. .
.
.
Many
of their teachings are identical. These are the eternal spiritual laws
which are
repeated
from age to age, and these are the foundations of
God's religion
wherever it
has
been taught. The Messengers of God
have all taught their followers to be loving
and
generous, humble and truthful, to see their own faults rather than the
faults
of
others, and to return good for evil. These are some of those eternal
laws
which never change, so people living across the world from
each
other and having no knowledge of each other's
beliefs
follow the same spiritual standards
given
to them by one or another
of
God's Messengers.
,
Some
of their other teachings, however, are not alike. These concern social
laws, such
as
laws of marriage and divorce, diet and cleanliness. As the people among
whom they came lived under different social conditions, each of the divine
teachers gave the laws needed
for
the time and place in which He came.
.
But
God's Messengers are not just lawgivers. Though they give new commandments
and abrogate old laws, they also have the power to change the hearts
of men. The grace of God flows through them, and bring new life to a dead
world. They open the eyes of men to
truth when they are blinded by ignorance and prejudice, and they inspire
their followers with a faith which nothing can shake and a devotion
which makes saints and heroes out of the most ordinary human beings.
.
The
influence of the words of a Messenger of God is felt by all - even those
who do not
believe
in Him. For the appearance of each of these Messengers is like the coming
of spring which brings fresh growth and movement to the earth and affects
every plant with its life-giving power, even those that remain in the shade
and never see the sun.
.
.
..
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