Thou hast summoned me to the soft flowing waters of Thy mercy,
and I have chosen to turn away therefrom, by reason of my having followed
my own wish and desire! By Thy glory! I know not for which sin to beg Thy
forgiveness and implore Thy pardon, nor from which of mine iniquities to
turn aside unto the Court of Thy bounteousness and the Sanctuary of Thy
favor. Such are my sins and trespasses that no man can number them, nor
pen describe them. I implore Thee, O Thou that turnest darkness into
light, and revealest Thy mysteries on the Sinai of Thy Revelation, to aid
me, at all times, to put my trust in Thee, and to commit mine affairs unto
Thy care. Make me, then, O my God, content with that which the finger of
Thy decree hath traced, and the pen of Thy ordinance hath written. Potent
art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee, and in Thy grasp are the reins of all
that are in heaven and on earth. No God is there but Thee, the
All-knowing, the All-Wise."

O _Sh_ay_kh_! Know thou that neither the calumnies which men may utter,
nor their denials, nor any cavils they may raise, can harm him that hath
clung to the cord of the grace, and seized the hem of the mercy, of the
Lord of creation. By God! He, the Glory of God (Baha), hath spoken not
from mere impulse. He that hath given Him a voice is He that hath given a
voice unto all things, that they may praise and glorify Him. There is none
other God but Him, the One, the Incomparable, the Lord of strength, the
Unconditioned.

They whose sight is keen, whose ears are retentive, whose hearts are
enlightened, and whose breasts are dilated, recognize both truth and
falsehood, and distinguish the one from the other. Recite thou this prayer
that hath flowed from the tongue of this Wronged One, and ponder thereon
with a heart rid of all attachment, and with ears that are pure and
sanctified, be attentive to its meaning, that haply thou mayest inhale the
breath of detachment and have pity upon thyself and upon others:

"My God, the Object of my adoration, the Goal of my desire, the
All-Bountiful, the Most Compassionate! All life is of Thee, and all power
lieth within the grasp of Thine omnipotence. Whosoever Thou exaltest is
raised above the angels, and attaineth the station: 'Verily, We uplifted
him to a place on high!'; and whosoever Thou dost abase is made lower than
dust, nay, less than nothing. O Divine Providence! Though wicked, sinful,
and intemperate, we still seek from Thee a 'seat of