A Traveler's Narrative
page 40
submissiveness, and, on receiving such instruction, they conformed
their conduct and behavior thereto. Formerly exception
was taken to the words, deeds, demeanor, morals, and
conduct of this sect: now objection is made in Persia to their
tenets and spiritual state. Now this is beyond the power of
man, that he should be able by interference or objection to
change the heart and conscience, or meddle with the convictions
of anyone. For in the realm of conscience naught but the
ray of God's light can command, and on the throne of the
heart none but the pervading power of the King of Kings
should rule. Thus it is that one can arrest and suspend [the
action of] every faculty except thought and reflection; for a
man cannot even by his own volition withhold himself from
reflection or thought, nor keep back his musings and imaginings.
At all events the undeniable truth is this, that for nigh upon
thirty-five years no action opposed to the government or prejudicial
to the nation has emanated from this sect or been
witnessed [on their part], and that during this long period,
notwithstanding the fact that their numbers and strength are
double what they were formerly, no sound has arisen from any
place, except that every now and then learned doctors and
eminent scholars (really for the extension of this report
through the world and the awakening of men) sentence some
few to death. For such interference is not destruction but
edification when thou regardest the truth, which will not
thereby become quenched and forgotten, but rather stimulated
and advertised.
I will at least relate one short anecdote of what actually took
place. A certain person violently molested and grievously
injured a certain Bábí. The victim unclosed his hand in
retaliation and arose to take vengeance, unsheathing his
weapon against the aggressor. Becoming the object of censure
and reprimand of this sect, however, he took refuge in flight.
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