“The venerable Seti,” said Aleph; “has doubtless met with many so-called magicians in this land of the strange and mysterious. May I ask whether he has ever met one who has claimed to do his prodigies through the Supreme God, or to do them in such vast variety and magnificence as are conceded to Jesus?”
“Certainly not,” answered the Egyptian; “and I am quite sure that if we could get together all the professors of the magical art that are or have been, they could not, all together, make out such a list of wonders as is conceded to Jesus.”
“I would also ask of the venerable Seti,” continued Aleph, “if he will not express his views more fully as to the suggestion of the lady Rachel, viz., that it is incredible that bad spirits of vast intelligence would lend their powers to give currency and authority to a system of teaching whose whole stress they must see to be to defeat and destroy their influence.”
“It is incredible. She only needs to show that the teaching of Jesus is plainly and thoroughly against the feelings and objects of evil spirits.”
“Why, my dear grandfather, all the accounts agree that Jesus teaches altogether in the line of our Scriptures, though with new fullness and illustrations—and no one knows better than you how holy the teachings of our Sacred Books are—exposing the devices of Satan, denouncing him and all his works, calling to watchfulness and prayer against him, rebuking and casting out his demons, assailing the very foundation of his kingdom in disloyalty to God, binding our consciences to a perpetual war on sin in both life and heart, threatening it with the terrors of an avenging heaven.”
Seti inclined his head gravely toward the maiden, whose earnestness was now glowing in her face and adding to it new charms, but was silent.
“The lady has expressed my thought,” said Cimon. “It used to be a part of the Roman law, and I presume is so still, that when a man is accused of doing what would neither suit his passions nor his interests, the accusation may be dismissed at once. It is incredible. Neither men nor devils act against all motive.”
“Now, great teacher,” cried Rachel, “it is time to sum up, as you do sometimes in your lectures; and (she brightly shook her finger at Seti) be careful to sum up on the right side.”
“Which of course means your side,” said the Egyptian, with a slight lifting of his eyebrows.... Well, how will this please you?