The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah Part 4

THE CLERGY AND PEOPLE OF VARIOUS FAITHS

"At one time We address the people of the Torah and summon..."

At one time We address the people of the Torah and summon them unto Him Who is the Revealer of verses, Who hath come from Him Who layeth low the necks of men.... At another, We address the people of the Evangel and say: 'The All-Glorious is come in this Name whereby the Breeze of G.o.d hath wafted over all regions.'... At still another, We address the people of the Qur'an saying: 'Fear the All-Merciful, and cavil not at Him through Whom all religions were founded.'... Know thou, moreover, that We have addressed to the Magians Our Tablets, and adorned them with Our Law.... We have revealed in them the essence of all the hints and allusions contained in their Books. The Lord, verily, is the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

"CALL out to Zion, O Carmel, and announce the..."

CALL out to Zion, O Carmel, and announce the joyful tidings: He that was hidden from mortal eyes is come! His all-conquering sovereignty is manifest; His all-encompa.s.sing splendour is revealed. Beware lest thou hesitate or halt. Hasten forth and circ.u.mambulate the City of G.o.d that hath descended from heaven, the celestial Kaaba round which have circled in adoration the favoured of G.o.d, the pure in heart, and the company of the most exalted angels. O how I long to announce unto every spot on the surface of the earth, and to carry to each one of its cities, the glad-tidings of this Revelation-a Revelation to which the heart of Sinai hath been attracted, and in whose name the Burning Bush is calling: 'Unto G.o.d, the Lord of Lords, belong the kingdoms of earth and heaven.' Verily this is the Day in which both land and sea rejoice at this announcement, the Day for which have been laid up those things which G.o.d, through a bounty beyond the ken of mortal mind or heart, hath destined for revelation. Ere long will G.o.d sail His Ark upon thee, and will manifest the people of Baha who have been mentioned in the Book of Names.

"THE Most Great Law is come, and the Ancient Beauty..."

THE Most Great Law is come, and the Ancient Beauty ruleth upon the throne of David. Thus hath My Pen spoken that which the histories of bygone ages have related. At this time, however, David crieth aloud and saith: 'O my loving Lord! Do Thou number me with such as have stood steadfast in Thy Cause, O Thou through Whom the faces have been illumined, and the footsteps have slipped!'

"THE Breath hath been wafted, and the Breeze hath..."

THE Breath hath been wafted, and the Breeze hath blown, and from Zion hath appeared that which was hidden, and from Jerusalem is heard the Voice of G.o.d, the One, the Incomparable, the Omniscient.

"LEND an ear unto the song of David. He saith: 'Who will..."

LEND an ear unto the song of David. He saith: 'Who will bring me into the Strong City?' The Strong City is Akka, which hath been named the Most Great Prison, and which possesseth a fortress and mighty ramparts...

Peruse that which Isaiah hath spoken in His Book. He saith: 'Get thee up into the high mountain, O Zion, that bringest good tidings; lift up thy voice with strength, O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings. Lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah: "Behold your G.o.d! Behold the Lord G.o.d will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him."'

This Day all the signs have appeared. A great City hath descended from heaven, and Zion trembleth and exulteth with joy at the Revelation of G.o.d, for it hath heard the Voice of G.o.d on every side.

"O CONCOURSE of Christians! We have, on a previous..."

O CONCOURSE of Christians! We have, on a previous occasion, revealed Ourself unto you, and ye recognized Me not. This is yet another occasion vouchsafed unto you. This is the Day of G.o.d; turn ye unto Him... The Beloved One loveth not that ye be consumed with the fire of your desires.

Were ye to be shut out as by a veil from Him, this would be for no other reason than your own waywardness and ignorance. Ye make mention of Me, and know Me not. Ye call upon Me, and are heedless of My Revelation.... O people of the Gospel! They who were not in the Kingdom have now entered it, whilst We behold you, in this day, tarrying at the gate. Rend the veils asunder by the power of your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Bounteous, and enter, then, in My name My Kingdom. Thus biddeth you He Who desireth for you everlasting life... We behold you, O children of the Kingdom, in darkness. This, verily, beseemeth you not. Are ye, in the face of the Light, fearful because of your deeds? Direct yourselves towards Him...

Verily, He (Jesus) said: 'Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.' In this day, however, We say: 'Come ye after Me, that We may make you to become quickeners of mankind.'

"WE, verily, have come for your sakes, and have borne..."

WE, verily, have come for your sakes, and have borne the misfortunes of the world for your salvation. Flee ye the One Who hath sacrificed His life that ye may be quickened? Fear G.o.d, O followers of the Spirit (Jesus), and walk not in the footsteps of every divine that hath gone far astray...

Open the doors of your hearts. He Who is the Spirit (Jesus) verily, standeth before them. Wherefore keep ye afar from Him Who hath purposed to draw you nigh unto a Resplendent Spot? Say: We, in truth, have opened unto you the gates of the Kingdom. Will ye bar the doors of your houses in My face? This indeed is naught but a grievous error.

"O CONCOURSE of patriarchs! He Whom ye were promised..."

O CONCOURSE of patriarchs! He Whom ye were promised in the Tablets is come. Fear G.o.d, and follow not the vain imaginings of the superst.i.tious.

Lay aside the things ye possess, and take fast hold of the Tablet of G.o.d by His sovereign power. Better is this for you than all your possessions.

Unto this testifieth every understanding heart, and every man of insight.

Pride ye yourselves on My Name and yet shut yourselves out as by a veil from Me? This indeed is a strange thing!

"O CONCOURSE of archbishops! He Who is the Lord of..."

O CONCOURSE of archbishops! He Who is the Lord of all men hath appeared.

In the plain of guidance He calleth mankind, whilst ye are numbered with the dead! Great is the blessedness of him who is stirred by the Breeze of G.o.d, and hath arisen from amongst the dead in this perspicuous Name.

"O CONCOURSE of bishops! Trembling hath seized all the..."

O CONCOURSE of bishops! Trembling hath seized all the kindreds of the earth, and He Who is the Everlasting Father calleth aloud between earth and heaven. Blessed the ear that hath heard, and the eye that hath seen, and the heart that hath turned unto Him Who is the Point of Adoration of all who are in the heavens and all who are on earth....

"O CONCOURSE of bishops! Ye are the stars of the heaven..."