Thus were all things tending towards a decisive struggle. The Reformation had on its side the prayers of Christians, the sympathy of the people, and an increasing influence over men's minds that no power could check. The papacy had in its favour the ancient order of things, the strength of old custom, the zeal and hatred of formidable princes, and the power of that mighty emperor who reigned over two worlds, and who had just before given so rude a check to the ambition of Francis the First. Such was the state of affairs when the Diet of Spires was opened. Now let us return to Switzerland. BOOK XI. DIVISIONS. SWITZERLAND--GERMANY. 1523-1527. CHAPTER I. Unity in Diversity--Primitive Fidelity and Liberty--Formation of Romish Unity--Leo Juda and the Monk--Zwingle's Theses--The Disputation of January. [Sidenote: UNITY IN DIVERSITY--PRIMITIVE LIBERTY.] We are about to contemplate the diversities, or, as they have been called, the _variations_ of the Reformation. These diversities are one of its most essential characteristics. Unity in diversity and diversity in unity, is a law of nature as well as of the Church. Truth is like the light of the sun: it descends from heaven one and ever the same; and yet it assumes different colours upon earth, according to the objects on which it fails. In like manner, formularies somewhat different may sometimes express the same christian idea considered under different aspects. How dull would creation be if this boundless variety of forms and colours, which gives it beauty, were replaced by an absolute uniformity! But how melancholy also would be its appearance, if all created beings did not form a magnificent unity! Divine unity has its rights, so also has human diversity. In religion we must suppress neither God nor man. If you have not unity, your religion is not of God; if you have not diversity, the religion is not of man; but it ought to be of both. Would you erase from creation one of the laws that God himself has imposed on it,--that of infinite diversity? _And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?_[464] But if there is a diversity in religion arising from the difference of individuality, and which consequently must subsist even in heaven, there is one that proceeds from man's rebellion, and this is indeed a great calamity. [464] 1 Corinthians xiv. 7. There are two tendencies which equally lead us into error. The one exaggerates diversity, the other exaggerates unity. The essential doctrines of salvation are the limit between these two courses. To require more than these doctrines, is to infringe this diversity; to require less, is to infringe unity. The latter excess is that of rash and rebellious minds, who look beyond Jesus Christ to form systems and doctrines of men. The former exists in various exclusive sects, and particularly in that of Rome.