IT is told of Filippo Neri, a good and pious man of former dais, that whilst at one of the Italian universities, a youth, whom he had known as a boy, accosted him with a face full of delight, to tell him that what he had long been wishing above all things in the world he had at length attained,— that his parents had given him leave to study law, and that he had come to the university, attracted by its fame as a school of law, and that he meant to spare no pains or labor in mastering his studies, and thoroughly accomplishing himself as a lawyer. In this way he ran on a long time; and when at last he came to a stop. the good man, who had been listening to him with great patience and kindness, said, “Well, and when you have got through your course of studies, what do you mean to do then?”
“Then I shall take my doctor’s degree,” answered the young man.
“And then?” asked Filippo Neri again.
“And then,” continued the youth, “I shall have a number of difficult and knotty cases to manage; shall catch people’s notice by my eloquence, my zeal, my learning, my acuteness, and gain a great reputation.”
“And then?” repeated the good man.
“And then!” replied the youth; “Why, there cannot be a question I shall be promoted to some high office or other; besides, I shall make money and grow rich.”
“And then?” repeated Filippo.
“And then,” pursued the young lawyer, “then I shall live comfortably and honorably, in health and dignity, and shall be able to look forward quietly to old age.”
“And then?” asked the pious man.
“And then,” said the youth, “and then—then I shall die!”
Here Filippo Neri significantly asked, “And then?”
Whereupon the young man made no answer, but cast down his head and went sorrowfully away. This last “And then?” had pierced his soul, and almost in despair he went away. He had met the good Filippo full of dreams of future greatness, full, alas! of what he would do for himself. It was to be, dear reader, “his eloquence, his zeal, his learning,” that would give him all that his natural heart coveted or desired.
So absorbed was he by what appeared a hopeful and prosperous future, that he had neglected to take any thought for the eternal welfare of his soul. He could even go so far as to say, “And then I shall die;” but oh! when confronted with “AND THEN?” after death. Reader, have you ever thought of the solemn word, “For it is appointed unto men once to die, and after death, the judgment?”
Oh! never let your thoughts stop short on this side of eternity. Let them not stop at the grave, but cast them forward beyond; and oh, press home to your heart the searching question of Filippo Neri, “And then?” Can you, dear reader, find an answer that gives peace?
Oh! if that solemn question, when asked, finds as yet no hopeful response in your heart, turn over the leaves of your Bible, and you may read the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-2625Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25‑26).)
Dear reader, “Believest thou this?” If thou believest with all thine heart upon Jesus the Son of God, as the only Saviour, who bled and died for you, the searching question at the head of this piper, instead of troubling you in spirit, will be a source of endless joy; since the word says, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; THEN we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to, meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” “And then” shall we taste the fulness of that wondrous grace which will be the theme of eternal praise.
ML 06/22/1902