p. 155 | And What Then? by Legion

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 7, 1858

“And What Then?”

By Legion

Reader, look well to the end of things, and to the final end of your life’s labor. Let not the glittering attractions of this world decoy you from religion, and from a serious regard to the closing up and final sum of all your earthly pursuits.

While Philip De Neri was living in an Italian University, a young man ran to him with a face full of delight, and told him he had come to the law-school of that place on account of its great fame, and that he intended to spare no pains or labor to get through his studies as soon as possible. Philip waited for his conclusion with great patience, and then said:

“Well, and when you have got through your course of studies, what do you mean to do?”

“Then I shall take my Doctor’s degree,” answered the young man.

“And then?” asked Philip again.

“And then,” continued the youth, “I shall have a number of difficult questions 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 holy man.

“And then,” replied the youth, “why there can’t be a question, I shall be promoted to some high office or other. Besides, I shall make money and grow rich.”

“And then?” repeated Philip.

“And then,” pursued the young lawyer, “then I shall be comfortably and honorably in health and dignity.”

“And then?” asked the holy man.

“And then,” said the youth, “and then—and then—then I shall die.”

Here St. Philip raised his voice: “AND WHAT THEN?” Whereupon the young man made no answer, but cast down his head and went away. The last “And then” had, like lightning, pierced his soul, and he could not get rid of it. Soon after he forsook the law, and gave himself to the ministry of Christ, and spent the remainder of his days in godly words and works. “Your business,” reader, “takes every spare moment.” And what then!”—Legion.