heless, the eloquence and elegance of
His blessed expositions in Arabic, as well as His Arabic writings, caused
astonishment and stupefaction to the most accomplished Arabic scholars,
and all recognized and declared that He was incomparable and unequaled.

If we carefully examine the text of the Torah, we see that the Divine
Manifestation never said to those who denied Him, "Whatever miracle you
desire, I am ready to perform, and I will submit to whatever test you
propose." But in the Epistle to the _Sh_ah, Baha'u'llah said clearly,
"Gather the 'ulama, and summon Me, that the evidences and proofs may be
established."(27)

For fifty years Baha'u'llah faced His enemies like a mountain: all wished
to annihilate Him and sought His destruction. A thousand times they
planned to crucify and destroy Him, and during these fifty years He was in
constant danger.

In this day Persia is in such a state of decadence and ruin that all
intelligent men, whether Persians or foreigners, who realize the true
state of affairs, recognize that its progress, its civilization and its
reconstruction depend upon the promulgation of the teachings and the
development of the principles of this great Personage.

Christ, in His blessed day, in reality only educated eleven men: the
greatest of them was Peter, who, nevertheless, when he was tested, thrice
denied Christ. In spite of this, the Cause of Christ subsequently
permeated the world. At the present day Baha'u'llah has educated thousands
of souls who, while under the menace of the sword, raised to the highest
heaven the cry of "Ya Baha'u'l-Abha";(28) and in the fire of tests, their
faces became illuminated like gold. Then reflect what will take place in
the future.

Finally, we must be just and acknowledge what an Educator this Glorious
Being was, what marvelous signs were manifested by Him, and what power and
might have been realized in the world through Him.

10: TRADITIONAL PROOFS EXEMPLIFIED FROM THE BOOK OF DANIEL

Today, at table, let us speak for a little of proofs. If you had come to
this blessed place in the days of the manifestation of the evident
Light,(29) if you had attained to the court of His presence, and had
witnessed His luminous beauty, you would have understood that His
teachings and perfection were not in need of further evidence.

Only through the honor of entering His presence, many souls became
confirmed believers; they had no need of other proofs. Even thos