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〃Personification；〃 said Likeman。 〃In the eighteenth century they used to draw beautiful female figures as Science and Mathematics。 Young men have loved Scienceand Freedomas Pygmalion loved Galatea。 Have it so if you will。 Have a visible person for your Deity。 But let me keep up myspirituality。〃
〃Your spirituality seems as thin as a mist。 Do you really believeanything？〃
〃Everything！〃 said Likeman emphatically； sitting up with a transitory vigour。 〃Everything we two have ever professed together。 I believe that the creeds of my church do express all that can possibly be expressed in the relationship ofThat 〃 he made a comprehensive gesture with a twist of his hand upon its wrist〃to the human soul。 I believe that they express it as well as the human mind can express it。 Where they seem to be contradictory or absurd； it is merely that the mystery is paradoxical。 I believe that the story of the Fall and of the Redemption is a complete symbol； that to add to it or to subtract from it or to alter it is to diminish its truth； if it seems incredible at this point or that； then simply I admit my own mental defect。 And I believe in our Church； Scrope； as the embodied truth of religion； the divine instrument in human affairs。 I believe in the security of its tradition； in the complete and entire soundness of its teaching； in its essential authority and divinity。〃
He paused； and put his head a little on one side and smiled sweetly。 〃And now can you say I do not believe？〃
〃But the historical Christ； the man Jesus？〃
〃A life may be a metaphor。 Why not？ Yes； I believe it all。 All。〃
The Bishop of Princhester was staggered by this complete acceptance。 〃I see you believe all you profess；〃 he said； and remained for a moment or so rallying his forces。
〃Your visionif it was a visionI put it to you； was just some single aspect of divinity；〃 said Likeman。 〃We make a mistake in supposing that Heresy has no truth in it。 Most heresies are only a disproportionate apprehension of some essential truth。 Most heretics are men who have suddenly caught a glimpse through the veil of some particular verity。。。。 They are dazzled by that aspect。 All the rest has vanished。。。。 They are obsessed。 You are obsessed clearly by this discovery of the militancy of God。 God the Sonas Hero。 And you want to go out to the simple worship of that one aspect。 You want to go out to a Dissenter's tent in the wilderness； instead of staying in the Great Temple of the Ages。〃
Was that true？
For some moments it sounded true。
The Bishop of Princhester sat frowning and looking at that。 Very far away was the vision now of that golden Captain who bade him come。 Then at a thought the bishop smiled。
〃The Great Temple of the Ages；〃 he repeated。 〃But do you remember the trouble we had when the little old Queen was so pigheaded？〃
〃Oh！ I remember； I remember；〃 said Likeman； smiling with unshaken confidence。 〃Why not？〃
〃For sixty years all we bishops in what you call the Great Temple of the Ages； were appointed and bullied and kept in our places by that pink irascible bit of dignity。 I remember how at the time I didn't dare betray my boiling indignation even to you I scarcely dared admit it to myself。。。。〃
He paused。
〃It doesn't matter at all；〃 and old Likeman waved it aside。
〃Not at all；〃 he confirmed； waving again。
〃I spoke of the whole church of Christ on earth；〃 he went on。 〃These things； these Victorias and Edwards and so on； are temporary accidentsjust as the severance of an Anglican from a Roman communion and a Greek orthodox communion are temporary accidents。 You will remark that wise men in all ages have been able to surmount the difficulty of these things。 Why？ Because they knew that in spite of all these splits and irregularities and defacementslike the cracks and crannies and lichens on a cathedral wallthe building held good； that it was shelter and security。 There is no other shelter and security。 And so I come to your problem。 Suppose it is true that you have this incidental vision of the militant aspect of God； and he isn't； as you see him now that is；he isn't like the Trinity； he isn't like the Creed； he doesn't seem to be related to the Church； then comes the question； are you going out for that？ And whither do you go if you do go out？ The Church remains。 We alter doctrines not by changing the words but by shifting the accent。 We can under腶ccentuate below the threshold of consciousness。〃
〃But can we？〃
〃We do。 Where's Hell now？ Eighty years ago it warmed the whole Church。 It wasas some atheist or other put it the other day the central heating of the soul。 But never mind that point now。 Consider the essential question； the question of breaking with the church。 Ask yourself； whither would you go？ To become an oddity！ A Dissenter。 A Negative。 Self emasculated。 The spirit that denies。 You would just go out。 You would just cease to serve Religion。 That would be all。 You wouldn't do anything。 The Church would go on； everything else would go on。 Only you would be lost in the outer wilderness。
〃But then〃
Old Likeman leant forward and pointed a bony finger。 〃Stay in the Church and modify it。 Bring this new light of yours to the altar。〃
There was a little pause。
〃No man；〃 the bishop thought aloud； 〃putteth new wine into old bottles。〃
Old Likeman began to speak and had a fit of coughing。 〃Some of these textswhuff； whufflike a conjuror's hatwhuff make 'emfit anything。〃
A man…servant appeared and handed a silver box of lozenges into which the old bishop dipped with a trembling hand。
〃Tricks of that sort；〃 he said； 〃won't do； Scropeamong professionals。
〃And besides；〃 he was inspired； 〃true religion is old wine as old as the soul。
〃You are a bishop in the Church of Christ on Earth；〃 he summed it up。 〃And you want to become a detached and wandering Ancient Mariner from your shipwreck of faith with something to explain that nobody wants to hear。 You are going out I suppose you have means？〃
The old man awaited the answer to his abrupt enquiry with a handful of lozenges。
〃No；〃 said the Bishop of Princhester； 〃practicallyI haven't。〃
〃My dear boy！〃 it was as if they were once more rector and curate。 〃My dear brother！ do you know what the value of an ex…bishop is in the ordinary labour market？〃
〃I have never thought of that。〃
〃Evidently。 You have a wife and children？〃
〃Five daughters。〃
〃And your wife married youI remember； she married you soon after you got that living in St。 John's Wood。 I suppose she took it for granted that you were fixed in an ecclesiastical career。 That was implicit in the transaction。〃
〃I haven't looked very much at that side of the matter yet；〃 said the Bishop of Princhester。
〃It shouldn't be a decisive factor；〃 said Bishop Likeman； 〃not decisive。 But it will weigh。 It should weigh。。。。〃
The old man opened out fresh aspects of the case。 His argument was for delay； for deliberation。 He went on to a wider set of considerations。 A man who has held the position of a bishop for some years is； he held； no longer a free man in matters of opinion。 He has become an official part of a great edifice which supports the faith of multitudes of simple and dependant believers。 He has no ri