Years ago a well-known English scholar wrote a verse of four lines as the longing of his heart:
"In peace let me resign my breath,
―and Thy salvation see
My sins deserve eternal death,
―but Jesus died for me.”
He gave it to a friend, the author of "The Life of Captain Hedley Vicars," and it became a great blessing to him. Dr. Marsh then quoted the lines to his friend, Lord Roden, who was so impressed with them that he got him to write them out for him.
He then fastened the paper over the mantelpiece in his study and there, yellow with age, they hung for years, a memorial of the beloved hand.
Some time after this an old friend, General Taylor, one of the heroes of Waterloo, came to visit Lord Roden at Tollymore Park.
Lord Roden noticed that the eyes of the old veteran were frequently fixed for a few moments on the verse over the mantelpiece.
"Why, General," said Lord Roden, "you will soon know those lines by heart.” "I know them by heart already," replied the General, with feeling and those simple words were the means of bringing him to know the way of salvation.
Some two years afterward the physician who had been with General Taylor while he lay dying wrote to Lord Roden to say that his friend had departed in peace. The last words which fell from his lips were those lines he had learned to love,
"In peace let me resign my breath,
―and Thy salvation see;
My sins deserve eternal death,
―but Jesus died for me.”
Lord Roden told the story of General Taylor and his beloved verse to a group of friends. Among those who heard it was a young officer in the British Army, recently returned from the Crimea. He listened carelessly enough, and no impression seemed to be made at the time. A few months later, however, Lord Roden received a message from the young officer. He wanted to see him, as he was near death. As the Earl entered the sickroom the dying officer extended his hands to him, repeating the lines:
"In peace let me resign my breath,
and Thy salvation see;
My sins deserve eternal death,
but Jesus died for me.”
And then he added, "Those simple words have been God's message of peace and comfort to my heart in this illness, and they have been clearly brought to my memory by the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, after days of darkness and distress.”
"Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered."
Rom. 4:'7.