them. They verily are the manifestations of the
power of God and the sources of His authority, and the repositories of His
knowledge, and the daysprings of His commandments. Secondarily these words
refer unto the kings and rulers--those through the brightness of whose
justice the horizons of the world are resplendent and luminous."

And again: "In the Epistle to the Romans Saint Paul hath written: 'Let
every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of
God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore,
resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God.' And further: 'For he
is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth
evil.' He saith that the appearance of the kings, and their majesty and
power, are of God."

And again: "A just king enjoyeth nearer access unto God than anyone. Unto
this testifieth He Who speaketh in His Most Great Prison."

Likewise in the Bi_sh_arat (Glad-Tidings) Baha'u'llah asserts that "the
majesty of kingship is one of the signs of God." "We do not wish," He
adds, "that the countries of the world should be deprived thereof."

In the Kitab-i-Aqdas He sets forth His purpose, and eulogizes the king who
will profess His Faith: "By the Righteousness of God! It is not Our wish
to lay hands on your kingdoms. Our mission is to seize and possess the
hearts of men. Upon them the eyes of Baha are fastened. To this testifieth
the Kingdom of Names, could ye but comprehend it. Whoso followeth his
Lord, will renounce the world and all that is therein; how much greater,
then, must be the detachment of Him Who holdeth so august a station!" "How
great the blessedness that awaiteth the king who will arise to aid My
Cause in My Kingdom, who will detach himself from all else but Me! Such a
king is numbered with the Companions of the Crimson Ark--the Ark which God
hath prepared for the people of Baha. All must glorify his name, must
reverence his station, and aid him to unlock the cities with the keys of
My Name, the Omnipotent Protector of all that inhabit the visible and
invisible kingdoms. Such a king is the very eye of mankind, the luminous
ornament on the brow of creation, the fountainhead of blessings unto the
whole world. Offer up, O people of Baha, your substance, nay your very
lives, for his assistance."

In the Lawh-i-Sultan Baha'u'llah further reveals the significance of
kingship: "A just king is the shadow of God on earth. All should se