O ye illumined loved ones and ye handmaids of the Merciful! At a time when
the sombre night of ignorance, of neglect of the divine world, of being
veiled from God, had overspread the earth, a bright morning dawned and a
rising light lit up the eastern sky. Then rose the Sun of Truth and the
splendours of the Kingdom were shed over east and west. Those who had eyes
to see rejoiced at the glad tidings and cried out: 'O blessed, blessed are
we!', and they witnessed the inner reality of all things, and uncovered
the mysteries of the Kingdom. Delivered then from their fancies and their
doubts, they beheld the light of truth, and so exhilarated did they become
from draining the chalice of God's love, that they utterly forgot the
world and their own selves. Dancing for joy they hastened to the place of
their own martyrdom and there, where men die for love, they flung away
their heads and hearts.
But those with unseeing eyes were astonished at this tumult, and they
cried, 'Where is the light?' and again, 'We see no light! We see no rising
sun! Here is no truth. This is but fantasy and nothing more.' Bat-like
they fled into the underground dark, and there, to their way of thinking,
they found a measure of security and peace.
This, however, is but the beginning of the dawn, and the heat of the
rising Orb of Truth is not yet at the fullness of its power. Once the sun
hath mounted to high noon, its fires will burn so hot as to stir even the
creeping things beneath the earth; and although it is not for them to
behold the light, yet will they all be set in frenzied motion by the
impact of the heat.
Wherefore, O ye beloved of God, offer up thanks that ye have, in the day
of the dawning, turned your faces unto the Light of the World and beheld
its splendours. Ye have received a share of the light of truth, ye have
enjoyed a portion of those blessings that endure forever; and therefore,
as a returning of thanks for this bounty, rest ye not for a moment, sit ye
not silent, carry to men's ears the glad tidings of the Kingdom, spread
far and wide the Word of God.
Act in accordance with the counsels of the Lord: that is, rise up in such
wise, and with such qualities, as to endow the body of this world with a
living soul, and to bring this young child, humanity, to the stage of
adulthood. So far as ye are able, ignite a candle of love in every
meeting, and with tenderness rejoice and cheer ye every heart. Care for
the stranger as for one of your own; show to alien souls the same loving
kindness ye bestow upon your faithful friends. Should any come to blows
with you, seek to be friends with him; should any stab you to the heart,
be ye a healing salve unto his sores; should any taunt and mock at you,
meet him with love. Should any heap his blame upon you, praise ye him;
should he offer you a deadly poison, give him the choicest honey in
exchange; and should he threaten your life, grant him a remedy that will
heal him evermore. Should he be pain itself, be ye his medicine; should he
be thorns, be ye his roses and sweet herbs. Perchance such ways and words
from you will make this darksome world turn bright at last; will make this
dusty earth turn heavenly, this devilish prison place become a royal
palace of the Lord--so that war and strife will pass and be no more, and
love and trust will pitch their tents on the summits of the world. Such is
the essence of God's admonitions; such in sum are the teachings for the
Dispensation of Baha.