“No person wishes to see his own nursling enfeebled. Water and fire are ever at enmity with chips and leaves.” The Behdínians maintain that Ahriman is the production of Time; and that the angels, heavens, and stars (always) were, and will (for ever) be: but that the three kingdoms of nature are a creation. Also that the period of the present creation is twelve thousand years, at the expiration of which comes the resurrection, when God will raise up all mankind and render this elemental world a glorious paradise, and annihilate Ahriman, his worshippers, and hell itself. The Dustúr Shah Zadáh says, in the volume of the _Sad Der_, or “the hundred gates,”[467] the excellent faith has been received from the prophet Zardusht, the son of Purshasp, the son of Khajarasp, the son of Hujjús, the son of Asfantaman: on him the Almighty graciously bestowed the _Avesta_ and _Zand_, and through divine knowledge he comprehended all things from eternity to infinity. This is the hundred-gated city constructed from the world of truth, that is, the celestial volume. “The mighty, through means of the Asta, Zand, and Pazand, Have constructed on its outside a hundred gates. Behold what a system of belief Zardusht has introduced, In which a hundred gates give admission to his city of Faith.” GATE THE FIRST is the belief and acknowledgment of Zardusht’s prophetic character; for when the spirit on the fourth night (after quitting the body) comes to the bridge of Chinavad, where _Mihr Ized_ and _Rash Ized_ take account of its actions, in the _Kirfah_, or “good deeds” exceed the sins by one hair’s point, they bear the spirit off to paradise, but always on the condition of having professed the faith of Zardusht. GATE THE SECOND. It is necessary to be ever vigilant, and always looking on a trifling sin as one of magnitude, to flee far from it; because, if the virtuous deeds exceed the sinful acts by even the point of one of the hairs of the eye-lashes, the spirit goes to paradise; but should the contrary be the case, it descends to hell. GATE THE THIRD. The pursuits of a man should be of a virtuous tendency; because, whilst thus engaged, if he be overpowered by robbers or foes, he shall receive fourfold in paradise; but if he be slain in any vain pursuit, it is the retribution due to his acts, and hell is his abode. GATE THE FOURTH. A man must not despair of God’s mercy; for Zardusht says: “I beheld one whose body, with the exception of one foot, was entirely in hell; but that foot was outside. The Lord said: ‘This person, who ruled over thirty-three cities, never performed good deeds; but having one day observed a sheep tied up at a distance from her food, he with this foot pushed the grass near her.’”[468] GATE THE FIFTH. Let all men exert themselves to observe the rites of _Yasht_,[469] and the _Naú Roz_,[470] and if they cannot themselves perform these duties, let them purchase the agency of another.