“Certainly not; I think his representations are often as faulty as his logic is vicious; especially when, under the influence of his Jewish education, he throws old Gamaliel’s mantle over his shoulders, and dotes about ‘allegories’ founded on the Old Testament.”

“Fair and candid once more; but then, I suppose you will admit that the divine truths which he was, nevertheless, commissioned to teach mankind, will, like any other truths, be much affected by the mode in which they are represented to the imagination; will become brighter or more obscure, more animated or more feeble, and even more just or distorted, as this task is wisely and judiciously, or preposterously performed?”

“No doubt.”

“Then it appears, I think, that, if there were nothing to control the Apostle Paul’s manner of exhibiting divine verities, even in relation only to the imagination, there might be all the difference between sober truth and fanatical perversions of it.  I might, in the same manner, proceed to show that the feelings, uncontrolled by a superior influence, would be also likely to give distortion or exaggeration to the doctrines.  But it is enough.  It appears very plain, that, according to your hypothesis, even though the Apostles were commissioned to teach by supernatural illumination certain truths, yet that, being liable to be infected with all the faults of false history, bad logic, vicious rhetoric, fanatical feeling, these divine truths might, possibly, be most falsely presented to us.  We have, really, no guaranty but your gratuitous ‘supposition’ that they have been taught at all.  We have no criterion for separating what is thus divine from what is merely human.  I fear, therefore, your distinction will not hold.  The stream, whatever the crystal purity of its fountain, could not fail to be horribly impure by the time it had flowed through such foul conduits.”

“In short,” continued Harrington, with a bitter smile at the same time, “there are but three consistent characters in the world; the Bible Christian, and the genuine Atheist,—­or the absolute Sceptic.”

“No,—­no,—­no,” exclaimed the whole trio at once; “and you yourself must be true to your principles, and therefore sceptical as to this.”

“It is” he replied, “one of the very few things which I am not sceptical about.  At all events, right or wrong, I am, as usual, willing to give you my reasons for my belief.”

“Rather say your doubts,” said Fellowes.

“Well, for my doubts, then.  You see, my friends, the matter is as follows.  The Christian speaks on this wise:—­