The Baha'i Revelation ===================== Exported from Holy-Writings.com on 2026-06-18 1 clipping 1. Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Thornton Chase, The Baha'i Revelation, New York: Bahá'í Publishing Committee, 1933, bahai-library.com. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── THE BAHAI REVELATION By THORNTON hHASE .. Judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God." (I CDr. 1- .:s.) .. For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matt• .16 :27.) .. He hath come with His most mighty Power among the nations; turn toward Him, 0 concourse of the good I The Father hath come and that which hath been promised unto you in the Kingdom is accomplished." (BaIIa'D'//d.) "' ~, J.' ~ ~ .. '" ... . ~ ~ . : :. PUBLISHED BY THE BAHAI PUBLISHING SOCIETY CHICAGO. ILL•• U. S. A. Digitized by Google I, Chlcalro. 1913 Digitized ---, -I CONTENTS. THE GLORY OF THE LORD. Page THE GREAT COMMANDMENT - I Love's Inspiration Man-made Gods Qualities - - - - - - - - - 2 The Creational Book 3 Universal Law 3 The Law of Love - - - - - - Man, the Chooser - ~ THE WORD OF GoD - - - The Word Incarnate 8, " 9, 78 The Word Speaker 10 The Love of God - - II The Wrath of Man - - - II The Witness of Truth - 12 Believing in Him 12 Immortality - - - - 13 "Let there be Light" - - - - - 14 THE GIFT OF GoD - - - - - - 16 Origins - - - - - - 16 Moses' Appointment - - 17 Heavenly Schoolmasters 19 The Word Alone - - - - 20 The Evidence of Christ 21 Power of the Word - - - - 22 The Divine Proof - - - - - - 23 The Mighty Names - - - - - 23 SUCCESSION OF DIVINE REvELATIONS 25 Channels of Communication 25 No Dispensation Final 26 Signs of the Times 26 Passing of the Old ~ Darkness - - - - - - - - - 28 The Glory of God - 29 THE FULLNESS OF TIME 30 Comini of the New - - - 30 The LIght of the Spirit - - - - - 32 Dangerous Knowledges - - - - - - 33 .. As ABOVE-So BELOW" - - - - - - - - 34 Light - - - - 35 Preparing the Way - - 36 Unity and Peace - • - J8 3G0702 Digitized by Google Page THE GOLDEN AGE - - - - - - - - - - 40 School Days - - - - - 40 The Day of Fulfilment 41 The Burdens of Prophecy 42 Isaiah Eleven - - - - 42 The Age of Fear 43 The Age of Unity - - - 44 Dawn of the Millennium - 45 Millennial Evidences 45 The Manhood of Man - - - - 46 HISTORY THEBAB - - - - - - - - - - 51 BAHA'O'LLAH - - - - - - - - - 55 ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS - ~ - - - - - 59 A Statement by Mirza Assad'u'Uah 62 TEACHINGS BAHA'S DECLARATION - - - - 6g The Appointment 70 The Breeze of the Spirit 70 WORDS OF BAHA'O'LLAH 72 Purification 72 Detachment 72 The Tongue - - - 73 Kindness 74 Eyes, Ears and Hearts 74 Lighting the Lamp - - - - 75 The Ordinances of God 76 THE WORD OF GOD - - - - - - - - 77 The Word Incarnate 78 The Spirit of Truth 79 THE SUPREME PEN - - - 81 THE DAY OF REVEALING - - 81 Severance - - - - 82 Ideal Light - - - - 83 DEcLARATION OF GoD'S SINGLENESS 83 DECLARATION OF GoD'S MANIFESTATIONS 85 Acknowledgment - - - - 87 Sure Paths - - - - - 87 THE PuRPOSE OF MANIFESTATION 90 INSTRUCTIONS - - - - - 93 Tablet to Badia 98 Tablet to Zia - - - - - 99 Digitized by Google Page THE HEARTS - - - - - 100 Victory - - - - - - - - - 102 Knowledge 103 ARTS, CRAFTS AND SCIENCES - - - - - 104 OCCUPATIONS 104 RELIGION lOS EDUCATION - - - - - - 106 PREcEPTS --------------- 107 To CHRISTIANS - - - - log THE ULTIMATE CRITERION lIS SALVATION "YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN" - - - - - II9 Spirit - - - - - - - - 119 The Dead - - - - - - - 120 TheLiving - - - - - - 121 "WHAT SHALL I Do TO BE SAVED?" 122 Faith 123 Knowledge 124 Prayer 124 God's Gifts 12S Obedience 126 Confidence - - 128 The Will 128 The Talents 129 The Primary School lJO Man's Spirit - - - - - - - - - 131 New Birth 131 THE BAHAI REVELATION THE BAHAI REVELATION IS AN INVITATION TO LoVE GoD - I3S THE BAHAI REvELATION IS AN INVITATION TO OBEDIENCE - 137 The Alphabet of Love is Obedience - - - - - - IJ8 THE BAHAI REVELATION IS OF AUTHORITY - - - - - - 140 THE BAHAI REVELATION TEACHES THE RELIGION OF LmNG 143 THIS REVELATION IS A CALL TO SACRIFICE - 14S THE BAHAi TEACHING IS AN INVITATION TO SERVICE 148 UNIVERSAL LoVE - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1S4 THE BAHAI REVELATION IS NEEDED - - - - - IsS THE OBJECT OF THE BAHAI REVELATION IS UNITY - 16S THE BAHAI REVELATION MAKES ALL THINGS NEW 170 THE REVELATION IS COMPLETE IN ITSELF - 17S TABLET FROM ABDUL-BAHA' 178 CoMMUNE - - - - - - - - - - - - ISo Digitized by Google Digitized by Google o Earth, Earth, Earth, Hear the Word of the LoRD I (Jer. 22.19.) Groe ear, 0 ye HelNens, and I ",-ill speak; and hear, 0 Earth, the Words of My Mouth. My Doctrine shall drop as the rain, My Speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the Name of the LoRD: Ascribe ye Greatness unto our God. (Deut. 31.1-3.) Hear, all ye People! Hearken, 0 Earth, and all that therein is,· and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from His Holy Temple. For, Behold, the LoRD cometh out of His Place! (Micah 1.1.) Hear, 0 Heavens, and groe ear 0 Earth: for the LoRD hath spoken! (Is. 1.1.) Is not My Word like as a fire'! saith the LoRD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces'! (Jer. 13.29.) The Anointed of the God of lacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LoRD spake by me, and His Word was in my tongue. (2 Sam. 23.1.) "Man,.the most noble and perfect of the creatures, is a mightier evidence and greater expression ( of truth) than the other visible thin.f:s. The most perfect, superior and excellent of men are the Manifestations of the Sun of Truth." (BAHA'O'LI.AIL) Digitized by Google IlThe Sun of Truth is the Word of God, upon