hanksgiving, for we have
recognized and are persuaded that Thou hast ordained only that which will
be best for us. If our bodies be, at times, weighed down by our troubles,
yet our souls rejoice with exceeding gladness. We swear by Thy might, O
Thou Who art the Desire of our hearts and the Exultation of our souls!
Every trouble that toucheth us in our love for Thee is an evidence of Thy
tender mercy, every fiery ordeal a sign of the brightness of Thy light,
every woeful tribulation a cooling draught, every toil a blissful repose,
every anguish a fountain of gladness."

Whosoever, O my Lord, is impatient in the tribulations befalling him in
Thy path, hath not drunk of the cup of Thy love nor tasted of the
sweetness of Thy remembrance. I implore Thee, by Him Who is the King of
all names and their Sovereign, Who is the Revealer of all attributes and
their Creator, and by them who have soared aloft and drawn nigh unto Thee
and winged their flight into the atmosphere of Thy presence, and have
endured the galling of chains for Thy sake, to grant that all Thy people
may be graciously aided to recognize Him Who is the Manifestation of Thine
own Self, Who, because He summoned mankind unto Thee, hath been exiled and
cast into prison.

The tenderness of Thy mercy, O my Lord, surpasseth the fury of Thy wrath,
and Thy loving-kindness exceedeth Thy hot displeasure, and Thy grace
excelleth Thy justice. Hold Thou, through Thy wondrous favors and mercies,
the hands of Thy creatures, and suffer them not to be separated from the
grace which Thou hast ordained as the means whereby they can recognize
Thee. The glory of Thy might beareth me witness! Were such a thing to
happen, every soul would be sore shaken, every man endued with
understanding would be bewildered, and every possessor of knowledge would
be dumbfounded, except those who have been succored through the hands of
Thy Cause, and have been made the recipients of the revelations of Thy
grace and of the tokens of Thy favors.

I swear by Thy might, O my God! Wert Thou to regard Thy servants according
to their deserts in Thy days, they would assuredly merit naught except Thy
chastisement and torment. Thou art, however, the One Who is of great
bounteousness, Whose grace is immense. Look not down upon them, O my God,
with the glance of Thy justice, but rather with the eyes of Thy tender
compassions and mercies. Do, then, with them according to what beseemeth
Thy generosity and bountif