"What I have done, I have done not as a sign, nor to be magnified in the eyes of men, but to dry the tears which were in their eyes."
"Then they were miracles. So the question at once a.s.sumes another phase--Who are you?"
"I am He whom you know not of, though you call often on My name."
"You are the Christ--the Lord Christ?"
Professor Wilson laid his hand on Mr. Treadman"s arm.
"You go too fast. No such a.s.sertion has been made; no such claim has been put forth. I may add that there has been no such outrage on good taste."
The Rev. Martin Philipps interposed.
"Good taste is not necessarily outraged by such a claim; or, if it is now, it was also at the first. Jesus was a man, such as we are, such as this one here."
Mr. Jebb agreed.
"And a labouring man at that. He worked with His own hands--a wage-earner if ever there was one."
"But," pleaded the Professor, "at least something was known of His pedigree, of His credentials."
"I am not so sure of that."
"Nor I."
"At any rate, let us proceed as if we were reasonable beings, and actuated by the dictates of common-sense. Permit me to put one or two questions: Are you an Englishman?"
"I am of a country which also you know not of. Thither I return to meet Mine own."
"Your answer is evasive. Allow me to point out, with the greatest possible deference, that it is on record how Jesus originally damaged His own case by the vagueness of the replies which He gave to questions and the want of lucidity which characterised His description of Himself. If you claim any, even the remotest, connection with Him, let me advise you to avoid His errors."
"You know not what you say, you fool of wisdom!"
"Lord," cried Mr. Treadman," I believe--help Thou my unbelief! I believe because faith is the great want of the age, and it shall remove mountains; I believe because belief is like the pinch of yeast which, being dropped into the dough, leavens the whole. The leaven spreads through the whole body politic, so that out of a little thing proceeds a great. And, Lord, suffer Thy servant to entreat with Thee.
Lose no time. Thy people wait--have waited long; they cry aloud; they look always for the little speck upon the sky; they lift up their hands and beat against heaven"s gates. Speak but the word--the one word which Thou canst speak so easily! A whole world will leap into Thy arms."
"Their will, not mine, be done?"
"Nay, Lord, not so--not so! Esteem me not guilty of such presumption; but I have lived among them, and have seen how the world labours and is in pain, and how Thy people are crushed beneath heavy burdens which press them down almost to the confines of the pit. And therefore out of the fulness and anguish of my knowledge I cry: Lord, come quickly--come quickly! Lose not a moment"s time!"
"Your knowledge is greater than Mine?"
"Nay, Lord, I do not say that, nor think it. But Thou art immortal; Thy children are mortal--very mortal. I understand the agony of longing with which they look for Your presence--Your very presence-- in their midst."
"They that know Me know that I am ever with them. They that do not know Me know not that they see Me before their eyes."
"You speak in a spiritual sense, I in a material. I know with what a pa.s.sionate yearning they desire to see you with their mortal eyes, flesh of their flesh, bone of their bone--a man like unto themselves."
"You also seek a sign?"
"Who does not seek a sign? The soldier watches for the sign which shows that his general is in command; the child looks for the sign which proclaims his parent is at hand; the explorer searches for the sign which shows his guide is leading him aright. There is chaos where there is no sign."
"Did I not say I am He you know not of? Those who know Me need no sign."
"Nor, in that sense, do I need one either. I have been unfortunate in my choice of words if I have conveyed the impression that I do."
"I have suffered you too much." He turned to the lame man. "Come!"
The Stranger and His disciple were continuing on their way when Mr.
Treadman"s companions placed themselves in the path.
"Mr. Treadman"s well-known command of language," explained the Professor, "is likely to obscure the purpose of our presence here. We have come to ask you to accompany us to town as our guest, and to avail yourself of our services in placing, in the most efficient and practical manner possible, your views and wishes before the country as a whole."
"In other words," observed the Rev. Martin Philipps, "we are here as the Lord"s servants, desirous to do His work and His will."
"Having at heart," continued Mr. Jebb, "the welfare--spiritual, moral, and physical--of the struggling millions."
"Acting also," added Mr. Gibbs, "as the mouthpiece of Christ"s kingdom as it exists in our native land."
The Professor"s tone, as he commented on his colleagues" remarks, was a little grim.
"What my friends say is, no doubt, very excellent in its way; but the main point still is--Will you come with us? If so, here is a conveyance. You have only to jump in at once, and we shall be in time to catch a fast train back to town. My strong advice to you is, Be practical, and come."
"Suffer Me to go My way."
"Is that your answer? Remember that history records how, on a previous occasion, a great opportunity was frittered away for lack of a little business ac.u.men. There can be no doubt that the great need of the hour is a practical religion. It is quite within the range of possibility that you might go far towards placing such a propaganda on a solid basis. Consider, therefore; before you treat our offer with contempt."
He made no answer, but went along the road, with the lame man at His side.
For some seconds the deputation stood staring after Him. Then the Professor gave expression to his feelings in these words:
"An impracticable person."
The Rev. Martin Philipps had something to say on this curt summing up of the position.
"I think, Professor, that what you call practicality is likely to be your stumbling-block. In your sense, G.o.d is not always practical."
"In a country of practical men that is unfortunate."
"When you say practical you mean material. There is something higher than materiality."
"The material and the spiritual, Philipps, are more closely allied than you may suppose. It is useless to ask a mere man to give primary attention to his spiritual wants when, in a material sense, he lacks everything. To formulate such a demand, even by inference, is to play into the hands of the plutocracy."
"Still," remarked Mr. Gibbs," I think there might have been more said of the things of the soul, and less of the things of the body. It is the soul of England we are here to plead for, not its mere corporeal husk."
While they talked Mr. Treadman stood looking after the retreating Stranger. Suddenly he started running, calling as he went:
"Lord, Lord, suffer that I may come with You!"