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Ode 23
The reference to the sealed document sent by God is one of the great mysteries of the collection.
1Joy is of the saints! and who shall put it on, but they alone?
2Grace is of the elect! and who shall receive it except those who trust in it from the beginning?
3Love is of the elect? And who shall put it on except those who have possessed it from the beginning?
4Walk ye in the knowledge of the Most High without grudging: to His exultation and to the perfection of His knowledge.
5And His thought was like a letter; His will descended from on high, and it was sent like an arrow which is violently shot from the bow:
6And many hands rushed to the letter to seize it and to take and read it:
7And it escaped their fingers and they were affrighted at it and at the seal that was upon it.
8Because it was not permitted to them to loose its seal: for the power that was over the seal was greater than they.
9But those who saw it went after the letter that they might know where it would alight, and who should read it and who should hear it.
10But a wheel received it and came over it:
11And there was with it a sign of the Kingdom and of the Government:
12And everything which tried to move the wheel it mowed and cut down:
13And it gathered the multitude of adversaries, and bridged the rivers and crossed over and rooted up many forests and made a broad path.
14The head went down to the feet, for down to the feet ran the wheel, and that which was a sign upon it.
15The letter was one of command, for there were included in it all districts;
16And there was seen at its head, the head which was revealed even the Son of Truth from the Most High Father,
17And He inherited and took possession of everything. And the thought of many was brought to nought.
18And all the apostates hasted and fled away. And those who persecuted and were enraged became extinct.
19And the letter was a great volume, which was wholly written by the. finger of God:
20And the name of the Father was on it, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, to rule for ever and ever. Hallelujah.