This objection, then, cannot be maintained, and we are forced to conclude that the perfect moral teaching of Christ was accompanied by continual assertions of His own superhuman and Divine character. And as this was a point about which He must have known, it is clear that the statements must have been either true or intentionally false. He must, therefore, have been Divine, or else a deliberate impostor. In other words, the Christ of the Gospels--and history knows of no other--could not have been merely a good man. He was either _God_ as He claimed to be, or else a _bad man_ for making such claims. This is the _Great Alternative_. Moreover, it is absolutely unique in the world's history. Nowhere else shall we find a parallel to it. In Christ--and in Christ alone--we have a Man Whose moral character and teaching have fascinated the world for centuries; and yet Who, unless His own claims were true, must have been guilty of the greatest falsehood, and blasphemy. This is the only logical conclusion to be drawn from the facts we have been considering, and all attempts to avoid it fail hopelessly. Now what effect has this on our present inquiry as to the truth of Christianity? Plainly it forms another strong argument in its favour. For the moral teaching of its Founder is shown to be not only the most perfect the world has ever seen, but it is combined with a sense of entire sinlessness which is absolutely unique among men. Both of these, however, are also combined with claims to a superhuman and Divine character, which, if they are not correct, can only be described as impious, and profane. Therefore, unless Christianity is true, its Founder must have been not only the very _best_ of men; but also one of the very _worst_; and this is a dilemma from which there is no escape. CHAPTER XXII. THAT THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY CONFIRMS ITS TRUTH. (_A._) ITS EARLY TRIUMPHS. (1.) Its immense difficulties. (2.) Its marvellous success. (3.) The so-called _natural_ causes of success: they all imply the truth of the Religion. (4.) Contrast with Mohammedanism. (_B._) ITS LATER HISTORY. (1.) Its vitality in the past; very remarkable. (2.) Its effect at the present; very beneficial. (3.) Its prospects in the future; very hopeful. (4.) The spread of _Rationalism_; but this is no new difficulty, while it shows the strength of Christianity, and being only destructive, can never take its place. (_C._) CONCLUSION. The history of Christianity, which seems to have been foreknown to its Founder, forms another strong argument in its favour.