O ye respected souls! From the continual imitation of ancient and worn-out
ways, the world had grown dark as darksome night. The fundamentals of the
divine Teachings had passed from memory; their pith and heart had been
totally forgotten, and the people were holding on to husks. The nations
had, like tattered garments long outworn, fallen into a pitiful condition.
Out of this pitch blackness there dawned the morning splendour of the
Teachings of Baha'u'llah. He hath dressed the world with a garment new and
fair, and that new garment is the principles which have come down from
God.
Now the new age is here and creation is reborn. Humanity hath taken on new
life. The autumn hath gone by, and the reviving spring is here. All things
are now made new. Arts and industries have been reborn, there are new
discoveries in science, and there are new inventions; even the details of
human affairs, such as dress and personal effects--even weapons--all these
have likewise been renewed. The laws and procedures of every government
have been revised. Renewal is the order of the day.
And all this newness hath its source in the fresh outpourings of wondrous
grace and favour from the Lord of the Kingdom, which have renewed the
world. The people, therefore, must be set completely free from their old
patterns of thought, that all their attention may be focused upon these
new principles, for these are the light of this time and the very spirit
of this age.
Unless these Teachings are effectively spread among the people, until the
old ways, the old concepts, are gone and forgotten, this world of being
will find no peace, nor will it reflect the perfections of the Heavenly
Kingdom. Strive ye with all your hearts to make the heedless conscious, to
waken those who sleep, to bring knowledge to the ignorant, to make the
blind to see, the deaf to hear, and restore the dead to life.
It behoveth you to show forth such power, such endurance, as to astonish
all beholders. The confirmations of the Kingdom are with you. Upon you be
the glory of the All-Glorious.