Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 212
212 measures of the Government which it is the duty of all sensible sub- jects to welcome with expressions of greatfulness, and upon which none but the fools and the enemies of their own souls would look with distrust or suspicion, for it has often been proved that this cautious Government never asks its subjects to try any dangerous remedy, and does not offer one to be taken recourse to by the people unless it has assured itself of its usefulness and harmlessness after repeated trials. To impute a selfish motive to the underta- kers of a benevolent measure which requires an enormous outlay of money, is most uncharitable. There is not the least doubt that ino- culation is the best and most efficacious preventive against plague that the Government has yet discovered. Korean it be denied that it has actually proved useful when restored to. It is, therefore, the duty of all loyal subjects to relieve the Government of the great anxiety it has for their lives by acting in accordance with its de- sires and getting themselves inoculated so as long there is no obstacle. As for me, I most respectfully beg to inform the Govern- ment that I would have been the first man to avail myself of ^*^**"-" - __^_ , |. its. generous offer, had not an ordinance of Heaven kept me back, j Almighty God has willed to show to this generation a sign of 1 mercy from heaven. The Lord of the earth and heavens, whose i \ knowledge and power extend over every thing, spoke to me long I ago, saying : I shall protect thee from the plague and also deliver all those from this accursed death who live within the four walls of thy dwelling and those ivho follow thee, provided that they purge their hearts of all inimical intentions, and with heartfelt sincerity and humble submission swear repentance on thy hands, and rebel not against the commandments of God and His Messenger nor show any vanity, haughtiness, remissness, arrogance, or self -approbation, and conform their conduct to fhy teaching.