540-633。AllthatJohnsaysintheseverses，inreplytotheanticipatedobjectionsurgedinvv。514-539，arefound，substantially，inseveralpassagesinBrowning’spoetry。
　　Seeremarksonpp。36-38beginning，”ThehumansoulisregardedinBrowning’spoetry”，etc。{ChapterII，Section1inthisetext。}
　　Aninfallibleguide，whichwouldrenderunnecessaryanystrugglesonman’spart，afterlightandtruth，wouldtorpifyhispowers。
　　Andseevv。582-633ofthepresentpoem。
　　552。Mantakesthattitlenow：thatis，of`First，last，andbestofthings”，if，etc。Seesections17and18of`Saul’，andstanza10of`RabbiBenEzra’。AndseethegranddyingspeechofParacelsus，whichconcludesBrowning’spoem。
　　554。”AlawofnaturemeansnothingtoMr。Browningifitdoesnotmeantheimmanenceofpower，andwill，andlove。HecanpasswithreadysympathyintothemysticalfeelingoftheEast，whereintheuncloudedsky，inthetorrentofnoondaylight，Godissonear`HeglowsaboveWithscarceanintervention，pressescloseAndpalpitatingly，Hissoulo’erours。’
　　ButthewisdomofaWestern`savant’whoinhissuperiorintellectualityreplacesthewillofGodbytheblindforceofnature，seemstoMr。Browningtobesciencefalselysocalled，anewignorancefoundeduponknowledge，`Alamp’sdeathwhen，repletewithoil，itchokes。’
　　TothiseffectarguestheprophetJohnin`ADeathintheDesert’，anticipatingwiththedeepprevisionofadyingmanthedoubtsandquestioningsofmoderndays。Andinthethirdofthoseremarkablepoemswhichformtheepilogueofthe`DramatisPersonae’，thewholeworldrisesinthespeaker’simaginationintoonevastspiritualtemple，inwhichvoicesofsingers，andswelloftrumpets，andcriesofpriestsareheardgoinguptoGodnolesstrulythanintheoldJewishworship，whilethefaceofChrist，instinctwithdivinewillandlove，becomesapparent，asthatofwhichallnatureisatypeoranadumbration。”——
　　Prof。EdwardDowdeninhisComparativeStudyofBrowningandTennysonStudiesinLiterature，1789-1877——”Butif，appealingthence，hecower，avouchHeismereman，andinhumilityNeithermayknowGodnormistakehimself；
　　IpointtotheimmediateconsequenceAndsay，bysuchconfessionstraighthefalls[575]
　　Intoman’splace，athingnorGodnorbeast，Madetoknowthathecanknowandnotmore：
　　LowerthanGodwhoknowsallandcanall，HigherthanbeastswhichknowandcansofarAseachbeast’slimit，perfecttoanend，[580]
　　Norconsciousthattheyknow，norcravingmore；
　　Whilemanknowspartlybutconceivesbeside，Creepseveronfromfanciestothefact，Andinthisstriving，thisconvertingairIntoasolidhemaygraspanduse，[585]
　　Findsprogress，man’sdistinctivemarkalone，NotGod’s，andnotthebeasts’：Godis，theyare，Manpartlyisandwhollyhopestobe。
　　SuchprogresscouldnomoreattendhissoulWereallitstrugglesafterfoundatfirst[590]
　　Andguesseschangedtoknowledgeabsolute，Thanmotionwaithisbody，wereallelseThanitthesolidearthoneveryside，Wherenowthroughspacehemovesfromresttorest。
　　Man，therefore，thusconditioned，mustexpect[595]
　　Hecouldnot，whatheknowsnow，knowatfirst；
　　Whatheconsidersthatheknowsto-day，Comebutto-morrow，hewillfindmisknown；
　　Gettingincreaseofknowledge，sincehelearnsBecausehelives，whichistobeaman，[600]
　　Settoinstructhimselfbyhispastself：
　　First，likethebrute，obligedbyfactstolearn，Next，asmanmay，obligedbyhisownmind，Bent，habit，nature，knowledgeturnedtolaw。
　　God’sgiftwasthatmanshouldconceiveoftruth，[605]
　　Andyearntogainit，catchingatmistake，Asmidwayhelptillhereachfactindeed。
　　ThestatuaryerehemouldashapeBoastsalikegift，theshape’sidea，andnextTheaspirationtoproducethesame；[610]
　　So，takingclay，hecallshisshapethereout，Criesever`NowIhavethethingIsee’：
　　Yetallthewhilegoeschangingwhatwaswrought，Fromfalsehoodlikethetruth，totruthitself。
　　Howwereithadhecried`Iseenoface，[615]
　　Nobreast，nofeeti’theineffectualclay?’
