them the earth hath been established, the clouds have rained down their
bounty, and the bread of knowledge hath descended from the heaven of
grace, could ye but perceive it!

16 These souls are the protectors of the Cause of God on earth, who shall
preserve its beauty from the obscuring dust of idle fancies and vain
imaginings. In the path of their Lord they shall not fear for their lives;
rather will they sacrifice their all in their eagerness to behold the face
of their Well-Beloved when once He hath appeared in this Name, the
Almighty, the All-Powerful, the All-Glorious, the Most Holy.

17 O Living Temple! Arise by the power of Thy Self in such wise that all
created things will be moved to arise with Thee. Aid, then, Thy Lord
through such ascendancy and might as We have bestowed upon Thee. Take heed
lest Thou falter on that Day when all created things are filled with
dismay; rather be Thou the revealer of My name, the Help in Peril, the
Self-Subsisting. Assist Thy Lord to the utmost of Thine ability, and pay
no heed to the peoples of the world, for that which their mouths utter is
like unto the droning of a gnat in an endless valley. Quaff the water of
life in My name, the All-Merciful, and proffer unto the near ones amongst
the inmates of this lofty station that which shall cause them to become
detached from all names and enter beneath this blessed and
all-encompassing shadow.

18 O Living Temple! Through Thee have We gathered together all created
things, whether in the heavens or on the earth, and called them to account
for that which We had covenanted with them before the foundation of the
world. And lo, but for a few radiant faces and eloquent tongues, We found
most of the people dumbfounded, their eyes staring up in fear. From the
former We brought forth the creation of all that hath been and all that