which depends the training of the people of the country of thought. It is the Spirit of Reality and the Water of Life. All things owe their existence to it. Its manifestation is ever according to the capacity and coloring of the mirror through which it may reflect. For example: Its light, when cast on the mirrors of the wise, gives expression to wisdom; when reflected from the minds of artists it produces manifestations of new and beautiful arts; when it shines through the minds of students it reveals knowledge and unfolds mysteries. IlAll things of the world arise through man and are manifest in him, through whom they find life and development; and man is dependent for his (Spiritual) existence upon the Sun of the Word of God. All the gooa names and lofty qualities are of the Word. The Word is the Fire of God, which, glowing in the hearts of the people, burns away all things that are not of God. The minds of the lovers are ever aflame with this fire ........ Outwardly it is a burning fire, but inwardly it is calm light. This is the Water which giveth life to all things. IlWe beg of God that 'lIJ'e may partake of this Life-giving Water of Heaven and quaff from the Spiritual Chalice of rest, and thus be free from all that tends to withhold us from approaching His Love. Glory be upon the people of Glory!" (Words of Wisdom. BAHA'O'LLAH.) Digitized by Google tiThe Word of God is the storehouse of all good, all power and all 'UI'isdom. The illiterate fishers and savage Arabs were thereby enabled to solve such problems as were puzzles to eminent learned men in all the ages. It awakens within us that brilliant intuition which makes us independent of all tuition and endows us 'UI'ith an all-embracing power of spiritual understanding. tlMany a soul in the ark of philosophy, after fruitless struggles, u'as drou'1led in the sea of conflicting theories of cause and effect, while those on board the craft of simplicity reached the shore of the Universal Cause by the aid of favorable 'UI'inds blowing from the Point of Divine Knowledge. tlWhen man is associated with that transcendent Power emanating from the Word of God, the tree of his being becomes so well rooted in the soil of assurance that it laughs at the violent hurricanes of skepticism which attempt its eradication. For this association of the part with the Whole endows him with the Whole, and this unison of the particular with the Universal makes him all in all." (Abdul- Baha.') r Digitized by Google Digitized by Google lNTRODLCTION The claim of the Bahai (Glorious) Revelation is that it is the Word of God sent to men to remove the antagonism and differences between peoples of various religions and prepare: the way for their coming together in harmony and love and in an assured .knowledge of the Will of God. It proclaims the time of Universal Peace and provides the foundation for the Universal Religion-the hope of the ages. It points the way and supplies the means for the unity of mankind in the knowledge and love of Truth under the high banners of Justice and Mercy. It is "imple, profound, purifying, searching, as is the Word of God always. It is divine in origin, human in presentation, sane, practical and applicable to life in its every phase. In belief, it inculcates naught but truth i in action, naught but good; in human relations, naught but loving service. A world-religion is needed, a solvent of religious differences, an enlightener of religious misconceptions, an unifier of peoples i~ the knowledge of the One God and Father of them all, a platform on which all believers and seekers for God and His truth may meet, from whatever race or training they may [ i] Digitized by Google come. And that religion must recognize the divine elements which underlie all religions and meet each loyal soul upon his own ground without claiming advantage over him, but rather bringing the light of God's Word to shine upon the truths he already has, in order that he may develop into a higher understanding of Truth itself. The honored scholar and noble man, Max Muller, who had frankly studied the languages and religions of the Orient, wrote as follows: "The true religion of the future will be the fulfilment of all the religions of the past, the true religion of humanity, that which in the struggle of history remains as the indestructible portion of all the so- , called religions of mankind. There never was a false God, nor was there ever a false religion, unless you call a child a false man. All religions, as far as I know them, had the same purpose; all were links in a chain which connects heaven an'd earth, and which is held and always was held by One and the Same Hand. All here on earth tends towards right, truth and perfection; nothing here on earth can ever be quite right, quite true, quite perfect-not even Christianity--or what is now called Christianity, so long as it excludes other religions, instead of loving and embracing what is good in each." That "true religion of the future," as Max Muller saw it, has already arrived in the Bahai Revelation; but where else is such a religion? With all the glorious efforts and results of Christian mission- [ ii ] Digitized by Google ary enterprise during the recent decades, it has scarcely made an impress on Moslems, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Brahmans or Jews. It has endeavored to overthrow the religious conceptions of other nations in favor of its own, but it has taught the interpretations of its churches rather than the direct, simple teachings of Jesus, placing the word of man in lieu of the Word of God, and therefore it has been powerless to win those peoples who believe that they have also received