unto them, and from which they hopelessly fail to
deliver themselves, however much they strive?
So fierce is this fire of self burning within them,
that at every moment they seem to be afflicted with
fresh torments. The more they are told that this
wondrous Cause of God, this Revelation from the
Most High, hath been made manifest to all mankind,
and is waxing greater and stronger every day,
the fiercer groweth the blaze of the fire in their
hearts. The more they observe the indomitable
strength, the sublime renunciation, the unwavering
constancy of God's holy companions, who, by the
aid of God, are growing nobler and more glorious
every day, the deeper the dismay which ravageth
their souls. In these days, praise be to God, the
power of His Word hath obtained such ascendancy
over men, that they dare breathe no word. Were
they to encounter one of the companions of God
who, if he could, would, freely and joyously, offer
up ten thousand lives as a sacrifice for his Beloved,
so great would be their fear, that they forthwith
would profess their faith in Him, whilst privily
they would vilify and execrate His name! Even as
He hath revealed: "And when they meet you, they
say, `We believe'; but when they are apart, they
bite their fingers' ends at you, out of wrath. Say:
