rned towards the heaven of Thy
bounty and the ocean of Thy favor, withdrawn from all else beside Thee. I
ask of Thee, by the splendors of the Sun of Thy revelation on Sinai, and
the effulgences of the Orb of Thy grace which shineth from the horizon of
Thy Name, the Ever-Forgiving, to grant me Thy pardon and to have mercy
upon me. Write down, then, for me with Thy pen of glory that which will
exalt me through Thy Name in the world of creation. Aid me, O my Lord, to
set myself towards Thee, and to hearken unto the voice of Thy loved ones,
whom the powers of the earth have failed to weaken, and the dominion of
the nations has been powerless to withhold from Thee, and who, advancing
towards Thee, have said: "God is our Lord, the Lord of all who are in
heaven and all who are on earth!"

--Baha'u'llah

"Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Every..."

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! Every time I venture to make mention of
Thee, I am held back by my mighty sins and grievous trespasses against
Thee, and find myself wholly deprived of Thy grace, and utterly powerless
to celebrate Thy praise. My great confidence in Thy bounty, however,
reviveth my hope in Thee, and my certitude that Thou wilt bountifully deal
with me emboldeneth me to extol Thee, and to ask of Thee the things Thou
dost possess.

I implore Thee, O my God, by Thy mercy that hath surpassed all created
things, and to which all that are immersed beneath the oceans of Thy names
bear witness, not to abandon me unto my self, for my heart is prone to
evil. Guard me, then, within the stronghold of Thy protection and the
shelter of Thy care. I am he, O my God, whose only wish is what Thou hast
determined by the power of Thy might. All I have chosen for myself is to
be assisted by Thy gracious appointments and the ruling of Thy will, and
to be aided with the tokens of Thy decree and judgment.

I beseech Thee, O Thou Who art the Beloved of the hearts which long for
Thee, by the Manifestations of Thy Cause and the Daysprings of Thine
inspiration, and the Exponents of Thy majesty, and the Treasuries of Thy
knowledge, not to suffer me to be deprived of Thy holy Habitation, Thy
Fane and Thy Tabernacle. Aid me, O my Lord, to attain His hallowed court,
and to circle round His person, and to stand humbly at His door.

Thou art He Whose power is from everlasting to everlasting. Nothing
escapeth Thy knowledge. Thou art, verily, the God of power, the God of
glory and wisdom