drunk from the chalice of sacrifice, and winged His
flight unto the heights of glory. What unspeakable cruelties they that
have occupied the seats of authority and learning have inflicted upon the
true Monarchs of the world, those Gems of Divine virtue! Content with a
transitory dominion, they have deprived themselves of an everlasting
sovereignty." And again, in that same Book: "Among these 'veils of glory'
are the divines and doctors living in the days of the Manifestation of
God, who, because of their want of discernment and their love and
eagerness for leadership, have failed to submit to the Cause of God, nay,
have even refused to incline their ears unto the Divine Melody. 'They have
thrust their fingers into their ears.' And the people also, utterly
ignoring God and taking them for their masters, have placed themselves
unreservedly under the authority of these pompous and hypocritical
leaders, for they have no sight, no hearing, no heart, of their own to
distinguish truth from falsehood. Notwithstanding the divinely inspired
admonitions of all the Prophets, the Saints, and Chosen Ones of God,
enjoining the people to see with their own eyes and hear with their own
ears, they have disdainfully rejected their counsels and have blindly
followed, and will continue to follow, the leaders of their Faith. Should
a poor and obscure person, destitute of the attire of the men of learning,
address them saying: 'Follow ye, O people, the Messengers of God,' they
would, greatly surprised at such a statement, reply: 'What! Meanest thou
that all these divines, all these exponents of learning, with all their
authority, their pomp, and pageantry, have erred, and failed to
distinguish truth from falsehood? Dost thou, and people like thyself,
pretend to have comprehended that which they have not understood?' If
numbers and excellence of apparel be regarded as the criterions of
learning and truth, the peoples of a bygone age, whom those of today have
never surpassed in numbers, magnificence and power, should certainly be
accounted a superior and worthier people." Furthermore, "Not one Prophet
of God was made manifest Who did not fall a victim to the relentless hate,
to the denunciation, denial and execration of the clerics of His day! Woe
unto them for the iniquities their hands have formerly wrought! Woe unto
them for that which they are now doing! What veils of glory more grievous
than these embodiments of error! By the righteousness o