"Yes," she said, "God's Word is the only infallible rule of faith and
practice. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness!"

"Yes, mamma, I have the reference here; Second Timothy, third chapter,
and sixteenth verse. And should not the next verse, 'That the man of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works,' stir us up to
much careful study of the Bible?"

"Certainly, my dear boy; and, oh what cause for gratitude that we have
an infallible instructor and guide! But what did you want to ask me?"

"A question that was put to me by one of our fellows at college, and
which I was not prepared to answer. The substance of it was this: 'If
one who has lived for years in the service of God should be suddenly cut
off while committing some sin, would he not be saved, because of his
former good works?'"

"Is any son or daughter of Adam saved by good works?" she asked, with a
look and tone of surprise.

"No, mother, certainly not; how strange that I did not think of
answering him with that query. But he maintained that God was too just
to overlook--make no account of--years of holy living because of perhaps
a momentary fall into sin."

"We have nothing to hope from God's justice," she replied, "for it
wholly condemns us. 'There is none righteous, no, not one.... Therefore
by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight.'