And since there can be no tie of direct intercourse to bind
the one true God with His creation, and no resemblance whatever can exist
between the transient and the Eternal, the contingent and the Absolute, He hath
ordained that in every age and dispensation a pure and stainless Soul be made
manifest in the kingdoms of earth and heaven. Unto this subtle, this mysterious
and ethereal Being He hath assigned a twofold nature; the physical, pertaining
to the world of matter, and the spiritual, which is born of the substance of
God Himself. He hath, moreover, conferred upon Him a double station. The first
station, which is related to His innermost reality, representeth Him as One Whose
voice is the voice of God Himself. To this testifieth the tradition: “Manifold
and mysterious is My relationship with God. I am He, Himself, and He is I,
Myself, except that I am that I am, and He is that He is.” And in like manner,
the words: “Arise, O Muhammad, for lo, the Lover and the Beloved are joined
together and made one in Thee.” He similarly saith: “There is no distinction
whatsoever between Thee and Them, except that They are Thy Servants.” The
second station is the human station, exemplified by the following verses: “I am
but a man like you.” “Say, praise be to my Lord! Am I more than a man, an
apostle?” These Essences of Detachment, these resplendent Realities are the
channels of God’s all-pervasive grace.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings
of Baha’u’llah’)
