l things according to the good pleasure
of Thy will. From eternity Thou hast inhabited the loftiest heights of Thy
dominion and of Thine unfettered sovereignty, and wilt unto eternity
continue to abide in the inaccessible retreats of Thy majesty and glory.

I implore Thee, by Thy Name through which the fragrance of the raiment of
Thy presence was wafted, and the gentle winds of Thy bountiful grace
passed over all created things, to graciously assist me, at all times and
under all conditions, to serve Thy Cause, and to enable me to remember
Thee and to extol Thy virtues. Let, then, Thine almighty arms enfold me, O
my God, and ordain for me what beseemeth Thy bounty in every world of Thy
worlds.

Thou beholdest, O my Lord, how I have set myself towards the ocean of Thy
grace and the adored sanctuary of Thy favors. Deny me not, I pray Thee,
the drops which are sprinkled from the ocean of Thy gifts; neither do Thou
withhold from me the outpourings of the clouds of Thy tender mercies. I am
he, O my God, that hath clung to the resplendent hem of Thy robe, and
taken hold on Thy strong cord that none can sever. I testify that Thou
hast created me, and nourished me, and brought me up, and fed me, and
sustained me, that I may recognize Him Who is the Day-Spring of Thy signs,
and the Revealer of Thy clear tokens. I offer unto Thee, therefore, most
high praise, O Lord my God, that Thou hast suffered me to attain unto this
most sublime station and this most august seat. Thou, truly, art the Great
Giver, the Almighty, the All-Bountiful, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most
Generous.

Illumine mine eyes, O my Lord, with the splendors of the horizon of Thy
Revelation, and brighten my heart with the effulgence of the Day-Star of
Thy knowledge and wisdom, that I may set myself wholly towards Thy face,
and be rid of all attachment to any one except Thee, in such wise that the
changes and chances of the world will be powerless to hinder me from
recognizing Him Who is the Manifestation of Thine own Self, and the
Revealer of Thy signs, and the Day-Spring of Thy Revelation, and the
Repository of Thy Cause.

Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the Protector, the All-Glorious, the
All-Wise.

CXL: "PRAISED BE THOU, O MY GOD! THIS SERVANT OF THINE..."

Praised be Thou, O my God! This servant of Thine testifieth that naught
else except Thee can ever express Thee, nor canst Thou be described by any
one save Thyself. The thoughts of them that ha