O Salmán! The door of the knowledge of the Ancient Being
hath ever been, and will continue for ever to be, closed in the face of men. No
man’s understanding shall ever gain access unto His holy court. As a token of
His mercy, however, and as a proof of His loving-kindness, He hath manifested
unto men the Day Stars of His divine guidance, the Symbols of His divine unity,
and hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified Beings to be identical with
the knowledge of His own Self. Whoso recognizeth them hath recognized God.
Whoso hearkeneth to their call, hath hearkened to the Voice of God, and whoso
testifieth to the truth of their Revelation, hath testified to the truth of God
Himself. Whoso turneth away from them, hath turned away from God, and whoso
disbelieveth in them, hath disbelieved in God. Every one of them is the Way of
God that connecteth this world with the realms above, and the Standard of His
Truth unto every one in the kingdoms of earth and heaven. They are the
Manifestations of God amidst men, the evidences of His Truth, and the signs of
His glory.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
