Brethren Moderators, Brethren and Sisters:

     The first thing I want to notice is what he had to say about the devil. I will say that God did make a good devil for the purpose He made him, just as He made everything else for what He made them; He made a good man, for what He made him; He made a good world, for what He made a world. You wouldn't want God to make a failure in making a devil, would you? I have already introduced an argument and produced Scriptures to show that God did make the devil, and I have been trying to get my brother to tell us where he came from. He will not do that. He is awfully glad that we have one, he thinks, but he doesn't want to acknowledge where he came from. I would be more afraid of him if I didn't know where he came from than I am like it is. I am not very much afraid of him as it is, because I believe the one who made him is able to handle him just like He pleases. I believe He does do that. So, enough along that line, about the Lord making a good devil.

     I have already quoted him the Scripture in Psalms where He declared that His Spirit garnished the heavens. He said He also formed the crooked serpent. Not only that, but I can take the Scriptures and prove that God made the devil and created the devil, and that he belongs to God. I can do that, and if he calls my hand on that, I will do so. Do you think that I cannot?

     He said, would you tell your children to do something and then whip them because they did it? I want to ask him if that is not exactly what He did to Pharaoh. I have never been guilty of a thing like that, and I hope that I have better respect for my brother than to even charge he would do a thing like that, but I am not going to tell him that God did not do that very thing for Pharaoh. "Thus saith the Lord God, Let my people go, yet, I will harden his heart so that he shall not let them go." And He brings His plagues on Pharaoh and all his hosts. There is a case. Take it and wallow with it.

     He said that I had not said anything about the revealed will and the secret will. To Pharaoh the revealed will of God was, "Let my people go." But the will of God demonstrated in Moses' presence was, "I will harden his heart so that he shall not let them go." Two birds with one stone.

     I will give you one text-I believe I have already given that. It is Colossians i. 16: "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." Was the devil made? Was he created? Was he formed? He is a thing, isn't he? He is a pretty big thing sometimes. He is an awful big thing for a god like yours. He would be entirely too big for that. But I want to ask him where the devil is. Where is the devil? Is he under heaven? Is he a thing present, or is he a thing to come? God made all things, the devil included. The Lord formed him and made him and it says, "both the deceived and the deceiver are mine." I have already quoted you that.

     He said that we wanted to find out more than we should; that was why we were driving on predestination. Well, the little schoolboy I made the example of this morning ought to have wanted to find out more, but he didn't. So, every time my sister would ask him how much 2 and I were, he would say, "2 and 1," every time. Every time I say anything about the definition of the word "predestination," it is just "predestination" with him. It is predestination. Predestination.

     Now, he charged something in his other speech which I want to notice here. He said that the reason that the churches were divided in this country was because "you bucks" preached so and so. While I was not a member, I happen to know that the record will show that the resolutions established by your kind is exactly what divided them. We do not declare non-fellowship for a man in our midst who does not understand predestination. We do not make him an offender for a word. One of the best little Baptists in this country, who left awhile ago, attending this debate, never has been able to see how God could absolutely predestinate everything. He tells us that. Do we exclude him? No. We do not make an offender of one for a word. Is that your record? Is that the record of your people? Right here in this association I have spent my life where there were twelve churches. They bore with one another on their views relative to this subject until the resolution or bars of non-fellowship were set up. Those bars are set up there yet, and they will be there when Gabriel blows his trumpet, as far as our taking them down is concerned. We didn't put them up. Your crowd did that. You may not know that, but that is the truth, and it is so, according to the record right here in this country, and I will tell you what the outcome is. Every church that went out with them at that time is dead, except two, out of the whole number. We have eight.

     He is going to give me $25 to find where the Bible says anything about absolute predestination of all things, and absolute means unconditional, and every time I quote the word "purpose," or say anything about foreknowledge or foreordination, or any of those terms that are co-extensive with the word "predestination," he flies the track and says something or other about tomorrow. I didn't intend to say anything more about that, but as he has seen fit to think I am in such a tight place-why, I am-I am sweating. I am sweating blood. But I have poured this Scriptural argument to you, Scripture after Scripture, and instead of replying to them, my brother, you get up and make fun, with sarcasm, and charge consequences, just like any Arminian does when you debate with him. It is just exactly like they do. I have debated with several of them, and that is what you are, according to Webster. You are an Arminian. He said that I could make this $25. Well, if I were as big a gump as you are, if I turned right around and offered it to you, we would be even on your next proposition. There is not one word in all of the Scripture, so then, if the kettle is black, the pot is in just as bad shape.

