tifications and impregnable
castles razed to the ground. Singly and alone he will attack the armies of
the world, defeat the right and left wings of the hosts of all the
countries, break through the lines of the legions of all the nations and
carry his attack to the very center of the powers of the earth. This is
the meaning of the Hosts of God.

4 Any soul from among the believers of Baha'u'llah who attains to this
station will become known as the Apostle of Baha'u'llah. Therefore strive
ye with heart and soul so that ye may reach this lofty and exalted
position, be established on the throne of everlasting glory, and crown
your heads with the shining diadem of the Kingdom, whose brilliant jewels
may irradiate upon centuries and cycles.

5 O ye kind friends! Uplift your magnanimity and soar high toward the apex
of heaven so that your blessed hearts may become illumined more and more,
day by day, through the rays of the Sun of Reality, that is, His Holiness
Baha'u'llah; at every moment the spirits may obtain a new life, and the
darkness of the world of nature may be entirely dispelled; thus you may
become incarnate light and personified spirit, become entirely unaware of
the sordid matters of this world and in touch with the affairs of the
divine world.

6 Behold the portals which Baha'u'llah hath opened before you! Consider
how exalted and lofty is the station you are destined to attain; how
unique the favors with which you have been endowed. Should we become
intoxicated with this cup, the sovereignty of this globe of earth will
become lower in our estimation than children's play. Should they place in
the arena the crown of the government of the whole world, and invite each
one of us to accept it, undoubtedly we shall not condescend, and shall
refuse to accept it.

7 To attain to this supreme station is, however, dependent on the
realization of certain conditions:

8 The first condition is firmness in the Covenant of God. For the power of
the Covenant will protect the Cause of Baha'u'llah from the doubts of the
people of error. It is the fortified fortress of the Cause of God and the
firm pillar of the religion of God. Today no power can conserve the
oneness of the Baha'i world save the Covenant of God; otherwise
differences like unto a most great tempest will encompass the Baha'i
world. It is evident that the axis of the oneness of the world of humanity
is the power of the Covenant and nothing else. Had the Covena