The ways of the world are fixed, and cannot be changed.

There must be a leader in every community clothed with power, else there is no reform." Balthasar received the burst gravely.
"Thy wisdom, good sheik, is of the world; and thou dost forget that it is from the ways of the world we are to be redeemed.
Man as a subject is the ambition of a king; the soul of a man for its salvation is the desire of a God." Ilderim, though silenced, shook his head, unwilling to believe.
Ben-Hur took up the argument for him.
"Father--I call thee such by permission," he said--"for whom wert thou required to ask at the gates of Jerusalem ?" The sheik threw him a grateful look.
"I was to ask of the people," said Balthasar, quietly, "'Where is he that is born King of the Jews ?'" "And you saw him in the cave by Bethlehem ?" "We saw and worshipped him, and gave him presents--Melchior, gold; Gaspar, frankincense; and I, myrrh." "When thou dost speak of fact, O father, to hear thee is to believe," said Ben-Hur; "but in the matter of opinion, I cannot understand the kind of king thou wouldst make of the Child--I cannot separate the ruler from his powers and duties." "Son," said Balthasar, "we have the habit of studying closely the things which chance to lie at our feet, giving but a look at the greater objects in the distance.

Thou seest now but the title--KING OF THE JEWS; wilt thou lift thine eyes to the mystery beyond it, the stumbling-block will disappear.

Of the title, a word.

Thy Israel hath seen better days--days in which God called thy people endearingly his people, and dealt with them through prophets.