on reflect the attributes of the Baha'is.' Not until ye attain
this station can ye be said to have been faithful to the Covenant and
Testament of God. For He hath, through irrefutable Texts, entered into a
binding Covenant with us all, requiring us to act in accordance with His
sacred instructions and counsels.

O army of God! The time hath come for the effects and perfections of the
Most Great Name to be made manifest in this excellent age, so as to
establish, beyond any doubt, that this era is the era of Baha'u'llah, and
this age is distinguished above all other ages.

O army of God! Whensoever ye behold a person whose entire attention is
directed toward the Cause of God; whose only aim is this, to make the Word
of God to take effect; who, day and night, with pure intent, is rendering
service to the Cause; from whose behaviour not the slightest trace of
egotism or private motives is discerned--who, rather, wandereth distracted
in the wilderness of the love of God, and drinketh only from the cup of
the knowledge of God, and is utterly engrossed in spreading the sweet
savours of God, and is enamoured of the holy verses of the Kingdom of
God--know ye for a certainty that this individual will be supported and
reinforced by heaven; that like unto the morning star, he will forever
gleam brightly out of the skies of eternal grace. But if he show the
slightest taint of selfish desires and self love, his efforts will lead to
nothing and he will be destroyed and left hopeless at the last.

O army of God! Praise be to God, Baha'u'llah hath lifted the chains from
off the necks of humankind, and hath set man free from all that trammelled
him, and told him: Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one
branch; be ye compassionate and kind to all the human race. Deal ye with
strangers the same as with friends, cherish ye others just as ye would
your own. See foes as friends; see demons as angels; give to the tyrant
the same great love ye show the loyal and true, and even as gazelles from
the scented cities of _Kh_ata and _Kh_utan(28) offer up sweet musk to the
ravening wolf. Be ye a refuge to the fearful; bring ye rest and peace to
the disturbed; make ye a provision for the destitute; be a treasury of
riches for the poor; be a healing medicine for those who suffer pain; be
ye doctor and nurse to the ailing; promote ye friendship, and honour, and
conciliation, and devotion to God, in this world of non-existence.

O army of Go