ma: "I am the same to all mankind. The who honestly worship other
gods involuntarily worship me. I am he that partaketh of all worship.
I am the reward of worship." How perfectly sublime! Let me read it to
you again: "I am the same to all mankind. They who honestly worship
other gods involuntarily worship me. I am he that partaketh of all
worship. I am the reward of worship." Compare these passages. The
first is a dungeon, which crude hands have digged with jealous slime.
The other is like the dome of the firmament, inlaid with
constellations. Is it possible God ever said: "If a prophet deceive
when he hath spoken a thing, I, the Lord, hath deceived that prophet?"
Compare that passage with the poet, a pagan: "Better remain silent the
remainder of life than speak falsely."

Can we believe a being of infinite mercy gave this command: "Put every
man his sword by his side; go from the gate throughout the camp, and
slay every man his brother, every man his companion, and every man his
neighbor. Consecrate it, yourselves this day. Let every man lay his
sword even upon his son, upon his brother, that he bestow blessing upon
Me this day." Surely that was not the outcome of a great, magnanimous
spirit, like that of the Roman emperor, who declared: "I had rather
keep a single Roman citizen alive than slay a thousand enemies."
Compare the last command given to the children of Israel with the words
of Marcus Aurelius: "I have formed an ideal of the State, in which
there is the same law for all, and equal rights and equal liberty of
speech established for all--an Empire where nothing is honored so much
as the freedom of the citizens." I am on the side of the Roman emperor.

What is more beautiful than the old story from Sufi? There was a man
who for seven years did every act of good, every kind of charity, and
at the end of the seven years he mounted the steps to the gate of
heaven and knocked. A voice cried, "Who is there?" He cried, "Thy
servant, O Lord;" and the gates were shut. Seven other years he did
every good work, and again mounted the steps to heaven and knocked.
The voice cried, "Who is there?" He answered, "Thy slave, O God;" and
the gates were shut. Seven other years he did every good deed, and
again mounted the steps to heaven, and the voice said: "Who is there?"
He replied "Thyself, O God;" and the gates wide open flew. Is there
anything in our religion so warm or so beautiful as that? Compare that