　　Rathercommendhimthatheclappedhishands，Andlaughed，`Itismyshapeandlivesagain！’
　　Enjoyedthefalsehood，toucheditontotruth，Untilyourselvesapplaudthefleshindeed[620]
　　Inwhatisstillflesh-imitatingclay。
　　Rightinyou，rightinhim，suchwaybeman’s！
　　Godonlymakestheliveshapeatajet。
　　Willyerenouncethispactofcreatureship?
　　ThepatternontheMountsubsistsnomore，[625]
　　Seemedawhile，thenreturnedtonothingness；
　　Butcopies，Mosesstrovetomakethereby，Servestillandarereplacedastimerequires：
　　Bythese，makenewestvessels，reachthetype！
　　Ifyedemur，thisjudgmentonyourhead，[630]
　　Nevertoreachtheultimate，angels’law，IndulgingeveryinstinctofthesoulTherewherelaw，life，joy，impulseareonething！”Suchistheburthenofthelatesttime。
　　Ihavesurvivedtohearitwithmyears，[635]
　　Answeritwithmylips：doesthissuffice?
　　Foriftherebeafurtherwoethansuch，Whereinmybrothersstrugglingneedahand，Solongasanypulseisleftinmine，MayIbeabsentevenlongeryet，[640]
　　Pluckingtheblindonesbackfromtheabyss，ThoughIshouldtarryanewhundredyears！”
　　Buthewasdead：’twasaboutnoon，thedaySomewhatdeclining：wefiveburiedhimThateve，andthen，dividing，wentfiveways，[645]
　　AndI，disguised，returnedtoEphesus。
　　Bythis，thecave’smouthmustbefilledwithsand。
　　Valensislost，Iknownotofhistrace；
　　TheBactrianwasbutawildchildishman，Andcouldnotwritenorspeak，butonlyloved：[650]
　　So，lestthememoryofthisgoquite，SeeingthatIto-morrowfightthebeasts，ItellthesametoPhoebas，whombelieve！
　　Formanylookagaintofindthatface，BelovedJohn’stowhomIministered，[655]
　　Somewhereinlifeabouttheworld；theyerr：
　　EithermistakingwhatwasdarklyspokeAtendingofhisbook，asherelates，OrmisconceivingsomewhatofthisspeechScatteredfrommouthtomouth，asIsuppose。[660]
　　BelieveyewillnotseehimanymoreAbouttheworldwithhisdivineregard！
　　ForallwasasIsay，andnowthemanLiesashelayonce，breasttobreastwithGod——
　　652。PamphylaxtellsthestorytoPhoebas，ontheeveofhismartyrdom。
　　654-660。SeeGospelofSt。John21：20-24。
　　662。regard：look。”TowhomthusMichael，withregardbenign：”P。L。，XI。，334。”Fromthatplacidaspectandmeekregard。”——P。R。，III。，217。
　　DeQuinceyremarksMiltonvs。SoutheyandLandorinreplytoLandor’sdemurringthat”meekregardconveysnonewideatoplacidaspect”：”ButASPECTisthecountenanceofChristwhenpassivetothegazeofothers；REGARDisthesamecountenanceinactivecontemplationofthoseotherswhomhelovesorpities。
　　ThePLACIDASPECTexpresses，therefore，thedivinerest；
　　theMEEKREGARDexpressesthedivinebenignity；
　　theoneistheself-absorptionofthetotalGodhead，theothertheexternalemanationoftheFilialGodhead。”
　　[Cerinthusreadandmused；oneaddedthis：——[665]”IfChrist，asthouaffirmest，beofmenMereman，thefirstandbestbutnothingmore，——
　　AccountHim，forrewardofwhatHewas，Nowandforever，wretchedestofall。
　　Forsee；Himselfconceivedoflifeaslove，[670]
　　Conceivedofloveaswhatmustenterin，Fillup，makeonewithHiseachsoulHeloved：
　　Thusmuchforman’sjoy，allmen’sjoyforHim。
　　Well，Heisgone，thousayest，tofitreward。
　　Butbythistimearemanysoulssetfree，[675]
　　Andverymanystillretainedalive：
　　Nay，shouldHiscomingbedelayedawhile，Say，tenyearslongertwelveyears，somecompute
　　Seeif，foreveryfingerofthyhands，Therebenotfound，thatdaytheworldshallend，[680]
　　Hundredsofsouls，eachholdingbyChrist’swordThatHewillgrowincorporatewithall，WithmeasPamphylax，withhimasJohn，Groomforeachbride！Canameremandothis?
