505

knows to be depraved, will often be viewed by him
in a repulsive condition, although to the crowd he
may appear glorious and powerful. Hence fol-
lows, that the learned among the contemplative
persons make use of a negative argument in their
creed, in order that it may become evident what the
truth really is. When any one sees a person of
high rank, such as a prophet, an Imam, or any dig-
nified individual, in a state of some deficiency, he
views his own defects in his understanding, spirit,
heart, or nature; and as these things are but seem-
ing defects in the great personage, he must endea-
vor to remove them from himself. In like man-
ner, if one sees a person in good health (appearing
to him) in a state of illness, there is illness in his
own state, and if he thinks him bad with regard to
his own faith, he ought to be somewhat disposed to
think that person good.

A disciple demanded some employment from Sab-
jani. The master asked him : *< Hast thou devoted
" thyself to piety?" The answer was: ct I have."
Then Sabjani said : " If thou art a Muselman, go to
" the Franks, and stay with that people; if thou
" art a Nazarean, join the Jews; if a Sonni, betake
46 thyself to Irak, and hear the speeches and re-
" proaches of those men; if thou professest to
ic be a Shiah, mix with the schismatics, and lend
" thy ear to their words; in this manner, what-