The Perfect Man And His Peaceful End

Earthen Vessel 1892:

[The Funeral Sermon Preached By Edward Mitchell On The Occasion Of Mr. Edward Mote’s Passing, Chadwell-Street, On Lord’s-Day Evening, April 10^th. Reported By Mr. A. Jackson, And Condensed For Earthen Vessel & Gospel Herald By The Author.]

“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.”—Ps. 37:3

“All’s well that ends well.” Many things in this life that promise fair miserably disappoint our expectations. Fine mornings not unfrequently end in stormy evenings. Our desire is to end well. We would rather have a rough passage, with a safe entrance into the haven of rest, than never so smooth a voyage, with shipwreck at its close. With Dr. Watts we sing:—

“Let cares, like a wild deluge, come, 

And storms of sorrow fall;

May I but safely reach my home, 

My God, my heaven, my all.”

Our text draws our attention to a man who ends well. Mark this man, for his end is peace.

The text is in striking contrast with the verses connected with it. There the wicked man is described, as he is sometimes seen, “in great power, spreading himself like a green bay tree.” But anon, be vanishes away, he is not, and cannot be found. The perfect man is to be marked for his end is peace; “but the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.” How solemn the contrast! My mind has been exercised with respect to a suitable text for the present occasion, and I think I have been led aright in my selection. We notice, first, a godly character depicted; and, second, a gracious consummation described. Looking up for help and blessing we draw yom attention to—

I.—THE CHARACTER DEPICTED. Character is a matter of vast importance. Men of the world recognize the value of a good character. In spiritual matters its worth can hardly be overrated. Character is an engraver’s term, and means the lines engraved on the steel, or other material, the engraver is working with. Spiritual character consists in that which the Holy Ghost engraves on the hearts and in the minds of His people—the stamp by which He marks them as His own, and seals them heirs of glory. As is our character, in the sight of God, so will be our everlasting destiny. Two broad features of character are presented in our text—the perfect, and the upright. Let us take them in order.

The perfect man. Where shall we find the man who answers to this description? If absolute perfection were intended, our search would be in vain. Not even amongst the glorified in heaven could one be found to reach this standard. Absolute perfection belongs to God alone. “There is none (absolutely) good but One, that is God.” He, and He alone, is the absolutely perfect Being. Nor can perfection in the shape of sinlessness be found among the sons of men on earth. This “the spirits of the just made perfect” in heaven enjoy; this will be the happy lot of all true believers, when the end of their earthly career is reached; but “there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not.” The man who dares to claim that he is sinless makes God a liar, in contradicting the plain testimony of His word. ”If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” All such presumptuous souls sever themselves from the true Church; which, with one voice confesses its sins, and, in the language her Lord Himself has taught her, daily prays: “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.” They manifest further that they are either ignorant and deluded—ignorant of themselves and the spirituality of God’s law—or else, base hypocrites, pretending a sanctity which they know they do not possess. Yet there are perfect men in the sense of our text on earth. Job was a perfect man, according to God’s own testimony. We must go to the Scriptures to ascertain what is meant.

The word employed, Young tells us, means perfect—plain. It is translated plain in Gen. 25:27: Jacob was a plain (perfect, R.V. marg.) man. Esau, it is said, was a cunning hunter; Jacob a plain man. The plain appears to be the antithesis to cunning—that which is simple, transparent. The same word is used to denote Job’s character. He was a perfect man, a plain, open, and sincere man. His heart was right in the sight of God; his religion was real, genuine, sincere. A kindred word occurs in relation to Noah (Gen. 6:9): ‘’Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations.” The word here, according to Young, means plain, whole, complete. Hezekiah employs this word in 2 Kings 20:3: “Remember how I have walked before Thee with a perfect heart.” It is used also in 1 Kings 11:4: “Solomon…his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David, his father.” These examples suffice to show us the meaning of the word. David and Hezekiah were far from sinless, yet they were perfect in the scriptural sense. Job abhorred himself, yet he was a perfect man, according to God’s own testimony. The perfection intended is sincerity of heart with and before God. A plain, whole-hearted, complete cleaving to, worshipping, and serving God alone, “an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.” The perfect man is not a sinless man, but one who is really under the influence of the Spirit of God, and whose religion is sincere and true.

