Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 209
209 The Bubonic Plague. " Praise be to God and peace be witb His chosen ones ! My beloved countrymen ! May God show His mercy to you here and hereafter. You know that the plague has got a footing in your country and pitched its tents in the very hearts of your cities* Its onslaughts have drawn tears from your eyes and rent your heart-strings* Many among you have had to mourn for the loss of some dear friend, parent, child, kinsman or neighbour who has fallen a victim to its virulent attacks. Know it for certain that in sending this affliction upon you the Wise and Gracious God has tried you and visited you in wrath and venge- ance. The visitations of the Providence are due to four causes, and this is an unchangeable law which we witness in the workings of God as far back as the history of man can be traced. Firstly, the judgment of God overtakes men when they do not walk in the paths of Divine pleasure, transgress the limits of purity and virtue, violate the laws of sanctity, lead their lives in vanity and self-conceitedness being bent solely upon the mean cares of this world without any solicitude for the next, unscru- pulously indulge in wickedness and iniquity, transgress the commandments of God and trample them under their feet, commit enormities before His face, and offend Him by open revolt and shameless villainy. Secondly, the just retribution of God is dealt out to people who are disobedient to Rulers appointed over them by Divine expedience for their material and religious welfare and the guarding of their lives and properties, run riot and set authority at naught, shake off the yoke of obedience, do not assist them in lawful and proper measures, look upon them with distrust, frustrate their plans by opposition and antagonisn, disobey and defy their orders like disloyal and faithless, subjects, cut off the