ARRIVING at an hotel in Penzance, a few months ago, late on a Saturday evening, I found two travelers in the commercial room arranging for a walk to the Land’s End the following day, and discussing the various routes and time of starting, and anticipating the pleasure all the varied scenery would afford them.
As soon as opportunity offered, I asked the elder of the two, a very cheerful and intelligent gentleman, if he had ever visited Man’s End. My question was rather a surprise to them, and quickly answered in the negative; and both were anxious to know if it was on the road to Land’s End. I told them the scenery from the place was unequaled for grandeur, and well worth surveying; the descent to it was by an old and well-trodden path, but rather difficult, and a friendly guide was always in attendance, whose skill in leading was never forgotten by all who had visited the spot.
All kind of speculation was now at work as to where Man’s End could be, for neither had ever heard of it before. At length I agreed to give them a sealed letter, before leaving the hotel in the morning, with a full description of Man’s End, and the magnificence of the view from this particular point, on the most unimpeachable authority, provided they would promise not to open the letter until their arrival at the Land’s End, and were seated on the further-
most rock they intended to visit.
The conditions were accepted, and assurance given that they should be honorably kept. I bade my friends good night, and retired, arranging that the sealed letter should be ready for them at nine on Sunday morning, half-an-hour before their purposed start.
According to appointment, my friends left for their tour, the elder gentleman, who had given me his name, carrying the sealed letter, and after some four or five hours’ walking reached the Land’s End; and, when comfortably seated on a rock, and doubtless enjoying both the rest and scenery, my friend having the letter said, “Now then for this Man’s End mystery,” drew the envelope from his pocket, and brought out its contents, written on a sheet of note-paper thus:―
Man’s End, as God sees it.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher: with their tongues they have used deceit: the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know, that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Rom. 3:10-1910As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:10‑19)).
The scenery at Man’s End, as described by the Son of Man, who came to seek and to save that which was lost.
“I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry” (Luke 15:18-2418I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:18‑24)).
God’s love to the guilty one, who has reached Man’s End, and has now known and believed the love that God has to us.
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.... We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:9, 10, 199In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9‑10)
19We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)).
Thus ended the letter.
On returning to the hotel on Sunday evening, I heard my friends had arrived back about seven, the younger very wearied with his journey. I did not see them then, but the following morning met the elder gentleman, who was down for an early breakfast, and for some time we were alone in the room. He thanked me very sincerely for the letter, and acknowledged the solemnity of it. Neither had suspected the character of the contents, and were not a little surprised on opening it to find such a subject before them. They had supposed it would have been a matter for carnal mirth; but to find themselves thus confronted with the truth of the living God, both as to man’s ruin and end, as well as the boundless ocean of love and mercy on God’s side, in the gift of His beloved Son, and all the infinite value of His precious blood shed for poor ruined man, caused no little uneasiness, and especially to the younger.
It appeared that during all the hours of walking down, our young friend had not even uttered a word that would lead his companion to suppose “he was even religiously inclined;” and after the reading of the letter, he acknowledged, to the surprise of his friend, that he had preached about these matters himself twice last Sunday at N―A―in Devonshire. God had evidently used His word to the conscience of both. The younger I have never seen since, but the elder received the truth with evident seriousness of heart; and I trust both they and all who read this paper, may know the reality of man’s end, and the fullness of the love, and grace of God, that brings salvation to a poor ruined sinner just at that point. E. P.