the Divine Word from their own prophets and founders. It is possible that the records of Jesus' words are quite imperfect, but, even so, they have brought comfort, hope and satisfaction to myriads of human souls, and if only his pure teachings had been presented, with their doctrines exemplified in the lives of the teachers, the whole world might have received them and loved them j but the peoples will not accept the teachings of a "cult" and its doctors as against their own cults and doctrines. It is necessary for the conquering of the heart of the world that the Word of Jesus shall be renewed and confirmed by a fresh revelation of God's Command, one that comes with declared authority and proves its Right and Source by its vitalizing effect upon the lives of men. There is no religion that has remained pure and undefiled, and consequently there is none of them fitted or capable to cause the nations to abandon their own religion to accept it. The known condition of the world's religions is such that not one of them [ iii] Digitized by Google can subdue or amalgamate the others. Time and efforts only emphasize this fact. What then? Shall the Word of God, proclaimed through so many of his prophets and messengers, be for naught? Or shall the promise of His appearing to the world with power, and the consequent union, happiness, knowledge, peace and prosperity of mankind be accomplished? The precedent to universal peace, which is the "millennium" promised in all scriptures, is the conscious knowledge of the One God, of His Messenger and His Message to men. The Bahai teaching is that God's Word faileth . not, that it is accurate and reliable, that the time of its promises is at hand and that His Word, now proclaimed to the whole world in BAHA'O'LLAH (The Glory of God) ,is powerful and able to achieve His Will in the regeneration and union of mankind. "It is not a new religion, but Religion renewed." Whereever it has proceeded it has produced the results foretold of the "end of the age" and also declared by itself. It proclaims the immanence of God and His presence with humanity; it penetrates men's hearts and shows them their need of God and the way to find satisfaction for that need; it does remove religious di ff~rences and dispel religious rancor and doubt; it does bring men into the heart knowledge and consciousness of the Love of God and into loving unity with each other, without regard to race or former religionj it inculcates divine morals, ethics and characteristics and brings man to higher conceptions of [ iv] Digitized by Google duty and life than have been his heritage from the churches of various creeds. It speaks with authority, demanding that man shall obey the Word, and naught but joy and uplifting is found in that obedience. It calls on man to test its worth by living its Ordinances, and those laws prove to be the very wine of Life. It comes not to destroy but to fulfil again that which has been fulfilled before and to complete that which has not been completed in the past. It offers itself as the Truth of God to every earnest soul; its followers are already numbered by the millions and are of all the great religious nations. If it be truth, wise is he who accepts it; if not-surely duty demands that it be tested and its fallacy proved lest men be led astray. It is but just to say that it is a very "live wire" and he who touches it must be prepared to receive in himself a powerful current of its "electricity." The truth of any religion can be proved and confirmed only by the heart, by testing its tenets in the life. The Bahai Revelation is unshaken in the arena of intellect, but powers of reasoning cannot make final decision concerning spiritual truth. One may read or hear it for a lifetime, may listen to opinions or express them endlessly, but no judgment is just, no opinion reliable except that of the personal living and decision of the heart. It is not a matter of philosophical reasoning, but a question of fact, and facts are demonstrable only by experience. Abdul-Baha was asked, "What is the truth?" He [v] Digitized by Google replied, "Truth is the Word of God, which gives life to humanity. It restores sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf; it makes eloquent those who are dumb, and living beings out of dead beings; it illuminates the world of the heart and soul; it reduces to nothingness the iniquities of the neglectful and erring ones. Beauty, perfection, brilliancy and spirituality of this existence come from or through the Word of God. For all it is the supreme goal, the greatest desire, the cause of life, light, instruction. The road to attain to this Truth is the Love of God. When the light of the Love of God is burning in the mirror of the heart, that flame shows the way and guides to the Kingdom of the Word of God. "As to that which causes the growth of the love of God, know that it is to tum one's self toward God." [vi] Digitized by Google The Glory of the Lord Digitized by Google ItH ear, 0 Israel: The LoRD our God is one LoRD: And thou shalt love the LoRD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and ,",-ith all thy might. And these words, which I comma"d thee this day, .shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walk est by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house and on thy gates." (Moses. Deut. 6.4-9.) It is related that a certain scribe asked of Jesus: "Which is the first commandment of all?" Jesus answered him, liThe first of all the commandments is, Hear, 0 Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God ,",-ith all thy heart, and ,",-ith all thy soul, and with all thy mind, antJ ,",-ith all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Th'ou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandme"t greater than these." (Mark I 2.29-3 I.) Digitized by Google . . . ... . . ...