"Of course not. How could they be lost? 'Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate.'"
"And will you save any of those who are not elected by preaching to them?" the boy went on.
"It is not in man's power to save at all," the old man said, severely. "Salvation belongeth unto the Lord."
"Well, then, I don't see a bit of use in preaching or in going to chapel."
The old man raised his eyes and stared. "You ungrateful, unregenerate youth," he said. "How dare you speak in such a way, and at my table?"
"But, grandfather," said the boy, with astonishment in his eyes, "why am I ungrateful because I ask questions?"
"Why? Because your questions savour of an unregenerate and unbelieving heart; because they make light of the Word of truth; because the Spirit of God is not in you."
"But how can I help that, grandfather? Do you think it is that I am not called?"
"I fear you are not," he said, with a groan. "I fear you are not."
"But you are not sure, grandfather?"