whatsoever hath proceeded out of His blameless, His truth-speaking,
trustworthy mouth, can never be altered. The bells, verily, peal out My
Name, and lament over Me, but My spirit rejoiceth with evident gladness.
The body of the Loved One yearneth for the cross, and His head is eager
for the spear, in the path of the All-Merciful. The ascendancy of the
oppressor can in no wise deter Him from His purpose. We have summoned all
created things to attain the presence of thy Lord, the King of all names.
Blessed is the man that hath set his face towards God, the Lord of the Day
of Reckoning.

O concourse of monks! If ye choose to follow Me, I will make you heirs of
My Kingdom; and if ye transgress against Me, I will, in My long-suffering,
endure it patiently, and I, verily, am the Ever-Forgiving, the
All-Merciful.

O land of Syria! What hath become of thy righteousness? Thou art, in
truth, ennobled by the footsteps of thy Lord. Hast thou perceived the
fragrance of heavenly reunion, or art thou to be accounted of the
heedless?

Bethlehem is astir with the Breeze of God. We hear her voice saying: 'O
most generous Lord! Where is Thy great glory established? The sweet
savours of Thy presence have quickened me, after I had melted in my
separation from Thee. Praised be Thou in that Thou hast raised the veils,
and come with power in evident glory.' We called unto her from behind the
Tabernacle of Majesty and Grandeur: 'O Bethlehem! This Light hath risen in
the orient, and travelled towards the occident, until it reached thee in
the evening of its life. Tell Me then: Do the sons recognize the Father,
and acknowledge Him, or do they deny Him, even as the people aforetime
denied Him (Jesus)?' Whereupon she cried out saying: 'Thou art, in truth,
the All-Knowing, the Best-Informed.' Verily, We behold all created things
moved to bear witness unto Us. Some know Us and bear witness, while the
majority bear witness, yet know Us not.

Mount Sinai is astir with the joy of beholding Our countenance. She hath
lifted her enthralling voice in glorification of her Lord, saying: 'O
Lord! I sense the fragrance of Thy garment. Methinks Thou art near,
invested with the signs of God. Thou hast ennobled these regions with Thy
footsteps. Great is the blessedness of Thy people, could they but know
Thee and inhale Thy sweet savours; and woe betide them that are fast
asleep.'

Happy art thou who hast turned thy face towards My countenance, inasmuch
as