{28} Let the reader advert for a moment, in connexion with the argument for the evidences of Christianity, to the ASSUMPTIONS ordinarily and persistently made by Christ in relation to his person and mission, and then conceive of the _frightful arrogance_ involved in these assumptions, supposing them to be unfounded; coupling this thought at the same time with that perfect sobriety of mind and even tenor of a uniformly staid and well-balanced deportment by which he was pre-eminently characterized. _We_ do not find these assumptions in the slightest degree startling or incredible, because they comport in our minds with the WHOLE character of Christ as developed in the gospel. Where the evidence of Messiahship failed among his own countrymen, if there were any failure of _evidence_, we may advert for the solution, among other considerations, to their blind disregard to the perfect compatibility and harmony of these assumptions with the other features of Messiah as exhibited by Christ. Here are a few of the expressions alluded to, all taken from the earlier chapters of St. John’s Gospel:— “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.” “The bread of God is he which came down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” “And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” “I and my Father are one.” “Jesus saith unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”—How Christ should have preferred SUCH claims without legitimate authority, and ample power to substantiate them, is a question to which we cannot divine an answer.