|
Holy Kitab I Aqdas
Texts 1-19
Texts 20-38
Texts 39-57
Texts 58-76
Texts 77-95
Texts 96-114
Texts 115-133
Texts 134-152
Texts 153-171
Texts 172-190
Holy Kitab I Iqan
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Prayers & Meditations by Bahaullah
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10
Section 11
Section 12
Section 13
Section 14
Section 15
Section 16
Section 17
Section 18
Section 19
Section 20
Section 21
Section 22
Section 23
| |
|
Holy Kitab I
Iqan:
Section 2 |
This servant will now share with
thee a dewdrop out of the fathomless ocean of the truths
treasured in these holy words, that haply discerning hearts may
comprehend all the allusions and the implications of the
utterances of the Manifestations of Holiness, so that the
overpowering majesty of the Word of God may not prevent them
from attaining unto the ocean of His names and attributes, nor
deprive them of recognizing the Lamp of God which is the seat of
the revelation of His glorified Essence.
As to the words-"Immediately after the oppression of those
days"-they refer to the time when men shall become oppressed and
afflicted, the time when the lingering traces of the Sun of
Truth and the fruit of the Tree of knowledge and wisdom will
have vanished from the midst of men, when the reins of mankind
will have fallen into the grasp of the foolish and ignorant,
when the portals of divine unity and understanding-the essential
and highest purpose in creation-will have been closed, when
certain knowledge will have given way to idle fancy, and
corruption will have usurped the station of righteousness. Such
a condition as this is witnessed in this day when the reins of
every community have fallen into the grasp of foolish leaders,
who lead after their own whims and desire.
On their tongue the mention of God hath become an empty name; in
their midst His holy Word a dead letter. Such is the sway of
their desires, that the lamp of conscience and reason hath been
quenched in their hearts, and this although the fingers of
divine power have unlocked the portals of the knowledge of God,
and the light of divine knowledge and heavenly grace hath
illumined and inspired the essence of all created things, in
such wise that in each and every thing a door of knowledge hath
been opened, and within every atom traces of the sun hath been
made manifest. And yet, in spite of all these manifold
revelations of divine knowledge, which have encompassed the
world, they still vainly imagine the door of knowledge to be
closed, and the showers of mercy to be stilled. Clinging unto
idle fancy, they have strayed far from the Urvatu'l-Vuthqa of
divine knowledge. Their hearts seem not to be inclined to
knowledge and the door thereof, neither think they of its
manifestations, inasmuch as in idle fancy they have found the
door that leadeth unto earthly riches, whereas in the
manifestation of the Revealer of knowledge they find naught but
the call to self-sacrifice.
They therefore naturally hold fast unto the former, and flee
from the latter. Though they recognize in their hearts the Law
of God to be one and the same, yet from every direction they
issue a new command, and in every season proclaim a fresh
decree. No two are found to agree on one and the same law, for
they seek no God but their own desire, and tread no path but the
path of error. In leadership they have recognized the ultimate
object of their endeavour, and account pride and haughtiness as
the highest attainments of their heart's desire. They have
placed their sordid machinations above the divine decree, have
renounced resignation unto the will of God, busied themselves
with selfish calculation, and walked in the way of the
hypocrite. With all their power and strength they strive to
secure themselves in their petty pursuits, fearful lest the
least discredit undermine their authority or blemish the display
of their magnificence. Were the eye to be anointed and illumined
with the collyrium of the knowledge of God, it would surely
discover that a number of voracious beasts have gathered and
preyed upon the carrion of the souls of men.
What "oppression" is greater than that which hath been
recounted? What "oppression" is more grievous than that a soul
seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of
God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek
it? For opinions have sorely differed, and the ways unto the
attainment of God have multiplied.
This "oppression" is the essential feature of every Revelation.
Unless it cometh to pass, the Sun of Truth will not be made
manifest. For the break of the morn of divine guidance must
needs follow the darkness of the night of error. For this
reason, in all chronicles and traditions reference hath been
made unto these things, namely that iniquity shall cover the
surface of the earth and darkness shall envelop mankind. As the
traditions referred to are well known, and as the purpose of
this servant is to be brief, He will refrain from quoting the
text of these traditions.
Were this "oppression" (which literally meaneth pressure) to be
interpreted that the earth is to become contracted, or were
men's idle fancy to conceive similar calamities to befall
mankind, it is clear and manifest that no such happenings can
ever come to pass. They will assuredly protest that this
pre-requisite of divine revelation hath not been made manifest.
