80 THE LIGHT OF DAY 



that Csesar never died, that he was still living hun- 

 dreds of years after his supposed assassination, no 

 matter how momentous the consequences which had 

 flowed from that belief, would we be satisfied with 

 ordinary proof of the fact ? The alleged resurrec- 

 tion of Jesus is just as legitimate a problem of 

 scientific inquiry as any fact of geology or natural 

 history, because it is put forward as a concrete 

 physical fact. Indeed, the whole Christian problem 

 is a historical problem, one of documents and records, 

 and falls within the reach of inductive research. 

 We may ask. Is it true ? The impartial inquirer 

 will approach it in the true scientific spirit, weigh- 

 ing the probabilities, clearing up the discrepancies, 

 and seeking verification. He will ask how far do 

 the occurrences narrated square with the world of 

 human experience ? What was the type of mind, 

 credulous or incredulous, realistic or imaginative ? 

 What were the current beliefs and expectations ? 

 How far does the imperfect knowledge of the times 

 crop out in the narrative ? How far do the current 

 superstitions crop out ? For instance, we see here in 

 the Gospel writings a belief in angels, or supernatu- 

 ral human beings, and in demoniacal possessions 

 cropping out. Has the subsequent experience of 

 mankind confirmed or dissipated the belief in these 

 things ? We see in Matthew's narrative the belief 

 that the dead sometimes come forth from their 

 graves and walk abroad and appear to men, and that 

 they choose darkness rather than light ; we see the 

 belief that dead saints and worthy persons may 



