Hidden Words

As leader, as teacher, and as writer, he was alike unsurpassed.

It may be mentioned in passing that not only the hidden words and the seven valleys, but the fine though unconvincing apologetic arguments of the Book of Iqan flowed from Baha'u'llah's pen at the Baghdad period.

But we must now make good a great omission.

Let us turn back to our hero's origin and childhood.

Le Epitre aux Fils de Loup, Baha'u'llah, Traduction Française par Hippolyte Dreyfus, Paris, 1913.

Le Bayan Arab, Nicolas, Paris, 1905.

The Hidden Words, Chicago, 1905.

The Seven Valleys, Chicago.

Persian Hidden Words, 73 O son of man, lift up thy heart with delight, that thou mayest be fitted to meet me, and to mirror forth my beauty.

Arabic Hidden Words, 37 When the light of that Holy Spirit shines forth from the heart of man, all the beasts of darkness, the doubt, suspicion, distrust, unbelief, fear, fear and sadness flee away and assurance certainty trust confidence joy and peace take possession of the new-born creature the new created son of god this work of creation has ever been the purpose of the divine revelation from the beginning of the world of mankind in each beginning of a new dispensation of god's kingdom on earth and in the beginning of each human soul's redemption from ignorance and death to knowledge love and life the revelation of god's will brings the dawn of a new day of truth to disperse the night of error and discontent today it shines forth in glorious splendor so that the minds and hearts of all people are awakening to renewed energy to new perceptions and longings nature under this wonderful light is opening her long-locked treasures to scientific search and giving the world the means of an immense progression toward better conditions of life it is a day of wonderful revealing the whole earth is flooded in the light of the spirit it enters every mind that has reflective power and radiates in every plane of being it is unfolding new things everywhere the scientist discovers new laws and facts the artist beholds new beauties the physician uses new methods the student learns new lessons the philosopher conceives new ideas the aspirant forms new ideals never before has earth witnessed such a disclosure of its secrets in this clear spiritual atmosphere everything reveals the laws and lessons of god evidencing that one power which animates and dominates all things which are but manifestations of its energy the apex focus and centre of all this manifestation is the word of god which in this day of light shines forth as the glory of god baha ullah through his human instrument his image baha ullah this word is the messenger of his instruction his command and invitation to the souls of men it is the brilliant sun the focal dynamo of the holy spirit and the new knowledges of men whether material mental moral ethical or spiritual are around it as planets about their sun they are all parts of a new created heavenly system the new heaven and earth of which the shining word is the centre the light giver man's discoveries are his perceptions of truths in the realms of existence which become visible to him in the light of the spirit while the revelation of the word of god is the sun of truth itself shining into the minds and hearts and creating in them the powers of true perception this is the revealing of god to men that the seeking of men for god the sun has brought the new day though many earnest workers in the world may not yet see the real sun shining in the new heavens yet they should know that it is day because the light is here even those who ascribe their new knowledges and progress to their own greatness must acknowledge that their success was invisible until the light shone forth the new things were hidden non-existent to them until the sun of this manifestation dawned on the eastern horizon the eye of the blind cannot see until it be opened and even then it can see but dimly until there be light he said and what he said is truth the root of all knowledge is the knowledge of god glory be to him and this knowledge is impossible save through his manifestation let us lay our pride and self-praise at his feet and give glory to god for all that we have all that we are or shall be unity wisdom peace justice mercy and love the elements of heaven on earth can be realized only through that creative power which makes all things new by recreating the hearts of men all agreements of nations cannot bring peace until they be made in the fear of the lord in knowledge of his word and obedience to his commands nought but the changeless power of that word can give permanent welfare to man the sooner this is recognized the sooner shall appear the millennial heaven on earth the time for reception of this heaven-bringing knowledge has come old doctrines and beliefs are being tested in the courts of modern judgment for this is the day of judgment and the chaff of false teachings is being cast into the fires of ridicule and rejection on the one side are scholarly efforts to destroy both wheat and tares together to make way for new material philosophies on the other are anxious hearts looking for the truth of the eternal god and lifting their eyes to the hills to behold the coming of their helper and their lord there must be decomposition before new composition the old conditions must be disrupted and dissolved before the new can be established and so the world is in a tumult of unrest it is only the process of preparation the cyclone which purifies the air and out of its struggles and uncertainties shall come the peace of nations and to the individual hearts the peace that passeth understanding through all the storm and stress the sun of god's revealed word baha ullah shines steadily piercing the clouds its light of knowledge and heat of love shall disperse them entirely in god's good time and all the world shall acknowledge its creator and declare he is god and there is no god but him he doeth what he willeth praise be to his holy name o son of man lift up thy head from slumber for the sun hath climbed to the zenith that he may illumine thee with the lights of beauty arabic hidden words sixty three o son of man the light hath shone upon thee from the horizon of the mount and the spirit of purity hath breathed in the sinai of thy heart therefore empty thyself of doubts and fancies then enter into this mansion that thou mayest be prepared for the eternal life and ready to meet me herein there is no death no trouble nor burden arabic hidden words sixty four The revelation is complete in itself.