Such hath been and still is their contention. Whereas, by
"oppression" is meant the want of capacity to acquire spiritual
knowledge and apprehend the Word of God. By it is meant that
when the Day-star of Truth hath set, and the mirrors that
reflect His light have departed, mankind will become afflicted
with "oppression" and hardship, knowing not whither to turn for
guidance. Thus We instruct thee in the interpretation of the
traditions, and reveal unto thee the mysteries of divine wisdom,
that haply thou mayest comprehend the meaning thereof, and be of
them that have quaffed the cup of divine knowledge and
understanding.
And now, concerning His words-"The sun shall be darkened, and
the moon shall not give light, and the stars shall fall from
heaven." By the terms "sun" and "moon," mentioned in the
writings of the Prophets of God, is not meant solely the sun and
moon of the visible universe. Nay rather, manifold are the
meanings they have intended for these terms. In every instance
they have attached to them a particular significance. Thus, by
the "sun" in one sense is meant those Suns of Truth Who rise
from the dayspring of ancient glory, and fill the world with a
liberal effusion of grace from on high. These Suns of Truth are
the universal Manifestations of God in the worlds of His
attributes and names, even as the visible sun that assisteth, as
decreed by God, the true One, the Adored, in the development of
all earthly things, such as the trees, the fruits, and colours
thereof, the minerals of the earth, and all that may be
witnessed in the world of creation, so do the divine Luminaries,
by their loving care and educative influence, cause the trees of
divine unity, the fruits of His oneness, the leaves of
detachment, the blossoms of knowledge and certitude, and the
myrtles of wisdom and utterance, to exist and be made manifest.
Thus it is that through the rise of these Luminaries of God the
world is made new, the waters of everlasting life stream forth,
the billows of loving-kindness surge, the clouds of grace are
gathered, and the breeze of bounty bloweth upon all created
things. It is the warmth that these Luminaries of God generate,
and the undying fires they kindle, which cause the light of the
love of God to burn fiercely in the heart of humanity. It is
through the abundant grace of these Symbols of Detachment that
the Spirit of life everlasting is breathed into the bodies of
the dead. Assuredly the visible sun is but a sign of the
splendour of that Day-star of Truth, that Sun Which can never
have a peer, a likeness, or rival. Through Him all things live,
move, and have their being. Through His grace they are made
manifest, and unto Him they all return. From Him all things have
sprung, and unto the treasuries of His revelation they all have
repaired. From Him all created things did proceed, and to the
depositories of His law they did revert.
That these divine Luminaries seem to be confined at times to
specific designations and attributes, as you have observed and
are now observing, is due solely to the imperfect and limited
comprehension of certain minds. Otherwise, they have been at all
times, and will through eternity continue to be, exalted above
every praising name, and sanctified from every descriptive
attribute. The quintessence of every name can hope for no access
unto their court of holiness, and the highest and purest of all
attributes can never approach their kingdom of glory.
Immeasurably high are the Prophets of God exalted above the
comprehension of men, who can never know them except by their
own Selves. Far be it from His glory that His chosen Ones should
be magnified by any other than their own persons. Glorified are
they above the praise of men; exalted are they above human
understanding!
The term "suns" hath many a time been applied in the writings of
the "immaculate Souls" unto the Prophets of God, those luminous
Emblems of Detachment.
Among those writings are the following words recorded in the
"Prayer of Nudbih": [Qur'an 55:5.] "Whither are gone the
resplendent Suns? Whereunto have departed those shining Moons
and [Qur'an 55:5.] "Lamentation" attributed to the Twelfth Imam.
sparkling Stars?" Thus, it hath become evident that the terms
"sun," "moon," and "stars" primarily signify the Prophets of
God, the saints, and their companions, those Luminaries, the
light of Whose knowledge hath shed illumination upon the worlds
of the visible and the invisible.
In another sense, by these terms is intended the divines of the
former Dispensation, who live in the days of the subsequent
Revelations, and who hold the reins of religion in their grasp.
