eir corrupt desires, and were not kept back by the things
which are possessed by Thy creatures from turning in the direction of Thy
grace. These have so vehemently rent the veils asunder that the dwellers
of the cities of self have wept, and fear and trembling seized the people
of envy and wickedness who, adorning their heads and their bodies with the
emblems of knowledge, have proudly rejected Thee and turned away from Thy
beauty.

I implore Thee, O my Lord, by Thy surpassing majesty and Thine Ancient
Name, to enable Thy loved ones to assist Thee. Direct, then, continually
their faces towards Thy face, and write down for them what will cause all
hearts to exult and all eyes to be gladdened.

Thou, truly, art the Help in peril, the Self-Subsisting.

LV: "O GOD! THE TRIALS THOU SENDEST ARE A SALVE TO THE..."

O God! The trials Thou sendest are a salve to the sores of all them who
are devoted to Thy will; the remembrance of Thee is a healing medicine to
the hearts of such as have drawn nigh unto Thy court; nearness to Thee is
the true life of them who are Thy lovers; Thy presence is the ardent
desire of such as yearn to behold Thy face; remoteness from Thee is a
torment to those that have acknowledged Thy oneness, and separation from
Thee is death unto them that have recognized Thy truth!

I beseech Thee by the sighs which they whose souls pant after Thee have
uttered in their remoteness from Thy court, and by the cries of such of
Thy lovers as bemoan their separation from Thee, to nourish me with the
wine of Thy knowledge and the living waters of Thy love and pleasure.
Behold Thy handmaiden, O my Lord, who hath forgotten all else except Thee,
and who hath delighted herself with Thy love, and lamented over the things
that have befallen Thee at the hands of the wicked doers among Thy
creatures. Do Thou ordain for her that which Thou didst ordain for such of
Thy handmaidens as circle round the throne of Thy majesty, and gaze, at
eventide and at dawn, on Thy beauty.

Thou art, verily, the Lord of the Judgment Day.

LVI: "GLORY BE TO THEE, O LORD MY GOD! THESE ARE THE..."

Glory be to Thee, O Lord my God! These are the days whereon Thou hast
bidden all men to observe the fast, that through it they may purify their
souls and rid themselves of all attachment to any one but Thee, and that
out of their hearts may ascend that which will be worthy of the court of
Thy majesty and may well beseem the seat o