What is Truth?

From The Gospel of the Holy Twelve


Again the twelve were gathered together in the Circle of palm trees, and one
of them even Thomas said to the other, What is truth? for the same things
appear different to different minds, and even to the same mind at different
times. What, then, is Truth?

And as they were speaking Jesus appeared in their midst and said, Truth, one
and absolute, is in God alone, for no man, neither any body of men, knoweth
that which God alone knoweth, who is the All in All.

To men Truth is revealed, according to their capacity to understand and
receive. The One truth hath many sides, and one seeth one side only, another
seeth another, and some see more than others, according as it is given to
them. Behold this crystal: how the one light is manifest in twelve faces,
yea four times twelve, and each face reflecteth one ray of light, and one
regardeth one face, and another another, but it is the one crystal and the
one light that shineth in all.

Behold again, when one climbeth a mountain and attaining one height, he
saith, this is the top of the mountain, let us reach it, and when they have
reached that height, lo, they see another beyond it until they come to that
height from which no other height is to be seen, if so be they can attain
it.

So it is with Truth. I am the truth and the Way and the Life, and have given
to you the Truth I have received from above. And that which is seen and
received by one, is not seen and received by another. That which appeareth
true to some, seemeth not true to others. They who are in the valley seeth
not as they who are on the hill top. But to each it is the Truth as the one
mind seeth it, and for that time, till a higher Truth shall be revealed unto
the same; and to the soul which receiveth higher light, shall be given more
light.

Wherefore condemn not others, that ye be not condemned. As ye keep the holy
Law of Love, which I have given unto you, so shall the Truth be revealed
more and more unto you, and the Spirit of Truth which cometh from above
shall guide you, albeit through many wanderings, into all Truth, even as the
fiery cloud guided the children of Israel through the wilderness.

Be faithful to the light ye have, till a higher light is given to you. Seek
more light, and you shall have abundantly; rest not till ye find. God giveth
you all Truth, as a ladder with many steps, for the salvation and perfection
of the soul, and the truth which seemeth today, ye will abandon for the
higher Truth of the morrow. Press ye unto Perfection.

Whose keepeth the holy Law which I have given you, the same shall save their
souls, however differently they may see the truths which I have given. Many
shall say unto me, Lord, Lord, we have been zealous for thy Truth. But I
shall say unto them, Nay, but, that others may see as ye see, and none other
truth beside. Faith without charity is dead. Love is the fulfilling of the
Law. How shall faith in what they receive profit them who hold it in
unrighteousness? They who have love have all things, and without love there
is nothing worth. Let each hold what they see to be the truth in love,
knowing that where love is not, truth is a dead letter and profiteth
nothing.

There abide Goodness, and Truth, and Beauty, but the greatest of these is
Goodness. If any have hatred to their fellows, and harden their hearts to
the creatures of God's hands, how can they see truth unto salvation, seeing
their eyes are blinded and their hearts are hardened to God's creation?

As I have received the Truth, so I have given it to you. Let each receive it
according to their light and ability to understand, and persecute not those
who receive it after a different interpretation. For Truth is the Might of
God, and it shall prevail in the end over all errors. But the holy Law which
I have given is plain for all, and just and good. Let all observe it for the
salvation of their souls.