If these divines be illumined by the light of the latter
Revelation they will be acceptable unto God, and will shine with
a light everlasting. Otherwise, they will be declared as
darkened, even though to outward seeming they be leaders of men,
inasmuch as belief and unbelief, guidance and error, felicity
and misery, light and darkness, are all dependent upon the
sanction of Him Who is the Day-star of Truth. Whosoever among
the divines of every age receiveth, in the Day of Reckoning, the
testimony of faith from the Source of true knowledge, he verily
becometh the recipient of learning, of divine favour, and of the
light of true understanding. Otherwise, he is branded as guilty
of folly, denial, blasphemy, and oppression.
It is evident and manifest unto every discerning observer that
even as the light of the star fadeth before the effulgent
splendour of the sun, so doth the luminary of earthly knowledge,
of wisdom, and understanding vanish into nothingness when
brought face to face with the resplendent glories of the Sun of
Truth, the Day-star of divine enlightenment.
That the term "sun" hath been applied to the leaders of religion
is due to their lofty position, their fame, and renown. Such are
the universally recognized divines of every age, who speak with
authority, and whose fame is securely established. If they be in
the likeness of the Sun of Truth, they will surely be accounted
as the most exalted of all luminaries; otherwise, they are to be
recognized as the focal centres of hellish fire. Even as He
saith:
"Verily, the sun and the moon are both condemned
to the torment of infernal fire." [Qur'an 55:5.] You are no
doubt familiar with the interpretation of the term "sun" and
"moon" mentioned in this verse; no need therefore to refer unto
it. And whosoever is of the element of this "sun" and "moon",
that is, followeth the example of these leaders in setting his
face towards falsehood and in turning away from the truth he
undoubtedly cometh out of infernal gloom and returneth
thereunto.
And now, O seeker, it behooveth us firmly to cling unto the
Urvatu'l-Vuthqa, that perchance we may leave behind the darksome
night of error, and embrace the dawning light of divine
guidance. Shall we not flee from the face of denial, and seek
the sheltering shadow of certitude? Shall we not free ourselves
from the horror of satanic gloom, and hasten towards the rising
light of the heavenly Beauty? In such wise, we bestow upon you
the fruit of the Tree of divine knowledge, that ye may gladly
and joyously abide in the Ridvan of divine wisdom.
In another sense, by the terms 'sun', 'moon', and 'stars' are
meant such laws and teachings as have been established and
proclaimed in every Dispensation, such as the laws of prayer and
fasting.
These have, according to the law of the Qur'an, been regarded,
when the beauty of the Prophet Muhammad had passed beyond the
veil, as the most fundamental and binding laws of His
dispensation.
To this testify the texts of the traditions and chronicles,
which, on account of their being widely known, need not be
referred to here. Nay rather, in every Dispensation the law
concerning prayer hath been emphasized and universally enforced.
To this testify the recorded traditions ascribed to the lights
that have emanated from the Day-star of Truth, the essence of
the Prophet Muhammad.
The traditions established the fact that in all Dispensations
the law of prayer hath constituted a fundamental element of the
Revelation of all the Prophets of God-a law the form and the
manner of which hath been adapted to the varying requirements of
every age. Inasmuch as every subsequent Revelation hath
abolished the manners, habits, and teachings that have been
clearly, specifically, and firmly established by the former
Dispensation, these have accordingly been symbolically expressed
in terms of 'sun' and 'moon'. "That He might prove you, which of
you excel in deeds." [Qur'an 67:2.]
Moreover, in the traditions the terms "sun" and "moon" have been
applied to prayer and fasting, even as it is said: "Fasting is
illumination, prayer is light." One day, a well-known divine
came to visit Us. While We were conversing with him, he referred
to the above-quoted tradition. He said:
"Inasmuch as fasting causeth the heat of the body to increase,
it hath therefore been likened unto the light of the sun; and as
the prayer of the night-season refresheth man, it hath been
compared unto the radiance of the moon." Thereupon We realized
that that poor man had not been favoured with a single drop of
the ocean of true understanding, and had strayed far from the
burning Bush of divine wisdom. We then politely observed to him
saying:
"The interpretation your honour hath given to this tradition is
the one current amongst the people. Could it not be interpreted
differently?" He asked Us: "What could it be?" We made reply:
"Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and the most distinguished
of God's chosen Ones, hath likened the Dispensation of the
Qur'an unto heaven, by reason of its loftiness, its paramount
influence, its majesty, and the fact that it comprehendeth all
religions.
And as the sun and moon constitute the brightest and most
prominent luminaries in the heavens, similarly in the heaven of
the religion of God two shining orbs have been ordained-fasting
and prayer. 'Islam is heaven; fasting is its sun, prayer, its
moon.'"