- ~ '~:: .~ . -. . .. .. : .::. -.. :'. -:....... /: . ' THE GREAT COMMANDMENT. The first and greatest command- Love's ment, that of love, is recorded alike by Inspiration Moses and Jesus, but how shall it be . obeyed? Love is attraction; it cannot be forced or commanded; it must be drawn forth by the lovable. The will may direct love's attention toward an object but can never compel its action. The desirability of the object, the longing for nearness and union with it, these are the inspirers of love. How can man love God, the Infinite, whom no one hath seen? No man can comprehend God or know him as he is. How can his whole being, heart, soul, mind and strength, be devoted to the love of the Unknown, the Unseen? With all his striving and searching man cannot find out God. He can manufacture a god of his imagination, a creature of his Man-made Gods superstition, usually a magnified reflection of himself possessing both his good and bad qualities, but the gods of man's making are not worth his love and devotion; how then shall he obey the great commandment? Although some knowledge of the Beloved is necessary for love, does the keeping of the command re- I Digitized by Google q~il'e: u~ .:io kh~ him' as. he is in his Essence, his Pre. existence, in order to love him? Man loves many things, but knows not the essence of anything. . At the most, he perceives only some of the desirable qualities manifested and he loves either the qualities or, because of them, their unknown essences. If it be some precious jewel, he admires the brilliancy, luster, hardness, beauty of the gem-its revealed qualities; if it be a flower, it is the freshness, the forms of petals and stamens, the colors, harmony and fragrance, which attract him; or if a hu- Qualities man being, the human qualities, strength, knowledge, power and ability, or weakness, sweetness, delicacy, refinement and grace draw forth his love. Yet in no case does he comprehend the reality which is hidden beneath these evident and attractive displays. They are veils of beauty, hiding their parent, essence, while revealing some of its attributes. If we cannot penetrate through the yellowness, density and qualities of a piece of gold to know what gold is, how shall we expect to sound the depths of firm aments, the magnitudes of space or mysteries of littleness to find out God and know what God is? The commands of the Almighty are not sent forth in vain. Although man cannot lift himself above him· self to the heavens of knowledge of the Infinite One, God can reveal to him that information of his beauty which shall cause him to be in man's sight "The One altogether lovely." He, who has placed in us the Digitized by Google power to perceive qualities and values, discloses enough of his lovable characteristics to draw to himself all the love of our beings. In every atom he unfolds his attributes--in sun, star and moon-in dawn, sunset and night-in storm and shine-in crystal, flower and animal-and above all in man, the microcosm, the index of existence. The The whole apparent universe is a great Creational "Creational Book," a concourse of mir- Book rors displaying his qualities. All mankind attempts to read this book, but what each finds depends on his point of view which has been formed by previous training and environment. Even in reading a printed book, in listening to music or in viewing a work of art, no two persons see alike; their perceptions are according to their education. So with the book of creation-the ignorant see only the powers manifested in nature and cringe before them, while the more advanced in knowledge appreciate order, beauty, wisdom and other delightful values therein. In the spiritual childhood of man he stands in wonder and awe before that book, staring at its pages, unable to interpret them aright-until he has learned how to read. Each step of life is the result of education. In the alphabet of living, man learns that all existence is subject to law. The universe displays order and harmony in every part; the Un~:e;sal suns and planets, each element and organization in the mineral, vegetable and animal worlds, all are governed by inflexible law; nothing is Digitized by Google exempt. Therefore Law is universal and expresses itself in various definite, reliable actions, severally called laws-such as those of attraction, vibration, inertia, construction (as in crystal, plant and animal), laws of cycles, of ascent and descent, summer and winter, life and death, centripetal and centrifugal laws, etc. This one great law of the universe keeps everything in its place. It binds the particles of rock together; it causes things to fall toward the earth's center instead of flying off into space; it holds the suns, moons and planets perfectly in their orbits; it causes like to seek like, and it produces harmony among all material things, so that each. fulfils its purpose in existence. Whatever we may call it, cohesion, gravi- The Law tation, motion or force, it is in reality the of Love Law of Love. It is co-eternal with existence; it is the Immanence of God, the expression of the Creator in creation. If this Love of God is so manifest in the kingdoms of matter, how much more must it be toward his higher creature man I The very lowest and most ignorant of men is far higher in the scale of existence than minerals, vegetables or animals. "If God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, o ye of little faith." God is Love, always was Love, always will be Love. He has