dly hath been
and still is the fear of God. It is man's true protector and his spiritual
guardian. It behoveth him to cleave tenaciously unto that which will lead
to the appearance of this supreme bounty. Well is it with him who giveth
ear unto whatsoever My Pen of Glory hath proclaimed and observeth that
whereunto he is bidden by the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days.

Incline your hearts, O people of God, unto the counsels of your true, your
incomparable Friend. The Word of God may be likened unto a sapling, whose
roots have been implanted in the hearts of men. It is incumbent upon you
to foster its growth through the living waters of wisdom, of sanctified
and holy words, so that its root may become firmly fixed and its branches
may spread out as high as the heavens and beyond.

O ye that dwell on earth! The distinguishing feature that marketh the
pre-eminent character of this Supreme Revelation consisteth in that We
have, on the one hand, blotted out from the pages of God's holy Book
whatsoever hath been the cause of strife, of malice and mischief amongst
the children of men, and have, on the other, laid down the essential
prerequisites of concord, of understanding, of complete and enduring
unity. Well is it with them that keep My statutes.

Time and again have We admonished Our beloved ones to avoid, nay to flee
from, anything whatsoever from which the odour of mischief can be
detected. The world is in great turmoil, and the minds of its people are
in a state of utter confusion. We entreat the Almighty that He may
graciously illuminate them with the glory of His Justice, and enable them
to discover that which will be profitable unto them at all times and under
all conditions. He, verily is the All-Possessing, the Most High.

We have ere this uttered these sublime words: Let them that bear
allegiance to this Wronged One be even as a raining cloud in moments of
charity and benevolence and as a blazing fire in restraining their base
and appetitive natures.

Gracious God! A thing hath recently happened which caused great
astonishment. It is reported that a certain person(24) went to the seat of
the imperial throne in Persia and succeeded in winning the good graces of
some of the nobility by his ingratiating behaviour. How pitiful indeed,
how deplorable! One wondereth why those who have been the symbols of
highest glory should now stoop to boundless shame. What is become of their
high resolve? Whither is gone the sense o