Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 47

In sooth, there will be found in those regions certain persons like the Pharisees of the time of Christ, who, night and day, will exert themselves with all heart and soul to cast forth doubts, in order that they may deprive the souls of the glad-tidings of the Holy Spirit. They will disseminate false rumors and utter many a calumny and will publish and announce (false) stories. They will undertake all these only for the sake of earthly vanities.

And some Pharisees among the missionaries of the Gospel will hasten thither from Persia and say, "We are aware of the secret of the matter."

All they may say is sheer slander.

Now know you these [things], that in its time you may dispel and annihilate the darkness of those suspicions, like unto a manifest light. I beg of G.o.d that He may grant thee a power that thou mayest resist all in the earth-how much more these weak, hired individuals who receive salary and bribe for spreading such calumnies!

Be ye admonished, O possessors of understanding!

"O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!..."

O thou dear maid-servant of G.o.d!

Your letter was received. Its contents were a glorious proof that thy heart and soul are attracted to the fragrances of the Merciful One. Thank thou G.o.d for that thou art awakened by such a Breeze and quickened by such a Spirit and hast found joy and fragrance.

Those souls who have attained to faith, if they be protected and preserved from tests and keep firm and steadfast, the divine confirmations will surround them from all directions.***

I beg of G.o.d that thou wilt be confirmed with the love of G.o.d in all conditions. I beg of G.o.d that thou mayest be so a.s.sisted in serving the Holy Threshold that all thy family will be astonished and amazed, and will glory and honor.

"O ye s.h.i.+ning a.s.sembly!..."

O ye s.h.i.+ning a.s.sembly!(113)

The meeting that you organized hath attracted the divine gaze and the subject of your conversation was the divine commemoration. A ray from the Kingdom of Abha fell upon that a.s.semblage and that meeting was adorned, and a number of souls, supplicants to G.o.d, were gathered in that meeting.

If this a.s.sembly continues as it is befitting and behooving, great results will thereby appear and conduce to the illumination of those parts, spiritual progress will ensue, the lights of the Sun of Truth will s.h.i.+ne, hearts will be illumined, eyes will become seeing, ears become hearing, the lukewarm (or withdrawn ones) become aflame, the inanimate (or numbed ones) will be enkindled in soul and an ecstasy will come to all by which those present will be astonished.

I supplicate to and invoke before the Threshold of Oneness, saying:

"O Thou Creator! Preserve and protect Thou that a.s.sembly from grave (or general) tests and keep them firm and constant in the Covenant and Testament. Confer upon them such steadfastness as will enable them to withstand doubts and root our the foundation of calumnious rumors; for some person hath appeared (or arisen) with the utmost falsehood, in those parts, and publisheth false reports in some newspapers."

"O ye members of the s.h.i.+ning a.s.sembly! Each one..."

O ye members of the s.h.i.+ning a.s.sembly! Each one of you must resist doubts (or false rumors) in those parts like unto a great barrier, until the invisible confirmations may appear and merciful a.s.sistance may become manifest. May your souls be cheered!

"O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of G.o.d!..."

O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of G.o.d!

Verily, I read thy letter of thanksgiving to G.o.d, for He hath illumined thy heart with the light of the Mightiest Guidance, dilated thy breast through the fragrance of the garden of His Kingdom, the Abha, caused thee to speak His praise in that remote and extensive country, and hath enabled thee to guide souls who are attracted to the beauty of G.o.d and enkindled by the fire of His Love at this moment.

By the Lord of Hosts, G.o.d hath ordained for no one greater good than this, or any spirit more brilliance than this, or any spirit more activity than this.

Were the dominions of the whole, entire earth to be thine, it would not equal this great dominion which is no other than spreading the guidance of G.o.d. Forasmuch as the earthly dominion is like unto the kingdom of Edward VII, king of England, his coronation day became unto him the day of griefs, the day of sorrows, and the days of moaning; his joy was changed into abundant sorrow, and the light of happiness was transformed into the darkness of a gloomy night. This is the condition of the world, its honor, its dominion, its glory and affluence.

But as to thee-O thou who art attracted unto G.o.d! -thou hast established an eternal and everlasting throne through the guidance of G.o.d, and hast become crowned with a diadem, the gems of which scintillate throughout centuries and ages; nay, rather, for cycles and periods!

This throne cannot be shaken by the powers of the earth and its calamities; nor can incidental obstacles, worldly impediments, or all the diseases and ailments prevent or delay this coronation.

For this is under the protection of G.o.d and His preservation, defended by His guard and in the stronghold of His patronage, and is watched over by the eye of His mercifulness. therefore, thank thou G.o.d forevermore!

Deliver my greetings to the attracted maid-servant of G.o.d thy honorable wife, and bear unto her the glad-tidings of the graces of her Lord.

"O thou whom I mention with my heart and tongue!..."

O thou whom I mention with my heart and tongue!

Though I do not see thee with mine eyes, I do see thee with my heart, and mention thee with the fullness of love, clemency, yearning and attraction, supplicating my Lord that we may meet together at the meeting of His Kingdom and the pavilion of His might, where we shall chant the verses of thanks for His bounty, generosity and gifts, the lights of which have shone upon all horizons and their effulgences have become intense upon the hearts of the people of harmony.

O thou my dearly beloved! Hasten! Hasten! to the gifts of thy Lord, the Merciful! Come to the Benefactor; avail thyself of this opportunity and take thy portion of this Greatest Treasure in this promised day!

"O thou spiritual youth and merciful young man!..."

O thou spiritual youth and merciful young man!

Consider the grace of thy Master; how He hath directed thee to the fountain of salvation, until thou hast drunk from the salsabil (i.e., clear water of life) of the guidance of G.o.d, in this holy and rich garden.

Cling to this firm handle and make thy feet steady in this path, so that the bounties of thy Supreme Lord may successively pour upon thee and make thee a sign of His mighty knowledge.

"O thou who art directed to the Light of Guidance!..."

O thou who art directed to the Light of Guidance!