177 Consider these days in which He Who is the Ancient Beauty hath come in the Most Great Name, that He may quicken the world and unite its peoples.  They, however, rose up against Him with sharpened swords, and committed that which caused the Faithful Spirit to lament, until in the end they imprisoned Him in the most desolate of cities, and broke the grasp of the faithful upon the hem of His robe.  Were anyone to tell them:  “The World Reformer is come”, they would answer and say:  “Indeed it is proven that He is a fomenter of discord!”, and this notwithstanding that they have never associated with Him, and have perceived that He did not seek, for one moment, to protect Himself.  At all times He was at the mercy of the wicked doers.  At one time they cast Him into prison, at another they banished Him, and at yet another hurried Him from land to land.  Thus have they pronounced judgement against Us, and God, truly, is aware of what I say.  Such men are reckoned by God among the most ignorant of His creatures.  They cut off their own limbs and perceive it not; they deprive themselves of that which is best for them, and know it not.  They are even as a young child who can distinguish neither the mischief-maker from the reformer nor the wicked from the righteous.  We behold them in this Day wrapt in a palpable veil.

178 O ye rulers of the earth!  Wherefore have ye clouded the radiance of the Sun, and caused it to cease from shining?  Hearken unto the counsel given you by the Pen of the Most High, that haply both ye and the poor may attain unto tranquillity and peace.  We beseech God to assist the kings of the earth to establish peace on earth.  He, verily, doth what He willeth.

179 O kings of the earth!  We see you increasing every year your expenditures, and laying the burden thereof on your subjects.  This, verily, is wholly and grossly unjust.  Fear the sighs and tears of this Wronged One, and lay not excessive burdens on your peoples.  Do not rob them to rear palaces for yourselves; nay rather choose for them that which ye choose for yourselves.  Thus We unfold to your eyes that which profiteth you, if ye but perceive.  Your people are your treasures.  Beware lest your rule violate the commandments of God, and ye deliver your wards to the hands of the robber.  By them ye rule, by their means ye subsist, by their aid ye conquer.  Yet, how disdainfully ye look upon them!  How strange, how very strange!

180 Now that ye have refused the Most Great Peace, hold ye fast unto this, the Lesser Peace, that haply ye may in some degree better your own condition and that of your dependents.

181 O rulers of the earth!  Be reconciled among yourselves, that ye may need no more armaments save in a measure to safeguard your territories and dominions.  Beware lest ye disregard the counsel of the All-Knowing, the Faithful.