Clearly this is close to the same song. It was recorded in 1929 and Meade links this with Skiop James version- saying they are the same or similar. It was recorded by the Capitol City Four in 1938. Did Teasley arrange this from African-American sources?

Be Ready When He Comes- Daniel O. Teasley, 1896 (copyright 1904)
Sheet Music:http://books.google.com/books?id=LFUFNc-hGCEC&pg=PA146&dq=Be+Ready+When+He+Comes+Teasley&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html&cd=1

Would you flee from sin and serve the Lord?
Be ready when He comes;
He will soon appear with His reward,
Be ready when He comes.

CHORUS: Be ready (when He comes),
Be ready,(when He comes)
Be ready when the bridegroom comes;
Be ready (when He comes),
Be ready,(when He comes),
Be ready when He comes.

It is not His will that you be lost,
Be ready when He comes;
Would you save your soul at any cost?
Be ready when He comes. cHORUS:

Do you know the end of time is near?
Be ready when He comes;
Can you live and die in sin's career?
Be ready when He comes.

There is awful danger in delay,
Be ready when He comes;
Will you cast your only hope away?
Be ready when He comes.