The author of this book heard, in the year of the Hejira 1048 (A. D. 1638) in the royal capital of Lahore, from _Mulla Adel_, of Kashghar, that he (the Mulla) has read in the revered book of his faith, and also the _lord Mawlána Abd al rahmen Jámî_[518] has stated, in his noble verses, that by the right faith it is necessary to believe in our heart, and to confess with our tongue, that the author of existence is independant, absolute, and without wants; and that his being is free of matter and without a form, and that he is better than whatever can be imagined; he existed primitively whilst the beings were in the mansions of nothingness; after which, as an object everlasting, he remained firm, and no other being but he is always, and one; but his greatness, his attributes, and his names are without measure and number, although in a thousand parts he is but one; in these however he is not confined; the qualities of his majesty are not perceived by the eye; and no being but he has life inherent in his qualities; but he lives neither by his spirit, nor breath, nor body, although he be living by himself. He is another universe, endowed with such a knowledge that the world has no superiority over him, and his omniscience comprehends the totalities and the parts, the inhabitants and the places, and the town of existence, in such a manner that not a grain of sand is without his knowledge; he is the author of every thing by his will, and the actions of all things may be voluntary, such as the doings of mankind; or natural, such as the inclination of a stone, and are all produced by his will. “Not a thorn pricks without his will; Not a thread is broken without his direction.” He is strong, and possesses a perfect power; without the help of instruments he performs every thing; from nothingness he brings forth beings; he hears without an ear; he sees without an eye: “He hears the petition from afar and near: He sees, be there light or darkness.” He speaks, but his speech comes not from his throat, nor from the tongue and the palate; but what he announces or withholds is nothing more than his speech; and his silence is eloquence. “When God, the Almighty, without words and letters Spoke to nothingness sublime mysteries, Nothingness was moved by delight at these speeches, Dancing through the area of existence.” The emergencies of the world, good or bad, are all from his disposition; and the actions pleasing or repulsive, are all his creation. “The good and evil, if they be the necessities of predestination, The one is contrary, the other conformable, to his pleasure. He does what he likes, and knows of no hinderance nor favor; Who is possessed of power like his? Justice and virtue tend towards him, Injustice is foreign to his actions.” * * * * * AN ACCOUNT OF THE ANGELS.