Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 215
215 corner I know that the real object of Government is no other than to save people from the plague and if it ever happens to find out a better remedy than inoculation for the plague, it will receive it with joy. Considering this, it is plain that the method which God has revealed to me does in no way conflict with the aims of Government. Twenty years ago a prophecy about the appearance of a terrible epidemic and the protection therefrom, and an increase by that means, of rtiy followers, was published by me in my work the Barahin-i-Ahmzdiyya, pages 518-9. Since then the Word of God has emphatically asserted the same pro- mise repeatedly. Bare occurances of plague amongst those who class them- selves as my followers, cannot lessen the value of this sign. For, it is not to bar death that the sign has been manifested by God. Amongst the numerous causes of death, plague is one. It is not to be feared so long as it does not cause a high rate of mortality. If any one falls vicfcim to it from weakness of faith, or some blemish in his conduct or the inevitable decree of heaven, or some other reason known to God only, or if sundry cases of plague which do not cause panic or'a vast destruction, occur in Qadian, the sign shall not thereby lose its value. In comparing results on a large scale, rare occurrences cannot be taken into account. In saying this, I adhere to the words of the prophecy. Inocula- tion itself is esteemed an inestimable boon for the comparative safety it affords and the Government has seen that it is not an irresistable bar against the attacks of plague. But the public as well as Government shall esteem the Word of God revealed to me when they shall see at last that comparatively rny followers have enjoyed a far greater security from plague than those who restored to inoculation Those who are endowed with wisdom, do not laugh at heavenly signs when they are foretold but wait