Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas Part 29

O thou faithful servant of the True One!

I received thy letter and its contents caused the utmost joy and fragrance within me, because it showed thy firmness in the Cause of G.o.d and proved thy steadfastness in the love of the Word of G.o.d. Its meanings were the mystery of unity and its expression showed thy firm intention in serving the glorious Lord.

I beseech the Threshold of Unity with all humility and supplication to make thee confirmed in His service and to enable thee to be serviceable in the Holy Threshold; that thou mayest not be a moment at rest nor take a breath of composure; nay, rather to pa.s.s all thy life in this greatest gift and this supreme favor employed in diffusing the breath of G.o.d; that thy sincerity of heart, thy sanct.i.ty and purity may increase and that thou mayest become entirely separated from aught else save G.o.d. Except a man be purified and sanctified from the soil of his dependence on this world, the spiritual purity will not become manifest in him. The more the mirror is clear and pure the greater will the rays and the bounties of the Sun of Truth show forth from it.

As to those things published in journals against thee: Thou shouldst not be grieved nor sorry therefor, because thousands of journals have written traducing Abdul-Baha, have given false and base accusations and awful calumnies. Notwithstanding these he was neither troubled nor grieved thereby; nay, rather these cause me to exert myself more than usual in the path of G.o.d and to drink the cup of sacrifice and to boil in the fire of His love. Man must seek to gain the acceptance of G.o.d and not that of the different cla.s.ses of men. If one is praised and chosen by G.o.d, the accusation of all the creatures will cause no loss to him; and if the man is not accepted in the threshold of G.o.d, the praise and admiration of all men will be of no use to him.

By all these it is meant that thou must not be sorry and grieved because of these things the papers have written against thee; nay, rather trust in G.o.d and be unmoved by either the praise or the false accusations declared by people towards thee, depend entirely on G.o.d and exert thyself to serve His holy vineyard. All else save this is but imagination, though it be the praises of all people in thy behalf; because all else is of no result and bears no fruit.

As to thine action against the journal which hath libeled thee: It is not at all best to bring action against them, because there is no profit in doing that; nay, it will lead to more sayings of a similar nature. Under these circ.u.mstances silence is best. Thou must not be disappointed, sorry or grieved thereat; G.o.d will remove all these difficulties. If thou wilt employ thyself in the service (of the Cause of G.o.d) the past losses will be recovered and all the troubles will be settled.

This is the manifest truth.

Send my greeting to the enlightened leaf, the maid-servant of G.o.d, thy n.o.ble wife.

"O thou son of the Kingdom!..."

O thou son of the Kingdom!

Consider the bounty of the Lord and the gifts of thy Creator. He hath chosen thee to love Him and selected thee from among His beings to know Him and distinguished thee particularly with the gift of dazzling light through which the faces of the righteous will shine. Verily I say unto thee that this gift now signifieth a globule and a date stone which shall spring up and grow until it becometh a tree of solid root and the branches thereof will extend to the East and West. Then the tongues shall utter: "This is naught but a great bounty!"

"O thou who art rejoicing at the Glad-tidings of G.o.d!..."

O thou who art rejoicing at the Glad-tidings of G.o.d!

Thank thou G.o.d for that by reason of which He hath enabled thee to traverse the seas and countries and come safe to a Spot wherein the lights are shining with great brilliancy. Thank Him for the help He rendered thee to visit the pure and Holy Tomb and revolve around it, the fragrance of which hath excelled that of the flowers of the dawn.

Go back to those regions where thy return is expected by those souls who, through the signs of thy Lord, became attracted unto Him, the Unconstrained, and say unto them: "Glad-tidings unto you who are sincere!

Glad-tidings unto you who are faithful servants! Verily I have seen the Kingdom of G.o.d with its doors open, the garden of El-ABHA with extensive sides and regions, with dazzling lights, rolling seas, verdant and beautiful orchards, overflowing beds, green trees, fresh and bright leaves, perfumed flowers, sweet rivers, gentle breeze, beautiful air, magnificent views, elegant and handsome lips and mouths."

Tell them that "The suns of the garden of El-ABHA are still shining, the moons rising, the stars brightening, the gifts perpetual, the grace perfect, the glad-tidings spreading, the signs of singleness and oneness are chanted in the cloister of its G.o.dhead and the flags of sanct.i.ty are waving above the palaces of its glory. Come here! Come here!"

"O thou who art drawn unto G.o.d and kindled by the Fire..."

O thou who art drawn unto G.o.d and kindled by the Fire which burned on Mt.

Sinai!

Set aside every mention save the mention of G.o.d and abandon everything save the divulgence of the Testament, be attracted by the magnet of the Covenant that thou mayest see the triumph of the angels of the King of the Kingdom and the valor of the hosts of the Lord of Might. By the life of the Lord! The Invincible Power will indeed strengthen, the Holy Spirit will speak in thy mouth, the Word of G.o.d will be revealed in thy heart, the sound of the trumpet of the Lord will gladden thee, the light of unity will shine from thy brow, the doors of success and prosperity will be opened upon thy face and the secrets of the Holy Books will be unfolded.

