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safety and tranquility. But this sect are steadfast in their own
path and firmly established in conduct and faith; they are
pious, devoted, tenacious, and consistent in such sort that
they freely lay down their lives, and, after their own way, seek
to please God; they are strenuous in effort and earnest in
endeavor; they are the essence of obedience and most patient
in hardship and trouble; they sacrifice their existence and raise
no complaint or cry; what they utter is in truth the secret
longing of the heart, and what they seek and pursue is by the
direction of a leader. It is therefore necessary to regard their
principles and their Chief, and not to make a trivial thing a
pretext. Now since the conduct of the Chief, the teachings of
His epistles, and the purport of His writings are apparent and
well known, the line of action of this sect is plain and obvious
as the sun. Of whatever was possible and practicable by way of
discouragement, determent, eradication, intimidation, reprehension,
slaughter, banishment, and stripes there was no
lack, yet nothing was thereby effected. In other countries
when they perceived severity and persecution in such instances
to be identical with stimulation and incitement, and
saw that paying no attention was more effectual, they abated
the fire of revolution. Therefore did they universally proclaim
the equal rights of all denominations, and sounded the liberty
of all classes from east to west. This clamor and outcry, this
uproar and conflagration, are the consequences of instigation,
temptation, incitement, and provocation. For thirty years
there has been no rumor of disturbance or rebellion, nor any
sign of sedition. Notwithstanding the duplication of adherents
and the increase and multiplication of this body, through
many admonitions and encouragements to virtue this sect are
all in the utmost repose and stability: they have made obedience
their distinctive trait, and in extreme submissiveness and
subordination are the loyal subjects of the King. On what
lawful grounds can the government further molest them, or
permit them to be slighted? Besides this, interference with the