CHAPTER XIV
John, the Harbinger, Returns to Hebron, Lives as a Hermit In the Wilds, Visits Jerusalem and
Speaks to the People.
1. It came to pass when John, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, had finished all his studies in the Egyptian
schools he returned to Hebron, where he abode for certain days.
2. And then he sought the wilderness and made his home in David's cave, where many years before he was instructed
by the Egyptian sage.
3. Some people called him Hermit of Engedi; and others said, "He is the wild man of the hills."
4. He clothed himself with skins of beasts; his food was carobs, honey, nuts and fruits.
5. When John was thirty years of age he went into Jerusalem, and in the market place he sat in silence seven
days.
6. The common people and the priests, the scribes and Pharisees came out in multitudes to see the silent hermit
of the hills; but none were bold enough to ask him who he was.
7. But when his silent past was done he stood forth in the midst of all and said:
8."Behold the King has come; the prophets told of Him; the wise men long have looked for Him.
9. Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your King."
10. And that was all he said, and then he disappeared, and no one knew where he had gone.
11. And there was great unrest through all Jerusalem. The rulers heard the story of the hermit of the hills.
12. And they sent couriers forth to talk with him that they might know about the coming King; but they could
find him not.
13. And after certain days he came again into the market place, and all the city came to hear him speak. He
said:
14. "Be not disturbed, you rulers of the state; the coming King is no antagonist; he seeks no place on any
earthly throne."
[He comes the Prince of Peace, the king of righteousness and love; his kingdom is with in the soul.]
15. "The eyes of men shall see it not and none can enter but the pure in heart."
16. "Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your King."
17. Again, the hermit disappeared; the people strove to follow him, but he had drawn a veil about his form
and men could see him not.
18. Jewish feast day came; Jerusalem was filled with Jews and proselytes from every part of Palestine, and
John stood in the temple court and said:
19. "Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your King."
20. "So, you have lived in sin; the poor cry in your streets, and you regard them not.
21. Your neighbors, who are they? You have defrauded friends and foes alike.
22. You worship Allah with voice and lip; your hearts are far away, and set on gold.
23. Your priests have bound upon the people burdens far to great to bear; they live in ease upon the hard
earned wages of the poor.
24. Your lawyers, doctors, scribes are useless cumberers of the ground; they are but tumors on the body of
the state.
25. They toil not, neither do they spin, yet they consume the profits of your marts of trade.
26. Your rulers are adulterers, extortioners and thieves, regarding not the rights of any man.
27. And robbers ply their calling in the sacred hills; the holy temple you have sold to thieves; their dens
are in the sacred places set apart for prayer.
28. Hear! hear! You people of Jerusalem! Reform: turn from your evil ways or Allah will turn from you, and
heathen from afar will come, and what is left of all your honor and your fame will pass in one short hour."
29. "Prepare, Jerusalem, prepare to meet your King."
30. He said no more; he left the court and no one saw him go.
31. The priests, the doctors and the scribes were all in rage. They sought for John, intent to do him harm.
They found him not.
[The common people stood in his defense; they said: "The hermit speaks the truth.
And then the priests, the doctors and the scribes were sore afraid; they said no more; they hid themselves
away.]
CHAPTER XV
Jesus Goes to the Wilderness For Self-examination, Where He Remains Forty Days--Is Subjected
to Three Temptations. He Overcomes--Returns to the Camps of John and Begins Teaching.
1. The harbinger had paved the way; the Logos had been introduced to men as love made manifest, and he must
now begin his divine ministry.
2. And he went forth into the wilderness to be alone with Allah, that He might look into His inner heart,
and note its strength and worthiness.
3. And with Himself He talked; He said: "My lower self is strong; by many ties I am bound down to carnal life.
4. Have I the strength to overcome and give my life a willing sacrifice for men?
5. When I shall stand before the face of men, and they demand a proof of my Messiahship, what will I say?"
6. And then the tempter came and said: "If you be son of Allah, command these stones to turn to bread."
7. And Jesus said: "Who is it that demands a test? It is no sign that one is Son of Allah because he does
a miracle; the devils can do mighty things.
