That which is conducive to the regeneration of the world and the salvation of the peoples and kindreds of the earth hath been sent down from the heaven of the utterance of Him Who is the Desire of the world.  Give ye a hearing ear to the counsels of the Pen of Glory.  Better is this for you than all that is on the earth.  Unto this beareth witness My glorious and wondrous Book.

LAWH-I-ARD-I-BA (TABLET OF THE LAND OF BA)

PRAISE be to Him Who hath honoured the Land of Ba(86) through the presence of Him round Whom all names revolve.  All the atoms of the earth have announced unto all created things that from behind the gate of the Prison-city there hath appeared and above its horizon there hath shone forth the Orb of the beauty of the great, the Most Mighty Branch of God—­His ancient and immutable Mystery—­proceeding on its way to another land.  Sorrow, thereby, hath enveloped this Prison-city, whilst another land rejoiceth.  Exalted, immeasurably exalted is our Lord, the Fashioner of the heavens and the Creator of all things, He through Whose sovereignty the doors of the prison were opened, thereby causing what was promised aforetime in the Tablets to be fulfilled.  He is verily potent over what He willeth, and in His grasp is the dominion of the entire creation.  He is the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Blessed, doubly blessed, is the ground which His footsteps have trodden, the eye that hath been cheered by the beauty of His countenance, the ear that hath been honoured by hearkening to His call, the heart that hath tasted the sweetness of His love, the breast that hath dilated through His remembrance, the pen that hath voiced His praise, the scroll that hath borne the testimony of His writings.  We beseech God—­blessed and exalted be He—­that He may honour us with meeting Him soon.  He is, in truth, the All-Hearing, the All-Powerful, He Who is ready to answer.

EXCERPTS FROM OTHER TABLETS

“GOD testifieth that there is none other God but...”

GOD testifieth that there is none other God but Him and that He Who hath come from the heaven of divine revelation is the Hidden Secret, the Impenetrable Mystery, Whose advent hath been foretold in the Book of God and hath been heralded by His Prophets and Messengers.  Through Him the mysteries have been unravelled, the veils rent asunder and the signs and evidences disclosed.  Lo!  He hath now been made manifest.  He bringeth to light whatsoever He willeth, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, invested with transcendent majesty and power.

Blessed is that strong one who will shatter the gods of vain imaginings through the potency of the Name of his Lord, He Who ruleth over all men.

O My Afnan!  We would fain mention thy name as a token of grace on Our part, that the sweet savours of My remembrance may attract thee unto My Kingdom and draw thee nigh unto the Tabernacle of My majesty which hath been hoisted through the power of this Name—­a Name which hath caused every foundation to tremble.