rnest endeavours of such as are the
exponents of the power of God--exalted be His glory--the weapons of war
throughout the world may be converted into instruments of reconstruction
and that strife and conflict may be removed from the midst of men.

The sixth Glad-Tidings is the establishment of the Lesser Peace, details
of which have formerly been revealed from Our Most Exalted Pen. Great is
the blessedness of him who upholdeth it and observeth whatsoever hath been
ordained by God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

The seventh Glad-Tidings

The choice of clothing and the cut of the beard and its dressing are left
to the discretion of men. But beware, O people, lest ye make yourselves
the playthings of the ignorant.

The eighth Glad-Tidings

The pious deeds of the monks and priests among the followers of the
Spirit(4)--upon Him be the peace of God--are remembered in His presence. In
this Day, however, let them give up the life of seclusion and direct their
steps towards the open world and busy themselves with that which will
profit themselves and others. We have granted them leave to enter into
wedlock that they may bring forth one who will make mention of God, the
Lord of the seen and the unseen, the Lord of the Exalted Throne.

The ninth Glad-Tidings

When the sinner findeth himself wholly detached and freed from all save
God, he should beg forgiveness and pardon from Him. Confession of sins and
transgressions before human beings is not permissible, as it hath never
been nor will ever be conducive to divine forgiveness. Moreover such
confession before people results in one's humiliation and abasement, and
God--exalted be His glory--wisheth not the humiliation of His servants.
Verily He is the Compassionate, the Merciful. The sinner should, between
himself and God, implore mercy from the Ocean of mercy, beg forgiveness
from the Heaven of generosity and say:

O God, my God! I implore Thee by the blood of Thy true lovers who were so
enraptured by Thy sweet utterance that they hastened unto the Pinnacle of
Glory, the site of the most glorious martyrdom, and I beseech Thee by the
mysteries which lie enshrined in Thy knowledge and by the pearls that are
treasured in the ocean of Thy bounty to grant forgiveness unto me and unto
my father and my mother. Of those who show forth mercy, Thou art in truth
the Most Merciful. No God is there but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the
All-Bountiful.

O Lord! Thou seest this essence of