e essence of faith, and,
quaffing the immortal draught, hath taken his flight unto the celestial
Concourse. And how often hath a devout believer, at the hour of his soul's
ascension, been so changed as to fall into the nethermost fire. Our
purpose in revealing these convincing and weighty utterances is to impress
upon the seeker that he should regard all else beside God as transient,
and count all things save Him, Who is the Object of all adoration, as
utter nothingness.

These are among the attributes of the exalted, and constitute the
hall-mark of the spiritually-minded. They have already been mentioned in
connection with the requirements of the wayfarers that tread the Path of
Positive Knowledge. When the detached wayfarer and sincere seeker hath
fulfilled these essential conditions, then and only then can he be called
a true seeker. Whensoever he hath fulfilled the conditions implied in the
verse: "Whoso maketh efforts for Us,"(151) he shall enjoy the blessing
conferred by the words: "In Our ways shall We assuredly guide him."(152)

Only when the lamp of search, of earnest striving, of longing desire, of
passionate devotion, of fervid love, of rapture, and ecstasy, is kindled
within the seeker's heart, and the breeze of His loving-kindness is wafted
upon his soul, will the darkness of error be dispelled, the mists of
doubts and misgivings be dissipated, and the lights of knowledge and
certitude envelop his being. At that hour will the mystic Herald, bearing
the joyful tidings of the Spirit, shine forth from the City of God
resplendent as the morn, and, through the trumpet-blast of knowledge, will
awaken the heart, the soul, and the spirit from the slumber of negligence.
Then will the manifold favours and outpouring grace of the holy and
everlasting Spirit confer such new life upon the seeker that he will find
himself endowed with a new eye, a new ear, a new heart, and a new mind. He
will contemplate the manifest signs of the universe, and will penetrate
the hidden mysteries of the soul. Gazing with the eye of God, he will
perceive within every atom a door that leadeth him to the stations of
absolute certitude. He will discover in all things the mysteries of divine
Revelation and the evidences of an everlasting manifestation.

I swear by God! Were he that treadeth the path of guidance and seeketh to
scale the heights of righteousness to attain unto this glorious and
supreme station, he would inhale at a distance of