Now it was Rosie's turn. "I will read a few verses from the third chapter of Romans," she said, and proceeded to do so. "'Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.'"
She ceased and Grace, who had turned to the same passage, went on with the reading, "'Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.'" She ceased, and Walter went on:
"'Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.'"
"'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,'" repeated Annis, in low, feeling tones.
Then her husband took it up: "'What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; as it is written, Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.'"
Walter then spoke again and his was the closing text. "'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.'"
"Let us not forget," said Mr. Keith, "that we are to confess Christ, owning ourselves as his disciples, under his authority, and ready to submit to it in all things. Let us not forget that his own word is, 'If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.' His cross, let us remember; not one of our own devising, or one laid upon us by some earthly power without the Master's word. He alone is Lord of the conscience and the Bible is his word, revealing to us his will. Also his own command to each one of us is, 'Search the Scriptures; for in them ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.' We must never be afraid or ashamed to let it be known at any time, or in any company or place, that we are disciples of Christ, to whom the love of our hearts and the obedience of our lives are due."
A moment of silence followed the closing of Mr. Keith's remarks; a silence presently broken by Mrs. Travilla's sweet voice beginning the hymn:
"Jesus! and shall it ever be
A mortal man ashamed of Thee?"
The others joined in, filling the air with sweet melody.