"Billy" Sunday, the Man and His Message: With his own words which have won thousands for ChristEllis, William T. (William Thomas)
Religion
"Billy" Sunday, the Man and His Message: With his own words which have won thousands for Christ
Ellis, William T. (William Thomas)
Baseball players -- United States -- Biography; Evangelists -- United States -- Biography; Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935
I said, "It's pretty good sense, then, to get ready for the maybe."
Well, just suppose there is a hell. It's good sense to get ready,
then, even for the "maybe." I don't look like a man that would die
very quickly, do I? I have just as good a physique as you ever gazed
at. I wouldn't trade with any man I know. A lot of you fellows are
stronger than I, but I have as good a physique as ever you looked at.
I have been preaching at this pace for fourteen years, and I've stood
it, although I begin to feel myself failing a little bit. But I don't
look like a man who would die quickly, do I? But I may die, and on that
possibility I carry thousands of dollars of life insurance. I don't
believe that any man does right to himself, his wife or his children
if he doesn't provide for them with life insurance, so when he is gone
they will not be thrown upon the charity of the world. And next to
my faith, if I should die tonight, that which would give me the most
comfort would be the knowledge that I have in a safe deposit vault in
Chicago life insurance papers, paid up to date, and my wife could cash
in and she and the babies could listen to the wolves howl for a good
many years. I don't expect to die soon, but I may die, and on that
"may" I carry thousands of dollars in life insurance.
I take a train to go home, I don't expect the train to be wrecked, but
it may be wrecked, and on that "maybe" I carry $10,000 a year in an
accident policy. It may go in the ditch. That's good sense to get ready
for the "maybe." Are you a business man? Do you carry insurance on your
stock? Yes. On the building? Yes. Do you expect it to burn? No, sir.
But it may burn, so you are ready for it. Every ship is compelled, by
law, to carry life-preservers and life-boats equal to the passenger
capacity. They don't expect the ship to sink, but it may sink and they
are ready for the "may." All right. There may be a hell. I'm ready;
where do you get off at? I have you beat any way you can look at it.
Suppose there is no hell? Suppose that when we die that ends it? I
don't believe it does. I believe there is a hell and I believe there is
a heaven, and just the kind of a heaven and hell that book says. But
suppose there is no hell? Suppose death is eternal sleep? I believe the
Bible; I believe its teachings; I have the best of you in this life. I
will live longer, be happier, and have lost nothing by believing and
obeying the Bible, even if there is no hell. But suppose there is a
hell? Then I'm saved and you are the fool. I have you beat again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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