O King of Berlin! Give ear unto the
Voice calling from this manifest Temple:
Verily, there is none other God but
Me, the Everlasting, the Peerless, the
Ancient of Days. Take heed lest pride
debar thee from recognizing the
Dayspring of Divine Revelation, lest
earthly desires shut thee out, as by
a veil, from the Lord of the Throne
above and of the earth below. Thus
counselleth thee the Pen of the Most
High. He, verily, is the Most Gracious,
the All-Bountiful. Do thou remember
the one whose power transcended thy
power (Napoleon III), and whose station
excelled thy station. Where is he?
Whither are gone the things he possessed?
Take warning, and be not of them
that are fast asleep. He it was who
cast the Tablet of God behind him, when
We made known unto him what the hosts
of tyranny had caused Us to suffer.
Wherefore, disgrace assailed him
from all sides, and he went down to dust in
great loss. Think deeply, O King,
concerning him, and concerning them who,
like unto thee, have conquered cities
and ruled over men. The All-Merciful
brought them down from their palaces
to their graves. Be warned, be of them
who reflect... O banks of the Rhine!
We have seen you covered with gore,
inasmuch as the swords of retribution
were drawn against you; and you shall
have another turn. And We hear the
lamentations of Berlin, though she be
today in conspicuous glory.
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Proclamation
of Baha'u'llah, p. 39
O concourse of patriarchs! He Whom
ye were promised in the Tablets is come.
Fear God, and follow not the vain
imaginings of the superstitious. Lay aside
the things ye possess, and take fast
hold of the Tablet of God by His
sovereign power. Better is this for
you than all your possessions. Unto this
testifieth every understanding heart,
and every man of insight. Pride ye
yourselves on My Name and yet shut
yourselves out as by a veil from Me? This
indeed is a strange thing!
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Proclamation
of Baha'u'llah, p. 92