8. Did not the Gentile magicians do great things before the Pharaoh?
9. My words and deeds in all the walks of life shall be the proof of my Messiahship."
10. And then the tempter said: "If you will go into Jerusalem, and from the temple pinnacle cast down yourself
to earth, the people will believe that you are the Messiah sent from Allah.
11. This you can surely do; for did not David say: 'He gives His angels charge concerning you, and with their
will they uphold lest you should fall?"
12. And Jesus said: "I may not tempt the Lord, my God, Allah."
13. And then the tempter said: "Look forth upon the world; behold its honors and its fame! Behold its pleasures
and its wealth!
14. If you will give your life for these they shall be yours."
15. But Jesus said: "Away from me all tempting thoughts. My heart is fixed. I spurn this carnal self with
all its vain ambition and its pride."
16. For forty days did Jesus wrestle with His carnal self; His higher self Prevailed. He then was hungry,
but his friends had found Him and they ministered to Him.
17. Then Jesus left the wilderness and in the consciousness of Holy breath, he came unto the camps of John
and taught.
CHAPTER XVI
Pilate's Final Effort to Release Jesus Fails--He Washes His Hands In Feigned Innocence--Delivers
Jesus to the Jews For Execution--The Jewish Soldiers Drive Him to Calvary.
1. A superstitious people are the Jews. They have a faith that they have borrowed from the idol worshipers
of other lands, that at the end of every year,
2. They may heap all their sins upon the head of some man set apart to bear their sins.
3. The man becomes a scapegoat for the multitudes; and they believe that when they drive him forth into the
wilds, or into foreign lands, they are released from sins.
4. So every spring before the feast they chose a prisoner from the prisons of the land, and by a form their
own, they fain would make him bear their sins away.
5. Among the Jewish prisoners in Jerusalem were three who were the leaders of a vile, seditious band, who
had engaged in thefts and murders and rapine, and had been sentenced to be crucified.
6. Barabbas and Jezia was among the men who were to die; but Barabbas was rich and he had bought off priests
the boon to be scapegoat for the people at the coming feast, and he was anxiously in waiting for his hour to come.
7. Now, Pilate thought to turn this superstition to account to save the Lord Jesus, and so he went again before
the Jews and said:
8. "You men of Israel, according to my custom I will release to you today a prisoner who shall bear you sins
away.
9. This man you drive into the wilds or into foreign lands, and you have asked me to release Barabbas, who
has been proven guilty of the murder of a score of men.
10. Now, hear me men. Let Jesus be released and let Barabbas pay his debt upon the cross; then you can send
this Jesus to the wilds and hear no more of Him."
11. At what the ruler said the people were enraged, and they began to plot to tear the Roman palace down and
drive in exile Pilate, and his household and his guards.
12. When Pilate was assured that civil war would follow if he heeded not the wishes of the mob, he took a
bowl of water and in the presence of the multitude he washed his hands and said:
13. "This man whom you accuse is Son of the Most High Allah, and I proclaim my innocence.
14. If you would shed His blood, His blood is on your hands and not on mine."
15. And then the Jews exclaimed: "And let His blood be on our hands and on our children's hands."
16. And Pilate trembled like a leaf, in fear. Barabbas he released, and as the Lord stood forth before the
mob, the ruler said: "Behold your King! And would you put to death your King?"
17. The Jews replied, "He is no King; we have no King but great Tiberius."
18. Now, Pilate would not give consent that Roman soldiers should imbue their hands in blood of innocence
and so the chief priests and the Pharisees took counsel what to do with Jesus.
19. Caiaphas has said: "We cannot crucify this man; he must be stoned to death and nothing more."
20. And then the rabble said: "Make haste! let Him be stoned." And then they led Him forth toward the hill
beyond the city's gates, where criminals were put to death.
21. The rabble could not wait until they reached the place of skulls. As soon as they had passed the city's
gates, they rushed upon Him, smote Him with their hands, they spit upon Him, stoned Him and He fell upon the ground.
