Man is like unto a tree.  If he be adorned with fruit, he hath been and will ever be worthy of praise and commendation.  Otherwise a fruitless tree is but fit for fire.  The fruits of the human tree are exquisite, highly desired and dearly cherished.  Among them are upright character, virtuous deeds and a goodly utterance.  The springtime for earthly trees occurreth once every year, while the one for human trees appeareth in the Days of God—­exalted be His glory.  Were the trees of men’s lives to be adorned in this divine Springtime with the fruits that have been mentioned, the effulgence of the light of Justice would, of a certainty, illumine all the dwellers of the earth and everyone would abide in tranquillity and contentment beneath the sheltering shadow of Him Who is the Object of all mankind.  The Water for these trees is the living water of the sacred Words uttered by the Beloved of the world.  In one instant are such trees planted and in the next their branches shall, through the outpourings of the showers of divine mercy, have reached the skies.  A dried-up tree, however, hath never been nor will be worthy of any mention.

Happy is the faithful one who is attired with the vesture of high endeavour and hath arisen to serve this Cause.  Such a soul hath truly attained the desired Goal and hath apprehended the Object for which it hath been created.  But a myriad times alas for the wayward who are like unto dried-up leaves fallen upon the dust.  Ere long mortal blasts shall carry them away to the place ordained for them.  Ignorant did they arrive, ignorant did they linger and ignorant did they retire to their abodes.

The world is continually proclaiming these words:  Beware, I am evanescent, and so are all my outward appearances and colours.  Take ye heed of the changes and chances contrived within me and be ye roused from your slumber.  Nevertheless there is no discerning eye to see, nor is there a hearing ear to hearken.

In this Day the inner ear exclaimeth and saith:  Indeed well is it with me, today is my day, inasmuch as the Voice of God is calling aloud.  And the essence of vision crieth out:  Blessed am I, this is my day, for the Ancient Beauty is shining resplendent from the most exalted Horizon.

It behoveth the people of Baha to invoke and entreat the Lord of Names that perchance the people of the world may not be deprived of the effusions of grace in His days.

In the past the divines were perplexed over this question, a question which He Who is the Sovereign Truth hath, during the early years of His life, Himself heard them ask repeatedly:  ’What is that Word which the Qa’im will pronounce whereby the leaders of religion are put to flight?’ Say, that Word is now made manifest and ye have fled ere ye heard it uttered, although ye perceive it not.  And that blessed, that hidden, that concealed and treasured Word is this:  ’"HE” hath now appeared in the raiment of “I”.  He Who was