om executing Thy purpose. I confess that Thou hast no desire except the
regeneration of the whole world, and the establishment of the unity of its
peoples, and the salvation of all them that dwell therein.

Reflect a while, and consider how they who are the loved ones of God must
conduct themselves, and to what heights they must soar. Beseech thou, at
all times, thy Lord, the God of Mercy, to aid them to do what He willeth.
He, verily, is the Most Powerful, the All-Glorious, the All-Knowing.

The imprisonment inflicted on this wronged One, O _Dh_abih, did to Him no
harm nor can it ever do so; nor can the loss of all His earthly goods, His
exile, or even His martyrdom and outward humiliation, do Him any hurt.
That which can hurt Him are the evil deeds which the beloved of God
commit, and which they impute to Him Who is the Sovereign Truth. This is
the affliction from which I suffer, and to this He, Himself, Who is potent
over all things, beareth Me witness. That which hath sorely hurt Me are
the claims which the people of the Bayan are advancing every day. Some
have proclaimed their allegiance to one of My Branches (Sons), while
others have asserted independently their claims, and acted after their own
desires.

O _Dh_abih! The Tongue of Grandeur saith: By Myself that speaketh the
truth! In this most mighty Revelation all the Dispensations of the past
have attained their highest and final consummation. Whoso layeth claim to
a Revelation after Him, such a man is assuredly a lying impostor. We pray
God that He may graciously assist him to retract and repudiate such claim.
Should he repent, God will no doubt forgive him. If, however, he
persisteth in his error, God will assuredly send down one who will deal
mercilessly with him. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Most Powerful.

Behold how the people of the Bayan have utterly failed to recognize that
the sole object of whatsoever My Previous Manifestation and Harbinger of
My Beauty hath revealed hath been My Revelation and the proclamation of My
Cause. Never--and to this He Who is the Sovereign Truth beareth Me
witness--would He have, but for Me, pronounced what He did pronounce.
Witness how this foolish people have treated the Cause of Him Who is the
All-Possessing, the Inaccessible, as a play and pastime! Their hearts
devise each day a new device, and their fancy leadeth them to seek a fresh
retreat. If what they say be true, how then can the stability of the Cause
of thy