22. And one, a man of Allah, stood forth and said: "Isaiah said, He shall be bruised for our transgressions
and by His stripes we shall be healed."
23. As Jesus laid all bruised and mangled on the ground a High Priest called out, "Stay, stay you men! Behold
the guards of Herod come and they will crucify this man."
24. And there beside the city's gate they found Barabbas' cross, and then the frenzied mob cried out, "Let
him be crucified."
25. Caiaphas and the other ruling Jews came forth and gave consent.
26. And then they lifted Jesus from the ground, and at the point of swords they drove Him on.
27. A man named Simon, from Cyrene, a friend of Jesus, was near the scene, and since the bruised and wounded
Jesus could not bear His cross, they laid it on the shoulders of this man and made him bear it on to Calvary.
CHAPTER XVII
Jesus Appears, Fully Materialized, Before Apollo and the Silent Brotherhood In Greece--Appears
to Claudia and Juliet On the Tiber Near Rome--Appears to the Priest In the Egyptian Temple at Heliopolis.
1. Apollo, with the Silent Brotherhood of Greece, was sitting in a Delphian grove. The Oracle had spoken loud
and long.
2. The priests were in the sanctuary and as they looked the Oracle became a blaze of light; it seemed to be
on fire, and all consumed.
3. The priests were filled with fear. They said: "A great disaster is to come; our gods are mad; they have
destroyed our Oracle.
4. But when the flames had spent themselves, a man stood on the Oracle's pedestal and said:
5. "Allah speaks to man, not by an oracle of wood and gold, but by the voice of man."
6. "The gods have spoken to the Greeks, and kindred tongues, through images made by man, but Allah the One,
now speaks to man through Jesus the only Son, who was, and is and evermore will be.
7. This Oracle shall fail; the living Oracle of Allah, the One, will not fail."
8. Apollo knew the man who spoke; he knew it was the Nazarene who once had taught the wise men in the Acropolis
and had rebuked the idol worshipers upon the Athens' beach.
9. And in a moment Jesus stood before Apollo and the Silent Brotherhood and said:
10. "Behold, for I have risen from the dead with gifts for men. I bring to you the title of your vast estate.
11. All power in heaven and earth is mine; to you I give all power in heaven and earth.
12. Go forth and teach the nations of the earth the Gospel of the resurrection of the dead and of eternal
life through Jesus, the love of Allah made manifest to men."
13. And then he clasped Apollo's hand and said: "My human flesh was changed to higher form by love divine
and I can manifest in flesh or in the higher planes of life at will.
14. What I can do all men can do. Go teach the Gospel of the Omnipotence of man."
15. Then Jesus disappeared; but Greece and Crete and all the nations heard.
16. Claudas and Juliet, his wife, lived on the Palatine in Rome and they were servants of Tiberius; but they
had been in Galilee.
17. Had walked with Jesus by the sea, had heard His words and seen His power; and they believed that He was
Jesus made manifest.
18. Now Claudas and his wife were on the Tiber in a little boat; a storm swept from the sea, the boat was
wrecked and Claudas and his wife were sinking down to death.
19. And Jesus came and took them by the hands and said: "Claudas and Juiet, arise and walk with me upon the
waves."
20. And they arose and walked with him upon the waves.
21. A thousand people saw three walk on the waves, and saw them reach the land, and they were all amazed.
22. And Jesus said: "You men of Rome, I am the resurrection and the life. They that are dead shall live, and
many that shall live will never die.
23. By mouth of gods and demi-gods Allah spoke unto your fathers long ago; but now He speaks to you through
perfect man."
24. "He sent His son, Jesus, in human flesh to save the world, and as I lifted from the watery grave and saved
these servants of Tiberius.
20. So Jesus will lift the sons and daughters of the human race, yea every one of them, from darkness and
from graves of carnal things, to light and everlasting life.
26. I am the manifest of love raised from the dead; Behold my hands, my feet, my side which carnal men have
pierced.
