He knew he should not meet any of the Higher Critics in the Park. The German professors and the English divines, who sit comfortably in their book-lined studies and pen presumptuous onslaughts on the faith once for all delivered to the saints, work their mines of infidelity from a safe distance. These theological dynamitards do not come into the open with their bombs. Their machines--not less infernal--take the form of neatly bound volumes on the bookstalls, sold at popular prices, handy to explode the faith and hope of thousands of their fellow-creatures, leaving them torn and mangled in soul upon the rocks of desperation and despair. But the Lower Critics, he knew, found in the Park their happy hunting-ground. Why should they have it all their own way in Christian England? “_And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.... And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and out of the things that are written in this book._” That solemn record gave him courage. So, standing up beneath the murky sky, with the din of the traffic on one side and the screaming voice of Raggett the Raver on the other, Father Francis, pale but calm, read aloud some passages from one of the oldest and most wonderful books in the Bible. How marvellous was the contrast between the words of the iconoclast and the words echoing down from the far-off centuries to the fool who had said in his heart, “There is no God!” “_No doubt ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you!... But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind._” Raggett was speaking again. “If we don’t look after ourselves,” he shouted, “who do you think is going to help us? Tell me that!” “_With him is strength and wisdom_,” read the priest, “_the deceived and the deceiver are his. He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. He looseth the bonds of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to life the shadow of death. He increaseth the nations and destroyeth them. He enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again._” ... “Yes,” roared Raggett, harping on his theme, “when they talk to you about heaven, tell them heaven helps those that help themselves. You’ve got to make your own heaven, and now’s your time to do it!” ...