The dying words of Sir Thomas Smith

(NB: If you're reading this on Facebook, the original post is from my blog) Many of you know I'm about to publish a booklet (with expert assistance from my good friend Mr Balmoral) about Sir Thomas Smith (1513 - 1577). Smith planned an English colony on the Ards Peninsula and north Down which arrived in 1572, but which ultimately failed. It cost Smith £10,000, the life of his son, and probably his own health and peace of mind - within 5 years he was dead. It's an historically important and yet sad personal story. During the week I found that Charles Spurgeon quoted Smith's dying words:

“It is a great pity men know not to what end they were born into this world, until they are ready to go out of it"

(from The Treasury of David by Charles H Spurgeon, 1872)