Therefore, this prisoner implores and supplicates at dawn, seeking strength and confirmation for the beloved of that town. Thus may heavenly confirmation become your a.s.sociate and the morn of eternal happiness dawn upon ye and the Sun of Reality rise with such brilliancy as to dispel entirely the gloom of ignorance from those horizons.
O ye real friends and dear maid-servants of G.o.d! The Lover of the East in perfect love has outstretched His two hands to embrace the beloved of the West and to rejoice in that love and unity.
O ye beloved of G.o.d! As long as ye can strive to set aglow the hearts with love, be attracted to one another and be members of each other. Every soul of the beloved ones must adore the other and withhold not his possession and life from them, and by all means he must endeavor to make that other joyous and happy. But that other (the recipient of such love) must also be disinterested and life-sacrificing. Thus may this Sunrise flood the horizons, this melody gladden and make happy all the people, this divine remedy become the panacea for every disease, this Spirit of Reality become the cause of life for every soul.
O ye friends and maid-servants of the Merciful! It is life-offering, rejoicing, happiness and the manifestation of Divine Favors.
"O thou servant who art near and dear to the Glorious..."
O thou servant who art near and dear to the Glorious Threshold!
Give thanks to G.o.d for having been ushered into His Kingdom, partaken of the heavenly table and the "lord"s supper," attained ecstasy by the wine of His love, become enrolled as a soldier for life among the hosts of the Lord, and [for His having] blessed thy head with a crown of great guidance, whose gems and pearls illumine the ages.
Convey the greetings of this imprisoned one to the beloved of G.o.d in the spiritual a.s.sembly of Kenosha. Say unto them: "The Cause is Great! Great!
and the Kingdom of the Majestic Lord overshadoweth heaven and earth. Your spiritual a.s.sembly should be a source of joy to the world of humanity and be so illumined with light as to dispel the darkened horizons, withstand the power of tests, remain firm and constant, be not disturbed by ordeals and feel no difficulty in spreading the light of guidance. If ye attain this att.i.tude of firmness, the confirmation of the Divine will verily penetrate the world through your meeting. But this requires disinterestedness in worldly things and devotion to the Kingdom of ABHA, perseverance and effort are requisites and firmness is a necessity. I beg G.o.d to illumine the faces of each of you so that they may shine as stars in the high firmament."
"O thou who art turning to the divine Kingdom!..."
O thou who art turning to the divine Kingdom!
The lengthy epistle was considered. Notwithstanding lack of time and opportunity, on account of exceeding love an answer will be written.
Thank G.o.d thou didst become a soldier of life; subdued the domain of hearts with the arms of the love of G.o.d and the sword of concord and peace; didst go after the army of the Kingdom of ABHA; followed the Supreme Concourse and by the aid of the Spirit made many conquests.
The merciful a.s.sembly of Kenosha hath in reality taken food and provisions from the Kingdom of ABHA and become confirmed by the aid of the Sun of Reality. Therefore, I am hopeful that, day by day, it may advance and progress.
The members of the Spiritual Meeting (the Board of Consultation) must endeavor, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make the souls real Bahais.
If they attain this glorious purpose, that country will be illumined and that land will become a veritable paradise, all nations will look to that a.s.sembly and from the explanation and exposition thereof receive realities and meanings.
O thou servant of Baha"! Always remind the friends of the greatness of the great message.
Convey longing greeting of great love from me to the members of the Meeting of Consultation: * * * Whenever I think of them I find soulful repose and conscious joy.
The feast (supper) [every nineteen days] is very acceptable and will finally produce good results. The beloved and the maid-servants of the Merciful must inaugurate the feast in such wise as to resurrect the feast of the ancients-namely, the "lord"s supper." The attracted maid-servant of G.o.d, Mrs. ........, I hope will be inspired so she may become the means of unity among the friends in every city. That meeting for feast for which thou wert preparing and providing, should recur every so often, so that it may prove a means of attracting the confirmation of the Kingdom of ABHA.
Inform the maid-servant of G.o.d, who prepared her home as a [temporary]
Mashrak-el-Azcar, that this service was accepted in the Kingdom of ABHA.
Inform the near (dear) maid-servant of G.o.d [thy wife], who hath organized a school of industry in order that children may learn an industry and chant communes, that this is very agreeable.
O thou servant of G.o.d! To look after the sick is one of the greatest duties. Every soul who becomes sick, the other friends should certainly offer the life (of service) in the utmost kindness.
Thou hast asked regarding the naming of children: When thou wishest to name a babe, prepare a meeting therefor; chant the verses and communes, and supplicate and implore the Threshold of Oneness and beg the attainment of guidance for the babe and wish confirmated firmness and constancy; then give the name and enjoy beverage and sweetmeat. This is spiritual baptism.
His honor, Mr. ......, Mrs. ...... and ...... arrived. They were attracted by the fragrances of G.o.d and ignited by the fire of the love of G.o.d. With a new spirit and fresh life they returned.
O son of the Kingdom! Thy services in the Kingdom of ABHA are evident, well known and accepted. Indeed thou art a truthful servant of the Holy Threshold and a firm caller to the divine Kingdom.
Strive so that the odor of violation cease and all come under the protection of the Covenant.
Remain in and about that town and know that trial is the cause of promotion. But thou must deal with all in the utmost love and do kindness.
Although they lift up the head of pride, show thou greater humility and meekness and treat them with the utmost submission and lowliness.
Show the utmost kindness in my behalf to the near maid-servant of G.o.d (thy wife).***
"O thou attracted maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou attracted maid-servant of G.o.d!
This is a blessed address. If thou fulfill its requirements, which are purity of intention, attractive love, insight, discovery of truth and absolute spiritual att.i.tude, thou wilt become entirely free from the physical conditions and wilt soar to the spiritual realms.
"O servant of G.o.d!..."
O servant of G.o.d!
The content of thy letter was replete with spiritual feelings and was a source of pleasure and of joy.
Of my freedom thou hast expressed great joy. I am free, although I should remain in prison. All fortresses and castles shall not confine me, and the dungeon cannot bring me under the narrow bondage of the world. The spirit is every soaring, even if the body be in the depths. What can these ignorant creatures do? They might imprison the body, but the spirit they cannot; the spirit will ever soar in the atmosphere of eternal bliss and glory. Therefore, neither the prison is a cause of sorrow, nor freedom from it a source of joy.
When thou findest the way to the Kingdom, the earthly world shall be of no account; and when thou art illumined the darkness will not affect thee-nay, rather the four corners of the earth will then be radiant and every thorn will become a rose and a rose-garden.
"O thou who art near to the Threshold of ABHA!..."
O thou who art near to the Threshold of ABHA!
I have considered what thou hast written to Mirza ...... as well as the letter addressed to me. Thou hast written concerning the publication of some proofs and arguments along with the Hidden Words. Now, since they are published, circulate them among the people. I hope that it may produce beneficial results. Perchance some of the souls who are truth-seekers may get a little information about this Cause.
But afterward, if thou desirest to get the translation of a Tablet from the Blessed Writings, it must be translated by a committee of two Persian translators together with two competent English writers. The Persians should translate, and the writers mould the significance into profound, musical and perfect cast of style in English, and in such wise that the musical sweetness of the original Persian may not be lost. Then the material must be forwarded to me. I will consider the matter and give permission for its publication and circulation. Consequently, rejoice thou that thou hast already become specialized with this permission, that thou hast circulated publications.