27. Claudas and Juliet whom I have saved from death, are my ambassadors to Rome.
28. And they will point the way and preach the gospel of the Holy Breath and the resurrection of the dead."
29. And that was all he said, but Rome and all of Italy heard.
30. The priests of Heliopolis were in their temple met to celebrate the resurrection of their brother Nazarite;
they knew that he had risen from the dead.
31. The Nazarite appeared and stood upon a sacred pedestal on which no man had ever stood.
32. This was an honor that had been reserved for him who first would demonstrate the resurrection of the dead.
33. And Jesus was the first of all the human race to demonstrate the resurrection of the dead.
34. When Jesus stood upon the sacred pedestal the masters stood and said, "All hail!" The great bells of the
temple rang and all the temple was ablaze with light.
35. And Jesus said: "All honor to the masters of this Temple of the Sun.
36. In flesh of man there is the essence of the resurrection of the dead. This essence quickened by the Holy
Breath, will raise the substance of the Body to a higher tone,
37. And make it like the substance of the bodies of the planes above, which human eyes cannot behold.
38. There is a holy ministry in death. The essence of the body cannot be quickened by the Holy Breath until
the fixed is solved; the body must disintegrate, and this is death.
39. And then upon these pliant substances Allah breathes, just as he breathed upon the chaos of the deep when
worlds were formed.
40. And life springs forth from death; the carnal form is changed to form divine.
41. The will of man makes possible the action of the Holy Breath. When will of man and will of Allah are one,
the resurrection is a fact.
42. In this we have the chemistry of mortal life, the ministry of death, the mystery of deific life.
43. My human life was wholly given to bring my will to tune with the deific will; when this was done my earth-tasks
all were done.
44. And you, my brother, know full well the foes I had to meet; you know about my victories in Gethsemane;
my trials in the courts of men; my death upon the cross.
45. You know that all my life was one great drama for the sons of men; a pattern for the sons of men. I lived
to show the possibilities of man.
46. What I have done all men can do, and what I am all men shall be."
47. The masters looked; the form upon the sacred pedestal had gone, but every temple priest, and every living
creature said: "Praise Allah."
CHAPTER XVIII
The Resurrection of Jesus--Pilate Places the Roman Seal Upon the Stone Door Of the Tomb--At Mid-night
a Company Of the Silent Brothers March About the Tomb--The Soldiers Are Alarmed--Jesus Preaches To the Spirits In Prison--Early
Sunday Morning He Rises From the Tomb--The Soldiers Are Bribed By the Priests To Say That the Disciples Had Stolen the Body.
The tomb in which they laid the body of the Lord was in a garden, rich with flowers, the garden of Saloam,
and Joseph's home was near.
2. Before the watch began Caiaphas sent a company of priests out to the garden of Saloam that they might be
assured that Jesus' body was within the tomb.
3. They rolled away the stone; they saw the body there, and then they placed the stone again before the door.
4. And Pilate sent his scribe who placed upon the stone the seal of Rome, in such a way that he who moved
the stone would break the seal.
5. To break this Roman seal meant death to him who broke the seal.
6. The Jewish soldiers all were sworn to faithfulness; and then the watch began.
7. At midnight all was well, but suddenly the tomb became a blaze of light, and down the garden walk a troupe
of white clad soldiers marched in single file.
8. They came up to the tomb and marched and countermarched before the door.
9. The Jewish soldiers were alert; they thought His friends had come to steal the body of the Nazarene. The
captain of the guard cried out to charge.
10. They charged; but not a white clad soldier fell. They did not even stop; they marched and countermarched
among the frightened men.
11. They stood upon the Roman seal; they did not speak ; they unsheathed not their swords; it was the Silent
Brotherhood.