always loved man. We cannot conceive of any time that God's love has not been shown to him. All nature says to man: "God so loves you that he has Digitized by Google made me to serve you and to provide for your needs. Lo, here I am I Do with me as you will." Food and drink, clothing and shelter, flowers and colors, beauty, order, variety, harmony and unity, all things for the welfare and delight of man I If the generous Father so provides for material and mental needs, how much more must his Providence care for the spiritual necessities I All things are related to other things in a fixed manner; nothing is independent or self-subsistent but all are under the over-ruling law which expresses itself in each according to its needs and for its highest development. Even the laws of decay and disintegration are for an evolution to higher uses, as the rock must be ground to dust before its nobler values may appear in the rose and grape. Man sees these laws of physical life working and expressing in all below and around him, even in his own body and mind; he also perceives that knowledge enables him to grow in wisdom and power. As the government of each kingdom is such that it promotes its best condition, so must there not be laws for man, which shall direct him to his highest possible destiny? The same divine Wisdom, which cares for the lily and the grass of the field to bring them to their fulness of use and beauty, must surely provide for the exaltation of humanity to its perfection, and this is above and beyond the realm of ordinary human faculties. There is a marked and vital difference between man and the kingdoms below him. They are sinless, Digitized by Google knowing neither right nor wrong, unconsciously living the laws of their existence, which are expressed in them, not to them. These laws are expressed also in man, and to him because he is the only being who has the power to oppose nature and to select among her laws which he will serve. Man is endowed with Godlike qualities, powers of discrimination and judgment, perceptions of values--of worth and unworth and a free will ta decide between them. He has eaten of the tree of knowledge of good and evil Man, The Chooser and can choose either as he will. These superior faculties make him an intelligent, choosing, responsible creature, responsible to himself for his attainment or loss. Therefore the generous, loving Law-maker offers to him a clear knowledge of the laws of progress towara his greatest good, in order that man may perceive, learn, obey and become, as it were, a conscious partner with Him in the attainment of a Life Eternal, a nearness and intimacy with the Divine Wisdom and Love, which shall exalt him into the heavenly condition of "oneness with God." "Man is said to be the greatest representative of God, and he is the 'Book of Creation~ because all the mysteries of being exist in him. If he comes under the shadow of the True Educator and is highly trained, he becomes the esse~ce of essences, the light of lights, the spirit of spirits; he becomes the center of the divine appearances, the source of spiritual qual- Digitized by Google ttles, the rising-place of helWenly lights, and the receptacle of divine inspirations." (Abdul-Baha.' "Some Answered Questions." p. 273.) The great Law, which enables man to understand the way of Life and to walk therein, is the revealed Word or expression on the human plane of the Will of God for the welfare of man. It is the Book of books, the Law of laws, which reveals to man the hidden facts of being and teaches him how to know and love God and also how to understand the lessons printed on the pages of the universe. It appeals to his heart, is studied and interpreted there, because it is expressed in terms of life. It comes forth from the Arcana of the heavens as the highest Manifestation of Truth, the greatest Message to promote the advancement and happiness of man, to guide and light him in the "Right Path." It is the Word of God. 7 , Digitized by Google THE WORD OF GOD. The doctrine of the Logos, the Word, appears throughout all scriptures and it is concretely stated in the first Chapter of the Gospel of St. John. Itln the beginning was the Word, and the Word was 'Uith God, and the Word 'U'as God. The same 'UVIS in the beginning with God. ItAll things were made by him (through The Word); and without him was not anything made that was made. - Itln him (The Word) was life,' and the life was the light of men. ItAnd the light (The Word) shineth in darkness (of ignorance); and the darkness comprehended it nol." ItAnd the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (literally, tabernacled or pitched his tent) among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." "For the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." What was that glory but the manifested Word of the Will of God, shining forth in words of light and illustrated in the holy, selfless life of the Perfect Man, all aflame with the Divine Spir!t of God t Digitized b~ Google tlNo man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he (The Incarnate Word) hath declared him." Man, "made after his image," is the highest expression of God in the world of being. When the Invisible Word, the creative power of God, becomes revealed through a prepared Man and is transmuted through him into the The Word Incarnate spoken or written Word, it is incarnated, "made flesh," and is visible to man because it has descended into his plane of existence. When the same "Hidden Word" enters into the One fitted to receive it and becomes the sole light and power of his life, it is "incarnate," revealing itself through the temple of his body, from which its glory radiates in every word and deed. That body is the throne on which it is seated and from which its proclamations are given. The human instrument of revelation, being then identified with the Word-which is the manifested Spirit of God-is also called The Word or Manifestation, because He is the personification of that Word to mankind. ttThe Spirit and the Word mean the divine perfections that appeared in the Reality of Christ." liThe Holy Reality of the Word of God is in the condition of the pure, fine and shining mirror; the heat, the light, the image and likeness, that is to say, the perfections of the Sun of Reality appear in it. That is 'Why Christ says in the Gospel: The Father 9 . Digitized by Google is in the Son; that is to say, the Sun of Reality appears in the mirror." (Abdul-Baha.'