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God testifieth that there is none other God but He, the Mighty, the Well-Beloved. Whoso turneth unto God with all his heart—verily he is the one feared by the peoples of the heavens and the earth, and he is the one drawn nigh among His saints and His trusted ones.

And now: as for the messenger of God unto thee—upon thee be Baha, and upon thee be praise and light—he hath written these words in the station of reason and in the precincts of faith, beholding thy sorrow-laden heart: “O God! Bless and salute!” Then send down all Thy mercy upon those trembling hearts, those grief-stricken spirits, those burning souls—Thy friends, Thy chosen ones, Thy trusted ones—who have cut themselves off, wholly, unto Thee, and have laid down their lives in the path of Thy blood, that Thy unity might be established. Yea, such is Thy wont, from before and after; I find no change, nor alteration, in Thy wont.

It was while I sat, in the corner of resignation, steadfast and patient under what the Sovereign of decree had manifested—carrying into effect the ordinance for the people of fidelity—when suddenly there came unto me, from before, tidings from him who hath migrated unto God: upon him be all praise. From the Point of Splendor there reached me light and radiance, borne upon the steed of thanksgiving and praise unto Him Who is seated upon the throne of bounty. Thus did I deem it incumbent to bind my own self, in every thought, to the fragrant remembrances of a manifest light, and to reckon as the true qiblih that Messenger who hath drawn nigh.

O Beloved of my heart! I have no refuge save submission and contentment: contentment with the decree of God, and surrender unto His command. Verily we are God’s, and unto Him we return. Blessed, then, are they who have ascended unto Him through the attraction of their hearts. I beseech God, of His grace, to join us unto His friends, and to bestow upon us what He hath bestowed upon them in His path. Verily He is the Possessor of mighty bounty.

My supplication was offered, and the service was rendered, that the heart might be soothed by the chanting of the revealed words. And in the end, too, the Tablet of the presence of Fatimih—may the blessings of God rest upon her—hath bestowed upon me solace, saying in effect: “Be not sorrowful at whatever may befall.” Such is that which God hath written for His loved ones from aforetime; they asked it of God their Lord, and they were, thereby, of the joyful.

God willing, whenever the Lord shall ordain, the return will be hastened—for blessed is that return, and it is the very goal of the seeker. And whensoever it be possible, for the quieting of hearts, the treasured Tablets—upon them be the glory of God—shall be conveyed; otherwise, I remain settled in the dwelling of resignation until tidings arrive.

And since, after the appearance of the Gate, the blessed Pen—manifesting from the horizon—hath itself been grieved for the sake of that direction, therefore I have, from the former manifestations, nothing but prayers and devotions, and whatever else hath been brought, these I have forwarded, by the blessed handwriting of the Most Exalted, and, by agreement with Hamid, they have been delivered in service—so that, by that, the bearer of the trusts may be sent to the dwelling of those in grief. If it be profitable, let him return of his own accord; otherwise, send him, with sure handling, as a bearer, if it be feasible and no hindrance arise.

From among the people of the world there may, with effort, be found in such-and-such a city certain copies—bearing a token of “There is none like unto Him.” Do thou follow this: first, send the bearer to thy honored presence; then dispatch him—if need be—for the dwellers of the house and for those souls departed, in the place wherein thou residest.

And I beseech thee: by two words, or by a brief message, describe my condition, and set forth somewhat of my circumstances, that tranquility may return unto my heart, and that I may attain assurance.

O God, Fashioner of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen! Thou judgest between Thy servants concerning that wherein they differ. Praise be to God, the Lord of all worlds.

Keep with thee the glad tidings, O sovereign messenger; then add—if thou wilt—that unto the very end, for the Letters…