nd the earth below, and this world became the envy of
high heaven. Yet alas, alas, the neglectful have stayed fast in their
heedless sleep, and the foolish have spurned this most sacred of
bestowals. The blind remain shrouded in their veils, the deaf have no
share in what hath come to pass, the dead have no hopes of attaining
thereto, for even as He saith: 'They despair of the life to come, as the
infidels despair that the dwellers in the tombs will rise again.'(1)

As to you, O ye loved ones of God! Loose your tongues and offer Him
thanks; praise ye and glorify the Beauty of the Adored One, for ye have
drunk from this purest of chalices, and ye are cheered and set aglow with
this wine. Ye have detected the sweet scents of holiness, ye have smelled
the musk of faithfulness from Joseph's raiment. Ye have fed on the
honey-dew of loyalty from the hands of Him Who is the one alone Beloved,
ye have feasted on immortal dishes at the bounteous banquet table of the
Lord. This plenty is a special favour bestowed by a loving God, these are
blessings and rare gifts deriving from His grace. In the Gospel He saith:
'For many are called, but few are chosen.'(2) That is, to many is it
offered, but rare is the soul who is singled out to receive the great
bestowal of guidance. 'Such is the bounty of God: to whom He will He
giveth it, and of immense bounty is God.'(3)

O ye loved ones of God! From the peoples of the world, against the Candle
of the Covenant discordant winds do beat and blow. The Nightingale of
faithfulness is beset by renegades who are even as ravens of hate. The
Dove of God's remembrance is hard pressed by mindless birds of night, and
the Gazelle that dwelleth in the meadows of God's love is being hunted
down by ravening beasts. Deadly is the peril, tormenting the pain.

The beloved of the Lord must stand fixed as the mountains, firm as
impregnable walls. Unmoved must they remain by even the direst
adversities, ungrieved by the worst of disasters. Let them cling to the
hem of Almighty God, and put their faith in the Beauty of the Most High;
let them lean on the unfailing help that cometh from the Ancient Kingdom,
and depend on the care and protection of the generous Lord. Let them at
all times refresh and restore themselves with the dews of heavenly grace,
and with the breaths of the Holy Spirit revive and renew themselves from
moment to moment. Let them rise up to serve their Lord, and do all in
their power to scatter