the sake of God, this intention.  Thine intelligence and judgment have never excelled, nor do they now excel, the intelligence and judgment of Him Who is the Prince of the World.  God testifieth and beareth Me witness that this Wronged One hath not perused the Bayan, nor been acquainted with its contents.  This much, however, is known and is clear and indubitable that He hath ordained the Book of the Bayan to be the foundation of His works.  Fear God, and meddle not in matters which far transcend thee.  For twelve hundred years they that resemble thee have afflicted the hapless Shi’ihs in the pit of vain fancies and idle imaginings.  Finally, there appeared, on the Day of Judgment things against which the oppressors of old have sought refuge with the True One.

Apprehend now the cry of Him Who is the Point as raised by His utterance.  He supplicateth God that if there should appear from this Tree—­which is His blessed Self—­any fruit, or leaf, or branch that would fail to believe in Him, God should cut it off forthwith.  And likewise, He saith:  “Should any one make a statement, and fail to support it by any proof, reject him not.”  And yet, now, though supported by a hundred books, thou hast rejected Him and rejoicest therein!

Again I repeat, and plead with thee to carefully scrutinize that which hath been revealed.  The breezes of utterance in this Revelation are not to be compared with those of former ages.  This Wronged One hath been perpetually afflicted, and found no place of safety in which He could peruse either the writings of the Most Exalted One (the Bab) or those of any one else.  About two months after Our arrival in ’Iraq, following the command of His Majesty the Shah of Persia—­may God assist him—­Mirza Yahya joined Us.  We said unto him:  “In accordance with the Royal command We have been sent unto this place.  It is advisable for thee to remain in Persia.  We will send Our brother, Mirza Musa, to some other place.  As your names have not been mentioned in the Royal decree, you can arise and render some service.”  Subsequently, this Wronged One departed from Ba_gh_dad, and for two years withdrew from the world.  Upon Our return, We found that he had not left, and had postponed his departure.  This Wronged One was greatly saddened.  God testifieth and beareth Us witness that We have, at all times, been busied with the propagation of this Cause.  Neither chains nor bonds, stocks nor imprisonment, have succeeded in withholding Us from revealing Our Self.  In that land We forbad all mischief, and all unseemly and unholy deeds.  Day and night We sent forth Our Tablets in every direction.  We had no other purpose except to edify the souls of men, and to exalt the blessed Word.