piritual perceptions, all proceed from, and owe their existence
to, this same faculty. So closely are they related unto it, that if in
less than the twinkling of an eye its relationship to the human body be
severed, each and every one of these senses will cease immediately to
exercise its function, and will be deprived of the power to manifest the
evidences of its activity. It is indubitably clear and evident that each
of these afore-mentioned instruments has depended, and will ever continue
to depend, for its proper functioning on this rational faculty, which
should be regarded as a sign of the revelation of Him Who is the sovereign
Lord of all. Through its manifestation all these names and attributes have
been revealed, and by the suspension of its action they are all destroyed
and perish.

It would be wholly untrue to maintain that this faculty is the same as the
power of vision, inasmuch as the power of vision is derived from it and
acteth in dependence upon it. It would, likewise, be idle to contend that
this faculty can be identified with the sense of hearing, as the sense of
hearing receiveth from the rational faculty the requisite energy for
performing its functions.

This same relationship bindeth this faculty with whatsoever hath been the
recipient of these names and attributes within the human temple. These
diverse names and revealed attributes have been generated through the
agency of this sign of God. Immeasurably exalted is this sign, in its
essence and reality, above all such names and attributes. Nay, all else
besides it will, when compared with its glory, fade into utter nothingness
and become a thing forgotten.

Wert thou to ponder in thine heart, from now until the end that hath no
end, and with all the concentrated intelligence and understanding which
the greatest minds have attained in the past or will attain in the future,
this divinely ordained and subtle Reality, this sign of the revelation of
the All-Abiding, All-Glorious God, thou wilt fail to comprehend its
mystery or to appraise its virtue. Having recognized thy powerlessness to
attain to an adequate understanding of that Reality which abideth within
thee, thou wilt readily admit the futility of such efforts as may be
attempted by thee, or by any of the created things, to fathom the mystery
of the Living God, the Day Star of unfading glory, the Ancient of
everlasting days. This confession of helplessness which mature
contemplation must even