of He administers to Francis Joseph, the Emperor of Austria;
His reference to "the lamentations of Berlin" in His apostrophe to "the
banks of the Rhine"; His condemnation of "the throne of tyranny"
established in Constantinople, and His prediction of the extinction of its
"outward splendor" and of the tribulations destined to overtake its
inhabitants; the words of cheer and comfort He addresses to His native
city, assuring her that God had chosen her to be "the source of the joy of
all mankind"; His prophecy that "the voice of the heroes of _Kh_urasan"
will be raised in glorification of their Lord; His assertion that men
"endued with mighty valor" will be raised up in Kirman who will make
mention of Him; and finally, His magnanimous assurance to a perfidious
brother who had afflicted Him with such anguish, that an "ever-forgiving,
all-bounteous" God would forgive him his iniquities were he only to
repent--all these further enrich the contents of a Book designated by its
Author as "the source of true felicity," as the "Unerring Balance," as the
"Straight Path" and as the "quickener of mankind."

The laws and ordinances that constitute the major theme of this Book,
Baha'u'llah, moreover, has specifically characterized as "the breath of
life unto all created things," as "the mightiest stronghold," as the
"fruits" of His "Tree," as "the highest means for the maintenance of order
in the world and the security of its peoples," as "the lamps of His wisdom
and loving-providence," as "the sweet smelling savor of His garment," as
the "keys" of His "mercy" to His creatures. "This Book," He Himself
testifies, "is a heaven which We have adorned with the stars of Our
commandments and prohibitions." "Blessed the man," He, moreover, has
stated, "who will read it, and ponder the verses sent down in it by God,
the Lord of Power, the Almighty. Say, O men! Take hold of it with the hand
of resignation... By My life! It hath been sent down in a manner that
amazeth the minds of men. Verily, it is My weightiest testimony unto all
people, and the proof of the All-Merciful unto all who are in heaven and
all who are on earth." And again: "Blessed the palate that savoreth its
sweetness, and the perceiving eye that recognizeth that which is treasured
therein, and the understanding heart that comprehendeth its allusions and
mysteries. By God! Such is the majesty of what hath been revealed therein,
and so tremendous the revelation of its veiled allusio