This is the purpose underlying the symbolic words of the
Manifestations of God. Consequently, the application of the
terms "sun" and "moon" to the things already mentioned hath been
demonstrated and justified by the text of the sacred verses and
the recorded traditions. Hence, it is clear and manifest that by
the words "the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not
give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven" is
intended the waywardness of the divines, and the annulment of
laws firmly established by divine Revelation, all of which, in
symbolic language, have been foreshadowed by the Manifestation
of God. None except the righteous shall partake of this cup,
none but the godly can share therein. "The righteous shall drink
of a cup tempered at the camphor fountain." [Qur'an 76:5.]
It is unquestionable that in every succeeding Revelation the
"sun" and "moon" of the teachings, laws, commandments, and
prohibitions which have been established in the preceding
Dispensation, and which have overshadowed the people of that
age, become darkened, that is, are exhausted, and cease to exert
their influence. Consider now, had the people of the Gospel
recognized the meaning of the symbolic terms "sun" and "moon,"
had they sought, unlike the froward and perverse, enlightenment
from Him Who is the Revealer of divine knowledge, they would
have surely comprehended the purpose of these terms, and would
not have become afflicted and oppressed by the darkness of their
selfish desires. Yea, but since they have failed to acquire true
knowledge from its very Source, they have perished in the
perilous vale of waywardness and misbelief. They still have not
awakened to perceive that all the signs foretold have been made
manifest, that the promised Sun hath risen above the horizon of
divine Revelation, and that the "sun" and "moon" of the
teachings, the laws, and learning of a former Dispensation have
darkened and set.
And now, with fixed gaze and steady wings enter thou the way of
certitude and truth. "Say: It is God; then leave them to
entertain themselves with their cavilings." [Qur'an 6:91.] Thus,
wilt thou be accounted of those companions of whom He saith:
"They that say 'Our Lord is God,' and continue
steadfast in His way, upon them, verily, shall the angels
descend." [Qur'an 41:30.] Then shalt thou witness all these
mysteries with thine own eyes.
O my brother! Take thou the step of the spirit, so that, swift
as the twinkling of an eye, thou mayest flash through the wilds
of remoteness and bereavement, attain the Ridvan of everlasting
reunion, and in one breath commune with the heavenly Spirits.
For with human feet thou canst never hope to traverse these
immeasurable distances, nor attain thy goal. Peace be upon him
whom the light of truth guideth unto all truth, and who, in the
name of God, standeth in the path of His Cause, upon the shore
of true understanding.
This is the meaning of the sacred verse: "But nay! I swear by
the Lord of the Easts and the Wests," [Qur'an 70:40.] inasmuch
as the "Suns" referred to have each their own particular rising
and setting place.
And as the commentators of the Qur'an have failed to grasp the
symbolic meaning of these "Suns," they therefore were at pains
to interpret the above-quoted verse. Some of them maintained
that owing to the fact that the sun each day rises from a
different point, the terms "easts" and "wests" have been
mentioned in the plural. Others have written that by this verse
the four seasons of the year are intended, inasmuch as the
dawning and setting points of the sun vary with the change of
the seasons. Such is the depth of their understanding! None the
less, they persist in imputing error and folly to those Gems of
knowledge, those irreproachable and purest Symbols of wisdom.
In like manner, strive thou to comprehend from these lucid,
these powerful, conclusive, and unequivocal statements the
meaning of the "cleaving of the heaven"-one of the signs that
must needs herald the coming of the last Hour, the Day of
Resurrection. As He hath said: "When the heaven shall be cloven
asunder." [Qur'an 82:1.] By "heaven" is meant the heaven of
divine Revelation, which is elevated with every Manifestation,
and rent asunder with every subsequent one. By "cloven asunder"
is meant that the former Dispensation is superseded and
annulled. I swear by God! That this heaven being cloven asunder
is, to the discerning, an act mightier than the cleaving of the
skies! Ponder a while. That a divine Revelation which for years
hath been securely established; beneath whose shadow all who
have embraced it have been reared and nurtured; by the light of
whose law generations of men have been disciplined; the
excellency of whose word men have heard recounted by their
fathers; in such wise that human eye hath beheld naught but the
pervading influence of its grace, and mortal ear hath heard
naught but the resounding majesty of its command-what act is
mightier than that such a Revelation should, by the power of
God, be "cloven asunder" and be abolished at the appearance of
one soul? Reflect, is this a mightier act than that which these
abject and foolish men have imagined the "cleaving of the
heaven" to mean?
