Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 167
167 out by actual facts 1 at the present time. First of all I take the religion which is named after Christ. The answer to the questions proposed above for solution is very easy and simple in its case, for the Christians are all one in the belief that after the time of Christ the fountains of Divine revelation and inspiration are closed to all. The blessing of Divine revelation has according to. them been left behind and it now remain closed to the day of judgment. The door of Divine grace by which alone salvation as shown above can be obtained being shut up, a new plan of salvation has been set up which is opposed to the established principles of the world, and which is contrary to human reason and Divine Justice and Mercy. It is said that Jesus Christ bore the sins of the 'world and chose to die on the cross, that by his death others may be delivered, and that Almighty God killed His own innocent son to save the sinners. We are unable to understand how the pitiable death of one man can purify the hearts of others from the impure quality of sin, and how by the murder of one innocent man others can be absolved of the sins and crimes which they have committed. This course is, on the other hand, directly opposed to justice and mercy, for to punish the innocent in place of the offender is against justice, while causing the son to be murdered cruelly with no fault on his part is contrary to Divine mercy, and the whole affair is a meaning- less transaction. I have already stated that the true cause of the prevalance of sin is the absence of true Divine knowledge. If, therefore, the cause is not removed, the effect cannot be annulled, for the cause must bring about its effect. It is a strange philosophy that sin is supposed to be made non-existent while its cause which is a want of 'Divine knowledge remains as strong as ever. Experience shows that without full knowledge of a thing we cannot know its true value, nor can we love or fear it.