bidding Me relate unto thee that which hath been sent down in the Books and Tablets, and the things spoken by My Forerunner, Who laid down His life for this Great Announcement, this Straight Path.  He hath said—­and He, verily, speaketh the truth:  “I have written down in My mention of Him these gem-like words:  ’No allusion of Mine can allude unto Him, neither anything mentioned in the Bayan.’” And further, He—­exalted and glorified be He—­saith, concerning this most mighty Revelation, this Great Announcement:  “Exalted and glorified is He above the power of any one to reveal Him except Himself, or the description of any of His creatures.  I Myself am but the first servant to believe in Him and in His signs, and to partake of the sweet savors of His words from the first-fruits of the Paradise of His knowledge.  Yea, by His glory!  He is the Truth.  There is none other God but Him.  All have arisen at His bidding.”  Such are the words sung by the Dove of Truth on the boughs of the Divine Lote-Tree.  Well is it with him that hath given ear unto its Voice, and quaffed from the oceans of Divine utterance that lie concealed in each of these words.  In another connection hath the Voice of the Bayan called aloud from the loftiest branches.  He saith—­blessed and glorified be He:  “In the year nine ye will attain unto all good.”  On another occasion He saith:  “In the year nine ye will attain unto the Presence of God.”  These melodies, uttered by the Birds of the cities of Knowledge, conform with that which hath been sent down by the All-Merciful in the Qur’an.  Blessed are the men of insight; blessed they that attain thereunto.

O Shay_kh_!  I swear by God!  The River of Mercy floweth, and the Ocean of Utterance surgeth, and the Sun of Revelation shineth forth resplendent.  With a detached heart, and a dilated breast, and an utterly truthful tongue, recite thou these sublime words that have been revealed by My Forerunner—­the Primal Point.  He saith—­glorified be His utterance—­ addressing his honor, Azim:  “This, verily, is the thing We promised thee, ere the moment We answered thy call.  Wait thou until nine will have elapsed from the time of the Bayan.  Then exclaim:  ’Blessed, therefore, be God, the most excellent of Makers!’ Say:  This, verily, is an Announcement which none except God hath comprehended.  Ye, however, will be unaware on that day.”  In the year nine this Most Great Revelation arose and shone forth brightly above the horizon of the Will of God.  None can deny it save he who is heedless and doubteth.  We pray God to aid His servants to return unto Him, and beg forgiveness for the things they committed in this vain life.  He, verily, is the Forgiving, the Pardoner, the All-Merciful.  In another connection He saith:  “I am the first servant to believe in Him, and in His signs.”  In like manner, in the Persian Bayan, He saith:  “He, verily, is the One Who, under all conditions, proclaimeth:  ’I, in very truth, am God!’” and so on—­blessed and glorified be He.  That which is meant by Divinity and Godhead hath previously been stated.  We have in truth rent the veils asunder and disclosed that which will draw men nigh unto God, Who layeth low the necks of men.  Happy the man that hath attained unto justice and equity in this Grace that hath encompassed all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, as bidden by God, the Lord of the worlds.