physical sun, His
verses are like its rays, and all believers, should they truly believe in
Him, are as mirrors wherein the sun is reflected. Their light is thus a
mere reflection. VII, 15.

"O People of the Bayan! If ye believe in Him Whom God ..."

O People of the Bayan! If ye believe in Him Whom God shall make manifest,
to your own behoof do ye believe. He hath been and ever will remain
independent of all men. For instance, were ye to place unnumbered mirrors
before the sun, they would all reflect the sun and produce impressions
thereof, whereas the sun is in itself wholly independent of the existence
of the mirrors and of the suns which they reproduce. Such are the bounds
of the contingent beings in their relation to the manifestation of the
Eternal Being...

In this day no less than seventy thousand people make pilgrimage every
year to the holy House of God in compliance with the bidding of the
Apostle of God; while He Himself Who ordained this ordinance took refuge
for seven years in the mountains of Mecca. And this notwithstanding that
the One Who enjoined this commandment is far greater than the commandment
itself. Hence all this people who at this time go on pilgrimage do not do
so with true understanding, otherwise in this Day of His Return which is
mightier than His former Dispensation, they would have followed His
commandment. But now behold what hath happened. People who profess belief
in His former religion, who in the daytime and in the night season bow
down in worship in His Name, have assigned Him to a dwelling place in a
mountain, while each one of them would regard attaining recognition of Him
as an honour. VII, 15.

"The reason why privacy hath been enjoined in moments ..."

The reason why privacy hath been enjoined in moments of devotion is this,
that thou mayest give thy best attention to the remembrance of God, that
thy heart may at all times be animated with His Spirit, and not be shut
out as by a veil from thy Best Beloved. Let not thy tongue pay lip service
in praise of God while thy heart be not attuned to the exalted Summit of
Glory, and the Focal Point of communion. Thus if haply thou dost live in
the Day of Resurrection, the mirror of thy heart will be set towards Him
Who is the Day-Star of Truth; and no sooner will His light shine forth
than the splendour thereof shall forthwith be reflected in thy heart. For
He is the Source of all goodness, and unto Him revert all th