     J. C. Sikes. I want to say something about Brother Sikes, since he has been charged here. I wonder why. The division has been about 40 years in this association-

     ELDER WEST (interrupting): I arise to a point of order so that this will go into the record. Elder Sikes has been introduced as proof in a long paragraph, and while I do not mean any disrespect to Brother Sikes at all, I think as Elder Sikes' work, as signed by him, and introduced in the affirmative, as affirmative argument, I will certainly have the right, and will not be taking advantage, to reply to what Elder Sikes said, which was read into the record by the affirmative.   

     ELDER RHODES: I was not questioning his right. That is perfectly all right. I intend that his name go at the bottom of the poetry which I read, and I want to tell you now, ladies and gentlemen, I am not ashamed of Elder Sikes or the position that he has held, lo, these many years. Since his debate with Thompson, why haven't they bounced onto him? I respect Elder Sikes. I love Elder Sikes for the truth's sake, and I am not ashamed of that truth, and I want to say, my friends, that I have just as much right to charge my brother who is sitting by the stalwart leader, if you will pardon me, Elder Cayce, of your faction today, taking notes from him, and everything of the kind. You know that we all know that, and I don't care. I don't blame you a bit in the world. That is all right.

     Now, relative to the circumstances that he brought in and the play that he made about the letters that Elder Cayce and I had signed a proposition to debate. Elder Cayce, did we not do that?

     ELDER CAYCE: No, sir.

ELDER RHODES: We did not?

     MODERATOR CAYCE: I will hold your time for a moment. Here are ten one-dollar bills (exhibiting currency), and I didn't have to borrow it. I will give them to you if you will produce the proposition with my name signed to it.

     ELDER RHODES: I want to say, my friends, that I said the propositions were signed with his name to it-with our names to it. I want to say that everybody in this congregation, including Elder Cayce, knows that my home and files were burned up. They know that. The brethren all over this land and country, and some brethren right here on the side of Elder Cayce know that I told Elder Cayce in their store and we agreed to debate, and I want to say on my word of honor, my friends, and I hope God strikes me dead if it is not the truth, to prove that I did not back out. I have correspondence here in my file to show you that Elder West was under the wrong impression; that I would still debate with Elder Cayce on these propositions, and he dug out the proposition out of the file and sent them to me, and we are debating the same proposition that Elder Cayce and I were to debate. Now, my house and my files and my books and papers are all in ashes, and I am just as honest-and I believe Elder Cayce is honest in this, but he is honestly mistaken. I believe Elder West is honest in it, but he is honestly mistaken. I want to say here and now that I feel that they have taken the advantage; whether they have done it intentionally or not, I don't know.

     MODERATOR CAYCE: Hold his time another minute. In the first place, my name should not have been brought into this as to us debating. But the gentleman claims his correspondence was burned. Fortunately, it was not burned at my shop and I have your original letters and carbon copies of every letter that I wrote to you, and I will bring them here tomorrow, and if you will produce the proposition signed by us for that debate, I will give you this $10. We never signed the proposition.

     ELDER RHODES: I say, in conclusion, again that I believe Elder Cayce is honest in stating that he did not sign them. I believe Elder West is honest, but I still say that it was known among the brethren all over this land and country-

     MODERATOR CAYCE: Because you told it.

     ELDER RHODES: I would not have told it had we not been in correspondence preparatory to debate.

MODERATOR CAYCE: But we never signed the propositions. .

ELDER RHODES: I told Elder West in my correspondence which I kept and did keep a carbon copy of and a return receipt on that, but I did not tell him that I had it in my possession and that my files were not burned, or anything of the kind. I felt like we would find it somewhere.

     Luke xxii. 31, 37: "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto Him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death." I believe I have already made this argument. Pardon me.

     Luke xviii. 31 to 33: "Then He took unto Him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death: and the third day He shall rise again." This is beforehand. He said He would go up to Jerusalem in order that these things which were written of Him would be accomplished, saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." That is Luke xxiv. 7. I want to say, my friends, that these "must be's" are not "may be's," not at all. I want to say, right here, that if my opponent will show me where these things must be done and failed to come to pass, then I will believe that he has some sincerity in his proposition. He has not told me one single one of these things that must be done that failed to come to pass, or whether they will come to pass or not.

