his body. This is the great honor and prosperity for
the animal world; no greater honor can be conceived for it.

Therefore, it is evident and clear that this wealth, this comfort and this
material abundance form the complete prosperity of minerals, vegetables
and animals. No riches, wealth, comfort or ease of the material world is
equal to the wealth of a bird; all the areas of these plains and mountains
are its dwelling, and all the seeds and harvests are its food and wealth,
and all the lands, villages, meadows, pastures, forests and wildernesses
are its possessions. Now, which is the richer, this bird, or the most
wealthy man? for no matter how many seeds it may take or bestow, its
wealth does not decrease.

Then it is clear that the honor and exaltation of man must be something
more than material riches. Material comforts are only a branch, but the
root of the exaltation of man is the good attributes and virtues which are
the adornments of his reality. These are the divine appearances, the
heavenly bounties, the sublime emotions, the love and knowledge of God;
universal wisdom, intellectual perception, scientific discoveries,
justice, equity, truthfulness, benevolence, natural courage and innate
fortitude; the respect for rights and the keeping of agreements and
covenants; rectitude in all circumstances; serving the truth under all
conditions; the sacrifice of one's life for the good of all people;
kindness and esteem for all nations; obedience to the teachings of God;
service in the Divine Kingdom; the guidance of the people, and the
education of the nations and races. This is the prosperity of the human
world! This is the exaltation of man in the world! This is eternal life
and heavenly honor!

These virtues do not appear from the reality of man except through the
power of God and the divine teachings, for they need supernatural power
for their manifestation. It may be that in the world of nature a trace of
these perfections may appear, but they are unstable and ephemeral; they
are like the rays of the sun upon the wall.

As the compassionate God has placed such a wonderful crown upon the head
of man, man should strive that its brilliant jewels may become visible in
the world.

PART TWO: SOME CHRISTIAN SUBJECTS

16: OUTWARD FORMS AND SYMBOLS MUST BE USED TO CONVEY INTELLECTUAL
CONCEPTIONS

A subject that is essential(77) for the comprehension of the questions
that we have mentioned, and o