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A Series of Lessons in Mystic Christianity1100
Truth underlying all religions and beliefs indeed becomes as a beloved son
of God. He who is able to show that under all forms and ceremonies, under
various names and titles, behind various creeds and dogmas, there is but
one God, to whom all worship ascends—he is a Peacemaker and a Son of
God.
“Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you,
and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so
persecuted they the prophets that were before you.” (Matthew 5:10–12)
In these words Jesus sought to comfort and encourage those who would
be called upon to carry the Message in the centuries to follow. And one has
but to look over the list of names of the courageous souls who have sought
to keep the flame alight—to preserve the teachings in their original purity—
to protect them from the cant, hypocrisy, self-seeking and formalism of
those who sought and obtained places of power in the Church. The gibbet;
the stake; the dungeon;—was their reward. But the Faith that was called
into manifestation during the persecutions served to bring them to the
realization of the Spirit, and thus indeed “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“But ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savor wherewith
shall it be salted? It is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and
trodden under foot of men.” (Matthew 5:13)
Here Jesus warned against the failure of the Illumined to serve as the yeast
which should leaven the mass of men by their thoughts and actions. The
use of the term “salt” in this connection is familiar to all students of ancient
mysticism. Food without salt was deemed unpalatable and undesirable. The
Few were the salt of the earth, designed to render it worthy and perfect as
a whole. But where a grain of salt had parted with its savor, there was naught
else that could impart saltiness to it, and it became worthless and fit only for
the refuse heap. The duty of the “salt” is to impart savor—the duty of the
Elect is to impart savor to the race of men.