the divines
among Thy people turned back from Him, and the learned among Thy servants
caviled at His signs. Thereby the fire of oppression was kindled in Thy
land, until the kings themselves rose up to put out Thy light, O Thou Who
art the King of kings!

Hostility waxed so intense that my kindred and my loved ones were made
captives in Thy land, and they that are dear to Thee were hindered from
gazing on Thy beauty and from turning in the direction of Thy mercy. This
hostility failed to cause the fire that burned within them to subside. The
enemy finally carried away as captive Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy
beauty and the Revealer of Thy signs, and confined Him in the
fortress-town of Akka, and sought to hinder Him from remembering Thee and
from magnifying Thy name. Thy servant, however, could not be restrained
from carrying out what Thou hadst bidden Him fulfill. Above the horizon of
tribulation He hath lifted up His voice and He crieth out, summoning all
the inmates of heaven and all the inhabitants of the earth to the
immensity of Thy mercy and the court of Thy grace. Day and night He
sendeth down the signs of Thine omnipotent power and revealeth the clear
tokens of Thy majesty, so that the souls of Thy creatures may be drawn
towards Thee, that they may forsake themselves and turn unto Thee, and may
flee from their misery and seek the tabernacle of Thy riches, and may
haste away from their wretchedness into the court of Thy majesty and
glory.

This is the Lamp which the light of Thine own Essence hath lit, and whose
radiance the winds of discord can never extinguish. This is the Ocean that
moveth by the power of Thy sovereign might, and whose waves the influence
of the infidels that have disbelieved in the Judgment Day can never still.
This is the Sun that shineth in the heaven of Thy will and the splendor of
which the veils of the workers of iniquity and the doubts of the evil
doers can never cloud.

I yield Thee thanks, O my God, for that Thou hast offered me up as a
sacrifice in Thy path, and made me a target for the arrows of afflictions
as a token of Thy love for Thy servants, and singled me out for all manner
of tribulation for the regeneration of Thy people.

How sweet to my taste is the savor of woes sent by Thee, and how dear to
my heart the dispositions of Thy providence! Perish the soul that fleeth
from the threats of kings in its attempt to save itself in Thy days! I
swear by Thy glory! Whoso