The Bearers of the Trust of God are made manifest unto the
peoples of the earth as the Exponents of a new Cause and the Revealers of a new
Message. Inasmuch as these Birds of the celestial Throne are all sent down from
the heaven of the Will of God, and as they all arise to proclaim His
irresistible Faith, they, therefore, are regarded as one soul and the same
person. For they all drink from the one Cup of the love of God, and all partake
of the fruit of the same Tree of Oneness.
These Manifestations of God have each a twofold station. One
is the station of pure abstraction and essential unity. In this respect, if
thou callest them all by one name, and dost ascribe to them the same
attributes, thou hast not erred from the truth. …The other station is the station
of distinction, and pertaineth to the world of creation, and to the limitations
thereof. In this respect, each Manifestation of God hath a distinct
individuality, a definitely prescribed mission, a predestined revelation, and
specially designated limitations.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Gleanings from the Writings of
Baha’u’llah’)
