Know Thou That According To What Thy
Sources:
Gleanings From The Writings Of Baha'u'llah
Know thou that, according to what thy Lord, the Lord of all men, hath
decreed in His Book, the favors vouchsafed by Him unto mankind have been,
and will ever remain, limitless in their range. First and foremost among
these favors, which the Almighty hath conferred upon man, is the gift of
understanding. His purpose in conferring such a gift is none other except
to enable His creature to know and recognize the one true God--exalted
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His glory. This gift giveth man the power to discern the truth in all
things, leadeth him to that which is right, and helpeth him to discover
the secrets of creation. Next in rank, is the power of vision, the chief
instrument whereby his understanding can function. The senses of hearing,
of the heart, and the like, are similarly to be reckoned among the gifts
with which the human body is endowed. Immeasurably exalted is the Almighty
Who hath created these powers, and revealed them in the body of man.
Every one of these gifts is an undoubted evidence of the majesty, the
power, the ascendancy, the all-embracing knowledge of the one true
God--exalted be His glory. Consider the sense of touch. Witness how its
power hath spread itself over the entire human body. Whereas the faculties
of sight and of hearing are each localized in a particular center, the
sense of touch embraceth the whole human frame. Glorified be His power,
magnified be His sovereignty!
These gifts are inherent in man himself. That which is preeminent above
all other gifts, is incorruptible in nature, and pertaineth to God
Himself, is the gift of Divine Revelation. Every bounty conferred by the
Creator upon man, be it material or spiritual, is subservient unto this.
It is, in its essence, and will ever so remain, the Bread which cometh
down from Heaven. It is God's supreme testimony, the clearest evidence of
His truth, the sign of His consummate bounty, the token of His
all-encompassing mercy, the proof of His most loving providence, the
symbol of His most perfect grace. He hath, indeed, partaken of this
highest gift of God who hath recognized His Manifestation in this Day.
Render thanks unto thy Lord for having vouchsafed unto thee so great a
bounty. Lift up thy voice and say: All praise be to Thee, O Thou, the
Desire of every understanding heart!