ning wolves. Sweet in words, they are but
at heart a deadly poison.

O ye beloved ones, guard the Cause of God! Let no sweetness of tongue
beguile you--nay, rather consider the motive of every soul, and ponder the
thought he cherisheth. Be ye straightway mindful and on your guard. Avoid
him, yet be not aggressive! Refrain from censure and from slander, and
leave him in the Hand of God. Upon you rest the Glory of Glories.

234: O THOU WHO ART ENRAPTURED BY THE SWEET BREATHINGS ...

O thou who art enraptured by the sweet breathings of the Lord! I have
noted the contents of thine eloquent letter, and have learned that thou
sheddest tears and thy heart is afire from grieving over the imprisonment
of 'Abdu'l-Baha.

O thou handmaid of God! This prison is sweeter to me and more to be
desired than a garden of flowers; to me, this bondage is better than the
freedom to go my way, and I find this narrow place more spacious than wide
and open plains. Do not grieve over me. And should my Lord decree that I
be blessed with sweet martyrdom's cup, this would but mean receiving what
I long for most.

Fear not if this Branch be severed from this material world and cast aside
its leaves; nay, the leaves thereof shall flourish, for this Branch will
grow after it is cut off from this world below, it shall reach the
loftiest pinnacles of glory, and it shall bear such fruits as will perfume
the world with their fragrance.

235: O GOD, MY GOD! ILLUMINE THE BROWS OF THY TRUE ...

O God, my God! Illumine the brows of Thy true lovers and support them with
angelic hosts of certain triumph. Set firm their feet on Thy straight
path, and out of Thine ancient bounty open before them the portals of Thy
blessings; for they are expending on Thy pathway what Thou hast bestowed
upon them, safeguarding Thy Faith, putting their trust in their
remembrance of Thee, offering up their hearts for love of Thee, and
withholding not what they possess in adoration for Thy Beauty and in their
search for ways to please Thee.

O my Lord! Ordain for them a plenteous share, a destined recompense and
sure reward.

Verily, Thou art the Sustainer, the Helper, the Generous, the Bountiful,
the Ever-Bestowing.

236: O THOU, MY GOD, WHO GUIDEST THE SEEKER TO THE ...

O Thou, my God, Who guidest the seeker to the pathway that leadeth aright,
Who deliverest the lost and blinded soul out of the wastes of perdition,
Thou Who bestowest upon