A young man came to an aged professor of a distinguished university with a face beaming with delight, and informed him that the long and fondly cherished desire of his heart was at length fulfilled—his parents having given their consent to his studying law. As the university presided over by his friend, was a distinguished one, he had decided to attend its law school, and was resolved to spare no labor or expense in getting through his studies as quickly and as ably as possible. In this strain he continued to tell his friend for some time. When he paused, the old man, who had been listening to him with great patience and kindness, gently said, “Well, and when you have finished your career of study, what do you mean to do then?”
“Then I shall take my degree,” answered the young man.
“And then?” asked his venerable friend.
“And then,” continued the youth, “I shall have a number of difficult and knotty cases to manage: shall attract notice by my eloquence, and wit, and acuteness, and win a great reputation.”
“And then?” repeated the professor.
“And then!” replied the youth, “why then, there cannot be a question but what I shall be promoted to some high office in the state, and I shall become rich.”
“And then?”
“And then,” continued the young lawyer, “then I shall live comfortably and honorably, in wealth and respect, and look forward to a quiet and happy old age.”
“And then,” repeated the old man.
“And then,” said the youth, “and then—and then—and then I shall die”
Here his venerable listener lifted up his voice, and again asked with solemnity and emphasis, “And then?”
Thereupon the inspiring student made no answer, but cast down his head, and in silence and thoughtfulness retired. The last “And then,” had pierced his heart like a sword—had darted like a flash of lightning into his soul, and he could not get rid of the impression it had made on him. The result was, an entire change of his mind, and the whole course of his life. Abandoning the study of law, he received the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, settled the question of where he would spend his eternity after he would leave this life, entered upon the service of his Lord, and expended the remainder of his days in the ministry of the Word of God.