Death Should be First Prepared For
S. Coley. Hebrews 9:27-28 And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment:… There was a young man who once went to the city of Rome. He was an intense student. He had studied by the midnight lamp until his face was pale and his eyes were dim, and as he passed along the streets of Rome, he met one who asked him wherefore he had come. The young man replied: "I have come that I may improve and .have opportunities for reading." "And when you have done that, what then?" The youth's eye brightened with the instinctive ardour of youth, as he said, "Who can tell? I may become a bishop." "And when you have become a bishop, what then?" It seemed almost a vain thing, but still elasticity and youthful hope were there; and he said, "I may become a cardinal." "And when you become a cardinal, what then?" "It seems almost madness." was the reply, "but who can tell? I may become Pope." "And when you have become Pope, what then?" Poor lad! he had got to the end, and he said, "Well, I suppose I must die." "Ah!" said the wise old man, "first get ready for that which must be, and afterwards for that which may be. You may be a bishop; you must die. You may be a cardinal; you must die. You may be Pope; but you must die. First make ready for that which must be." That was wise advice. (S. Coley.) Parallel Verses KJV: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: WEB: Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,