to the will of God, to
forbearance and kindliness, to uprightness and wisdom. His object is to
array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him
with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds." "We have admonished all the
loved ones of God," He insists, "to take heed lest the hem of Our sacred
vesture be smirched with the mire of unlawful deeds, or be stained with
the dust of reprehensible conduct." "Cleave unto righteousness, O people
of Baha," He thus exhorts them, "This, verily, is the commandment which
this wronged One hath given unto you, and the first choice of His
unrestrained will for every one of you." "A good character," He explains,
"is, verily, the best mantle for men from God. With it He adorneth the
temples of His loved ones. By My life! The light of a good character
surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof." "One righteous
act," He, again, has written, "is endowed with a potency that can so
elevate the dust as to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens. It
can tear every bond asunder, and hath the power to restore the force that
hath spent itself and vanished.... Be pure, O people of God, be pure; be
righteous, be righteous.... Say: O people of God! That which can insure
the victory of Him Who is the Eternal Truth, His hosts and helpers on
earth, have been set down in the sacred Books and Scriptures, and are as
clear and manifest as the sun. These hosts are such righteous deeds, such
conduct and character, as are acceptable in His sight. Whoso ariseth, in
this Day, to aid Our Cause, and summoneth to his assistance the hosts of a
praiseworthy character and upright conduct, the influence from such an
action will, most certainly, be diffused throughout the whole world." "The
betterment of the world," is yet another statement, "can be accomplished
through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct."
"Be fair to yourselves and to others," He thus counseleth them, "that the
evidences of justice may be revealed through your deeds among Our faithful
servants." "Equity," He also has written, "is the most fundamental among
human virtues. The evaluation of all things must needs depend upon it."
And again, "Observe equity in your judgment, ye men of understanding
heart! He that is unjust in his judgment is destitute of the
characteristics that distinguish man's station." "Beautify your tongues, O
people," He further admonishes them, "with truthfulness, and ado