itation and
detachment, and wing our flight unto the highest and innermost sanctuary
of the inner meaning of the Word of God.

From these statements therefore it hath been made evident and manifest
that should a Soul in the "End that knoweth no end" be made manifest, and
arise to proclaim and uphold a Cause which in "the Beginning that hath no
beginning" another Soul had proclaimed and upheld, it can be truly
declared of Him Who is the Last and of Him Who was the First that they are
one and the same, inasmuch as both are the Exponents of one and the same
Cause. For this reason, hath the Point of the Bayan--may the life of all
else but Him be His sacrifice!--likened the Manifestations of God unto the
sun which, though it rise from the "Beginning that hath no beginning"
until the "End that knoweth no end," is none the less the same sun. Now,
wert thou to say, that this sun is the former sun, thou speakest the
truth; and if thou sayest that this sun is the "return" of that sun, thou
also speakest the truth. Likewise, from this statement it is made evident
that the term "last" is applicable to the "first," and the term "first"
applicable to the "last;" inasmuch as both the "first" and the "last" have
risen to proclaim one and the same Faith.

Notwithstanding the obviousness of this theme, in the eyes of those that
have quaffed the wine of knowledge and certitude, yet how many are those
who, through failure to understand its meaning, have allowed the term
"Seal of the Prophets" to obscure their understanding, and deprive them of
the grace of all His manifold bounties! Hath not Muhammad, Himself,
declared: "I am all the Prophets?" Hath He not said as We have already
mentioned: "I am Adam, Noah, Moses, and Jesus?" Why should Muhammad, that
immortal Beauty, Who hath said: "I am the first Adam" be incapable of
saying also: "I am the last Adam"? For even as He regarded Himself to be
the "First of the Prophets"--that is Adam--in like manner, the "Seal of the
Prophets" is also applicable unto that Divine Beauty. It is admittedly
obvious that being the "First of the Prophets," He likewise is their
"Seal."

The mystery of this theme hath, in this Dispensation, been a sore test
unto all mankind. Behold, how many are those who, clinging unto these
words, have disbelieved Him Who is their true Revealer. What, We ask,
could this people presume the terms "first" and "last"--when referring to
God--glorified be His Name!--to mean? If they