eltering shade.

When ye consider this matter with care, it will become apparent that this
is according to a universal law, which one can find at work in all things:
the whole attracteth the part, and in the circle, the centre is the pivot
of the compasses. Ponder thou upon the Spirit(27) : because He was the
focal centre of spiritual power, the wellspring of divine bounties,
although at the beginning He gathered unto Himself only a very few souls,
later on He was able, because of that all-subduing power that He had, to
unite within the sheltering Tabernacle of Christendom all the differing
sects. Compare the present with the past, and see how great is the
difference; thus canst thou arrive at truth and certitude.

The differences among the religions of the world are due to the varying
types of minds. So long as the powers of the mind are various, it is
certain that men's judgements and opinions will differ one from another.
If, however, one single, universal perceptive power be introduced--a power
encompassing all the rest--those differing opinions will merge, and a
spiritual harmony and oneness will become apparent. For example, when the
Christ was made manifest, the minds of the various contemporary peoples,
their views, their emotional attitudes, whether they were Romans, Greeks,
Syrians, Israelites, or others, were at variance with one another. But
once His universal power was brought to bear, it gradually succeeded,
after the lapse of three hundred years, in gathering together all those
divergent minds under the protection, and within the governance, of one
central Point, all sharing the same spiritual emotions in their hearts.

To use a metaphor, when an army is placed under various commanders, each
with his own strategy, they will obviously differ as to battle lines and
movements of the troops; but once the Supreme Commander, who is thoroughly
versed in the arts of war, taketh over, those other plans will disappear,
for the supremely gifted general will bring the whole army under his
control. This is intended only as a metaphor, not an exact comparison. Now
if you should say that each and every one of those other generals is
highly skilled in the military art, is thoroughly proficient and
experienced, and therefore will not subject himself to the rule of one
individual, no matter how indescribably great, your statement is
untenable, for the above situation is demonstrably what cometh to pass,
and there is no do