Saronia / A Romance of Ancient Ephesus

by Richard Short

'The kingly power and loveliness passed by in yonder show, but the truth was not there.'

'How sayest thou this, friend? Art thou not a worshipper of our great goddess Diana?'

'No.'

'What, then, dost thou worship?'

'I worship God.'

'And canst thou not worship God and adore her?'

'No.'

'Why?'

'Because God is a spirit and demands spiritual worship. He is a jealous God, and will have no other gods before Him.'

'Now, pray tell me,' said Chios, 'why of necessity should we worship your Deity? In what particular does He differ from Diana? She also is a great spirit. Why multiply gods and worship another?'