losing power because your creeds are fixed while man, never ceasing to
grow, has inevitably gone beyond them--even beyond the teachings of your
Saviour who threatened to separate father from son and mother from
daughter--who would distinguish sheep from goats by the mere
intellectual test of the opinion they formed of his miracles. The world
to-day insists on moral tests--which Christianity has never done."

"Ah--now we are getting at it," remarked the Methodist, whose twinkling
eyes curiously belied his grimly solemn face. "Who was it that wished to
know the belief of the average unbeliever?"

"The average unbeliever," answered Bernal promptly, "no longer feels the
need of a Saviour--he knows that he must save himself. He no longer
believes in the God who failed always, from Eden to Calvary, failed even
to save his chosen tribe by that last device of begetting a son of a
human mother who should be sacrificed to him. He no longer believes that
he must have a mediator between himself and that God."

"Really, most refreshing," chortled Father Riley. "More, more!" and he
rapped for silence.

"The man of to-day must have a God who never fails. Disguise it as you
will, your Christian God was never loved. No God can be loved who
threatens destruction for not loving him. We cannot love one whom we are
not free _not_ to love."

"Where shall we find this God--outside of Holy Writ," demanded Floud,
who had once or twice restrained himself with difficulty, in spite of
his amusement.