sight of the truth, which John the Baptist made the main theme of his preaching, that God is a God of justice and that man must repent and flee from the wrath to come.

Sometimes the leading and guidance of God are spoken of in the Qur'an as being a leading and direction into peace. In the world men are in constant trouble, and the satisfaction derived from earthly pleasures and blessings are vain and transient and bring no true and lasting peace. God desires to bring to man the full and complete satisfaction of all his cravings both bodily and spiritual. This complete satisfaction is to be attained only hereafter, in the abode of peace. Hence God's purpose of mercy is sometimes described as being that of leading him unto the dwelling place of peace. 'Now have we plainly declared our signs unto those who will consider. For them is a dwelling of peace with their Lord, and in recompense for their work He shall be their protector.' ¹

'Thus make we our signs clear to those who consider. God calleth to the abode of peace, and He guideth whom He will into the right way.' ²

The word of welcome which believers shall hear from God as they enter this blessed abode will be the word Peace, 'Peace shall be the word on the part of a merciful Lord, But be ye separated this day, O ye sinners' ³

The experience of this peace commences here on earth in the enjoyment of the blessings of this life and the deliverance of the believer from trials, troubles, persecutions, and all else that may afflict him; as the

wicked often share in the blessings of life, it is not these blessings in themselves that bring to the believer the experience of this peace, but the knowledge of God's favour in their enjoyment, and especially the knowledge of His forgiving mercy. Thus, very often the purpose of God is said to be that He may forgive men. 'He calleth you that He may pardon your sins, and respite you until an appointed time.' ¹ 'O ye who believe, if ye fear God, He will make good your deliverance, and will put away your sins from you, and will forgive you: for God is of great bounteousness.' ²

The purpose of God being to forgive men, He makes them to experience peace. This they do through meditation on God, by which we should understand, meditation on the attributes and character of God as He has revealed Himself, and on the manner in which He has shown His purpose of mercy to mankind. ' . . . Shall not (men's) hearts repose in the meditation of God?' ³

Not merely so, but God manifests His presence specially to believers to encourage and strengthen them. 'He it is who sendeth down a spirit of secure repose (or better interpreted, the Shechinah, the manifestation of His Presence) into the hearts of the faithful, that they may add faith to their faith. . . ' ⁴

The blessings which are bestowed by God through His guidance and direction culminate in the entrance into Paradise, granted to the believer as the reward of his faith and obedience. We shall quote here only one