“My dear boy, who denies that man is a free agent? I am sure that I will endorse every passage which you can cite that teaches human responsibility.” “Why, I do not see, Mr. Hillston, how you can possibly reconcile predestination with man’s free moral agency.” “I do not pretend to do so, Ernest. You are like a good many people I know, who think that predestination is not taught in God’s Word, because they cannot make it harmonize with free agency. I have frequently been amused at some ministers who undertook to show that there is no such doctrine as fore-ordination in the Bible. They quoted those passages which prove that man is a free agent, and then at once jumped to the conclusion that God could not shape or control human destiny. We must accept both doctrines, for both are clearly taught in the Scriptures. You cannot understand the Trinity, but your failure to comprehend it is no proof of its falsity, is it?” “No, sir, of course not. But I did not think you could hold to predestination and free agency at the same time. What do you do with the passage of Scripture which says that ‘Christ tasted death for every man?’” “Do with it? I accept it without hesitation as a precious truth.” “Well, well, well,” said Ernest, as though greatly perplexed, “and yet you say that some men were condemned from all eternity. How in the world can that be? ‘Whosoever will,’ says the Scripture, ‘let him take the water of life freely.’” “Certainly,” answered the preacher, gently. “I quote that in every sermon I preach, and urge sinners to avail themselves of the world-embracing invitation.” “But if their destiny is already determined, what is the use of your preaching to them and urging them?” “Now, my boy, don’t begin at the roof to build your house, but commence at the foundation, and work upward. Suppose I show that this ‘horrid doctrine,’ as some people call it, is contained in God’s Word?” “Well, I wish you would,” said Ernest. “I am open to conviction.” “Then let us go into my study, and appeal to the Blessed Book itself; for it should be final in every theological controversy.” They were soon seated, and the old man arranged his spectacles, and opened the Bible. “It seems to me,” said Mr. Hillston, “that the eighth and ninth chapters of the epistle to the Romans ought to remove every doubt on this subject. You have surely noticed the celebrated passage, Romans 8:29. Now here it is: ‘Whom He did fore-know, He did _predestinate_.’ What does predestinate mean? It has only one meaning.” “That is true,” said Ernest, “but might it not refer to the righteous _character_? He did fore-know and predestinate the righteous character. I can admit that.”