"Thou shalt have no other gods but Me." He knew that then.
"What is that?" John asked again, trying to lay as little emphasis as possible on the "that." Then he asked fifteen children the same question and a quarter of an hour had passed. John thought this idiotic. What should he do now? Say what he knew about God? But the common point of view then was, that nothing was known about Him. John was a theist, and still believed in a personal God, but could say nothing more. He would have liked to have attacked the divinity of Christ, but would have been dismissed had he done so.
A pause followed. There was an unnatural stillness while he reflected on his false position and the foolish method of teaching. If he had now said that nothing was known of God, the whole catechism and Bible instruction would have been superfluous. They knew that they must not steal or lie. Why then make such a fuss? He felt a mad wish to make friends and fellow-sinners of the children.
"What shall we do now?" he said.
The whole class looked at each other and giggled.
"This is a jolly sort of teacher," they thought.
"What must the teacher do when he has heard the lesson?" he asked the top boy.
"Hm! he generally explains it," he and one or two others answered.
John could certainly explain the origin and growth of the conception of God, but that would not do.
"You need not do any more," he said, "but don't make a noise."