12. The Jewish soldiers fled in fear; they fell upon the ground.
13. They stood apart until the white clad soldiers marched away, and then the light about the tomb grew dim.
14. Then, they returned; the stone was in its place; the seal was not disturbed, and they resumed their watch.
15. Now, Jesus did not sleep within the tomb. The body is the manifest of soul; but soul is without its manifest.
16. And in the realm of souls, unmanifest, the Lord went forth and taught.
17. He opened up the prison doors and set the prisoners free.
18. He broke the chains of captive souls, and led the captives to the light.
19. He sat in council with the patriarchs and prophets of the olden times.
20. The masters of all times and climes He met, and in the great assemblies he stood forth and told the story
of His life on earth, and of his death in sacrifice for man,
21. And of his promises to clothe himself again in garb of flesh and walk with his disciples, just to prove
the possibilities of man.
22. To give to them the key of life, of death and of the resurrection of the dead.
23. In council all the masters sat and talked about the revelations of the coming age,
24. When she, the Holy Breath, shall fill the earth and air with holy breath, and open up the way of man to
perfectness and endless life.
25. The garden of Saloam was silent on the Sabbath day. The Jewish soldiers watched and no one else approached
the tomb; but on the following night the scene was changed.
26. At midnight every Jewish soldier heard a voice which said. "Adon Mashich Cumi," which meant: "Lord Jesus
arise.
27. And they supposed again the friends of Jesus were alert, were coming up to take the body of their Lord
away.
28. The soldiers were alert with swords unsheathed and drawn, and then they heard the words again.
29. It seemed as though the voice was everywhere, and yet they saw no man.
30. The soldiers blanched with fear, and still to flee meant death for cowardice, and so they stood and watched.
31. Again, and this was just before the sun arose, the heavens blazed with light: a distant thunder seemed
to herald forth a coming storm.
32. And then the earth began to quake and in the rays of light they saw a form descend from heaven. They said:
"Behold, an angel comes."
33. And then they heard again: "Adon Mashich Cumi."
34. And then the white-robed form tramped on the Roman seal, and then he tore it into shreds, he took the
mighty stone in his hand as though it were a pebble from the brook, and cast it to the side.
35. And Jesus opened up His eyes and said, "All hail the rising sun; the coming of the day of righteousness!"
36. And then He folded up His burial gown, His head bands and His coverings and laid them all aside.
37. He arose, and for a moment stood beside the white-robed form.
38. The weaker soldiers fell to the ground, and hid their faces in their hands; the stronger stood and watched.
39. They saw the body of the Nazarene transmute. They saw it change from mortal to immortal form, and then
it disappeared.
40. The soldiers heard a voice from somewhere; yea, from everywhere, it said:
41. "Peace, peace on earth; good will to men."
42. They looked, the tomb was empty and the Lord had risen as He said.
43. The soldiers hastened to Jerusalem, and to the priests, and said:
44. "Behold the Nazarene has risen as He said; the tomb is empty and the body of the man is gone; we know
not where it is." And then they told about the wonders of the night.
45. Caiaphas called a council of the Jews, he said:"The news must not go forth that Jesus has arisen from
the dead.
46. For if it does, all men will say: "He is the son of Allah, and all our testimonials will be proven false."
47. And then they called the hundred soldiers in and said to them:
48. "You know not where the body of the Nazarene is resting now, so if you will go forth and say that His
disciples came and stole the body while you slept,
49. Each one of you shall have a silver piece, and we will make it right with Pilate for breaking of the Roman
seal."
50. The soldiers did as they were paid to do.
CHAPTER XIX
Jesus Appears, Fully Materialised, To the Eastern Sages In the Palace Of Prince Ravanna In India--To the Magian
Priests In Persia.--The Three Wise Men Speak In Praise Of the Personality Of the Nazarene.
1. Ravanna, prince of India, gave a feast. His palace in Orissa was the place where men of thought from all the farther
East were wont to meet.
2. Ravanna was the prince with whom the child Jesus went to India with when twelve years old.
3. The feast was made in honor of the wise men of the East.
4. Among the guests were Mengste, Vidyapati and Lamaas.
5. The wise men sat about the table talking of the needs of India and the world.
6. The door unto the banquet hall was in the East; a vacant chair was at the table to the East.
7. And as the wise men talked a stranger entered, unannounced, and raising up his hands in benediction said, "All hail!"
8. A halo rested on his head, and light, unlike the light of sun, filled all the room.
[9.The wise men rose and bowed their heads and said, "All hail!"]
