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 or even  a  likeness  of  him,  they  refused  to believe  in  his  identity  without  further  proof, but required  him  to  show  that  he  was  the true and  lawful  crown  prince. And the  good people were  .certainly  not  to  be  blamed  for requiring such  a  proof;  since  otherwise  any one who  took  it  into  his  head  to  do  so,  might claim to  be  the  crown  prince.

2. Nineteen  hundred  years  ago,  far  away in Palestine,  a  Man  made  His  appearance; He claimed  to  be,  not  merely  the  heir  of  this or that  mighty  monarch,  but  the  Son  of  the King of  heaven  and  earth. Yes, when  this Man stood  arraigned  as  a  criminal  before the chief  council  of  the  Jews,  and  Caiaphas, the high  priest,  said  to  Him:  "I  adjure  Thee by  the  living  God  that  Thou  tell  us  if  Thou  be the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,"  this  Man  replied, earnestly  and  solemnly,  "Thou  hast said  it,  I  am  He!"

Thus publicly,  earnestly,  and  solemnly, did Jesus  Christ  declare  Himself  to  be  the Son of  God;  thus  did  He  announce  Himself as true  God. And He  formerly  required  of His  hearers,  as  He  now  in  like  manner  requires of  us,  that  His  doctrines  should  be accepted,  and  His  claims  received. We, therefore, on  our  part,  have  a  perfect  right to demand  that  He  should  prove  to  us  that we must  believe  in  Him,  that  He  should  show His credentials,  and  prove  Himself  to  be  the Son of  God,  prove  Himself  to  be  true  God And indeed,  there  is  not  any  lack  of  such