· "Some Anwered Questions" p. 240.) Man is the word-speaker. He is taught by words; he communicates his ideas, wishes and will, by words; his accomplishments on earth result from his words; he trains the most subtle powers to carry his words to the end of the world; he records them on stone, wax, parchment and paper that future generations may not utterly forget him. All this is The Word that man may understand God's method Speaker of communicating his Will and may receive the teaching of his higher attributes by means of the uttered Word. In order that it may reach man it is revealed through human mouth-pieces. uGod hath spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets since the world began." (Acts 3. 2 I: Lu. 1. 70), and when the time arrived for the coming to birth of the Kingdom of God among men, the Incarnate Word was called his "Only begotten," his "Son,,-uFor God so loved the world that he gtroe his only begotten Son, that 'UI'hosoever believed on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3. 16.) What wonderful, what beautiful teaching 1 God was not angry with mankind, as some have taught. How could they teach so with these words flaming before their eyes? Was not the :whole burden of Jesus' teaching-Love, the love 'of the Father? And Digitized by Google that man should love God and love man, his neighbar? How could man love an angry The Love God, a wrathful monarch? No 1 God so of God loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, the Incarnate Word, that whosoever accepted him-"believed in him"--should have everlasting life. That representative of Divine Love, whose whole life was love, was not "given" to suffer anguish in the place of man, t:> be rejected, scorned and crucified, to bear the deserved punishment of men's sins and thus placate an offended father. Truly he suffered all these things because of The Wrath of Man the sins of men, but it was through the wrath of man, not of God, his Father. "God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the 'UJ'orld through him might be saved." (9 :27 3.17.) He never condemned the poor, ignorant siners, "blind from their birth." He said to them, "Go and sin no more," and in the very depth of degradation and suffering poured upon him, he cried, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." His fatal and awful condemnations were only for the mighty, the "learned," the false guides, the "blind leaders of the blind," the priestly revilers of the Word of God. It is related that the people presse d upon. h·1m to hear theW a rd a f The Witness of Truth God (Lu. 5. I.) because, tiMan doth not live by bread only, but by every 'UJ'ord that pro- II Digitized by Google ceedeth out of the mouth of the LoRD doth man live." (Deut. 8.3; Matt. 4.4; Lu. 4.4.) He said: liTo this end 'Was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." What is meant by believing in him if it be not to believe the Word he spoke, the Word of the Father poured "forth from his blessed lips for the uplifting of men and to bring all who believed in him into the Kingdom of God, new born, new crea- Believing in Him tures, sons of God and heirs to the glorious bounties of the Kingdom of Heaven? To believe on him meant also to recognize him as the Messenger and Son of the Most High, and that belief followed the acceptance of his Word. The Word of God is the key to Immortality. It is the bearer of Eternal Life. It is the instructor in knowledge of God, that man may know and love him, may become his son, be one with him as the iron with the magnet and be heir to his Kingdom, "being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth. and abideth forever." (I. Peter 1.23.) When the iron is in the fire it loses its hard, black, cold qualities; being filled with the fire it becomes soft, fluent, glowing and fiery. It can Immortality say, "I am one with the fire, I in the fire, and the fire in me, I and the fire are one I" Thus is man who is born of the Spirit; he is Digitized by Google a "new creature," transformed because transmuteq by the elixir of the Word, which changes the copper of his nature into the pure gold of another and loftier state known as "Eternal Life" or "Immortality," a condition of oneness with the Spirit of God and sonship to Him. This is the true image or likeness of God. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed UpOtl us, that we should be called the sons of God." tlBe_ loved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." ( I. John, 3.2.) This resurrection from a lower to a higher station, this new birth, rejoices the Psalmist when he exclaims, "As for me I fI.!