writing such letters to the Emperor of France and Sultan of Turkey.
Reflect upon this: how Baha'u'llah upraised the standard of His Cause in
prison. Refer to history. It is without parallel. No such thing has
happened before that time nor since--a prisoner and an exile advancing His
Cause and spreading His teachings broadcast so that eventually He became
powerful enough to conquer the very king who banished Him.

His Cause spread more and more. The Blessed Perfection was a prisoner
twenty-five years. During all this time He was subjected to the
indignities and revilement of the people. He was persecuted, mocked and
put in chains. In Persia His properties were pillaged and His possessions
confiscated. First, there was banishment from Persia to Ba_gh_dad, then to
Constantinople, then to Adrianople, finally from Rumelia to the prison
fortress of Akka.

During His lifetime He was intensely active. His energy was unlimited.
Scarcely one night was passed in restful sleep. He bore these ordeals,
suffered these calamities and difficulties in order that a manifestation
of selflessness and service might become apparent in the world of
humanity; that the Most Great Peace should become a reality; that human
souls might appear as the angels of heaven; that heavenly miracles would
be wrought among men; that human faith should be strengthened and
perfected; that the precious, priceless bestowal of God--the human
mind--might be developed to its fullest capacity in the temple of the body;
and that man might become the reflection and likeness of God, even as it
hath been revealed in the Bible, "Let us make man in our image."

Briefly, the Blessed Perfection bore all these ordeals and calamities in
order that our hearts might become enkindled and radiant, our spirits be
glorified, our faults become virtues, our ignorance be transformed into
knowledge; in order that we might attain the real fruits of humanity and
acquire heavenly graces; in order that, although pilgrims upon earth, we
should travel the road of the heavenly Kingdom, and, although needy and
poor, we might receive the treasures of eternal life. For this has He
borne these difficulties and sorrows.

Trust all to God. The lights of God are resplendent. The blessed Epistles
are spreading. The blessed teachings are promulgated throughout the East
and West. Soon you will see that the heavenly Words have established the
oneness of the world of humanity. The banner of the Most Gr