And likewise He saith: "O ye seeming fair yet inwardly foul! Ye are like
clear but bitter water, which to outward seeming is crystal pure but of
which, when tested by the Divine Assayer, not a drop is accepted. Yea, the
sunbeam falls alike upon the dust and the mirror, yet differ they in
reflection even as doth the star from the earth: nay, immeasurable is the
difference!"

And also He saith: "O essence of desire! At many a dawn have I turned from
the realms of the Placeless unto thine abode, and found thee on the bed of
ease busied with others than Myself. Thereupon, even as the flash of the
spirit, I returned to the realms of celest and breathed it not in My
retreats above unto the hosts of holiness."

And again He saith: "O bond slave of the world! Many a dawn hath the
breeze of My loving-kindness wafted over thee and found thee upon the bed
of heedlessness fast asleep. Bewailing then thy plight it returned whence
it came."

Those divines, however, who are truly adorned with the ornament of
knowledge and of a goodly character are, verily, as a head to the body of
the world, and as eyes to the nations. The guidance of men hath, at all
times, been, and is, dependent upon such blessed souls. We beseech God to
graciously aid them to do His will and pleasure. He, in truth, is the Lord
of all men, the Lord of this world and of the next.

O _Sh_ay_kh_! We have learned that thou hast turned away from Us, and
protested against Us, in such wise that thou hast bidden the people to
curse Me, and decreed that the blood of the servants of God be shed. God
requite him who said: "Willingly will I obey the judge who hath so