were all the books of former days lost and forgotten the whole of true religious teaching would be found in the words of the bahai revelation it contains all that is needed for instruction and highest attainment the salvation of all races and peoples the essence of all sacred teaching is expressed in it it is the renaissance of all religions and for the true believers in each religion each finds in it the essence and culmination of itself each acceptor recognizes it as the flower and beauty of his own religion each rejector denies it to have any relation to his own the muslim calls it christianity the christian opposer calls it muhammadanism while those of every religion who receive it call every man friend and brother the first of its hidden words is as follows this is that which hath descended from the source of majesty through the tongue of power and strength upon the prophets of the past we have taken its essences and clothed them with the garment of brevity as a favor to the beloved that they may fulfill the covenant of god that they may perform in themselves that which he hath entrusted to them and attain the victory by virtue of devotion in the land of the spirit the revelations of the past are still of vital value to their followers and for the identification of the essential oneness of god's word in all times then as now for with him a thousand years are as a day in every scripture is sufficient for man's salvation if he wills for it if he hungers for righteousness and thirsts for the waters of life but darkness has covered the earth and gross darkness the people and but little faith is found upon earth now again the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined again it has come to the land of zebulun and naphtali by the way of the sea in galilee of the nations isaiah nine one to two matthew four fourteen to sixteen since the time of the crusaders the shore road leading from haifa to acca and thence on to damascus in the interior has been called the via maris the way of the sea whoever has gone the nine miles from mount carmel to acca riding in the surf along the mediterranean shore will recognize the fitness of that name the way of the sea by that way was the exile baha'u'llah sent to his long imprisonment at acca god made the wrath of man to praise him and to accomplish his prophecies by sending his light-bearer to that land which he had chosen throughout the ages for affliction and for the revealing of his glory from that greatest prison he announced the word of god with such power that it passed through the bars of stone through the walled and guarded fortress to distant countries even to the thrones of kings it penetrated the hearts of seekers for truth everywhere and the victory it proclaimed from the prison-room which seemed a mockery of truth has resounded from the lips and lives of the redeemed in many lands no wall no guard no prison could prevent that word or hinder its effect today it is going on from victory to victory while all the powers of nature and devices of men are working together in the hand of god to establish the new heavens and the new earth to prepare the way for the universal knowledge of god and that most great peace which he has declared must accompany his kingdom on earth the last of the hidden words proclaims the completeness of this revelation i testify o friends that the bounty has become complete the evidence is accomplished the argument manifested and the reason affirmed now what will your endeavors show forth from the degrees of devotion thus are the favors perfected unto ye and unto all who are in the heavens and earths praise be unto god the lord of all mankind End of section 29 Recording by Nicholas James Bridgewater Recorded in London, England The Baha'i Revelation by Thornton Chase Section 30 Tablet from Abdu'l-Bahá o people the doors of the kingdom are opened the sun of truth is shining upon the world the fountains of life are flowing the day-springs of mercy have appeared the greatest and most glorious light is now manifest to illumine the hearts of men awake and hear the voice of god calling from all parts of the supreme world come unto me o ye children of men come unto me o ye who are thirsty and drink of this sweet water which is descending in torrents upon all parts of the globe now is the time now is the accepted time look ye at the time of christ had the people realized that the holy spirit was speaking to them through his divine mouth they would not have waited three centuries before accepting him and now is it meet for you that you are sleeping upon the beds of idleness and neglect while the father declared of christ has come among us and opened the greatest door of bounteous gifts and divine favors let us not be like those in past centuries who were deaf to his call and blind to his beauty but let us try and open our eyes that we may see him and open our ears that we may hear him and cleanse our hearts that he may come in and abide in our temples these days are the days of faith and deeds not the days of words and lip service