10. And Jesus sat down in the vacant chair; and then the wise men knew it was the Jewish Prophet who had come.
11. And Jesus said: "Behold, for I am risen from the dead. Look at my hands, my feet, my side.
12. The Roman soldiers pierced my hands and feet with nails; and then one pierced my heart.
13. They put me in a tomb, and then I wrestled with the conqueror of men. I conquered death, I stamped upon him and arose.
14. Brought immortality to light and painted on the walls of time a rainbow for the sons of men; and what I did all men
shall do.
15. This gospel of the resurrection of the dead is not confined to Jew and Greek; it is the heritage of every man of every
time and clime; and I am here a demonstrator of the power of man."
16. Then He arose and pressed the hand of every man and of the royal host, and said:
17. "Behold, I am not myth made of the fleeting winds, for I am flesh and bone and brawn; but I can cross the borderland
at will."
18. And then they talked together there a long, long time. Then Jesus said:
19. "I go my way, but you shall go to all the world and teach the gospel of the omnipotence of men, the power of truth,
the resurrection of the dead.
20. He who believes this gospel of the son of man shall never die; the dead shall live again."
21. Then Jesus disappeared, but He had sown the seed. The words of life were spoken in Orissa, and all of India heard.
22. The Magian priests were in the silence in Persepolis, and Kaspar, and the Magian masters, who were first to greet the
child of promise in the shepherd's home in Bethlehem, were with the priests.
23. And Jesus came and sat with them; a crown of light was on His head.
24. And when the silence ended Kaspar said: "A master from the Royal Council of the Silent Brotherhood is here; let us
give praise."
25. And all the priests and masters stood and said: "All hail! What message from the Royal Council do you bring?"
26. And Jesus said: "My brothers of the Silent Brotherhood, peace, peace on earth, good will to men!
27. The problem of the age has been solved; a son of man risen from the dead; has shown that human flesh can be transformed
into flesh divine.
28. Before the eyes of men this flesh in which I come to you was changed with speed of light from human flesh. And so I
am the message that I bring to you.
29. To you I come, the first of all the race to be transmuted to the image of Allah.
30. What I have done, all men will do; and what I am, all men shall be."
31. But Jesus said no more. In one short breath He told the story of His mission to the sons of men, and then He disappeared.
32. The Magi said: "Some time ago we read this promise, now fulfilled, upon the dial plate of Heaven.
33. And then we saw this man who has just demonstrated unto us the power of man to raise from carnal flesh and blood to
flesh of Allah, a babe in Bethlehem.
34. and after many years He came and sat with us in these same groves;
35. He told the story of His human life, of trials, sore temptations, buffeting and woes.
36. He pressed along the thorny way of life 'till He had risen and overthrown the strongest foes of Allah and man; and
He is now the only master of the human race whose flesh has been transmuted into flesh divine.
37. He is the God-man of to-day; but everyone of earth shall overcome and be like Him, a Son of Allah.
Epilogue for Chapters II-XIX
These events occurred before He was thirty years of age, and the events after He had risen from the dead. He appeared back
to India, Europe and Africa in the land of Egypt, and made himself known unto the world. These events are the eighteen years
which are absent in your "Holy Bible." The events of John the Baptist. John taught by the Egyptian sage. The meaning of baptism
and how to baptize himself. And after he was baptized, he was taken at the age of twelve years into Africa, the land of Egypt,
and there he remained in the Egyptian schools eighteen years. And there he learned his duty as "fore-runner of Jesus."
CHAPTER XX
HOLY INSTRUCTION AND WARNINGS FOR ALL YOUNG MEN
1. Beware, young man, beware of all the allurements of wantonness, and let not the harlot tempt thee to excess in her delights.
2. The madness of desire shall defeat its own pursuits; from the blindness of its rage, thou shalt rush upon destruction.
