He disliked being put to the proof.

Instead of rejoicing in it, as a true and upright man ought,--instead of blaming those who accept his pretensions on too slight grounds,--instead of encouraging full inquiry and giving frank explanations, he resents doubt, shuns everything that will test him, is very obscure as to his own pretensions, (so as to need probing and positive questions, whether he _does_ or _does not_ profess to be Messiah,) and yet is delighted at all easy belief.

When asked for miracles, he sighs and groans at the unreasonableness of it; yet does not honestly and plainly renounce pretension to miracle, as Mr.
Martineau would, but leaves room for credit to himself for as many miracles as the credulous are willing to impute to him.

It is possible that here the narrative is unjust to his memory.

So far from being the picture of perfection, it sometimes seems to me the picture of a conscious and wilful impostor.