“The superiority of the Christian code, then,” said I, “is practically acknowledged.  And it is further often confessed, in a most significant way, by the mode in which the enemies of Christianity taunt its disciples.  When they speak of the vices and corruptions of the heathen, they blame, and justly blame, the principles of their vicious systems; and ask how it could be otherwise?  When they blame the Christian, the first and the last thing they usually do, is to point in triumph to the contrast between his principles and practice.  ‘How much better,’ say they, ‘is his code than conduct!’ It is as a hypocrite that they censure him.  It is sad for him that it should be so; but it is a glorious compliment to the morality of the New Testament.  Its enemies know not how to attack its disciples, except by endeavoring to show that they do not act as it bids them.  Surely,” said I, in conclusion “this uniform excellence of the Christian ethics, as compared with other systems, is a peculiarity worth noting, and utterly incomprehensible upon the hypothesis that it was the unaided work of man.  That there are points on which the moral systems of men and nations osculate, is most true; that there should have been certain approximations on many most important subjects was to be expected from the essential identity of human nature, in all ages and countries; but their deviations in some point or other—­usually in several—­from what we acknowledge to be both right and expedient, is equally undeniable.  That, when such men as Plato and Aristotle tried their hands upon the problem, they should err, while the writers of the New Testament should have succeeded,—­that these last should do what all mankind besides had in some points or other failed to do,—­is sufficiently wonderful; that Galilean Jews should have solved the problem is, whether we consider their age, their ignorance, or their prepossessions, to me utterly incredible.”

It was now very late; and we rose to retire.  Mr. Fellowes said, “I should be glad to know what answer you would make to Mr. Newman’s observations on three points,—­one of them just alluded to,—­on which he affirms that undue credit has been given to Christianity; I mean its supposed elevating influence in relation to women, its supposed mitigation of slavery, and its supposed triumphs before Constantine.”

I said I would scribble a few remarks on the subject, and would give them to him in a day or two.  I remarked that Mr. Newman had treated these great subjects very briefly, but that I could not be quite so concise as he had been.

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The discussions of the preceding day had made so deep an impression upon me, that when I went to bed I found it very difficult to sleep; and when I did get off at last, my thoughts shaped themselves into a singular dream, which, though only a dream, is not, I think, without instruction.  I shall entitle it

The blank Bible.