means
must be employed, so that the human species may be delivered and freed
from this great calamity. Otherwise, alas! for all the negligent before
God.

O Lord! Give to the people of Baha' cleanliness and holiness in all
conditions, purify and free them from all defilement, deliver them from
the use of all that is execrated, liberate them from the chains of habits,
so that they may be pure and free, clean and spotless, that they may be
worthy servants of the Sacred Threshold and may deserve to enter into
relation with God. Deliver them from alcohol and tobacco, and save them
from opium, the purveyor of madness! Make them companions of the holy
breezes, in order that they may know the pleasures of the wine of the love
of God, and that they may attain to the joy and the happiness of
attraction to the Kingdom of Abha!

Hast Thou not said, "All that thou hast in thy cellar will not appease the
thirst of my love--bring me, O cup-bearer, of the wine of the spirit, a cup
full as the sea!"

O friends of God! Experience hath shown how much the renouncing of
tobacco, wine and opium, giveth health, strength and intellectual
enjoyments, penetration of judgment and physical vigor. There exists today
a tribe(268) which refrains and abstains from tobacco, alcohol and opium
and it completely excels all others in power, in bravery, in health,
beauty and grace. A single one of these men can withstand ten men of other
tribes, and this hath been universally proved; that is to say, generally,
the individuals of this tribe are superior to the individuals of the other
tribes.

Therefore strive that the greatest cleanliness and sanctity, which is the
great desire of Abdul-Baha, should be resplendent among the Bahais, and
that the companions of God should surpass the rest of mankind in all
conditions and perfections; that they may be physically and morally
superior to others; that through cleanliness and purity, refinement and
health, they may be the chief of wise men, and that by their
affranchisement, their prudence, and the control of their desires, they
may be the princes of the pure, the free and the wise.

Upon you be the glory of El-Abha!

"O ye two , servant and maid-servant of the Beauty of..."

O ye two(269), servant and maid-servant of the Beauty of Abha!

Thank ye His Highness the Incomparable One, that ye have become assisted
in the service of the self-subsistent Lord and that ye are making copies
of the Tablets