considerable about the Scripture, so we shall appoint him leader. I
will find that text he asked for. It is in my old Bible at home." And
the crowd dispersed.




CHAPTER FOUR

THE SCHOOLHOUSE DEBATES (continued)


Robert Davis did much studying between the two prayer meeting nights.
Peter Newby searched through his old Bible at home for "he that saith
he liveth and sinneth not is a liar," but he could not find it. The
nearest text he could find that was like it was 1 John 1:8, and he
knew that Robert Davis had already explained it. Peter studied hard,
however. He found several texts, such as Prov. 20:9; Matt. 19:16, 17;
Rom. 3:10; 1 Tim. 1:15; Rom. 7, and others, which he thought supported
his theory that no one could live free from sin. He reckoned without
taking his opponent into account, however, and came off worse
confounded in the second encounter than he did in the first. Romans 6
was rather hard on Peter's theory, and he decided it would not pay him
to say much about it.

The prayer meeting was well attended on that night. The air was full
of expectancy. Peter's long supremacy in debating caused several to
wish secretly for him to be beaten; others took his side, and did all
that they could to encourage him. A few were interested for truth's
sake. After the chapter was read, Peter Newby was first on his feet