General Spirit of Doubt

While themen of the Middle Ages look on the world as a vale of tears, which popeand emperor are set to guard against the coming of antichrist; while thefatalists of the Renaissance oscillate between seasons of overflowingenergy and seasons of superstition or of stupid resignation, here, in thiscircle of chosen spirits, the doctrine is upheld that the visible world wascreated by God in love, that it is the copy of a pattern pre-existing in Him,and that He will ever remain its eternal mover and restorer. The soul of mancan by recognizing God draw Him into its narrow boundaries, but also bylove of Him itself expand into the Infinite—and this is blessedness on earth.