Worship thou God in such wise that if thy worship lead thee
to the fire, no alteration in thine adoration would be produced, and so
likewise if thy recompense should be paradise. Thus and thus alone should be
the worship which befitteth the one True God. Shouldst thou worship Him because
of fear, this would be unseemly in the sanctified Court of His presence, and
could not be regarded as an act by thee dedicated to the Oneness of His Being.
Or if thy gaze should be on paradise, and thou shouldst
worship Him while cherishing such a hope, thou wouldst make God’s creation a
partner with Him, notwithstanding the fact that paradise is desired by men.
Fire and paradise both bow down and prostrate themselves
before God. That which is worthy of His Essence is to worship Him for His sake,
without fear of fire, or hope of paradise.
(The Báb, excerpt from the Persian
Bayan, ‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)
