Behold how the divine Touchstone hath, according to the explicit text of
the Book, separated and distinguished the true from the false.
Notwithstanding, they are still oblivious of this truth, and in the sleep
of heedlessness, are pursuing the vanities of the world, and are occupied
with thoughts of vain and earthly leadership.
“O Son of Man! Many a day hath passed over thee whilst thou hast busied
thyself with thy fancies and idle imaginings. How long art thou to slumber
on thy bed? Lift up thine head from slumber, for the Sun hath risen to the
zenith; haply it may shine upon thee with the light of beauty.”
Let it be known, however, that none of these doctors and divines to whom
we have referred was invested with the rank and dignity of leadership. For
well-known and influential leaders of religion, who occupy the seats of
authority and exercise the functions of leadership, can in no wise bear
allegiance to the Revealer of truth, except whomsoever thy Lord willeth.
But for a few, such things have never come to pass. “And few of My
servants are the thankful.”(176) Even as in this Dispensation, not one
amongst the renowned divines, in the grasp of whose authority were held
the reins of the people, hath embraced the Faith. Nay, they have striven
against it with such animosity and determination that no ear hath heard
and no eye hath seen the like.
The Báb, the Lord, the most exalted—may the life of all be a sacrifice
unto Him,—hath specifically revealed an Epistle unto the divines of every
city, wherein He hath fully set forth the character of the denial and
repudiation of each of them. “Wherefore, take ye good heed ye who are men
of insight!”(177) By His references to their opposition He intended to
invalidate the objections which the people of the Bayán might raise in the
day of the manifestation of “Mustagháth,”(178) the day of the Latter
Resurrection, claiming that, whereas in the Dispensation of the Bayán a
number of divines have embraced the Faith, in this latter Revelation none
of these hath recognized His claim. His purpose was to warn the people
lest, God forbid, they cling to such foolish thoughts and deprive
themselves of the divine Beauty. Yea, these divines to whom We have
referred, were mostly unrenowned, and, by the grace of God they were all
purged of earthly vanities and free from the trappings of leadership.
“Such is the bounty of God; to whom He will He giveth it.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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