Moreover, consider the hardships and the bitterness of the lives
of those Revealers of the divine Beauty. Reflect, how
single-handed and alone they faced the world and all its
peoples, and promulgated the Law of God! No matter how severe
the persecutions inflicted upon those holy, those precious, and
tender Souls, they still remained, in the plenitude of their
power, patient, and, despite their ascendancy, they suffered and
endured.
In like manner, endeavour to comprehend the meaning of the
"changing of the earth." Know thou, that upon whatever hearts
the bountiful showers of mercy, raining from the "heaven" of
divine Revelation, have fallen, the earth of those hearts hath
verily been changed into the earth of divine knowledge and
wisdom. What myrtles of unity hath the soil of their hearts
produced! What blossoms of true knowledge and wisdom hath their
illumined bosoms yielded! Were the earth of their hearts to
remain unchanged, how could such souls who have not been taught
one letter, have seen no teacher, and entered no school, utter
such words and display such knowledge as none can apprehend?
Methinks they have been moulded from the clay of infinite
knowledge, and kneaded with the water of divine wisdom.
Therefore, hath it been said: "Knowledge is a light which God
casteth into the heart of whomsoever He willeth." It is this
kind of knowledge which is and hath ever been praiseworthy, and
not the limited knowledge that hath sprung forth from veiled and
obscured minds. This limited knowledge they even stealthily
borrow one from the other, and vainly pride themselves therein!
Would that the hearts of men could be cleansed from these
man-made limitations and obscure thoughts imposed upon them!
haply they may be illumined by the light of the Sun of true
knowledge, and comprehend the mysteries of divine wisdom.
Consider now, were the parched and barren soil of these hearts
to remain unchanged, how could they ever become the Recipients
of the revelation of the mysteries of God, and the Revealers of
the divine Essence? Thus hath He said: "On the day when the
earth shall be changed into another earth." [Qur'an 14:48.]
The breeze of the bounty of the King of creation hath caused
even the physical earth to be changed, were ye to ponder in your
hearts the mysteries of divine Revelation.
And now, comprehend the meaning of this verse: "The whole earth
shall on the Resurrection Day be but His handful, and in His
right hand shall the heavens be folded together. Praise be to
Him! and high be He uplifted above the partners they join with
him!" [Qur'an 39:67.] And now, be fair in thy judgment. Were
this verse to have the meaning which men suppose it to have, of
what profit, one may ask, could it be to man? Moreover, it is
evident and manifest that no such hand as could be seen by human
eye could accomplish such deeds, or could possibly be ascribed
to the exalted Essence of the one true God. Nay, to acknowledge
such a thing is naught but sheer blasphemy, an utter perversion
of the truth. And should it be supposed that by this verse are
meant the Manifestations of God, Who will be called upon, on the
Day of Judgment, to perform such deeds, this too seemeth far
from the truth, and is surely of no profit. On the contrary, by
the term "earth" is meant the earth of understanding and
knowledge, and by "heavens" the heavens of divine Revelation.
Reflect thou, how, in one hand, He hath, by His mighty grasp,
turned the earth of knowledge and understanding, previously
unfolded, into a mere handful, and, on the other, spread out a
new and highly exalted earth in the hearts of men, thus causing
the freshest and loveliest blossoms, and the mightiest and
loftiest trees to spring forth from the illumined bosom of man.
In like manner, reflect how the elevated heavens of the
Dispensations of the past have, in the right hand of power, been
folded together, how the heavens of divine Revelation have been
raised by the command of God, and been adorned by the sun, the
moon, and stars of His wondrous commandments.
Such are the mysteries of the Word of God, which have been
unveiled and made manifest, that haply thou mayest apprehend the
morning light of divine guidance, mayest quench, by the power of
reliance and renunciation, the lamp of idle fancy, of vain
imaginings, of hesitation, and doubt, and mayest kindle, in the
inmost chamber of thine heart, the new-born light of divine
knowledge and certitude.
Know verily that the purpose underlying all these symbolic terms
and abstruse allusions, which emanate from the Revealers of
God's holy Cause, hath been to test and prove the peoples of the
world; that thereby the earth of the pure and illuminated hearts
may be known from the perishable and barren soil. From time
immemorial such hath been the way of God amidst His creatures,
and to this testify the records of the sacred books.
