which had
been preordained in Thy Book came to pass Thou didst cause Me, through Thy
kindness, to reach Thy holy precincts and didst suffer Me, through Thy
tender mercy, to dwell within the court of fellowship, until I discerned
therein that which I witnessed of the clear tokens of Thy mercifulness,
the compelling evidences of Thy oneness, the effulgent splendours of Thy
majesty, the source of Thy supreme singleness, the heights of Thy
transcendent sovereignty, the signs of Thy peerlessness, the
manifestations of Thine exalted glory, the retreats of Thy sanctity, and
whatsoever is inscrutable to all but Thee.

"Verily I am Thy servant, O my God, and Thy poor ..."

Verily I am Thy servant, O my God, and Thy poor one and Thy suppliant and
Thy wretched creature. I have arrived at Thy gate, seeking Thy shelter. I
have found no contentment save in Thy love, no exultation except in Thy
remembrance, no eagerness but in obedience to Thee, no joy save in Thy
nearness, and no tranquillity except in reunion with Thee, notwithstanding
that I am conscious that all created things are debarred from Thy sublime
Essence and the entire creation is denied access to Thine inmost Being.
Whenever I attempt to approach Thee, I perceive nothing in myself but the
tokens of Thy grace and behold naught in my being but the revelations of
Thy loving-kindness. How can one who is but Thy creature seek reunion with
Thee and attain unto Thy presence, whereas no created thing can ever be
associated with Thee, nor can aught comprehend Thee? How is it possible
for a lowly servant to recognize Thee and to extol Thy praise,
notwithstanding that Thou hast destined for him the revelations of Thy
dominion and the wondrous testimonies of Thy sovereignty? Thus every
created thing beareth witness that it is debarred from the sanctuary of
Thy presence by reason of the limitations imposed upon its inner reality.
It is undisputed, however, that the influence of Thine attraction hath
everlastingly been inherent in the realities of Thy handiwork, although
that which beseemeth the hallowed court of Thy providence is exalted
beyond the attainment of the entire creation. This indicateth, O my God,
my utter powerlessness to praise Thee and revealeth my utmost impotence in
yielding thanks unto Thee; and how much more to attain the recognition of
Thy divine unity or to succeed in reaching the clear tokens of Thy praise,
Thy sanctity and Thy glory. Nay, by Thy might,