Consider the past, so that thou mayest become informed of the mysteries
which shall be disclosed in the future. When the disciples were calling in
the name of Christ, the Jews scoffed, scorned and laughed at them. They
were saying, "They are taken with madness, and madness is made an art."
They even beat them with whips, threw stones at them, prevented the people
from approaching them, and were saying, "This man is naught but a
sorcerer, blasphemeth God and is possessed of a devil."
Then observe how that persecution and scorn were changed to glory, honor
and reverence. Ultimately, they honored their sublime stations and
acknowledged their loftiness, which was exalted, promoted and glorified in
the center of the horizons until it reached the degree of exaggeration in
deeds. They made for them likenesses and pictures, decorated with jewels
shining in the eyes; they placed these likenesses or pictures in the
temples, churches and monasteries built on the tops of the mountains, and
worshipped them with respect, glory, majesty and reverence. This is the
condition of the neglectful ones who are deprived of the Truth at the day
of their existence among them. After the ascension of their spirits unto
the center of purity and piety, then the negligent ones repent and return,
making likenesses and pictures according to their own ideas, which do not
bear resemblance, and worship the same. This is the station of the
ignorant ones who are as animals, following every croaker and shaken by
every wind. "Forsake them to play in their shallow waters."