in our faithfulness and trustworthiness, and
occupy ourselves in offering prayers for the good of all.

O ye beloved of God, these are days for steadfastness, for firmness and
perseverance in the Cause of God. Ye must not focus your attention upon
the person of 'Abdu'l-Baha, for erelong he will bid you farewell. Rather
must ye fix your gaze upon the Word of God. If the Word of God is being
promoted, rejoice and be happy and thankful, though 'Abdu'l-Baha himself
be threatened by the sword or burdened by the weight of chains and
fetters. For the Holy Temple of the Cause of God is important, not the
physical body of 'Abdu'l-Baha. The friends of God must arise with such
steadfastness that if, at any moment, a hundred souls like 'Abdu'l-Baha
become the target for the arrows of affliction, they will not shift or
waver in their resolve, their determination, their enkindlement, their
devotion and service in the Cause of God. 'Abdu'l-Baha is himself a
servant at the Threshold of the Blessed Beauty and a manifestation of pure
and utter servitude at the Threshold of the Almighty. He hath no other
station or title, no other rank or power. This is my ultimate Purpose, my
eternal Paradise, my holiest Temple and my Sadratu'l-Muntaha. With the
Abha Blessed Beauty and the Exalted One, His Herald--may my life be a
sacrifice for Them both--hath ended the appearance of God's independent and
universal Manifestation. And for a thousand years all shall be illumined
by His lights and be sustained by the ocean of His favours.

O ye lovers of God! This, verily, is my last wish and my admonition unto
you. Blessed, therefore, is he who is aided by God to follow that which is
inscribed upon this scroll whose words are sanctified from the symbols
current amongst men.

226: O THOU SERVANT OF GOD! THY LETTER WAS RECEIVED, ...

O thou servant of God! Thy letter was received, and was the cause of
gladness. Thou hast expressed thine ardent wish that I should attend the
Peace Congress. I do not present myself at such political conferences, for
the establishment of peace is unachievable save through the power of the
Word of God. When a conference is convened, representative of all nations
and working under the influence of the Word of God, then universal peace
will be established but otherwise it is impossible.

At present it is certain that temporary peace is established but it is not
lasting. All governments and nations have become tired of