SECT. I. of the religious tenets and ceremonies of the _Sipásíán_. SECT. II. of the distinguished men amongst the _Sipásíán_. SECT. III. of the ordinances contained in the book revealed to _Abád_. SECT. IV. of the _Jemsháspián_. SECT. V. of the _Samrádíán_. SECT. VI. of the religion of the _Khodáníán_. SECT. VII. of the tenets of the _Rádîan_. SECT. VIII. of the religion of the _Shídrangíán_. SECT. IX. of the belief of the _Pykeríán_. SECT. X. of the tenets of the _Miláníán_. SECT. XI. of the doctrines of the _Aláríán_. SECT. XII. of the religious opinions of the _Shídábíán_. SECT. XIII. of the religion of the _Akhshíán_. SECT. XIV. of the belief of the _Zerdushtián_. SECT. XV. of the doctrine of the _Mazdakíán_. SECTION I. [228]Here commences the history of the tenets and ceremonies observed by the _Sipásíán_ and _Pársíán_. Among the _Parsíán_, called also the _Iraníán_, is a sect styled the _Yazadíán_ or _Yazdáníán_, _Abádíán_, _Sipásíán_, _Hushián_, _Anushkán_, _Azarhóshangíán_, and _Azaríán_. They believe it impossible for man, by the force of intellect, or the energy of spirit, to comprehend the exalted essence of the Almighty and Holy Lord. Entity, unity, identity, or all his divine attributes of knowledge and life, constitute the fountain of his holy essence. He is, in the most comprehensive sense, the paramount, omnipotent Lord over all things, whether considered collectively, or in the changes incident to their component parts. All his works and operations are in conformity to his exalted will: if he wills, he acts; if he wills not, he acts not; but works worthy of adoration are as inseparable from his honored essence, as his other glorious attributes of perfection.――Urfí of Shíráz thus expresses himself: “Thy essence is able to call into being all that is impossible, Except to create one like thyself.” The first creation of his existence-bestowing bounty was the precious jewel of the intellectual principle, called _Azad Bahman_; the solar ray which constitutes the excellence of his august existence is from the essence of the light of lights. From the effulgence of _Bahman_, or the “First Intelligence,” proceeded another, along with the spirit and body of the Pure Ether or Crystalline Sphere. In like manner from this second _Serúsh_[229] or “angel” there emanated three similar rays; so that every star in the universe, whether in motion or at rest, that is, every planet and fixed star, and also every one of the heavens, has its peculiar intellect and spirit. They also believe that the heavens exceed the compass of numbers, and that the spheres are as many in number as the stars: also that every star has its own firmament, but that the movements of their spheres are in accordance with those of the zodiacal firmament.