tation, art
confident in the Word of God and dost hold to the divine teachings. I hope
that thou mayest be confirmed to give the Message to thy friends and
relatives and guide them also. Be patient and forbearing and treat them
with great love and kindness. Surely the attributes of the people of God
will have their effect eventually upon the people.

"O thou beloved of my heart!..."

O thou beloved of my heart!

Verily, my soul longs for thee, for the lamp of the love of Baha' is
lighted within thy heart and I love to look upon thy face, for it is
glittering with the light of guidance among the creatures. Glory be to Him
who hath united hearts together! Glory be to Him who hath brought the East
and West under the shadow of the Blessed Tree, the root of which is firmly
fixed in the earth and the branches of which reach unto the Supreme
Concourse!

"O thou who art partaking of the Heavenly Food!..."

O thou who art partaking of the Heavenly Food!

Know thou verily the Divine Food is descending from heaven, but only those
taste thereof who are directed to the light of guidance, and only those
can enjoy it who are endowed with a sound taste. Otherwise every diseased
soul disliketh the delicious and merciful food and this is because of the
sickness which hath seized him, whereby the El-Zekkum(74) is sweet (to his
taste) while he fleeth from the ripe fruit of the Tree of the Living and
Pre-existent God--and there is no wonder in that.

In a similar way, thou beholdest some women who have abandoned the
Testament, and to them the bitterness of discord is sweet. They keep aloof
from the Extended Shadow and dwell under the shade of a "black smoke."
Alas for them and grief for them! They will surely lament and find
themselves in loss. Verily, this is but an evident truth!

"O thou tree, developed in the garden of the Love of..."

O thou tree, developed in the garden of the Love of God!

Be well watered with the abundant rain falling from the clouds of the
Testament of God, that thou mayest bring forth fresh and ripe fruits which
are beneficial to the hearts and souls.

"O thou spiritual man and merciful being!..."

O thou spiritual man and merciful being!

I have read thy brilliant letter which showeth the utterance of thy praise
upon the Beauty of El-ABHA, the Most Glorious. Blessed thou art!
Glad-tidings unto thee for that by reason of which thou hast drunk from
the cup which is ove