The second word We have recorded on the second leaf of Paradise is the following:  “The Pen of the Divine Expounder exhorteth, at this moment, the manifestations of authority and the sources of power, namely the kings and rulers of the earth—­may God assist them—­and enjoineth them to uphold the cause of religion, and to cleave unto it.  Religion is, verily, the chief instrument for the establishment of order in the world, and of tranquillity amongst its peoples.  The weakening of the pillars of religion hath strengthened the foolish, and emboldened them, and made them more arrogant.  Verily I say:  The greater the decline of religion, the more grievous the waywardness of the ungodly.  This cannot but lead in the end to chaos and confusion.  Hear Me, O men of insight, and be warned, ye who are endued with discernment!”

It is Our hope that thou wilt hear with attentive ears the things We have mentioned unto thee, that perchance thou mayest turn men away from the things they possess to the things that God possesseth.  We entreat God to deliver the light of equity and the sun of justice from the thick clouds of waywardness, and cause them to shine forth upon men.  No light can compare with the light of justice.  The establishment of order in the world and the tranquillity of the nations depend upon it.

In the Book of Utterance these exalted words have been written down and recorded:  “Say, O friends!  Strive that haply the tribulations suffered by this Wronged One and by you, in the path of God, may not prove to have been in vain.  Cling ye to the hem of virtue, and hold fast to the cord of trustworthiness and piety.  Concern yourselves with the things that benefit mankind, and not with your corrupt and selfish desires.  O ye followers of this Wronged One!  Ye are the shepherds of mankind; liberate ye your flocks from the wolves of evil passions and desires, and adorn them with the ornament of the fear of God.  This is the firm commandment which hath, at this moment, flowed out from the Pen of Him Who is the Ancient of Days.  By the righteousness of God!  The sword of a virtuous character and upright conduct is sharper than blades of steel.  The voice of the true Faith calleth aloud, at this moment, and saith:  O people!  Verily, the Day is come, and My Lord hath made Me to shine forth with a light whose splendor hath eclipsed the suns of utterance.  Fear ye the Merciful, and be not of them that have gone astray.”

The third word we have recorded on the third leaf of Paradise is this:  “O son of man!  If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee, and cleave unto that which will profit mankind.  And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.  Humility exalteth man to the heaven of glory and power, whilst pride abaseth him to the depths of wretchedness and degradation.  Great is the Day, and mighty the Call!  In one of Our Tablets We have revealed these exalted words:  ’Were the world of the spirit to be wholly converted into the sense of hearing, it could then claim to be worthy to hearken unto the Voice that calleth from the Supreme Horizon; for otherwise, these ears that are defiled with lying tales have never been, nor are they now, fit to hear it.’  Well is it with them that hearken; and woe betide the wayward.”