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sublime station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe every

ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin duties are

inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other. Thus hath it been

decreed by Him Who is the Source of Divine inspiration.



They whom God hath endued with insight will readily recognize that the

precepts laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance

of order in the world and the security of its peoples. He that turneth

away from them, is accounted among the abject and foolish. We, verily,

have commanded you to refuse the dictates of your evil passions and

corrupt desires, and not to transgress the bounds which the Pen of the

Most High hath fixed, for these are the breath of life unto all created

things. The seas of Divine wisdom and divine utterance have risen under

the breath of the breeze of the All-Merciful. Hasten to drink your fill, O

men of understanding! They that have violated the Covenant of God by

breaking His commandments, and have turned back on their heels, these have

erred grievously in the sight of God, the All-Possessing, the Most High.



O ye peoples of the world! Know assuredly that My commandments are the

lamps of My loving providence among My servants, and the keys of My mercy

for My creatures. Thus hath it been sent down from the heaven of the Will

of your Lord, the Lord of Revelation. Were any man to taste the sweetness

of the words which the lips of the All-Merciful have willed to utter, he

would, though the treasures of the earth be in his possession, renounce

them one and all, that he might vindicate the truth of even one of His

commandments, shining above the day spring of His bountiful care and

loving-kindness.



Say: From My laws the sweet smelling savor of My garment can be smelled,

and by their aid the standards of victory will be planted upon the highest

peaks. The Tongue of My power hath, from the heaven of My omnipotent

glory, addressed to My creation these words: "Observe My commandments, for

the love of My beauty." Happy is the lover that hath inhaled the divine

fragrance of his Best-Beloved from these words, laden with the perfume of

a grace which no tongue can describe. By My life! He who hath drunk the

choice wine of fairness from the hands of My bountiful favor, will circle

around My commandments that shine above the Day Spring of My creation.



Think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws. Nay, rather,

We have unsealed the choice Wine with the fingers of might and power. To

this beareth witness that which the Pen of Revelation hath revealed.

Meditate upon this, O men of insight!...



Whenever My laws appear like the sun in the heaven of Mine utterance, they

must be faithfully obeyed by all, though My decree be such as to cause the

heaven of every religion to be cleft asunder. He doth what He pleaseth. He

chooseth; and none may question His choice. Whatsoever He, the

Well-Beloved, ordaineth, the same is, verily, beloved. To this He Who is

the Lord of all creation beareth Me witness. Whoso hath inhaled the sweet

fragrance of the All-Merciful, and recognized the Source of this

utterance, will welcome with his own eyes the shafts of the enemy, that he

may establish the truth of the laws of God amongst men. Well is it with

him that hath turned thereunto, and apprehended the meaning of His

decisive decree.