of the truth:  “Knowledge is the most grievous veil between man and his Creator.”  The former bringeth forth the fruit of patience, of longing desire, of true understanding, and love; whilst the latter can yield naught but arrogance, vainglory and conceit.  From the sayings of those Masters of holy utterance, Who have expounded the meaning of true knowledge, the odour of these dark teachings, which have obscured the world, can in no wise be detected.  The tree of such teachings can yield no result except iniquity and rebellion, and beareth no fruit but hatred and envy.  Its fruit is deadly poison; its shadow a consuming fire.  How well hath it been said:  “Cling unto the robe of the Desire of thy heart, and put thou away all shame; bid the worldlywise be gone, however great their name.”

The heart must needs therefore be cleansed from the idle sayings of men, and sanctified from every earthly affection, so that it may discover the hidden meaning of divine inspiration, and become the treasury of the mysteries of divine knowledge.  Thus hath it been said:  “He that treadeth the snow-white Path, and followeth in the footsteps of the Crimson Pillar, shall never attain unto his abode unless his hands are empty of those worldly things cherished by men.”  This is the prime requisite of whosoever treadeth this path.  Ponder thereon, that, with eyes unveiled, thou mayest perceive the truth of these words.

We have digressed from the purpose of Our argument, although whatsoever is mentioned serveth only to confirm Our purpose.  By God! however great Our desire to be brief, yet We feel We cannot restrain Our pen.  Notwithstanding all that We have mentioned, how innumerable are the pearls which have remained unpierced in the shell of Our heart!  How many the huris of inner meaning that are as yet concealed within the chambers of divine wisdom!  None hath yet approached them;—­huris, “whom no man nor spirit hath touched before."(55) Notwithstanding all that hath been said, it seemeth as if not one letter of Our purpose hath been uttered, nor a single sign divulged concerning Our object.  When will a faithful seeker be found who will don the garb of pilgrimage, attain the Ka’bih of the heart’s desire, and, without ear or tongue, discover the mysteries of divine utterance?

By these luminous, these conclusive, and lucid statements, the meaning of “heaven” in the aforementioned verse hath thus been made clear and evident.  And now regarding His words, that the Son of man shall “come in the clouds of heaven.”  By the term “clouds” is meant those things that are contrary to the ways and desires of men.  Even as He hath revealed in the verse already quoted:  “As oft as an Apostle cometh unto you with that which your souls desire not, ye swell with pride, accusing some of being impostors and slaying others."(56) These “clouds” signify, in one sense, the annulment of laws, the abrogation of former Dispensations, the repeal of rituals and customs current amongst men,