-ill behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, fI.!'hetl I awake, with thy likeness." (Ps. 17.15.). This is immortality-not merely continued existence (even the satans have that), but an eternal oneness with Life itself, the True One, "whom to know is life eterna1." Jesus said: liThis is the fI.!'ill of my Father, that everyone that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life." (John 6.40.) liThe words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." (John 6.63.) Such statements fill the New Testament and are in accord with the divine teachings of all time, viz: that the Word of God is the giver of light, the teacher and guide of Digitized by Google men to eternal life, the creator of new hearts and right spirits, the revelation of God. In Genesis, the book of creation, it is written: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. A nd the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. "Let There And the Spirit of Godmo'CJed upon the Be Light!" face of the waters. And God said (The Word), Let there be light; and there was light." It is the same story-not necessarily an account of tne creation of physical light, but rather of the real creation which occurs to· every man in whom a new heart is created and a right spirit renewed. He is dead in ignorance and chaos; darkness is upon the face of his soul, until the Word of God enters into him and says: "Be light I" Then comes a dawning, an awakening, a day-spring, a resurrection within him. He is recreated, born again, begotten of the Spirit, a son of God. It is always accomplished by the Word " 'Be I' -and it is." "By the word of the LoRD were the heavens made." (PS.33.6.) His heavens are also created in the hearts of those who love and serve him. "The kingdom of heaven is within you." This recognition of the Word and perception of Light is the first step man takes toward the divine destiny, the heavenly manhood, which God his Father has made possible for him, and to which he invites him in each one of his supreme commands. ttGod is the LoRD who hath Digitized by Google sho'Wed us light." (Ps. II8.27.) "The entrance of thy 'Words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." (Ps. II9. 130.) "Thy word is a lamp unto my feel, and a light unto my path." (Ps. II9. 105.) "Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes 'With man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened 'With the light of the living." (Job. 33. 29·) (lAnd the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light." (Rev. 2 I. 34.) IS Digitized by Google THE GIFT OF GOD. "God loved the world"-not only the Jews at Jerusalem, but all mankind; not only at the time of Jesus but before and since. Always, "since the world began" he has given his Word to all men, at all times, in so far as they were able to receive it. Whence came the wonderful instructions for life in the ancient writings of Enoch, Moses, David and the Psalmists, in the Vedas, the Avesta, the Gathas and Upanishads, in Isaiah and Lao Tse ? Were they of Origins human or divine manufacture? They were always higher than the imaginations of men, and they were opposed to his natural desires. When their inner significances and realities are perceived, the oneness of their essentials is so evident there can be no doubt that they originated from a single source. They all had their origins in the Word of God, which in its essence is the same today, yesterday and forever. There is but One God; His Word is ever one and the same. That which is different is not His Word. Each of the great religions bases its teaching, faith, loyalty and existence upon confidence in the word of a single human founder. Each points back to him as the reliable one, the superlative one, the infallible one. But-no word is infallible save that of God, and Digitized by Google if those great ones were truly reliable, their word must have been the Word of God. The expression of that Word through such prepared human instruments has always been the method whereby man has learn~ed the Will of God for his own life. They were the "mouths" of the LORD. That the Almighty God chooses a man to be his representative and his mouthpiece is shown in the interesting account, related in Exodus 3 and 4, of his appointment of Moses to be the Deliverer of his people Israel. After God called to him out of the burning bush and told him that he was the God of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He said: HI fIJ-ill send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bri1lg forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt." (God is always trying to bring his children out of the Egypt of darkness and ignorance.) But Moses did not seek such an appointmeht; he dreaded it and tried to escape it, although he desired to serve God. HAnd Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Phar- Moses' aoh, and that I should bring forth the Appointchildren of Israel out of Egypt?" Then ment God gave his mighty Name-HI AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." He also gave further instructions to Moses to tell the people how God had appeared unto him and given these commands. Digitized by Google tlAnd Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not sent thee." Then the LoRD showed him how to manifest signs of power by the symbols of the rod and of the right hand, but still tiM oses said unto the LoRD, 0 my Lord, [ am not eloquent, neither heretofore nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant, but [ am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." tlAnd the LoRD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth?" tlHave nol [ the LoRD? Now therefore go, and [ will be ,",ith thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." Yet Moses could not entirely sever his thought of self and' trust the Lord. tlAnd he said, 0 my Lord, send, [ pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou shouldest send" How prone we are, even to this day, to decide in our minds whom the LORD shall send as his Representative to man, and how he shall come.) But, after all this, God chose Moses to be his representative to Israel, and even appointed Aaron his brother to be a mouthpiece for Moses, saying, "[ know Ihat he can speak well." tIAnd thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and [ ,",-ill be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and ,",ill teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be 10 thee instead of a mouth and THOU SHALT BE TO HIM INSTEAD OF GOD." Thus God puts his Word into the mouths of his Digitized by Google Chosen Ones, and thus he appoints a man to be as God unto men. It is by the might of the Word that man is saved. The power of God is in the Word, but it saves only him who takes it into his heart that it may spring up there into a fountain of living Water, from which he shall be born into a new Life. In its lower, outer aspect, it is for the advantage of man's present living; it teaches him morals and ethics which are the only source of all true ethical training, but its deeper meanings and instructions are to prepare man for an inner life, widely different and incomparable to this life. Indeed, the best outer life is but death compared to this inner life; it is an old life compared to a new life. The speech of these Mouthpieces of God was in the language and terminology of the time and place where it was given, but the teachings were offered and accepted only up to the degree of capacity in their hearers. In the ages of spiritual infancy man could receive but little of the strength of the Word, and its doctrine was according to his capacity. First came the laws of fear and obedience; then reverence, justice, wisdom and love were inculcated Heavenly as mankind progressed in the "Schools Schoolof the Prophets." Each revealer of the masters Word was a heavenly schoolmaster and each divine lesson became the foundation for the further teaching of a later day. Each manifestor of the commands of God referred to the teachings of those before him as witness to his own authority. "For had Digitized by Google ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me." (John 5· 4 6.) Age after age, through all history, One has appeared, who gave to man the Word of God, divine instruction how to live and what to do to attain a higher and heavenly station, to overcome former conditions and rise to a manner of life which should be permanent, sinless, perfect and valuable. With each one there was no earthly power, no armies, royalty, riches nor honor, but rather poverty, apparent weakness, oppression, hatred and rejection. Whatever the circumstance, time or place, he was, or Th11::rd became, poor in all things except the riches of the Word which ever went forth from the door of humility and lowliness. It was simply delivered and left to itself without human aid (except the life illustrating it) that it might prove its divine power by its own penetrative, creative and transforming effect upon mankind. At first it entered the hearts of the few, changed their lives, opened their minds to the Truth and Love of God, and then went on from generation to generation, alteFing the destinies of nations, overthrowing dynasties, forming new peoples and giving life and hope to untold millions of souls throughout centuries of time. There are men in this day, reputed to be learned, who try to deny that the historical Jesus ever lived. The histories of him are hearsay accounts, written by unknown authors; not a word of his own writing Digitized by Google is in existence as far as known; indeed there is no record that he ever wrote, except with his finger upon the ground (what a wonderful symbol was that, if it be understood I) even as God wrote with his finger upon the tables of stone borne by Moses f rom S· · Yet the eVl·dence that th eTheof Evidence mal. Christ Christ lived in that age of the world, and that he gave such teachings as are recorded, is as certain as the existence of the sun, because there must have been a Speaker of the Words which have lived and proved their divine quality through nineteen centuries in every way possible for the mind or heart of man to conceive. None but a Christ could have conceived such a character as the man, Christ Jesus. The proof of the sun is its shining and its effect on the physical world; the evidence of the Word of God is its educative power and the light of Life, which it kindles in the souls of men, making each heart a living flame, never to be quenched. No one, who has felt the elixir of th~,Word penetrating his soul and the fountain of eternal youth springing up within him, can ever deny the reality of the Christ and the fact of human Manifestation, the Bearer of the Cup of Life. That which distinguishes man from the lower kingdoms, that which makes him a man, is the power of the Word of God working in him to will and to do, to create new methods of thinking and doing, to implant new ideas which later become ideals toward which he strives, because he perceives them to be more, Digitized by Google valuable than his former knowledges and possessions, and so he grows from childhood to manhood, grows in favor with God and man. Many can bear witness to the power of the Word in their lives. It enters through the brain into the mind of man, and if not rejected it goes Power of the Word deeper, penetrating his heart, piercing through the shells of self sufficiency and self conceit, and becomes the new motive power of his life. "For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any t'Wo-edged sword, piercing even to the di