3. Therefore give not up thy heart to her sweet enticements, neither suffer thy soul to be enslaved by her enchanting delusions
4. The fountain of health which must supply the stream of pleasure, shall quickly be dried up, and every spring of joy
shall be exhausted.
5. In the prime of thy life old age shall overtake thee; the sun shall decline in the morning of thy days.
6. But when virtue and modesty enlighten her charms, the luster of a beautiful woman is brighter than the stars of Heaven
and the influence of her power it is in vain to resist.
7. The whiteness of her bosom transcendeth the lily; her smile is more delicious than a garden of roses.
8. The innocence of her eyes is like that of the turtle; simplicity and truth dwell in her heart.
9. The kisses of her mouth are sweeter than honey; the perfumes of Arabia breathe from her lips.
10. Shut not thy bosom to the tenderness of love; the purity of its flame shall ennoble thy heart, and soften it to receive
the fairest impressions.
CHAPTER XXI
MARRIAGE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAN AND WIFE FROM THE NOBLE PROPHET
1. Give ear, fair daughter of love, to the instructions of prudence and let the precepts of truth sink deep in thy heart;
so shall the charms of thy mind add luster to the elegance of thy form; and thy beauty, like the rose it resembleth, shall
retain its sweetness when its bloom is withered.
2. In the spring of thy youth, in the morning of thy days, when the eyes of men gaze on thee with delight, and nature whispereth
in thine ear the meaning of their looks; ah, hear with caution their seducing words; guard well thy heart, nor listen to their
soft persuasions.
3. Remember thou art made man's reasonable companion, not the slave of his passion; the end of thy being is not merely
to gratify his loose desire; but to assist him in the toils of life, to soothe his heart with thy tenderness and recompense
his care with soft en-dearments.
4. Who is she that winneth the heart of man, that subdueth him to love, and reigneth in his breast?
5. Lo! Yonder she walketh in maiden sweetness, with innocence in her mind, and modesty on her cheek.
6. Her hand seeketh employment, her foot delighteth not in gadding abroad.
7. She is clothed with neatness, she is fed with temperance; humility and meekness are as a crown of glory circling her
head.
8. On her tongue dwelleth music, the sweetness of honey floweth from her lips. Decency is in all her words, in her answers
are mildness and truth.
9. Submission and obedience are the lessons of her life, and peace and happiness are her reward.
10. Before her steps walketh prudence, and virtue attendeth at her right hand.
11. Her eye speaketh softness and love, but discretion with a sceptre sitteth on her brow.
12. The tongue of the licentious is dumb in her presence; the awe of her virtue keepeth him silent.
13. When scandal is busy, and the fame of her neighbors is tossed from tongue to tongue; if charity and good nature open
not her mouth, the finger of silence resteth on her lip.
14. Her breast is the mansion of goodness, and therefore she suspecteth no evil of others.
15. Happy were the man that should make her his wife; happy the child that should call her mother.
16. She presideth in the house, and there is peace; she commandeth with judgment, and is obeyed.
17. She ariseth in the morning, she considers her affairs, and appointeth to every one their proper business.
18. The care of her family is her whole delight; to that alone she applieth her study; and elegance with frugality is seen
in her mansion.
19. The prudence of her management is an honor to her husband, he heareth her praise with a secret delight.
20. She informeth the minds of her children with wisdom; she fashioneth their manners from the examples of her own goodness.
21. The words of her mouth is the law of their youth; the motion of her eye commandeth their obedience.
22. She speaketh, and the servants fly; she pointeth, and the thing is done; for the law of love is in their hearts, and
her kindness addeth wings to their feet.
23. In prosperity she is not puffed up; in adversity she healeth the wounds of fortune with patience.
24. The troubles of her husband are alleviated by her councils and sweetened by her endearments; he putteth his heart in
her bosom, and receiveth comfort.
25. Happy is the man that has made her his wife; happy the child that call her mother.
CHAPTER XXII
DUTY OF A HUSBAND
1. Take unto thyself a wife and obey the ordinance of Allah; take unto thyself a wife, and become a faithful member of
society.
