my Lord, by Thy
power that hath prevailed over all things, and aid them to be patient and
long-suffering. Thou art the All-Powerful, the Almighty, the
All-Bountiful. No God is there but Thee, the Generous, the Lord of grace
abounding.

In these days there are some who, far from being just and fair-minded,
have assaulted Me with the sword of hatred and the spear of enmity,
forgetting that it behooveth every fair-minded person to succor Him Whom
the world hath cast away and the nations abandoned, and to lay hold on
piety and righteousness. Most men have until now failed to discover the
purpose of this Wronged One, nor have they known the reason for which He
hath been willing to endure countless afflictions. Meanwhile, the voice of
Mine heart crieth out these words: "O that My people knew!" This Wronged
One, rid of attachment unto all things, uttereth these exalted words:
"Waves have encompassed the Ark of God, the Help in Peril, the
Self-Subsisting. Fear not the tempestuous gales, O Mariner! He Who causeth
the dawn to appear is, verily, with Thee in this darkness that hath struck
terror into the hearts of all men, except such as God, the Almighty, the
Unconstrained, hath been pleased to spare."

O _Sh_ay_kh_! I swear by the Sun of Truth Which hath risen and shineth
above the horizon of this Prison! The betterment of the world hath been
the sole aim of this Wronged One. Unto this beareth witness every man of
judgment, of discernment, of insight and understanding. Whilst afflicted
with trials, He held fast unto the cord of patience and fortitude, and was
satisfied with the things which have befallen Him at the hands of His
enemies, and was crying out: "I have renounced My desire for Thy desire, O
my God, and My will for the revelation of Thy Will. By Thy glory! I desire
neither Myself nor My life except for the purpose of serving Thy Cause,
and I love not My being save that I may sacrifice it in Thy path. Thou
seest and knowest, O my Lord, that those whom We asked to be fair and
just, have, unjustly and cruelly, risen up against Us. Openly they were
with Me, yet secretly they assisted My foes, who have arisen to dishonor
Me. O God, my God! I testify that Thou hast created Thy servants to aid
Thy Cause and exalt Thy Word, and yet they have helped Thine enemies. I
beseech Thee, by Thy Cause that hath encompassed the world of being, and
by Thy Name wherewith Thou hast subjected the seen and unseen, to adorn
the peoples of th