assail it in future.

We should also bear in mind that the distinguishing character of the
Baha'i Revelation does not solely consist in the completeness and
unquestionable validity of the Dispensation which the teachings of
Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha have established. Its excellence lies also in
the fact that those elements which in past Dispensations have, without the
least authority from their Founders, been a source of corruption and of
incalculable harm to the Faith of God, have been strictly excluded by the
clear text of Baha'u'llah's writings. Those unwarranted practices, in
connection with the sacrament of baptism, of communion, of confession of
sins, of asceticism, of priestly domination, of elaborate ceremonials, of
holy war and of polygamy, have one and all been rigidly suppressed by the
Pen of Baha'u'llah; whilst the rigidity and rigor of certain observances,
such as fasting, which are necessary to the devotional life of the
individual, have been considerably abated.

A Living Organism

It should also be borne in mind that the machinery of the Cause has been
so fashioned, that whatever is deemed necessary to incorporate into it in
order to keep it in the forefront of all progressive movements, can,
according to the provisions made by Baha'u'llah, be safely embodied
therein. To this testify the words of Baha'u'llah, as recorded in the
Eighth Leaf of the exalted Paradise: "It is incumbent upon the Trustees of
the House of Justice to take counsel together regarding those things which
have not outwardly been revealed in the Book, and to enforce that which is
agreeable to them. God will verily inspire them with whatsoever He
willeth, and He, verily, is the Provider, the Omniscient." Not only has
the House of Justice been invested by Baha'u'llah with the authority to
legislate whatsoever has not been explicitly and outwardly recorded in His
holy Writ, upon it has also been conferred by the Will and Testament of
'Abdu'l-Baha the right and power to abrogate, according to the changes and
requirements of the time, whatever has been already enacted and enforced
by a preceding House of Justice. In this connection, He revealed the
following in His Will: "And inasmuch as the House of Justice hath power to
enact laws that are not expressly recorded in the Book and bear upon daily
transactions, so also it hath power to repeal the same. Thus for example,
the House of Justice enacteth today a certain law and enforce