STORY V-b

Again, know that self-exertion springs from weakness; Relying on other means is a blot upon perfect trust. Self-exertion is not more noble than trust in God. What is more lovely than committing oneself to God? Many there are who flee from one danger to a worse; Many flee from a snake and meet a dragon. Man plans a stratagem, and thereby snares himself; What he takes for life turns out, to be destruction. He shuts the door after his foe is in the house. After this sort were the schemes of Pharaoh. That jealous king slew a myriad babes, While Moses, whom he sought, was in his house. Our eyes are subject to many infirmities; Go! annihilate your sight in God's sight. For our foresight His foresight is a fair exchange; In His sight is all that ye can desire. So long as a babe cannot grasp or run, It takes its father's back for its carriage. But when it becomes independent and uses its hands, It falls into grievous troubles and disgrace. The souls of our first parents, even before their hands, Flew away from fidelity after vain pleasure. Being made captives by the command, 'Get down hence,' 3 They became bond-slaves of enmity, lust, and vanity. We are the family of the Lord and His sucking babes. The Prophet said, 'The people are God's family;' He who sends forth the rain from heaven, Can He not also provide us our daily bread?" The lion said, "True; yet the Lord of creatures Sets a ladder before our feet. Step by step must we mount up to the roof! The notion of fatalism is groundless in this place. Ye have feet why then pretend ye are lame? Ye have hands why then conceal your claws? When a master places a spade in the hand of a slave, The slave knows his meaning without being told. Like this spade, our hands are our Master's hints to us; Yea, if ye consider, they are His directions to us. When ye have taken to heart His hints, Ye will shape your life in reliance on their direction; Wherefore these hints disclose His intent, Take the burden from you, and appoint your work. He that bears it makes it bearable by you, He that is able makes it within your ability. Accept His command, and you will be able to execute it; Seek union with Him, and you will find yourselves united. Exertion is giving thanks for God's blessings; Think ye that your fatalism gives such thanks? Giving thanks for blessings increases blessings, But fatalism snatches those blessings from your hands. Your fatalism is to sleep on the road; sleep not Till ye behold the gates of the King's palace. Ah! sleep not, O unreflecting fatalists, Till ye have reached that fruit-laden Tree of Life Whose branches are ever shaken by the wind, And whose fruit is showered on the sleepers' heads. Fatalism means sleeping amidst highwaymen. Can a cock who crows too soon expect peace? If ye cavil at and accept not God's hints, Though ye count yourselves men, see, ye are women. The quantum of reason ye possessed is lost, And the head whose reason has fled is a tail. Inasmuch as the unthankful are despicable, They are at last cast into the fiery pit. If ye really have trust in God, exert yourselves, And strive, in constant reliance on the Almighty." Wisdom is granted often times to the weak. He said, "O friends, God has given me inspiration. Often times strong counsel is suggested to the weak. The wit taught by God to the bee Is withheld from the lion and the wild ass. It fills its cells with liquid sweets, For God opens the door of this knowledge to it.