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The wise man saw the young and simple straying into the house of the strange woman. It was not what it seemed to be. Could he shed a revealing light upon it? He saw only one lamp suitable to his purpose; it was named "At the last." He held this up, and the young man's delusion was dispelled. He saw in its light the awful consequences of self-indulgence and sin. If this lamp is useful in this one case, it may be useful in others. I can only compare my text in its matchless power to Ithuriel's spear, with which, according to Milton, he touched the toad, and straightway Satan appeared in his true colours. This lamp has four sides to it.

I. DEATH IS AT THE LAST. In some sense it is the last of this mortal life; it is the last of this period of trial here below; it is the last of the day of grace; it is the last of the day of mortal sin. In the light of death look upon mortal sins. The greatest of human actions will appear to be insignificant when we come to die. Look at our selfish actions in this light. How will sin then appear?

II. JUDGMENT IS AT THE LAST. When we die, we die not. When a man dieth shall he live again? Ay, that he shall — for his spirit dieth never. After death comes the judgment. Look at the past, the present, the future, in the light of that judgment.

III. HEAVEN IS AT THE LAST. Look on all our actions in the light of heaven.

IV. HELL IS AT THE LAST. See things in that dread and dismal light, the glare of the fiery abyss. How will self-indulgence, unbelief, procrastination look in that light?

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

WEB: You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,