73
For truth.—The truth of Christianity was testified by the virtuous life of the Christians, their fortitude in suffering, their firm belief, and, above all, its spread and increase despite all calamities—so you reason even in our days. So much more the pity! Learn at least that all this argues neither in favour of nor against truth, that truth needs a different proof from truthfulness, and that the latter is by no means a argument in favour of the former.
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‘’Christian reservation.’’—Should not this have been the most usual reservation of the first-century Christian: "It is better to persuade ourselves of our guilt than of our innocence; for we never know how sopowerful a judge may feel disposed—but we mustfear that he may expect to find none but consciencestricken ones. Considering his great power be will more easily pardon a guilty man than admit that somebody was right in his presence." So did the poor people in the province feel in the presence of the Roman praetor: "He is too proud to admit our innocouce." Is it not possible that this very sensation should again have influenced the Christian conception of the highest judge?
75
‘’Neither European nor aristocratic.’’—There is some
