honorable and faithful to God!

How many men and women awaited the manifestation of the Messiah after
Moses? Yet when His beauty shone forth and His face appeared, they (the
people) did not recognize Him, but continued to follow the superstitions
of the Pharisees, who used to say: "Where is the authority of the Messiah?
Where is the throne of David, the Glorious? Where is his iron rod? Where
are his innumerable hosts? Where are his attacking armies? Where are his
angels of heaven? Where do we see justice of government existing among
people and even among beasts and insects? Where is his great majesty?
Where is his power, which shaketh heaven and earth? Is not this a claim of
one who is bewildered and wandering amidst valleys and hills? Doth he not
ride upon as ass, while on his head there is a crown of thorns and he is
despised?"

Indeed, all of the foregoing statements are of the evil opinions which the
Pharisees used to proclaim through every man's tongue. But those who had
listening ears and clear insight, listened not to such misleading
speeches, but realized the Messiah as the rising Sun with His effulgent
face, and that the radiance of His illumination was diffused over the
whole world. They regarded even the ass on which He (Christ) was mounted
as a splendid throne and also the thorns which were upon His head as a
brilliant diadem!

Verily, direct thou thine own self towards His Kingdom, that thou mayest
perceive that His traces and authority continue forever and will never
cease!

"O thou whose heart is empty and pure through the..."

O thou whose heart is empty and pure through the Light of the word of God
shining therein!

I have read thy brilliant letter which proveth thy humbleness before the
Divine Might and thy cheerfulness by the fragrances of God emanating from
the gardens of expressions and facts. I ask God to make thee, thy
relations and kindred attentive to the Merciful Mighty and the Supreme
Kingdom and to illumine their sights and hearts by the light of the
knowledge of God. And [be] thou rejoiced at the mercy of thy Lord and this
great abundance from the Kingdom of Mysteries. Be thou a strong and
fortified refuge and a high cave. This is naught else than to cut thyself
from everything beside God, to be drawn by the fragrances of God and to be
happy and joyful by the gift of God.

"O thou who art shining with the Kingdom's Lights!..."

O thou who art shining with the Kingdo