Praise be to God! This is a radiant gathering. The faces are brilliant
with the light of God. The hearts are attracted to the Kingdom of Baha. I
beg of God that day by day your faces may become brighter; day by day you
may draw nearer to God; day by day you may take a greater portion from the
outpourings of the Holy Spirit so that you may become encircled by the
bounties of heaven.
The spiritual world is like unto the phenomenal world. They are the exact
counterpart of each other. Whatever objects appear in this world of
existence are the outer pictures of the world of heaven. When we look upon
the phenomenal world, we perceive that it is divided into four seasons;
one is the season of spring, another the season of summer, another autumn
and then these three seasons are followed by winter. When the season of
spring appears in the arena of existence, the whole world is rejuvenated
and finds new life. The soul-refreshing breeze is wafted from every
direction; the soul-quickening bounty is everywhere; the cloud of mercy
showers down its rain, and the sun shines upon everything. Day by day we
perceive that the signs of vegetation are all about us. Wonderful flowers,
hyacinths and roses perfume the nostrils. The trees are full of leaves and
blossoms, and the blossoms are followed by fruit. The spring and summer
are followed by autumn and winter. The flowers wither and are no more; the
leaves turn gray and life has gone. Then comes another springtime; the
former springtime is renewed; again a new life stirs within everything.
The appearances of the Manifestations of God are the divine springtime.
When Christ appeared in this world, it was like the vernal bounty; the
outpouring descended; the effulgences of the Merciful encircled all
things; the human world found new life. Even the physical world partook of
it. The divine perfections were upraised; souls were trained in the school
of heaven so that all grades of human existence received life and light.
Then by degrees these fragrances of heaven were discontinued; the season
of winter came upon the world; the beauties of spring vanished; the
excellences and perfections passed away; the lights and quickening were no
longer evident; the phenomenal world and its materialities conquered
everything; the spiritualities of life were lost; the world of existence
became life unto a lifeless body; there was no trace of the spring left.
Baha'u'llah has come into this world. He has renewed that springtime. The
same fragrances are wafting; the same heat of the Sun is giving life; the
same cloud is pouring its rain, and with our own eyes we see that the
world of existence is advancing and progressing. The human world has found
new life.
I hope that each and all of you may become like unto verdant and green
trees so that through the breezes of the divine spring, the outpouring of
heaven, the heat of the Sun of Truth, you may become eternally refreshed;
that you may bear blossoms and become fruitful; that you may not be as
fruitless trees. Fruitless trees do not bring forth fruits or flowers. I
hope that all of you may become friends of the paradise of Abha, appearing
with the utmost freshness and spiritual beauty. I pray in your behalf and
beg of God confirmation and assistance.
14 April 1912
Talk at Church of the Ascension
Fifth Avenue and Tenth Street, New York