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O Jews! If ye be intent on crucifying once again Jesus, the Spirit of God, put Me to death, for
He hath once more, in My person, been made manifest
unto you. Deal with Me as ye wish, for I have
vowed to lay down My life in the path of God. I
will fear no one, though the powers of earth and
heaven be leagued against Me. Followers of the Gospel!
If ye cherish the desire to slay Muhammad, the
Apostle of God, seize Me and put an end to My life,
for I am He, and My Self is His Self. Do unto Me
as ye like, for the deepest longing of Mine heart
is to attain the presence of My Best-Beloved in His
Kingdom of Glory. Such is the Divine decree, if ye
know it. Followers of Muhammad! If it be your wish
to riddle with your shafts the breast of Him Who
hath caused His Book the Bayán to be sent down
unto you, lay hands on Me and persecute Me, for I
am His Well-Beloved, the revelation of His own
Self, though My name be not His name. I have come
in the shadows of the clouds of glory, and am invested
by God with invincible sovereignty. He, verily,
is the Truth, the Knower of things unseen. I,
verily, anticipate from you the treatment ye have
accorded unto Him that came before Me. To this all
things, verily, witness, if ye be of those who hearken.
O people of the Bayán! If ye have resolved to shed
the blood of Him Whose coming the Báb hath proclaimed,
Whose advent Muhammad hath prophesied,
and Whose Revelation Jesus Christ Himself hath announced,
behold Me standing, ready and defenseless,
before you. Deal with Me after your own desires. |