his life
until his ascension unto Thee he may be reduced to poverty through the
operation of Thy decree, yet wert Thou to have brought him forth from the
Tree of Thy love, such a bounty would indeed be far better for him than
all the things Thou hast created in heaven and earth and whatsoever lieth
between them; inasmuch as he will inherit the heavenly home, through the
revelation of Thy favours, and will partake of the goodly gifts Thou hast
provided therein; for the things which are with Thee are inexhaustible.
This indeed is Thy blessing which according to the good-pleasure of Thy
Will Thou dost bestow on those who tread the path of Thy love.

How numerous the souls who in former times were put to death for Thy sake,
and in whose names all men now pride themselves; and how vast the number
of those whom Thou didst enable to acquire earthly fortunes, and who
amassed them while they were deprived of Thy Truth, and who in this day
have passed into oblivion. Theirs is a grievous chastisement and a dire
punishment.

O Lord! Provide for the speedy growth of the Tree of Thy divine Unity;
water it then, O Lord, with the flowing waters of Thy good-pleasure, and
cause it, before the revelations of Thy divine assurance, to yield such
fruits as Thou desirest for Thy glorification and exaltation, Thy praise
and thanksgiving, and to magnify Thy Name, to laud the oneness of Thine
Essence and to offer adoration unto Thee, inasmuch as all this lieth
within Thy grasp and in that of none other.

Great is the blessedness of those whose blood Thou hast chosen wherewith
to water the Tree of Thine affirmation, and thus to exalt Thy holy and
immutable Word.

Ordain for me, O my Lord, and for those who believe in Thee that which is
deemed best for us in Thine estimation, as set forth in the Mother Book,
for within the grasp of Thy hand Thou holdest the determined measures of
all things.

Thy goodly gifts are unceasingly showered upon such as cherish Thy love
and the wondrous tokens of Thy heavenly bounties are amply bestowed on
those who recognize Thy divine Unity. We commit unto Thy care whatsoever
Thou hast destined for us, and implore Thee to grant us all the good that
Thy knowledge embraceth.

Protect me, O my Lord, from every evil that Thine omniscience perceiveth,
inasmuch as there is no power nor strength but in Thee, no triumph is
forthcoming save from Thy presence, and it is Thine alone to command.
Whatever God hath willed ha