2. But examine with care, and fix not suddenly. On thy present choice depends thy future happiness.
3. If much of her time is destroyed in dress and adornment; if she is enamored with her own beauty, and delighted with
her own praise; if she laugheth much, and talketh loud; if her foot abideth not in her father's house, and her eyes with boldness
rove on the faces of men; though her beauty were as the sun in the firmament of heaven, turn thy face from her charms, turn
thy feet from her paths, and suffer not thy soul to be ensnared by the allurements of imagination.
4. But when thou findest sensibility of heart, joined with softness of manners; and accomplished mind, with a form agreeable
to thy fancy; take her home to thy house; she is worthy to be thy friend, thy companion in life, the wife of thy bosom.
5. O cherish her as a blessing sent to thee from Heaven. Let the kindness of thy behavior endear thee to her heart.
6. She is the mistress of thy house; treat her therefore with respect, that thy servants may obey her.
7. Oppose not her inclination without cause; she is the partner of thy cares, make her also the companion of thy pleasures.
8. Reprove her faults with gentleness, exact not her obedience with rigor.
9. Trust thy secrets in her breast; her counsels are sincere, thou shalt not be deceived.
10. Be faithful to her bed; for she is mother of thy children.
11. When pain and sickness assault her, let thy tenderness soothe her affliction; a look from thee of pity and love shall
alleviate her grief, or instigate her pain and be of more avail than ten physicians.
12. Consider the tenderness of her sex, the delicacy of her frame; and be not severe to her weakness, but remember thine
own imperfections.
CHAPTER XXIII
HOLY INSTRUCTIONS FOR THY CHILDREN
1. Consider, thou art a parent, the importance of thy trust; the being thou hast produced, it is thy duty to support.
2. Upon thee also it dependeth whether the child of thy bosom be a blessing or a curse to thyself; an useful or a worthless
member to the community.
3. Prepare him early with instruction, and season his mind with the maxims of truth.
4. Watch the bent of his inclinations, set him right in his youth and let no evil habit gain strength with his years.
5. So shall he rise like a cedar on the mountains; his head shall be seen above the trees of the forest.
6. A wicked son is a reproach to his father; but he that doth right is an honor to his grey hairs.
7. The soil is thine own, let it not want cultivation; the seed which thou soweth, that also shall thou reap.
8. Teach him obedience, and he shall bless thee; teach him modesty, and he shall not be ashamed.
9. Teach him gratitude, and he shall receive benefits; teach him charity, and he shall gain love.
10. Teach him temperance, and he shall have health; teach him prudence, and fortune shall attend him.
11. Teach him justice, and he shall be honored by the world; teach him sincerity, and his own heart shall not reproach
him.
12. Teach him diligence, and his wealth shall increase; teach him benevolence, and his mind shall be exalted.
13. Teach him science, and his life shall be useful; teach him religion, and his death shall be happy.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE OBEDIENCE OF CHILDREN TOWARDS THEIR FATHER
1. From the secrets of Allah let man learn wisdom, and apply to himself the instruction they give.
2. Go to the desert, my son; observe the young stork of the wilderness; let him speak to thy heart; he beareth on his wings
his aged sire; he lodgeth him in safety, and supplieth him with food.
3. The piety of a child is sweeter than the incense of Persia offering to the sun; yea, more delicious than odors wafted
from a field of Arabian spices of the western gales.
4. Be grateful to thy father, for he gave thee life and to thy mother, for she sustained thee.
5. Hear the words of his mouth, for they are spoken for thy good; give ear to his admonition, for it proceedeth from love.
6. He hath watched for thy welfare, he hath toiled for thy ease; do honor therefore to his age, and let not his grey hairs
be treated with irreverence.
7. Forget not thy helpless infancy, nor the forwardness of thy youth, and indulge the infirmities of thy aged parents;
assist and support them in the decline of life.
8. So shall their hoary heads go down to the grave in peace; and thine own children, in reverence of thy example, shall
repay thy piety with filial love.