Selections From the Writings of the Báb | Page 9

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prison the goal of My desire. He is the One Who beareth witness unto
Me at all times and beholdeth Me ere the inception of 'after Hin'.(5)
Why didst thou pronounce judgement without remembering God, the
All-Wise? How canst thou endure in the fire? Indeed, mighty and most
severe is thy God.
Thou pridest thyself in the things thou dost possess, yet no believer in
God and in His signs, nor any righteous man would ever deign to
regard them. This mortal life is like unto the carcass of a dog, around
which none would gather, nor would any partake thereof, except those
who gainsay the life hereafter. Verily it is incumbent upon thee to
become a true believer in God, the All-Possessing, the Almighty, and to
turn away from the one who guideth thee into the torment of hell-fire.
I have been waiting a while that perchance thou wouldst take heed and
be rightly guided. How canst thou answer God on the day which is near
at hand--the day whereon witnesses will stand forth to testify in the
presence of thy Lord, the Lord of all the worlds?
By the righteousness of Him Who hath called thee into being and unto
Whom ere long thou shalt return, if thou remainest, at the moment of
death, a disbeliever in the signs of thy Lord thou shalt surely enter the
gates of hell, and none of the deeds thy hands have wrought will profit
thee, nor shalt thou find a patron nor anyone to plead for thee. Fear
thou God and pride not thyself on thine earthly possessions, inasmuch
as what God doth possess is better for them that tread the path of
righteousness.
Verily in this Day all that dwell on earth are the servants of God. As to

those who truly believe in God and are well assured in the signs
revealed by Him, perchance He will graciously forgive them the things
their hands have committed, and will grant them admission into the
precincts of His mercy. He, in truth, is the Ever-Forgiving, the
Compassionate. But the verdict of divine chastisement is pronounced
against those who have turned away disdainfully from Me and have
repudiated the conclusive proofs and the unerring Book with which
God hath invested Me, and on the Day of Severing they shall find no
protector or helper.
I swear by Him Who createth all beings and unto Whom all shall return,
if anyone at the hour of death beareth hatred towards Me or disputeth
the clear tokens wherewith I have been invested, then naught but
afflictive torment shall be his lot. On that day no ransom will be
accepted, nor will any intercession be permitted, unless God so please.
Verily He is the All-Compelling, the All-Glorious; and no God is there
other than Him, the sovereign Ruler, the Almighty, the Most Severe.
If thou rejoicest in My imprisonment, woe then unto thee for the
grievous torment which will soon overtake thee. Indeed God hath
permitted no one to pass unfair judgement, and if thou wouldst fain do
so, then soon shalt thou learn.
From the first day that I cautioned thee not to wax proud before God
until the present time, four years have elapsed, and during this space
naught have I witnessed, either from thee or from thy soldiers, except
dire oppression and disdainful arrogance. Methinks thou dost imagine
that I wish to gain some paltry substance from this earthly life. Nay, by
the righteousness of My Lord! In the estimation of them that have fixed
their eyes upon the merciful Lord, the riches of the world and its
trappings are worth as much as the eye of a dead body, nay even less.
Far from His glory be what they associate with Him!... I seek patience
only in God. Verily He is the best protector and the best helper. No
refuge do I seek save God. Verily He is the guardian and the best
supporter...
I swear by the glory of God, My Lord, the Most Exalted, the Most
Great, He assuredly, as is divinely ordained, will make His Cause shine

resplendent, while there will be no helper for the unjust. If thou hast
any scheme, produce thy scheme. Indeed every revelation of authority
proceedeth from God. In Him do I trust and unto Him do I turn.
Hast thou heard anyone of old passing a judgement similar to the one
thou didst contrive or like unto that whereto thou didst give thine assent?
Woe then unto the oppressors! Both thine intentions and the manner in
which thou dealest with the people clearly demonstrate thine infidelity
towards God, hence He hath ordained a severe chastisement for thee.
Verily I seek patience only in God, and Him do I regard as the goal of
My