　　YetChristsaith，thisHelivedanddiedtodo。[685]
　　CallChrist，then，theillimitableGod，Orlost！”
　　But’twasCerinthusthatislost。]——
　　665。Cerinthusreadandmused：ItmustbesupposedthatanopportunityhadbeenaffordedCerinthusofreadingtheMS。bytheonewhoaddedthepostscript，whichisaddressedtohim，andwhosoughthisconversion。
　　683。Thatis，`Withmeas[with]Pamphylax，withhimas[with]John’：
　　SeeGospelofJohn，17：11，21-23。”Inthecriticalexaminationoftheevangelicalrecords，thefourthGospelsufferedmost。Strauss——inthisinstancefollowinghisearlymasterandlaterantagonist，Baur——deniedthatSt。Johnhadanythingtodowithitscomposition。Theauthor，heheld，wasneitherSt。JohnnoranyoneelsewhohadpersonallyknownChrist：
　　nor，inaccordancewithawidelyacceptedtheory，didhebelieveittobetheworkofapupilofSt。John，who，afterthedeathofhismaster，related，frommemoryorfromfragmentarynotes，traditionsandsayingswhichhadbeentaughthim，andmadeoutofthemacontinuoushistory。Strausspronouncedittobeacontroversialwork，writtenlateinthesecondcenturyafterChrist，byaprofoundtheologianoftheGreekGnosticandanti-Jewishschool，whosedesignwasnottoaddanothertotheexistingbiographiesofChrist，nottorepresenthimasarealman，nortogiveanaccountofanyhumanlife，buttoproduceanelaboratetheologicalworkinwhich，undertheveilofallegory，theNeo-platonicconceptionofChristastheLogos，therealizedWordofGod，thedivineprincipleoflightandlife，shouldbedeveloped。Withthispurpose，thewritermadeafreeselectionfromthesayingsanddoingsofChristasrecordedinthethreeGospelsalreadywritten，andasfreelyinventedothers。Alltheevents，allthewords，oftheGospelthuscomposed，aresubordinatetothemaindesign，whichwasworkedoutbytheauthorwithanartisticcompletenessmostingeniouslytracedbyhisGermaninterpreters。Eachmiraclesymbolizessomeimportantdogma，anditsnarrationmustbeunderstoodtomeanthatitembodiessomedeepspiritualtruth，not，necessarily，thatiteveractuallytookplace。Theauthormanifests，throughout，hisignoranceofJewishcustoms，andhisantagonismtoJewishsentiments。””Thegeneralpurportofthepoemcanscarcelybedoubted，aswelookbackuponitasawholeandconsideritsmainconclusions。
　　Thetendencyoftheargumentistodiminishtheimportanceoftheoriginalevents——historicalortraditional——onwhichtheChristianreligionisbased。`Itisnotworthwhile，’
　　thewriterseemstosaytoStraussandhisfollowers，`tooccupyourselveswithdiscussionsaboutmiraclesandeventswhicharesaidtohavetakenplacealongtimeago，andcannowneitherbedeniedorproved。Whatweareconcernedwith，is，Christianityasitisnow：asareligionwhichthehumanmindhasthroughmanygenerationsdeveloped，purified，spiritualized；
　　andwhichhasreacteduponhumannatureandmadeitwiserandnobler。
　　Shallwegiveupthisfaithwhichhasbeensogreatapowerforgoodintheworld，andwhich，itswholepasthistoryjustifiesusinconcluding，willcontinueitsworkofimprovement，becauseourbeliefincertaineventsisshakenordestroyed?Itwouldbevain，indeed，thustobuildourreligiononafoundationsounstableasmaterialevidence。Forhumansensationsarenotinfallible；
　　theyveryoftendeceiveus；wethinkweseeobjects，whicharereallytheillusionsofourownbrain；othersweseeinpartonly，ordistorted；otherswefailtoperceiveatall。Ourfaith，essentialasitistothewell-beingofthedeepestpartsofournature，mustnotbedependentonsuchcontrollingpowersasthese。’”