The upright next claims our attention. This might be taken as explanatory of the perfection he possesses—the perfect man, that is, the upright—a repetition of ideas, the second explanatory of the first, being common in the psalms. But we turn to the testimony born to Job’s character. He is said to have been a perfect and an upright man. Perfect appears to refer to his inner life, and upright to his walk and conduct. He was “one that feared God”—that marks his inward perfection—“and eschewed evil,” that describes his life and conduct—his uprightness. Would you know who the perfect and upright man is? He is one that fears God and eschews evil. Scriptural perfection and uprightness are closely connected. They bear the same relation as the tree and its fruit. If the man be perfect, he will be upright. A good tree will bear good fruit. The inner life God alone can see, the outward life is visible to man, who from the fruit can judge the character of the tree that bears it. If uprightness be lacking in the life, the inference is that perfection is wanting within. We are not under obligation to believe any man’s profession, unless his life corresponds therewith. 

This word upright is very suggestive. An upright man—a straight up-and-down man, no crookedness—one that will not swerve from that which is right. In whatever sphere of life he moves, he will be honest. If a servant, he will not need his master’s eye upon him to keep him at his work. If a master, he will give that which is just and equal to his servants. If a tradesman, uprightness will characterize his dealings; he will not go beyond, or defraud anyone. A child will be as well served as the keen-eyed customer able to look after his own interest. The upright man will not take advantage of another’s necessities to drive a hard bargain; the rule of his life is to do unto others as he would that they should do unto him.

Mark this man wherever you meet him. Look well upon him, he is worth beholding. Alas! such men are rare. Not every professor is thus distinguished. I fear me much that some we hope are possessors of grace bear but a dim resemblance to this man. It would be well for the Church of God if there were more of these truly godly characters in her midst. We believe our beloved brother was such an one. A sincere, true-hearted believer, a man with a genuine heart-religion, manifesting itself in a godly, upright life—a perfect man, and an upright in all his dealings.

II.—A GRACIOUS CONSUMMATION DESCRIBED. “The end of that man is peace.” Trials, troubles, and afflictions, may attend his pathway, but his end shall be peace. This sweet truth is not restricted to the close of his life. Godliness has promise of the life that now is, as well as of the life that is to come. Jacob enjoyed seventeen years of tranquillity in the “land of Goshen,” previous to his death. Job, though a perfect and upright man, was plunged into deep trials, but what was the end of his afflictions? “God blessed the latter end of Job more than the beginning—the end was peace. He went through fire and through water, but God brought him out into a wealthy place.” Peace is the end of all the trials through which the godly pass.

This text has its fullest manifestation in the close of the godly man’s pilgrimage. His end is peace. We sometimes sing:—

‘”Tis religion that can give 

Sweetest pleasures while we live; 

‘Tis religion must supply

Solid comfort when we die.”

The worldly may dispute the first statement of that verse—it is true, notwithstanding—but even the worldly can hardly question the latter statement. What but true religion can give solid comfort on a dying bed? This enables its possessor to contemplate the future without dread—to feel, though he is about to launch into world’s unknown, yet, all is well. Better is the end than the beginning, and the day of death than the day of birth with this man. How different with the ungodly! It would have been better for him never to have been born, than to die in his sins. For him there remains nothing but ”a certain fearful looking-for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”

The perfect man’s peace is true, and not delusive. The world is full of false peace. “They die like lambs.” Yes, so the Scripture says, too: “Like sheep they are laid in the grave.” They die apparently peaceful, because they have no apprehension of their true condition. Many again are bolstered up with false religious peace. The minister comes, administers the sacrament, and assures them all is well, soothes them, and quiets them with a kind of spiritual “Godfrey’s Cordial.” But what an awful awakening in the other world! What a fearful responsibility rests on the blind guides who deceive them! Some draw their delusive peace from an imagined well-spent life. They have injured no one, but done a deal of good, and been very religious. What more can be needed to give them a passport to heaven? The Pharisee in the temple, saying, “God, I thank Thee I am not as other men,” was much in love with his own fancied excellencies, and had a kind of peace in his mind. But the law of God flashed into the conscience immediately destroys and consumes all such peace. The perfect man’s peace is real and durable. It does not arise from ignorance of his own condition, for he knows himself to be a sinner. He will have nothing to do with spiritual opiates. He has an intelligent and spiritual acquaintance with the way of peace. By a living faith he apprehends that “God was in Christ, reconciling him unto Himself, not imputing his trespasses unto him.” He rejoices in this peace as he beholds its God-honouring character. Not such a peace as some preach, made at the expense—I was going to say by the slaughter—of God’s moral attributes; but a peace that glorifies all the divine perfections. He sees his sins equitably punished in the person of his great Surety. He beholds his gracious Saviour bearing “his sins in His own body on the tree.” He realises that God has made His dear Son “to be sin for him, who Himself knew no sin, that he might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” And under the gracious influence of the Holy Ghost he feels the ground beneath his feet to be firm and immovable. “Being justified, he has peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” He has made peace by the blood of His cross. Whoever looks for peace elsewhere than in the blood of Jesus is deluded. He alone is our peace. Here our brother’s soul was anchored, and his end was peace.