     Acts iii. 17, 18. Now, brethren, he charged me with being ignorant in his last speech. I will frankly say that very question has bothered me at times, but I don't think it bothers my brother. But what is it? Solomon said, "There is more hope for a fool than a man wise in his own conceit." So, beloved friends, I want to say that I believe he is wise in his own conceit. He can tell us how that all things can be certain, and yet, nothing can cause them. I think he is kind of wise-worldly wise. I think he is. And do you know the one reason why I am doing this? I hate to do it, but this is my last speech. Solomon says "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be likened unto him." I have gone on these two days and tried to keep from doing that, but then he turns and says, "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit." That is why I am calling this to his attention. I want to say, beloved friends, that he thinks the word "predestination" just because his leaders have inflamed him against it-that it ought not to be in the Bible at all. And it is not in there many times. "But in the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established." If it were not there but one time it would be enough for me, my brother. And every word that is a definition to it would not be offensive to me.

     This is Luke xxiv. 44: "And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me." These are the things that must come to pass. My friends, I want to say that they are just as sure to come, on the day appointed, the judgment or pouring out of the wrath and indignation, in the eternal destruction and judgment of God, will be accomplished; and inasmuch as he said he was preaching some, I think I have plenty of time in this speech, also, and I just want to say to you brethren and sisters and friends that the God of hosts who purposed all things, and who would be afraid to even have his name mentioned relative to them, I, like my brother, would be trying to protect my God. How would you know that your salvation was sure? Do you think that Jesus, the blessed Son of God, would have been crucified if there had not been a devil or wicked men? How would He ever have suffered? Do you suppose He would have stumped His toe and fallen down and broke His neck? Do you think He would? All of these things must be, too, and I say, my friends, if all of these things that are written must come to pass, and do come to pass, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, then your salvation through the dying Saviour on the bloody cross makes it sure and certain. I say to you, whether you believe in the word, or the term, "predestination" or not, If you ever felt our God's saving grace in your heart and soul to the extent that you have been made to rejoice by our crucified and risen Saviour, I say, brethren and sisters, you are just as sure to sing God's eternal and glorious praise in that never-ending and glorious eternity as you ever saw and felt His presence. And I say that the love of God is so sweet in my soul that He has loved His people with an everlasting love, how He made a covenant, and how it is ordered in all things. Yes, I say, my friends, who wants to worship a god that things are not certain with? Who wants to trust in a god that doesn't know where the devil came from, that has no use for him? Who wants to worship a god that he doesn't know whether the devil is older than he or not? I say, glory and praise be to God's precious name. I am glad that God made the devil. I am glad that He has all power in heaven and on earth, and that He controls the devil. Yes, sir, after awhile-in Revelation we find that the Lord is going to send an angel down and bind him with a strong chain and cast him in a bottomless pit. I say to you that if you don't know where he came from, and who made him, and by whose power he exists, how would God know that He would be able to do this? I rejoice in the fact that God is able and has all power in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all deep places, and where He declares He will bind him. If He doesn't know where he came from, or anything about him, I say what does He say after He gets him down? He is going to loose him again. Why, you know, if that scamp were here contrary to my will and purpose, and if I were in God's place and got him down one time, it would be all right with him. I would keep him down. Yes, sir; but I say, beloved friends, that just as sure as there is a God on His throne, He declares that He is going to loose him.

     He has predestinated to bind him. He has purposed to loose him, and He is able to do it. I say that He will do it, and dear child of God, let me say to you here today that just as sure as your name is written in the Lamb's book of life, just that sure you will sing the eternally blessed praise of God in that glorious sweet beyond, where there is no more sin, no more sorrow, no more pain or death. So, as a child of God, let me say to you that I rejoice in the fact that God made all things and controls all things and uses all things. If there are some things He didn't control, they might stand directly in opposition to you. But He controls them. He works all things after the counsel of His will. He crucified and offered His blessed Son on Calvary's cross by the hand of wicked men, who are His sword. So, now, my friends, let me say in conclusion, whether you believe upon this proposition as I do, I hope that my name is written in the Lamb's book of life, and if it be God's will, I hope that yours is, too, and if it is, my brethren and my sisters, indeed, you have been born of the Spirit of God; and I say to you that I believe in a God who is able to land you up there, in spite of all the devils in hell, and in spite of all the demons on this earth. I believe that He will land you there; and so, let me say in conclusion here that I am glad that I have been brought to lift my testimony this day. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God unto salvation.

     I think I have time for one more Scripture. Matthew vii., I believe it is verse 22, where He says: "And they shall knock and say, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Is that Old Baptist? No, indeed, my brethren, it is not. He said, "Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity." They were workers, all right, but they were workers of iniquity. And so, my friends, they are going to a place prepared for them.

     Time expired.