“Do you really—in the Old as well as the New Testament?”
“In both.”
“In the Old also?”
“In both.”
“Very well, then, you believe in the Old Testament. Now, you have had yourself baptized again, for the Bible says, ‘Go, and teach all nations and baptize them.’ Good. But have you had yourself circumcised, as the Bible commands?”
Bainham looked confounded, and the Cardinal had to turn his head, in order not to smile.
“I am not an Israelite,” answered Bainham.
“No! but Nathanael, who sought our Saviour and believed on him, was called by John ‘an Israelite indeed.’ If you are not an ‘Israelite indeed,’ you are not a Christian.”
“I cannot answer that.”
“No, you cannot answer, but you can preach and talk rubbish. Are you a Lutheran?”