Compilation on Peace | Page 6

rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bah��'�� Publishing Trust, 1982), pp. 39-40; p. 163) [16]

EXTRACTS FROM THE UTTERANCES OF BAH��'U'LL��H

17: ... Praise be to God that thou hast attained!... Thou hast come to see a...
... Praise be to God that thou hast attained!... Thou hast come to see a prisoner and an exile.... We desire but the good of the world and happiness of the nations; yet they deem us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment.... That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled--what harm is there in this?... Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the "Most Great Peace" shall come.... Do not you in Europe need this also? Is not this that which Christ foretold?... Yet do we see your kings and rulers lavishing their treasures more freely on means for the destruction of the human race than on that which would conduce to the happiness of mankind.... These strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family.... Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind....
(Words spoken to E. G. Browne, from his pen portrait of Bah��'u'll��h, J. E. Esslemont, "Bah��'u'll��h and the New Era", 5th rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bah��'�� Publishing Trust, 1987), pp. 39-40) [17]

EXTRACTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF 'ABDU'L-BAH��

18: Know thou that all the powers combined have not the power to establish...
Know thou that all the powers combined have not the power to establish universal peace, nor to withstand the overmastering dominion, at every time and season, of these endless wars. Ere long, however, shall the power of heaven, the dominion of the Holy Spirit, hoist on the high summits the banners of love and peace, and there above the castles of majesty and might shall those banners wave in the rushing winds that blow out of the tender mercy of God.
("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bah��", [rev. ed.] (Haifa: Bah��'�� World Centre, 1982), p. 174) [18]

19: Rest thou assured that in this era of the spirit, the Kingdom of Peace will...
Rest thou assured that in this era of the spirit, the Kingdom of Peace will raise up its tabernacle on the summits of the world, and the commandments of the Prince of Peace will so dominate the arteries and nerves of every people as to draw into His sheltering shade all the nations on earth. From springs of love and truth and unity will the true Shepherd give His sheep to drink.
O handmaid of God, peace must first be established among individuals, until it leadeth in the end to peace among nations. Wherefore, O ye Bah��'��s, strive ye with all your might to create, through the power of the Word of God, genuine love, spiritual communion and durable bonds among individuals. This is your task.
("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bah��", p. 246) [19]

20: So long as these prejudices [religious, racial, national, political] survive,...
So long as these prejudices [religious, racial, national, political] survive, there will be continuous and fearsome wars.
To remedy this condition there must be universal peace. To bring this about, a Supreme Tribunal must be established, representative of all governments and peoples; questions both national and international must be referred thereto, and all must carry out the decrees of this Tribunal. Should any government or people disobey, let the whole world arise against that government or people.
("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bah��", p. 249) [20]

21: At present universal peace is a matter of great importance, but unity of...
At present universal peace is a matter of great importance, but unity of conscience is essential, so that the foundation of this matter may become secure, its establishment firm and its edifice strong.
Therefore Bah��'u'll��h, fifty years ago, expounded this question of universal peace at a time when He was confined in the fortress of Akk�� and was wronged and imprisoned....
Among His teachings was the declaration of universal peace. ...the teachings of Bah��'u'll��h were not limited to the establishment of universal peace. They embraced many teachings which supplemented and supported that of universal peace.
...
In fine, such teachings are numerous. These manifold principles, which constitute the greatest basis for the felicity of mankind and are of the bounties of the Merciful, must be added to the matter of universal peace and combined with it, so that results may accrue. Otherwise the realization of universal peace by itself in the world of mankind is difficult. As the teachings of Bah��'u'll��h are combined with universal peace, they are like a table provided with every