It is not usual for us to say much about the creature on these occasions, but the length of time our brother was connected with this Church, the position he occupied, and his great usefulness, dispose me to depart from my usual order tonight. I am unacquainted with the early exercises of our brother’s mind in divine things. He was not given to speak much of his inner experiences, but was more of a walker than a talker, and the walk is of greater consequence than the talk. As Mr. Hart sings:—

“No big words of ready talkers, 

No dry doctrine will suffice;

Contrite hearts, and humble walkers, 

These are dear in Jesus’ eyes.”

We knew where he was by his life. If my watch keeps good time, it is not necessary to take it to the watchmaker to examine the works. The hands travelling correctly, prove the watch to be in good order. So our beloved brother brought forth the fruit of the Spirit in his life. Yet we frequently obtained a view of his inner exercises from his prayers, as he poured out his heart to God. How often have his lips expressed our own feelings and desires. Our brother was united to the Church here thirty-six years ago last February, being baptized by my honoured predecessor, Mr. J. Hazelton. He was chosen deacon in 1877, and became treasurer in 1879, holding these offices until his death. He needs no eulogy from my lips. His life here amongst us bears witness to his sterling Christian character, yet I cannot refrain from noticing some of its prominent features.

His unaffected humility was very noticeable. I have seldom met a man occupying a position like his so genuinely humble. He thought himself to be the least. Augustine, once asked what he considered to be the first thing in Christianity, replied, “Humility.” “And what is second?” was the next query. “Humility,” he again replied. “And third?” “Humility,” was again the answer. Humility is the soil in which all Christian graces grow, and he that is least is the greatest in the kingdom of God.

His unselfishness was also remarkable. Ever seeking the comfort and welfare of others, and losing sight of himself, in this following his beloved Lord. His unfailing cheerfulness made his presence and company very pleasing. Grace was grafted in a naturally fine and cheerful disposition. He had ever an eye for the bright side of things. His godly sincerity was very apparent; an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile; a perfect, plain-hearted, transparently sincere man. He was, too, a lover of peace. He was prepared to make any sacrifice, short of that of principle, to preserve peace. He never fanned the sparks of strife, but was ever ready to put them out. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

His practical wisdom made him an invaluable Church officer. We looked to him for advice and counsel in all our difficulties. We shall miss him much in days to come. In his attendance at the services of the.sanctuary he was a pattern. With a large professional business, he so managed his affairs that nothing kept him from the house of God when the doors were open, and every institution in connection with this Church had his sympathy and assistance. We bless God for what he was to us here for so long a period, while as yet we do not fully realize what we have lost in his removal.

His public usefulness extended far beyond the limits of this Church. The Associated Churches, the Strict Baptist Mission, and the Aged Pilgrims’ Friend Society had a warm place in his heart, and no small share in his labours. His removal has made many gaps, and will be greatly felt. 

Our brother’s home life, too, was very beautiful. A true and tender- hearted husband, a loving and indulgent parent, his loving, bright, cheerful temper made him like sunshine in his home. I commend the dear bereaved ones to your prayerful sympathy, for their loss is indeed a heavy one.

A few words respecting his last illness and closing days. Twelve weeks ago tonight he was with us for the last time. He was then far from well. The complaint from which he suffered was very exhausting, inducing depression of mind, and at times he felt low and dark. But even at these times he was enabled to stay upon his God. He had also his sweet seasons. In my visits to him he specially mentioned Ps. 27 as being precious to him, also Ps. 138:8, “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me,” and Ps. 147:11, “The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in them that hope in His mercy.” The disease settling in his throat, made speaking very difficult, and at times his words could not be understood. About a fortnight before his departure, when he thought himself dying, he was heard to say, “Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit;” “Lord, remember me.”

“Jesus, Lover of my soul, 

Let me to Thy bosom fly,

While the nearer waters roll, 

While the tempest still is high.”

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” His patience throughout his illness was very remarkable. In the last letter he wrote, these lines, exactly expressing his frame, are found:—

“Give me a calm, a thankful heart, 

From every murmur free,

The blessings of Thy grace impart, 

And make me live to Thee.

Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine,

My life and death attend,

Be with me all my journey through,

And crown my journey’s end.”

He retained consciousness to the last, frequently mentioned passages of Scripture and verses of hymns that were sweet to his soul, and passed away without a struggle or a sigh. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.” May the Lord comfort the hearts of the dear bereaved ones, and sanctify this visitation to us all. Amen.