Verily, I hope from G.o.d that ye may become my a.s.sociates in servitude to His Holy Threshold and my partners at the entrance of the Door of His Oneness; so that ye may equally serve in His great vineyard. Then thank ye your Lord, for He hath favored you with this manifest success. By G.o.d, the True One! this cannot be equalled either by the dominion of the world or by the gift of ruling over all regions with pomp, glory and power! Reflect ye upon the chosen ones of G.o.d in the earlier ages! How their worth was unknown during their days; how they were known by people as but ordinary individuals and unimportant persons! Afterwards, their arguments appeared, their lights scintillated, their stars beamed, their trees became lofty, their mysteries gleamed forth, their fruits were praised, their reservoirs became overflowing, their gardens adorned, their birds warbled and their joy became perfect in the Kingdom of their Beneficent Lord.
O my G.o.d! O my G.o.d! These are souls who have advanced toward Thy Kingdom; their b.r.e.a.s.t.s dilated by supplicating to Thy Realm of Might; their eyes antic.i.p.ating the descent of Thy mercy; and their spirits rejoiced at Thy grace and gift!
O my G.o.d! O my G.o.d! Guard them by the eye of Thy protection, preserve them in the cave of Thy defence, deliver them from the grade of the contingent world, protect them during the violence of tests and trials, and a.s.sist them by a power from the breath of Thy Holy Spirit, in the world of existence! Verily, Thou art the Beneficent, the Mighty, the Clement!
"O thou who art kindled by the Fire of Guidance which..."
O thou who art kindled by the Fire of Guidance which blazed and burnt in the Tree of Sinai!
By the life of G.o.d, I am moved with joy by the mention of the beloved and delighted in the love of the elect! And now, with a heart clear from aught else save G.o.d and overflowing with the love of G.o.d, I mention thee, supplicating G.o.d to make thee a lamp of guidance in those districts, that out of thee the spirit of knowledge may be spread upon the hearts and spirits until thou becomest a spring of fresh and sweet water whereto the thirsty and earnest desirers will come to drink, and thus be satisfied with the sweetness thereof.
Rejoice at this address which I hope from G.o.d will have a great effect on thy heart and spirit and accordingly become the banner of the Supreme Concourse in that distant and extensive spot(121) through which certain nations and tribes would be directed with bright faces, rejoiced hearts and speaking tongues uttering the praise of G.o.d.
"O thou who art advancing toward G.o.d!..."
O thou who art advancing toward G.o.d!
Verily I read thy letter which thou hast sent through Mrs. ........ and was rejoiced at its contents, which indicated thy excessive love and thy great pa.s.sion for the Kingdom of G.o.d!
O my friend! Thank thou G.o.d for He hath illumined thy sight with a radiance which is shining forth from the Sun of Truth; hath quickened thee, and baptized thee with the water of life and with the fire of the love of G.o.d.
I beg G.o.d to bless thee so that thou mayest diffuse the fragrances of G.o.d in those countries and purify hearts from the filth of ignorance and to make thy revered wife and honored daughters signs of His love among the maid-servants of G.o.d, and to ordain for thee a reward befitting one who hath attained (the visit of) the Holy Threshold in this Cause.
Verily, I bestowed every kindness upon the maid-servant of G.o.d, Mrs.
........, because she hath been the cause of thy guidance, and hath given thee to drink the cup of knowledge.
"O thou who art firm in the Covenant!..."
O thou who art firm in the Covenant!
Supplicate G.o.d that thou mayest be confirmed to what is worthy and fit for the Most Mighty Cycle.
Deliver my respectful greeting to Mr. ........ and refresh him with regards and affection. Convey my longing greeting to [Messrs.] ........., ........ and ........ and say [to them] to engage with Mr. ........ in the service of the Word of G.o.d with the utmost love and affinity, in order that they may behold the confirmation of the Supreme Kingdom and observe the protection and preservation of His Highness the Almighty. Truly their hearts are like unto a cup, overflowing with the wine of the love of G.o.d and at all times I expect to hear good news of them.
O thou dear friend! Thou hast said the truth! Last year(122) was the time of test for all the friends. Trials for the faithful believers are like unto divine bestowal and everlasting gifts.
The firmness and steadfastness of the person will become evident and manifest. How could the disciples of His Holiness (Christ) attain to any spiritual development if they did not undergo trials and tests!
O friend! Although we are weak, yet the confirmations of the Merciful Lord are inexhaustible. Pray thou that the ill-natured become good-natured and the weak become strong.
The dream thou hast seen is in accord with thy interpretation. I hope that Mr. ........ may become the light of the Merciful One and be confirmed and a.s.sisted to spread the Cause of G.o.d.
"My G.o.d! My G.o.d! Elohim ...."
My G.o.d! My G.o.d! Elohim(123) .
To this Thy servant give the understanding of the Old Testament and the New and enable her to speak forth with mighty voice and to sing with power the holy songs and to discover the real meaning and the secret mysteries of those verses, for Thou art the Powerful Inspirer and the Mighty One!
"O maid-servant of G.o.d, thou who hast given up thy..."
O maid-servant of G.o.d, thou who hast given up thy life to the service of the Kingdom of G.o.d!
I have read the signs of thy thankfulness to G.o.d for guiding thee to the way of the Lord, to the path of salvation which leads to the Tent of the Testament behind the Tabernacle in the Capital of the Kingdom.
Know in the reality of a.s.surance that every true woman who is attracted by the fragrances of holiness in this most glorious age will surpa.s.s even the most developed men of previous centuries.
It is inc.u.mbent upon thee to make thy greatest effort; to put forth thy full strength; to supplicate and to worship, and to be careful to put thy full trust in the Kingdom of the Lord Most High.
Make ready thy soul that thou mayest be like the light which shineth forth from the loftiest heights on the coast, by means of which guidance may be given to the timid ships amid the darkness of fog and the heaving of the sea.
Then gain the knowledge of G.o.dliness and learn the exact facts from the revered Abul Fazl(124), and, if it be possible, remain there a few months.
With regard to thy friend, send her to the sea coast or accompany her to Ma.r.s.eilles and return to Cairo that thou mayest learn the necessary proofs.
Then return to America-this is in case it is possible for thee. If anything happens otherwise, the way is open and it will be made convenient for thee-say always in the name of G.o.d-and rely upon Him; but to understand the teachings regarding the Truth is absolutely required. And upon G.o.d let thy confidence rest.
"O thou who in truth art attracted through the Breaths..."
O thou who in truth art attracted through the Breaths of the Holy Spirit!
I sent to thee a letter few in words and full in its meanings and its mysteries, showing signs of good-tidings. By my life, there are manifested meanings in the mysteries of the words!
At present I address thee in plain language without being veiled, and I say to thee: "Stand up with all thy strength to guide the followers of negligence and blindness, and diffuse the breaths of G.o.d in those regions; and set off with all speed to New York and Chicago and call with the loudest voice in the a.s.semblies of the beloved ones and invite them to the Alliance of G.o.d; and make them steadfast in the Covenant of G.o.d, and bear good-tidings to all the steadfast ones, and inspire all who waver to be firm in the religion of G.o.d and to resist all force with is against the Alliance of G.o.d. Verily I promise the confirmation of the Holy Spirit to thee in those great a.s.semblies whenever ye argue upon the Covenant of G.o.d."