
Last words
HERE LIE,
BY THE SIDE OF HIS BELOVED FRIEND,
THE MORTAL REMAINS OF
CHARLES READE,
DRAMATIST, NOVELIST AND JOURNALIST.
HIS LAST WORDS TO MANKIND ARE
ON THIS STONE.
"I hope for a resurrection, not from any power in nature, but from the
will of the Lord God Omnipotent, who made nature and me. He created me
out of nothing, which nature could not do. He can restore man from the
dust, which nature cannot.
"And I hope for holiness and happiness in a future life, not for any
thing I have said or done in this body, but from the merits and
mediation of Jesus Christ.
"He has promised his intercession to all who seek him, and he will not
break his word; that intercession, once granted, cannot be rejected: for
he is God, and his merits infinite; a man's sins are but human and
finite.
"'Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.' 'If any man sin,
we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and he
is the propitiation for our sins.'"
RENAN (Ernest, Orientalist and critic), 1823-1892. "_I have done my
work. It is the most natural thing in the world to die; let us accept
the Laws of the Universe--the heavens and the earth remain._"
Some authorities give his last words thus: "Let us submit to the Laws of
Nature of which we are one of the manifestations. The heavens and the
earth abide."
He began to study for the priesthood, but renounced that profession
because he doubted the truth of the orthodox creed. He displayed much
learning in his "General History of the Semitic Languages," was admitted
into the Academy of Inscriptions in 1856, and was sent to Syria in 1860
to search for relics of ancient learning and civilization. Soon after
his return he was appointed professor of Hebrew in the College of
France, but was suspended in 1862, in deference to the will of those who
considered him unsound in faith. He admits the excellence of the
Christian religion, but discredits its supernatural origin and rejects
the miracles.--_Lippincott's Biographical Dictionary._
REYNOLDS (Sir Joshua, celebrated portrait painter), 1723-1792. "_I have
been fortunate in long good health and constant success, and I ought not
to complain. I know that all things on earth must have an end, and now I
am come to mine._"
RICHELIEU (Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal and French statesman),
1585-1642. "_Absolutely, and I pray God to condemn me, if I have had any
other aim than the welfare of God and the state_," in reply to the
question whether he pardoned his enemies.
His last words are sometimes incorrectly given thus: "I have no enemies
except those of the State."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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