nd confidence. In the gatherings held toward the close
of His days, He would repeatedly tell of the apostles of Jesus. Among
other things He would say that when the Spirit(161) left this nether world
and hastened away to the glorious Kingdom, He had but twelve disciples,
and even of these, one was cast off; and that this small number, because
they sacrificed all they had for Jesus, and immersed themselves in the
radiance of that sweet and comely Being, and lost themselves in Christ,
they lit the world. 'Now when I depart,' He would say, 'I have loyal loved
ones that number 50,000 or more, and each one of these is a mighty
fortress to guard the edifice of God, each one, for the Ark of the Faith,
is strong as armour-plate. They are rooted firm as the high mountains,
they are bright and rising stars, they are jewels, they are pearls.'
Today, God be thanked, these qualities are radiating from the faces of the
righteous, and shining upon their brows.

That blessed Being perfected His bounties for the people of Baha, and His
grace and favour were extended to those of all degrees. In the best of
ways, he manifested at the end what had been shown forth at the beginning,
crowning all His gifts with His Will and Testament, in which He clearly
made known the obligations devolving upon every stratum of the believers,
in language most consummate, comprehensive and sound, setting down with
His own pen the name of Shoghi Effendi, as Guardian of the Cause and
interpreter of the Holy Writ. The first of His bounties was the light He
shed, the last of His gifts was that He unravelled the secrets by lifting
the veil.

God be praised, all the beloved of God's Beauty are immersed in an ocean
of bounty and grace, all are receiving abundant bestowals from the lights
that radiate from that Countenance of glory.

39: The good news that the Word of God is ...

(162) The good news that the Word of God is being raised up, and His Cause
glorified, and that His friends, on fire with love for Him, are arising to
spread His sweet savours abroad--is coming in steadily from every quarter
of the globe.

All are firmly rooted in the Faith, steadfast, turning with complete
devotion to him who is the appointed and designated Centre, the Guardian
of the Cause of God, the Chosen Branch, His Eminence Shoghi Effendi; are
founding Assemblies, conducting meetings, teaching most eloquently and
with all their energies, presenting proofs, disseminating th