Lord hath committed the world and the cities thereof to
the care of the kings of the earth, and made them the emblems of His own
power, by virtue of the sovereignty He hath chosen to bestow upon them. He
hath refused to reserve for Himself any share whatever of this world's
dominion. To this He Who is Himself the Eternal Truth will testify. The
things He hath reserved for Himself are the cities of men's hearts, that
He may cleanse them from all earthly defilements, and enable them to draw
nigh unto the hallowed Spot which the hands of the infidel can never
profane. Open, O people, the city of the human heart with the key of your
utterance. Thus have We, according to a pre-ordained measure, prescribed
unto you your duty.

By the righteousness of God! The world and its vanities, and its glory,
and whatever delights it can offer, are all, in the sight of God, as
worthless as, nay, even more contemptible than, dust and ashes. Would that
the hearts of men could comprehend it! Cleanse yourselves thoroughly, O
people of Baha, from the defilement of the world, and of all that
pertaineth unto it. God Himself beareth Me witness. The things of the
earth ill beseem you. Cast them away unto such as may desire them, and
fasten your eyes upon this most holy and effulgent Vision.

That which beseemeth you is the love of God, and the love of Him Who is
the Manifestation of His Essence, and the observance of whatsoever He
chooseth to prescribe unto you, did ye but know it.

Say: Let truthfulness and courtesy be your adorning. Suffer not yourselves
to be deprived of the robe of forbearance and justice, that the sweet
savors of holiness may be wafted from your hearts upon all created things.
Say: Beware, O people of Baha, lest ye walk in the ways of them whose
words differ from their deeds. Strive that ye may be enabled to manifest
to the peoples of the earth the signs of God, and to mirror forth His
commandments. Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the
professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their conduct.
It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others.
Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole
earth. Happy is the man that heedeth My counsel, and keepeth the precepts
prescribed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

CXL: O MUHAMMAD-'ALI! GREAT IS THE BLESSEDNESS...

O Muhammad-'Ali! Great is the blessedness awaiting thee, inasmuch as thou