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`Abdu'l-Bahá in London
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Pages 21-25
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Discourse of `Abdu'l-Bahá at St. John's, Westminster. September 17th, 1911.
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O NOBLE Friends! O Seekers for the
Kingdom of God! Man all over the
world is seeking for God. All that exists
is God; but the Reality of Divinity is
holy above all understanding.
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The pictures of Divinity that come to our mind
are the product of our fancy; they exist in the
realm of our imagination. They are not adequate
to the Truth; truth in its essence cannot be put
into words.
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Divinity cannot by comprehended because it is
comprehending.
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Man, who has also a real existence, is
comprehended by God; therefore, the Divinity
which man can understand is partial; it is not
complete. Divinity is actual Truth and real
existence, and not any representation of it.
Divinity itself contains All, and is not contained.
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Although the mineral, vegetable, animal and
man all have actual being, yet the mineral has no
knowledge of the vegetable. It cannot apprehend
it. It cannot imagine nor understand it.
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It is the same with the vegetable. Any progress
it may make, however highly it may become
developed, it will never apprehend the animal,
nor understand it. It is, so to speak, without news
of it. It has no ears, no sight, no understanding.
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It is the same with the animal. However much
it may progress in its own kingdom, however
refined its feelings may become, it will have no
real notion of the world of man or of his special
intellectual faculties.
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The animal cannot understand the roundness
of the earth, nor its motion in space, nor the
central position of the sun, nor can it imagine
such a thing as the all-pervading ether.
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Although the mineral, vegetable, animal and
man himself are actual beings, the difference
between their kingdoms prevents members of the
lower degree from comprehending the essence
and nature of those of the superior degree. This
being so, how can the temporal and phenomenal
comprehend the Lord of Hosts?
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It is clear that this is impossible!
But the Essence of Divinity, the Sun of Truth, shines forth upon all horizons and is spreading its
rays upon all things. Each creature is the
recipient of some portion of that power, and man,
who contains the perfection of the mineral, the
vegetable and animal, as well as his own
distinctive qualities, has become the noblest of
created beings. It stands written that he is made
in the Image of God. Mysteries that were hidden
he discovers; and secrets that were concealed he
brings into the light. By Science and by Art he
brings hidden powers into the region of the visible
world. Man perceives the hidden law in created
things and co-operates with it.
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Lastly the perfect man, the Prophet, is one who
is transfigured, one who has the purity and
clearness of a perfect mirror--one who reflects the
Sun of Truth. Of such a one--of such a Prophet
and Messenger--we can say that the Light of
Divinity with the heavenly Perfections dwells in
him.
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If we claim that the sun is seen in the mirror,
we do not mean that the sun itself has descended
from the holy heights of his heaven and entered
into the mirror! This is impossible. The Divine
Nature is seen in the Manifestations and its Light
and Splendor are visible in extreme glory.
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Therefore, men have always been taught and
led by the Prophets of God. The Prophets of God
are the Mediators of God. All the Prophets and
Messengers have come from One Holy Spirit and
bear the Message of God, fitted to the age in
which they appear. The One Light is in them and
they are One with each other. But the Eternal
does not become phenomenal; neither can the
phenomenal become Eternal.
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Saint Paul, the great Apostle, said: "We all,
with open face beholding as in a mirror the glory
of God, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord."
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O GOD the Forgiver! O Heavenly
Educator! This assembly is adorned
with the mention of thy holy Name.
Thy children turn their face towards
thy Kingdom, hearts are made happy and souls
are comforted.
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Merciful God! cause us to repent of our
shortcomings! Accept us in thy heavenly Kingdom
and give unto us an abode where there shall
be no error. Give us peace; give us knowledge,
and open unto us the gates of thy heaven.
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Thou art the Giver of all! Thou art the
Forgiver! Thou art the Merciful! Amen.
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