198 existing necessary Being; he then felt such delight as he had never experienced before; he knew that the self-existing necessary Being is worthy of all prayers, but he felt at the same time that he could not express his prayers with the tongue, because an arrangement of letters is required for every thing which falls from the tongue, but that which has no connection except that of parts and the whole, is not suitable to the true, necessary, and self-existing Being, as he is not conceivable, either in parts or in a whole. The prophet knew that his prayer could not properly come from the tongue^ as it is no bu- siness of the senses, but belongs properly to reason ; but reason knew that an object highly deserving to be praised requires a praiser worthy of it, one whose knowledge may be adequate to the power of the being to be praised, so that the speech may prove suitable to the intention. The self-existent neces- sary Being is an object of unity without an equal, therefore the praise of any one will never -be worthy of him. Besides, the prophet trusted also to God's knowledge, for he is all knowledge, and the know- ledge of him is the theme of prayers to his being without letters and sound, and not by reason : he himself is his own ornament; he himself is his elo- quence. What the prophet further said: " The word " came to me: « What dost thou wish?' I said: