102 THOSE BIBLE READINGS
reason, they, like Grandpa and Grandma Hartman,
did not speak to each other of the subject which on
this night was being driven home to the heart of
each by the convincing Spirit of God. Before Mrs.
Wilbur slept, she had almost decided to obey
almost. But alas! that little word, ‘‘almost,”’ has
heen the ruin of many a soul since the days of the
proud Festus, who tremblingly declared while the
wonderful pleading of the great apostle to the Gen-
tiles rang in his ears, ‘‘ Almost thou persuadest me.”’
Almost; but pride is not yet conquered. The enemy
never lets go his hold upon a human soul without
a mighty struggle. And while we leave Mrs. Wilbur
and her husband to visit the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Jones, we can only pray that the pitying Christ may
not take away from them His Spirit.
Unlike Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur, Mr. and Mrs. Jones
talk the matter over freely together.
““Really, I am surprised,” said Mrs. Jones, ‘‘at
the amount of plain Scripture which has been read
in favor of the seventh-day Sabbath. Aren’t you,
my dear?”’
““Well, yes; I'm quite willing to acknowledge that
it’s plain enough. But, you see, it’s impossible, ab-
solutely impossible, for us to keep it. I would lose
my position at the mills the first thing, and then
what would become of us? We have no children
to whom we can turn like most people, and you know