Lastly, as to the doctrine of the _Resurrection_, more especially that of Christ. Numerous analogies have been suggested for this, but none of them are at all satisfactory. Thus the Egyptian god Osiris is recorded as doing a great deal after his death; but he is only supposed to have done this by living on in the _spirit_, and there is no hint that his _body_ was restored to life, in the sense in which Christ's was; and the same may be said in other cases.[461] While the way in which the educated Athenians (who must have known a good deal about heathen religions) treated St. Paul, when he proclaimed the Resurrection of Christ, shows how absolutely novel they considered the doctrine.[462] [Footnote 461: Tisdall, Christianity and Other Faiths, 1912, p. 153.] [Footnote 462: Acts 17. 19, 32; 26.8.] We must also remember that the Christian doctrines of the Incarnation, the Atonement, and the Resurrection, were not slowly evolved, but were essential features in Christianity from the very first. They are all strongly insisted on by St. Paul. And this alone seems fatal to the idea of their having been derived from the myths of India, Egypt, and elsewhere. On the whole, then, it is evident that the _comparative study_ of religions, instead of being against Christianity, is distinctly in its favour; for it shows, as nothing but a comparative study could show, its striking superiority. Human nature is always the same, and in so far as other religions have satisfied human nature, they have resembled Christianity. On the other hand, Christianity differs from them in being free from their various absurdities and contradictions, as well as from their tendency to degenerate; and having instead a moral character of admitted excellence, and powerful evidence by which to establish its actual truth. In short, other religions are _human_; and therefore, as man is a mixture of good and evil, they contain some good (what we now call Natural Religion) and some evil. But Christianity is _superhuman_; and therefore contains all the good they do, with much more besides, and with none of their evil. This completes a brief examination of the more important additional arguments for and against Christianity. CHAPTER XXIV. THAT THE THREE CREEDS ARE DEDUCIBLE FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT. Only three Doctrines can be disputed. (_A._) THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. In addition to belief in God the Father, the New Testament teaches-- (1.) The Divinity of Christ. (2.) The Divinity of the Holy Spirit; so there are (3.) Three Divine Persons and yet but One God. (_B._) THE FINAL STATE OF THE WICKED. The only alternatives are: