"Will the brother give his Scriptural authority for such a course?" he asked.
There was an ominous silence.
"I insist upon it," Mr. Carleton said; "let the brother tell us where in all of God's word he gets his authority for his position. I admit this boy's life has not been all we could wish; I admit his surroundings are all evil. But to my mind that furnishes all the greater reason why this church, if satisfied he has been redeemed, should throw around him her love, her protection, and her care."
"Why," stammered the brother, "I don't know as there is any Scripture that bears on the case, but I think there are times when we should be cautious in receiving members for the good name of the church, and that no reproach be cast upon the cause of Christ."
"We should always exercise proper caution in coming to a decision as to one's regeneration," said the pastor; "but once satisfied that a person is regenerated, there is but one course open to us, and that is, to receive him and help him in the new life he has begun. Brother Bacon, you see more of this lad than the rest of us; do you think his life gives evidence of his conversion?"
Mr. Bacon arose, and said:
"I have watched him closely from the night he stood and confessed his Saviour. I do see every evidence of a change in him. For my own part, I have no hesitancy, as one of the examining committee, in recommending him to this church as a suitable candidate for baptism."
"Is there any one else who can throw any light on this subject?" asked Mr. Carleton.
The tall, lank form of Jacob Woodhull slowly rose. Though a very eccentric man, he had been for years a member of the church, and a constant attendant upon its services, but seldom took part in its deliberations. His rising then filled all with surprise.
"Brethren," he said, "I was here the night that boy first spoke for Jesus. I went out from that meeting and talked as hard against him as any one. You see it has always been a notion of mine that a repentant person should go back to the very beginning of his evil course, and repair so far as possible the injuries he may have done. If I understand the Bible it teaches this. So I argued, if this boy is really changed, he'll own up to me some of those rascally scrapes he's been in, down at my farm. I kept my notion to myself, but I just talked against the boy, and I said it will take a powerful sight to make me believe he is converted. You see I kinder doubted Christ's power in saving such a lad—not that I meant to; but that's what it amounted to, all the same.