rom the recognition of
His exalted Person. Dost thou desire to follow such divines?

Nay, by God, be thou neither a divine without discernment nor a follower
without discernment, for both of these shall perish on the Day of
Resurrection. Rather it behooveth thee to be a discerning divine, or to
walk with insight in the way of God by obeying a true leader of religion.

In every nation thou beholdest unnumbered spiritual leaders who are bereft
of true discernment, and among every people thou dost encounter myriads of
adherents who are devoid of the same characteristic. Ponder for a while in
thy heart, have pity on thyself and turn not aside thine attention from
proofs and evidences. However, seek not proofs and evidences after thine
idle fancy; but rather base thy proofs upon what God hath appointed.
Moreover, know thou that neither being a man of learning nor being a
follower is in itself a source of glory. If thou art a man of learning,
thy knowledge becometh an honour, and if thou art a follower, thine
adherence unto leadership becometh an honour, only when these conform to
the good-pleasure of God. And beware lest thou regard as an idle fancy the
good-pleasure of God; it is the same as the good-pleasure of His
Messenger. Consider the followers of Jesus. They were eagerly seeking the
good-pleasure of God, yet none of them attained the good-pleasure of His
Apostle which is identical with God's good-pleasure, except such as
embraced His Faith.

"Thy letter hath been perused. Were the truth of this ..."

Thy letter hath been perused. Were the truth of this Revelation to be
fully demonstrated with elaborate proofs, all the scrolls that exist in
the heaven and on the earth would be insufficient to contain them.

However, the substance and essence of the subject is this, that there can
be no doubt that from everlasting God hath been invested with the
independent sovereignty of His exalted Being, and unto everlasting He will
remain inaccessible in the transcendent majesty of His holy Essence. No
creature hath ever recognized Him as befitteth His recognition, nor hath
any created being ever praised Him as is worthy of His praise. He is
exalted above every name, and is sanctified from every comparison. Through
Him all things are made known, while too lofty is His reality to be known
through anyone but Him. The process of His creation hath had no beginning
and can have no end, otherwise it would necessitate the cessat