s lost in amazement at the tales thereof.

Day and night this Wronged One yieldeth thanks and praise unto the Lord of
men, for it is witnessed that the words of counsel and exhortation We
uttered have proved effective and that this people hath evinced such
character and conduct as are acceptable in Our sight. This is affirmed by
virtue of the event which hath truly cheered the eye of the world, and is
none other than the intercession of the friends with the high authorities
in favour of their enemies. Indeed one's righteous deeds testify to the
truth of one's words. We cherish the hope that men of piety may illumine
the world through the radiant light of their conduct, and We entreat the
Almighty--glorified and exalted is He--to grant that everyone may in this
Day remain steadfast in His love and stand firm in His Cause. He is, in
truth, the Protector of those who are wholly devoted to Him and observe
His precepts.

O people of God! Countless are the realms which Our Pen of Glory hath
revealed and manifold the eyes to which it hath imparted true
enlightenment. Yet most of the people in Persia continue to be deprived of
the benefits of profitable counsels and remain sorely lacking in useful
sciences and arts. Formerly these sublime words were especially revealed
by the Pen of Glory in honour of one of the faithful, that perchance those
that have gone astray may embrace the Truth and become acquainted with the
subtleties of the Law of God.

The unbelievers and the faithless have set their minds on four things:
first, the shedding of blood; second, the burning of books; third, the
shunning of the followers of other religions; fourth, the extermination of
other communities and groups. Now however, through the strengthening grace
and potency of the Word of God these four barriers have been demolished,
these clear injunctions have been obliterated from the Tablet and brutal
dispositions have been transmuted into spiritual attributes. Exalted is
His purpose; glorified is His power; magnified is His dominion! Now let us
beseech God--praised be His glory--to graciously guide aright the followers
of the Shi'ih sect and to purge them of unseemly conduct. From the lips of
the members of this sect foul imprecations fall unceasingly, while they
invoke the word 'Mal'un' (accursed)--uttered with a guttural sound of the
letter 'ayn--as their daily relish.

O God my God! Thou hearest the sighing of Him Who is Thy Light (Baha),
hearken