Then, at that time, thou shalt cry at the top of thy voice, saying: "Blessed I am for this great bounty! Blessed I am for this evident victory! Blessed I am for this power which could not be resisted by the powers of whomsoever is upon the earth!"

"To him who is looking unto G.o.d! O thou who art..."

To him who is looking unto G.o.d! O thou who art gazing unto the Center of the Covenant-may G.o.d confirm thee!

I supplicate G.o.d, beseech Him and pray to Him that He may deliver the souls from the deluge of tests and kindle the lamp of sincerity in the midst of the hearts. As to thee-O thou who art sincere in the Cause of G.o.d, looking unto the Kingdom of G.o.d and uttering the praise of G.o.d!

-thank thou Him for that by reason of which He hath made thee wholly faithful in His Cause, kindled thy heart with the fire of the Testament, illumined thy mind with the light and conveyed unto thy spirit the glad-tidings of the breaths of the Holy Spirit in the world of effulgence.

Therefore, roll up thy sleeves to serve the Covenant, make the hearts firm in the Covenant of the beloved Lord, create harmony and agreement among the believers and impart to them the glad-tidings of the confirmation which they will receive from G.o.d if the differences of opinion be removed and if they unite and agree, be firm in spreading the fragrance of G.o.d, divulging the traces and chanting the signs of G.o.d. Verily, I send thee good news of the confirmation which thou shalt receive, the like of which was never seen by the eyes in those regions, and of the success, the lights of which will brilliantly shine in those regions-if thou wilt arise with all thy power to a.s.sist the Testament of G.o.d and to serve the Covenant of G.o.d.

Give all the beloved salutations and praise. El-Baha is upon you all, O people of El-Baha!

"O ye who are turned towards the Kingdom and drawn..."

O ye who are turned towards the Kingdom and drawn unto the Holy Fragrance diffused from the Garden of El-ABHA!

Arise with every power to a.s.sist the Covenant of G.o.d and serve in His vineyard. Be confident that a confirmation will be granted unto you and a success on His part is given unto you. Verily, He shall support you by the angels of His holiness and reinforce you with the breaths of the Spirit that ye may mount the Ark of Safety, set forth the evident signs, impart the spirit of life, declare the essence of His commands and precepts, guide the sheep who are straying from the fold in all directions, and give the blessings. Ye have to use every effort in your power and strive earnestly and wisely in this new century. By G.o.d, verily the Lord of Hosts is your support, the angels of heaven your a.s.sistance, the Holy Spirit your companion and the Center of the Covenant your helper. Be not idle, but active and fear not. Look unto those who have been in the former ages-how they have resisted all nations and suffered all persecutions and afflictions, and how their stars shone, their attacks proved successful, their teachings established, their regions expanded, their hearts gladdened, their ideas cleared and their motives effective. Ye are now in a great station and n.o.ble rank and ye shall find yourselves in evident success and prosperity, the like of which the eye of existence never saw in former ages.

El-Baha and salutations be upon every one who is firm in the Covenant, free from dissension, sanctified from deceits and steadfast in the path.

"O thou herald of the Kingdom of G.o.d!..."

O thou herald of the Kingdom of G.o.d!

Hearken with the ears of (thy) spirit to the Concourse of El-ABHA, and thou wilt hear, verily, the angels of the Supreme Concourse blessing and praising thee, while saying: "Be thou rejoiced, O thou who hast arisen to serve the Cause of G.o.d and to promote the Word of G.o.d, and be gladdened at the light of the gift of G.o.d!"

By G.o.d, the True One, verily, the gifts of G.o.d are in such profusion as to rush like a torrent, overflow as a sea, and shower as rain. Gird up thy loins, strengthen thy back, make firm thy feet, and exert thyself in quickening souls, dilating b.r.e.a.s.t.s, illumining insights, giving hearing to ears, and attracting hearts. Unseal the jars of the choice wine of the love of G.o.d, and give the craving ones to drink from this cup which is overflowing with the knowledge of G.o.d.

O my friend, the affection of my heart unto thee cannot be expressed through any interpretation, and I can hardly write it or acknowledge it: Turn with thy breast unto the heart of Abdul-Baha, and then this concealed fact will be disclosed, and the hidden mystery [be] unveiled unto thee.

Verily, I beseech G.o.d to make thee a tree with ripened fruits within reach, overshadowing those regions.

It is inc.u.mbent upon thee to be meek, to be humble, to be submissive and suppliant before the Threshold of the Merciful. It is inc.u.mbent upon thee to serve the beloved of G.o.d in that spiritual clime.

Send my greeting and praise to thy revered wife, to thy esteemed daughter and to thy other children. I beg of G.o.d to enable all of them to render service to His Cause in His great vineyard.