Did Jesus Redeem Mankind? — Page 90
? 83 83 every man. Human nature in itself judges some acts as sinful independently of the light of guidance the Shariat (Law) proffers to man. A well-known incident related by Khalifa-tul-Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) is an apt illustration. A thief came to him for medical advice. He exhorted him to desist from eating unlawful property as looting other people's goods was a wicked thing. Hearing this he said back that his advice was nothing better than priestly tall talk; that none earned his bread the harder way than men of his calling; that he (the Khalifatul-Masih I) was making easy money by way of fees earned through a simple pulse-examination, while the thieves shivered in cold and risked their very necks in the job: that on the one hand they were in constant fear of the police and on the other of being apprehended at every step and yet they faced all these hardships and earned their money by literally exposing themselves to death. Could there be a better-earned income, the thief asked? The Khalifa-tul Masih I (Allah be pleased with him) changing the topic soon engaged him in talk on some other subject. Then after a while he asked him how they used to plan a burglary. He replied that some seven to eight persons usually took part in the operation. One remained on the look-out of the house and gave information as to its property-contents. Another was an expert wall breaker. One stood guard outside. Two men stood sentry at the two ends of the lane. One was at