poor and obscure person, destitute of the
attire of men of learning, address them saying: "Follow ye, O people! the
Messengers of God,"(120) they would, greatly surprised at such a
statement, reply: "What! Meanest thou that all these divines, all these
exponents of learning, with all their authority, their pomp and pageantry,
have erred, and failed to distinguish truth from falsehood? Dost thou, and
people like thyself, pretend to have comprehended that which they have not
understood?" If numbers and excellence of apparel be regarded as the
criterions of learning and truth, the peoples of a bygone age, whom those
of today have never surpassed in numbers, magnificence and power, should
certainly be accounted a superior and worthier people.

It is clear and evident that whenever the Manifestations of Holiness were
revealed, the divines of their day have hindered the people from attaining
unto the way of truth. To this testify the records of all the scriptures
and heavenly books. Not one Prophet of God was made manifest Who did not
fall a victim to the relentless hate, to the denunciation, denial, and
execration of the clerics of His day! Woe unto them for the iniquities
their hands have formerly wrought! Woe unto them for that which they are
now doing! What veils of glory more grievous than these embodiments of
error! By the righteousness of God! to pierce such veils is the mightiest
of all acts, and to rend them asunder the most meritorious of all deeds!
May God assist us and assist you, O concourse of the Spirit! that
perchance ye may in the time of His Manifestation be graciously aided to
perform such deeds, and may in His days attain unto the Presence of God.

Furthermore, among the "veils of glory" are such terms as the "Seal of the
Prophets" and the like, the removal of which is a supreme achievement in
the sight of these base-born and erring souls. All, by reason of these
mysterious sayings, these grievous "veils of glory," have been hindered
from beholding the light of truth. Have they not heard the melody of that
bird of Heaven,(121) uttering this mystery: "A thousand Fatimihs I have
espoused, all of whom were the daughters of Muhammad, Son of 'Abdu'llah,
the 'Seal of the Prophets?'" Behold, how many are the mysteries that lie
as yet unravelled within the tabernacle of the knowledge of God, and how
numerous the gems of His wisdom that are still concealed in His inviolable
treasuries! Shouldest thou ponder this in