let us arise from the sleep of negligence and realize what a great feast is prepared

for us first eating thereof ourselves then giving to others who are thirsty for the water of knowledge and hungering for the bread of life these great days are swiftly passing and once gone they can never be recalled so while the rays of the sun are still shining and the centre of the covenant of god is manifest let us go forth to work for after a while the night will come and the way to the vineyard will not then be so easy to find the light of knowledge hath appeared before which the darkness of every superstitious fancy shall be annihilated the hosts of the supreme concourse are descending to assist all those who rise up to serve their lord to subdue and gain the victory over the city of the hearts to proclaim the glad tidings of the coming of god and to unite the souls of his creatures o god i see that the manifestations of thy providence have indeed attracted me and the pure wine of thy utterance hath taken possession of me from all directions in such wise that i could not see anything save that which makes me acknowledge and remember thy signs thy manifestations and thy affairs by thy glory every glance of my eye whenever directed toward thy heaven reminds me of thy greatness exaltation highness and superiority whenever i look to the earth it makes me acquainted with the manifestations of thy might and the appearance of thy grace whenever i gaze toward the sea it speaks of thy greatness might authority and loftiness whenever i turn to the mountains they show me the standards of thy victory and the banners of thy power by thy glory o thou in whose grasp are the reigns of the world and the control of nations i was overtaken by the warmth of thy love and the exhilaration of the wine of thy unity to such an extent that made me hear from the blowing of the wind thy mention and praise from the murmuring of waters thy qualifications and attributes and from the rustling of trees the mysteries of thy judgment which thou hast deposited in thy kingdom praise be to thee o god of names and creator of heaven praise be to thee for that by reason of which thou hast made known to thy servants thy day wherein the stream cowther of life hath flowed from the finger of thy generosity and the spring of revelation and unity hath become manifest through thy manifestation to whomsoever is in thy earth and heaven.

As leader, as teacher, and as writer, he was alike unsurpassed.

It may be mentioned in passing that not only the hidden words and the seven valleys, but the fine though unconvincing apologetic arguments of the Book of Iqan flowed from Bahá'u'lláh's pen at the Baghdad period.

But we must now make good a great omission.

Let us turn back to our hero's origin and childhood.

Le Epitre aux Fils de Loup, Baha'u'llah, Traduction Française par Hippolyte Dreyfus, Paris 1913.

Le Bayan Arab, Nicolas, Paris 1905.

The Hidden Words, Chicago 1905.

The Seven Valleys, Chicago.

Bahá'u'lláh Printed by the Bahá'í Press, 47 Vicarage Road, East Sheen, London, S.W. End of Section 4 Section 5 of A Brief Account of the Bahá'í Movement by Ethel Jenna Rosenberg This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Nicholas James Bridgewater To those who wish to learn more of the Bahá'í Revelation, the following books are to be recommended.

The Hidden Words, Communes and Prayers by Bahá'u'lláh, six pence.

The Seven Valleys, a mystical treatise by Bahá'u'lláh, one shilling.

The Tablet of Ishraqat by Bahá'u'lláh, one shilling.