mediately, goes on rapidly and with accelerating speed, and must be
liberally allowed for by the seeker after truth. In scores of instances
the historical individual turns out to be very much smaller than he was
painted by his terrified or loving worshipers. In no single case has it
been established that he was greater, or as great. It is, no doubt,
conceivable that such a case should occur, but it never has occurred, in
known instances, and cannot be presumed to have occurred in any
particular instance. The presumptions are against the correctness of the
glorified image. The disposition to exaggerate is so much stronger than
the disposition to underrate, that even really great men are placed
higher than they belong oftener than lower. The historical method works
backwards. Knowledge shrinks the man."[518:1]

As we are allowed to _conjecture_ as to what is true in the Gospel
history, we shall now do so.

The death of Herod, which occurred a few years before the time assigned
for the birth of Jesus, was followed by frightful social and political
convulsions in Judea. For two or three years all the elements of
disorder were abroad. Between pretenders to the vacant throne of Herod,
_and aspirants to the Messianic throne of David_, Judea was torn and
devastated. Revolt assumed the wildest form, the higher enthusiasm of
faith yielded to the lower fury of _fanaticism_; the celestial visions
of a kingdom of heaven were completely banished by the smoke and flame
of political hate. _Claimant after claimant of the dangerous supremacy
of the Messiah appeared, pitched a camp in the wilderness, raised the
banner, gathered a force, was attacked, defeated, banished or
crucified_; but _the frenzy did not abate_.

The popular aspect of the Messianic hope was _political_, not religious
or moral. The name _Messiah_ was synonymous with _King of the Jews_; it
suggested _political designs and aspirations_. The assumption of that
character by any individual drew on him the vigilance of the police.

[Illustration: Fig. No. 42]

[Illustration: Fig. No. 43]

That Jesus of Nazareth assumed the character of "_Messiah_," as did many
before and after him, and that his crucifixion[520:1] was simply an act
of the law on _political grounds_, just as it was in the case of other
so-called _Messiahs_, we believe to be the truth of the matter.[520:2]
"He is represented as being a native of _Galilee_, the _insurgent
district of the country_; nurtured,