risen and girded up the loins of tyranny, and
exerted the utmost endeavour to quench with the bitter waters of their
vain fancy the flame of God's burning Bush, oblivious that the globe of
power shall within its own mighty stronghold protect the Lamp of God. The
utter destitution into which this people have fallen doth surely suffice
them, inasmuch as they have been deprived of the recognition of the
essential Purpose and the knowledge of the Mystery and Substance of the
Cause of God. For the highest and most excelling grace bestowed upon men
is the grace of "attaining unto the Presence of God" and of His
recognition, which has been promised unto all people. This is the utmost
degree of grace vouchsafed unto man by the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of
Days, and the fulness of His absolute bounty upon His creatures. Of this
grace and bounty none of this people hath partaken, neither have they been
honoured with this most exalted distinction. How numerous are those
revealed verses which explicitly bear witness unto this most weighty truth
and exalted Theme! And yet they have rejected it, and, after their own
desire, misconstrued its meaning. Even as He hath revealed: "As for those
who believe not in the signs of God, or that they shall ever meet Him,
these of My mercy shall despair, and for them doth a grievous chastisement
await."(101) Also He saith: "They who bear in mind that they shall attain
unto the Presence of their Lord, and that unto Him shall they
return."(102) Also in another instance He saith: "They who held it as
certain that they must meet God, said, 'How oft, by God's will, hath a
small host vanquished a numerous host!'"(103) In yet another instance He
revealeth: "Let him then who hopeth to attain the presence of his Lord
work a righteous work."(104) And also He saith: "He ordereth all things.
He maketh His signs clear, that ye may have firm faith in attaining the
presence of your Lord."(105)

This people have repudiated all these verses, that unmistakably testify to
the reality of "attainment unto the Divine Presence." No theme hath been
more emphatically asserted in the holy scriptures. Notwithstanding, they
have deprived themselves of this lofty and most exalted rank, this supreme
and glorious station. Some have contended that by "attainment unto the
Divine Presence" is meant the "Revelation" of God in the Day of
Resurrection. Should they assert that the "Revelation" of God signifieth a
"Universal Revelatio