Q.—Have you any desire that the people here should believe the doctrine of plurality of wives?
A.—I would rejoice in knowing that all people believed in the Bible.
Q.—Do you believe that the Bible teaches that doctrine?
A.—Yes, most certainly; any one who believes the Bible must believe that doctrine. (I here offered to explain it from scripture, but was informed that they did not interfere with the faith of any man, and that everyone had a right to draw their own conclusions from the Bible; but he, the Stadthalter, wished to know if I desired to see that doctrine put in operation in Switzerland, to which I replied in the negative.)
Q.—Why not?
A.—Because the people are not prepared for such a state of things, and it would be unlawful.
Q.—Yes, but if you had the power, would you not introduce the practice of that system?
A.—No.
Q.—Why?
A.—I have no desire to do anything against the spirit of the laws as at present established. Again, I have no right to introduce such a state of things: I never received authority from God, who is the Author of the Bible religion, to do such a thing; so that, if I had the power, I have not the disposition to do so in this country or any other.