the divine Testator is this: It is incumbent upon the Aghsan,
the Afnan and My Kindred to turn, one and all, their faces towards the
Most Mighty Branch. Consider that which We have revealed in Our Most Holy
Book: 'When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My
Revelation is ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed,
Who hath branched from this Ancient Root.' The object of this sacred verse
is none other except the Most Mighty Branch ['Abdu'l-Baha]. Thus have We
graciously revealed unto you Our potent Will, and I am verily the
Gracious, the All-Powerful. Verily God hath ordained the station of the
Greater Branch [Muhammad 'Ali] to be beneath that of the Most Great Branch
['Abdu'l-Baha]. He is in truth the Ordainer, the All-Wise. We have chosen
'the Greater' after 'the Most Great', as decreed by Him Who is the
All-Knowing, the All-Informed.

It is enjoined upon everyone to manifest love towards the Aghsan, but God
hath not granted them any right to the property of others.

O ye My Aghsan, My Afnan and My Kindred! We exhort you to fear God, to
perform praiseworthy deeds and to do that which is meet and seemly and
serveth to exalt your station. Verily I say, fear of God is the greatest
commander that can render the Cause of God victorious, and the hosts which
best befit this commander have ever been and are an upright character and
pure and goodly deeds.

Say: O servants! Let not the means of order be made the cause of confusion
and the instrument of union an occasion for discord. We fain would hope
that the people of Baha may be guided by the blessed words: 'Say: all
things are of God.' This exalted utterance is like unto water for
quenching the fire of hate and enmity which smouldereth within the hearts
and breasts of men. By this single utterance contending peoples and
kindreds will attain the light of true unity. Verily He speaketh the truth
and leadeth the way. He is the All-Powerful, the Exalted, the Gracious.

It is incumbent upon everyone to show courtesy to, and have regard for the
Aghsan, that thereby the Cause of God may be glorified and His Word
exalted. This injunction hath time and again been mentioned and recorded
in the Holy Writ. Well is it with him who is enabled to achieve that which
the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days hath prescribed for him. Ye are bidden
moreover to respect the members of the Holy Household, the Afnan and the
kindred. We further admonish you to serve all nat