And likewise, reflect upon the revealed verse concerning the
"Qiblih." [The direction toward which the face must be turned
when praying.] When Muhammad, the Sun of Prophethood, had fled
from the dayspring of Batha [Mecca] unto Yathrib, [Medina] He
continued to turn His face, while praying, unto Jerusalem, the
holy city, until the time when the Jews began to utter unseemly
words against Him-words which if mentioned would ill befit these
pages and would weary the reader. Muhammad strongly resented
these words. Whilst, wrapt in meditation and wonder, He was
gazing toward heaven, He heard the kindly Voice of Gabriel,
saying: "We behold Thee from above, turning Thy face to heaven;
but We will have Thee turn to a Qiblih which shall please Thee."
[Qur'an 2:144.] On a subsequent day, when the Prophet, together
with His companions, was offering the noontide prayer, and had
already performed two of the prescribed Rik'ats, [Prostrations]
the Voice of Gabriel was heard again: "Turn Thou Thy face
towards the sacred Mosque."[At Mecca.], [Qur'an 2:149.] In the
midst of that same prayer, Muhammad suddenly turned His face
away from Jerusalem and faced the Ka'bih.
Whereupon, a profound dismay seized suddenly the companions of
the Prophet. Their faith was shaken severely. So great was their
alarm, that many of them, discontinuing their prayer,
apostatized their faith. Verily, God caused not this turmoil but
to test and prove His servants. Otherwise, He, the ideal King,
could easily have left the Qiblih unchanged, and could have
caused Jerusalem to remain the Point of Adoration unto His
Dispensation, thereby withholding not from that holy city the
distinction of acceptance which had been conferred upon it.
None of the many Prophets sent down, since Moses was made
manifest, as Messengers of the Word of God, such as David,
Jesus, and others among the more exalted Manifestations who have
appeared during the intervening period between the Revelations
of Moses and Muhammad, ever altered the law of the Qiblih. These
Messengers of the Lord of creation have, one and all, directed
their peoples to turn unto the same direction. In the eyes of
God, the ideal King, all the places of the earth are one and the
same, excepting that place which, in the days of His
Manifestations, He doth appoint for a particular purpose. Even
as He hath revealed: "The East and West are God's: therefore
whichever way ye turn, there is the face of God." [Qur'an
2:115.] Notwithstanding the truth of these facts, why should the
Qiblih have been changed, thus casting such dismay amongst the
people, causing the companions of the Prophet to waver, and
throwing so great a confusion into their midst?
Yea, such things as throw consternation into the hearts of all
men come to pass only that each soul may be tested by the
touchstone of God, that the true may be known and distinguished
from the false. Thus hath He revealed after the breach amongst
the people: "We did not appoint that which Thou wouldst have to
be the Qiblih, but that We might know him who followeth the
Apostle from him who turneth on his heels." [Qur'an 2:143.]
"Affrighted asses fleeing from a lion." [Qur'an 74:50.]
Were you to ponder, but for a while, these utterances in your
heart, you would surely find the portals of understanding
unlocked before your face, and would behold all knowledge and
the mysteries thereof unveiled before your eyes. Such things
take place only that the souls of men may develop and be
delivered from the prison-cage of self and desire.
Otherwise, that ideal King hath, throughout eternity, been in
His Essence independent of the comprehension of all beings, and
will continue, for ever, in His own Being to be exalted above
the adoration of every soul. A single breeze of His affluence
doth suffice to adorn all mankind with the robe of wealth; and
one drop out of the ocean of His bountiful grace is enough to
confer upon all beings the glory of everlasting life. But
inasmuch as the divine Purpose hath decreed that the true should
be known from the false, and the sun from the shadow, He hath,
therefore, in every season sent down upon mankind the showers of
tests from His realm of glory.
Were men to meditate upon the lives of the Prophets of old, so
easily would they come to know and understand the ways of these
Prophets that they would cease to be veiled by such deeds and
words as are contrary to their own worldly desires, and thus
consume every intervening veil with the fire burning in the Bush
of divine knowledge, and abide secure upon the throne of peace
and certitude. |
|
| |
Friendly sites
Hagia Sopia
Humor and fun
PictureXL photos
Casino directory
Tzop
web directory
GameroomXL games
Betting tips
|
