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The Seventh Sphere.
1)
With regard to that which hath been mentioned concerning the seven spheres
and the seven heavens referred to in the Books revealed by the
Dawning-places of Light and Repositories of Secrets in previous ages,
such references were dictated by the conventional wisdom prevailing in
those times, for every cycle hath its own characteristics which are
determined by the capacities of the people and their readiness to
accept fresh revelations of the truth from behind the veil. All things
are ordained by God according to a given measure. When the Prophets
spoke of the celestial spheres what they intended was no more than the
orbits of the planets falling within that greater world that embraces
the sun and its attendant planetary system. For the planets circling
this sun are in seven degrees in respect to mass, volume, visibility
and brilliancy. The orbit of the first of these is one of the spheres
of this solar world and one of the heavens of finite extent that falls
within the circumference of this all-encompassing circle. The same
pattern is true for all the brilliant stars shining in the face of the
heavens, every one of which is a sun with its own solar world
containing planets and satellites. When thou gazeth at the planets with
the naked eye, without the interposition of magnifying mirrors, they
will appear to be in seven degrees. The orbit or circuit of each of
these degrees is an upraised heaven and an encircling sphere in the
world of existence.
-- Provisional Translations, Tablet of the Universe
2)
Gracious God! Such is the measure of his understanding. And yet,
behold what cavils and calumnies he hath heaped upon those Embodiments
of God's infinite knowledge! How well and true is the saying: "Flingest
thou thy calumnies unto the face of Them Whom the one true God hath
made the Trustees of the treasures of His seventh sphere?"
Not one understanding heart or mind, not one among the wise and
learned, hath taken notice of these preposterous statements. And yet,
how clear and evident it is to every discerning 187 heart
that this so-called learning is and hath ever been, rejected by Him Who
is the one true God. How can the knowledge of these sciences, which are
so contemptible in the eyes of the truly learned, be regarded as
essential to the apprehension of the mysteries of the "Mi'raj," whilst
the Lord of the "Mi'raj" Himself was never burdened with a single
letter of these limited and obscure learnings, and never defiled His
radiant heart with any of these fanciful illusions?
-- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 186
3)
On the other hand, the officials of the Persian Embassy in the Great
City (Constantinople) are energetically and assiduously seeking to
exterminate these wronged ones. They desire one thing, and God desireth
another. Consider now what hath befallen the trusted ones of God in
every land. At one time they have been accused of theft and larceny; at
another they have been calumniated in a manner without parallel in this
world. Answer thou fairly. What could be the results and consequences,
in foreign countries, of the accusation of theft brought by the Persian
Embassy against its own subjects? If this Wronged One was ashamed, it
was not because of the humiliation it brought this servant, but rather
because of the shame of its becoming known to the Ambassadors of
foreign countries how incompetent and lacking in understanding are
several eminent officials of the Persian Embassy. "Flingest thou thy
calumnies into the face of Them Whom the one true God hath made the
Trustees of the treasures of His seventh sphere?"
Briefly, instead of seeking, as they should, through Him Who occupieth
this sublime station, to attain unto the most exalted ranks, and to
obtain His advice, they have exerted themselves and are striving their
utmost to put out His light. However, according to what hath been
reported, His Excellency the Ambassador Mu'inu'l-Mulk, Mirza Muhsin
Khan -- may God assist him -- was, at that time, absent from
Constantinople. Such things have happened because it was believed that
His Majesty the Shah of Persia -- may the All-Merciful assist him --
was angry with them that have attained and revolve round the Sanctuary
of Wisdom. God well knoweth and testifieth that this Wronged One hath,
at all times, been cleaving fast unto whatever would be conducive to
the glory of both the government and the people. God, verily, is
sufficient Witness.
-- Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 123
4)
203. O thou who art enamoured of the Covenant! The Blessed Beauty [Baha'u'llah]
hath promised this servant that souls would be raised up who would be
the very embodiments of guidance, and banners of the Concourse on high,
torches of God's oneness, and stars
of His pure truth, shining in the heavens where God reigneth alone.
They would give sight to the blind, and would make the deaf to hear;
they would raise the dead to life. They would confront all the peoples
of the earth, pleading their Cause with proofs of the Lord of the seven
spheres.
It is my hope that in His bounty He will soon raise up these souls,
that His Cause may be exalted. The lodestone which will attract this
grace is staunchness in the Covenant. Render thou thanks unto God that thou art firmest of the firm.
O my God, aid Thou Thy servant
to raise up the Word, and to refute what is vain and false, to
establish the truth, to spread the sacred verses abroad, reveal the
splendours, and make the morning's light to dawn in the hearts of the
righteous.
Thou art verily the Generous, the Forgiving.
-- Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 250
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