lled him to speak out.

"Jake, my son," he said, trying hard to control his feelings, "I fear
you are being shaken in the faith, but I hope if you are dissatisfied
with our church that you will not disgrace the family by joining that
holiness bunch. They are rotten. I know them of old. I would rather
see you dead than for you to go with Bob Davis."

Jake saw that there was little use to discuss the matter; so he
desisted and turned the conversation to pigs. But Peter turned it back
to religion.

"If you go along with that Davis," Peter said, "I will disown you as
my son. I will. After being a member of our church for ten years, then
to own up that you are not a Christian--why, Jake, that will tear our
church to pieces."

"But father," said Jake, "suppose that I am not a real Christian,
will it do me any good to continue to profess that I am? Is that
not exactly what makes one a hypocrite? My soul longs for a real
experience. I know I am not ready to die or fit to live either. I must
get right with God."

Peter Newby saw that it was useless to stay longer, so he rode away,
feeling very angry at Jake for the mood he was in, and at himself for
displaying such anger.

Robert and Mary Davis went to Newbys' about nightfall and were given a
cordial reception. After all was ready they all met in the parlor
and discussed religion. A great many texts were read and talked over.
Water baptism was investigated. Robert proved by the Scriptures that
water baptism is not a saving ordinance.

"How could water baptism be a saving ordinance," said Robert, "when
we know that water cannot have any effect, one way or another, upon
a soul? And, if water baptism is essential to the obtaining of
salvation, then two other things besides the blood of Jesus are
necessary whenever a soul is saved. One is water, enough to be
immersed in, according to your church doctrine, and the other is a
man, or a preacher to baptize. Then, if one were out somewhere away
from water and a preacher, he could not be saved. This will never do.
It places too much in the hands of men. Peter makes it plain--read 1
Peter 3:21.

"'The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not
the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,'" read
Kate Newby.

"This makes it plain," said Robert. "Water cannot wash away sins
except in a figurative way. It is the blood that clea