Last Words of Saints and Sinners: 700 Final Quotes from the Famous, the Infamous, and the Inspiring Figures of History

by Herbert Lockyer

This collection of 700 quotes includes the last words of commoners, atheists, poets, and politicians along with noted Christians and martyrs. Ready reference source for the pastor or public speaker.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Church History, Christian, Christianity, Biography, Historical

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 1968

About the author

Dr. Herbert Lockyer was born in London in 1886, and held pastorates in Scotland and England for 25 years before coming to the United States in 1935. In 1937 he received the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Northwestern Evangelical Seminary. In 1955 he returned to England where he lived for many years. He then returned to the United States where he continued to devote time to the writing ministry until his death in November of 1984.

Reviews

[Will Waller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially read to prepare for a sermon series, this book will be one that I turn to again and again. This book should inspire even the most cold-blooded of people with the bravery and courage of the last words of sinners and saints. He spends not much time on the "sinners" but instead, focuses his work on those saints who died expressing their faith.

If you have any interest in last words of people before they day, or think about distilling down one's faith to a final phrase or paragraph, I adjure you to pick this up.

Here are some samples: Ludwig Von Beethoven: "I shall hear in heaven. Clap now, my friends, the comedy is done." (117)

Walter Scott: After having the 14th chapter of John read: "Well this is a great comfort. I have followed you distinctly and I feel as if I was to be myself again." (109)

Sir Thomas Scott: "It is a matter of lamentation that men know not for what end they were born into the world until they are ready to go out of it." (92)

John Newton: "As sinners we have no right, and as believing sinners we have no reason, to complain; for all our concerns are in the hadn and care of our best Friend, who has prmised that all things shall work together for His glory and our final benefit. My trial is great, but I am supported and have many causes for daily praise." (65)

Catherine Booth: "The waters are rising but so am I. I am not going under but over. Do not be concerned about dying; go on living well, the dying will be right."

A close study of Hebrews 2:14-15 will reveal that "the fear of death" was not an unreasonable fear. Christ's supreme victory over the devil secured deliverance for those, "who through fear of death were...subject to bondage." The divine message to man is not "do not fear death, there is nothing to fear in so normal, harmless, and beneficent a thing as death." The message is "Do not fear death: I the Lord, have vanquished Satan who had the power of death and expiated the sin that introduced death." (213).

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some merit to it. Yet can be morbid at times. It has Christians perfecting their faith and going to death with the humble promise of God on their lips. Fearful and determined to see death as the doorway to heaven and to be in God's Court. It's hard to believe that people die for what they believe in...and in past times is was horrible. To die is to be in Christ's Throne.
Easy read, full of tidbits of information on many Saints.

[Pastor Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several of Lockyer's works (my wife is reading, "All The Apostles of the Bible," to me several pages each evening at this time) and this is still my favorite.

I wrote a short review for, "Famous Last Words, Fond Farewells, Deathbed Diatribes, and Exclamations Upon Expiration," by Ray Robinson and mentioned that it along with this work by Lockyer were my two favorite on this topic, as of Spring of 2020.

(The review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

If this subject interests you, make this your first book on the topic. This has the right perspective, making it a much more enjoyable read. Lockyer has died. I don't know what his last words were, but after caring for his wife who suffered with Alzheimer's for many years, he is now with her. And they are with Jesus.

Our last words are important. But the most important thing about our death is whether or not we are saved and our name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

[Jeremy]

N.D. Wilson mentions this book at the end of Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl (p. 199).