son of their own selves.

80 We render thanks unto God for that which He hath bestowed upon us of
His grace. He it is Who hath caused us to be assured of the truth of His
Faith--a Faith which the combined forces of earth and heaven are powerless
to resist. He it is Who hath enabled us to acknowledge Him in the day of
His presence, to testify unto Him Whom God shall make manifest in the
latter Resurrection, and to be among them that have believed in Him ere
His appearance, that His favour may be made complete unto us and unto all
mankind.

81 But hear, O My brother, My plaint against them that claim to be
associated with God and with the Manifestations of His knowledge, and yet
follow their corrupt inclinations, consume the substance of their
neighbour, are given to wine, commit murder, defraud and slander each
other, hurl calumnies against God, and are wont to speak falsely. The
people attribute all these deeds unto Us, whilst their perpetrators remain
shameless before God. They cast aside that which He hath enjoined upon
them and commit that which He hath forbidden. Yet it behoveth the people
of truth that the signs of humility should shine upon their faces, that
the light of sanctity should radiate from their countenances, that they
should walk upon the earth as though they were in the presence of God and
distinguish themselves in their deeds from all the dwellers of the earth.
Such must be their state that their eyes should behold the evidences of
His might, their tongues and hearts make mention of His name, their feet
be set towards the lands of His nearness, and their hands take fast hold
upon His precepts. And were they to pass through a valley of pure gold and
mines of precious silver, they should regard them as wholly unworthy of
their attention.

82 These people, however, have turned aside from all this and placed
instead their affections upon that which accordeth with their own corrupt
inclinations. Thus do they roam in the wilderness of arrogance and pride.
I bear witness at this moment that God is wholly quit of them, and
likewise are We. We beseech God to suffer Us not to associate with them
either in this life or in the life to come. He, verily, is the Eternal
Truth. No God is there but Him, and His might is equal to all things.

83 Quaff then, O My brother, from the living waters that We have caused to
flow in the oceans of these words. Methinks the seas of grandeur are
surging within them, and the gem