173 We have also heard that thou hast entrusted the reins of counsel into
the hands of the representatives of the people. Thou, indeed, hast done
well, for thereby the foundations of the edifice of thine affairs will be
strengthened, and the hearts of all that are beneath thy shadow, whether
high or low, will be tranquillized. It behoveth them, however, to be
trustworthy among His servants, and to regard themselves as the
representatives of all that dwell on earth. This is what counselleth them,
in this Tablet, He Who is the Ruler, the All-Wise. And if any one of them
directeth himself towards the Assembly, let him turn his eyes unto the
Supreme Horizon, and say: “O my God! I ask Thee, by Thy most glorious
Name, to aid me in that which will cause the affairs of Thy servants to
prosper, and Thy cities to flourish. Thou, indeed, hast power over all
things!” Blessed is he that entereth the Assembly for the sake of God, and
judgeth between men with pure justice. He, indeed, is of the blissful.
174 O ye the elected representatives of the people in every land! Take ye
counsel together, and let your concern be only for that which profiteth
mankind and bettereth the condition thereof, if ye be of them that scan
heedfully. Regard the world as the human body which, though at its
creation whole and perfect, hath been afflicted, through various causes,
with grave disorders and maladies. Not for one day did it gain ease, nay
its sickness waxed more severe, as it fell under the treatment of ignorant
physicians, who gave full rein to their personal desires and have erred
grievously. And if, at one time, through the care of an able physician, a
member of that body was healed, the rest remained afflicted as before.
Thus informeth you the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
175 We behold it, in this day, at the mercy of rulers so drunk with pride
that they cannot discern clearly their own best advantage, much less
recognize a Revelation so bewildering and challenging as this. And
whenever any one of them hath striven to improve its condition, his motive
hath been his own gain, whether confessedly so or not; and the
unworthiness of this motive hath limited his power to heal or cure.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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