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tion, NOR PROSPECT OF SUCCESS is wanting, to encourage our progress, and animate our zeal.” *

In the joint operation, therefore, of Christianity and Mahometanism, there exists, in point of fact, a twofold instrumentality, acting co-ordinately, upon a vast scale, on the civil and social relations of mankind, and on their moral and spiritual interests and affections; and apparently tending, in an eminent degree, to bring about that consummation spoken of in Scripture prophecy, when the one true religion shall universally prevail, and "the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. "94 Christianity operates directly in the fulfilment of this prophecy: Mahometanism shapes the course of things indirectly towards it. † Both systems aim alike at the destruction of

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* White, pp. 379, 380, &c. This extract, compared with pp. 298, 299. as cited pp. 42, 43. of the present Introduction, perhaps supplies one of the most finished specimens extant, of an author's skill in the art of self-confutation.

+ Maracci concedes the point, that Mahometanism possesses greater facilities than Christianity, for the conversion of heathen nations. Viewing the religion of Mahomet as opposed to the Gospel, this property might seem dangerous to the cause of truth; but regarding Mahometanism as introductory to the more universal diffusion of Christianity, it obviously assumes high interest and value. See Maracci, ap. Reland. De Relig. Mohammed. Præf. For a most interesting confirmation of this predisposing agency of Mahometanism, observable in India, both in loosening the shackles of the Hindoo idolatry, and in leading the popular mind, beyond its own dim lights, towards the better realities of Christianity, see Bishop Heber's Journal, vol. i. pp. 346-348. 4to. edit.

idolatry* the one by the introduction and establishment of true religion; the other by the introduction and establishment of a wonderful approximation to the true faith.

Their influence

is already universally diffused; "their sound is gone out into all lands, their words unto the ends of the world ;" and they hold so many great fundamentals in common 95, that, in the judgment of the most unexceptionable authorities, they contain a natural and necessary tendency to convergence; the imperfect scheme, when its providential work shall have been accomplished, becoming absorbed in the perfect 6, and the moon of Mahomet resigning its borrowed rays, to melt in the undivided light of the everlasting Gospel. † Such is the ascertained action of the

* "Fight against them," is the uncompromising precept of Mahomet, "until there be no opposition in favour of idolatry, and the religion be wholly God's." Sale's Koran, i. 229. The providential office discharged by Mahometanism, as uniting with Christianity for the extirpation of idolatry, and as legible in the present state of the world, compared with the past, is well represented in an incidental remark of the learned J. D. Michaelis : "In our times, there is little temptation to believe in more than one God; for the greatest and most rational peoples on earth, are either Christians or Mahometans, and they coincide in this belief." Commentary on the Laws of Moses, vol. i. pp. 181, 182.

In allusion to the history of the Israelites, Dr. White somewhere observes, "The plot, viewed only in broken and detached scenes, was embarrassed and involved; but there was an Almighty Presider over every successive event, who, by a gradual evolution of his designs, conferred order and consistency on the whole." Is not this eminently beautiful and philoso

two religions, and such their tendency to eventual union. When, therefore, we recall to mind, that these religions emanated from the sons of Abraham, in virtue of a twofold promise of Jehovah to the faithful patriarch concerning them, the final issue indicated by the whole phenomena is plain: namely, that, as from Abraham, by his sons Isaac and Ishmael, there thus went forth the true faith, and an extraordinary approximation to it, throughout the world; so by the convergement, in the fulness of time, of Ishmael to Isaac, of Mahometanism to Christianity, the whole world shall one day be poured into the fold of the true shepherd, our only Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. 97

phical reflection, still more beautifully and philosophically applicable to Christianity and Mahometanism, viewed as the ordained fulfilments of a grand providential plan, originally announced in the twofold promise to Abraham, concerning his sons Isaac and Ishmael?

MAHOMETANISM UNVEILED.

THERE ARE TWO OBJECTS OF CURIOSITY, THE CHRISTIAN WORLD, AND THE MAHOMETAN WORLD: ALL THE REST MAY BE CONSIDERED AS BARBAROUS.

DOCTOR SAMUEL JOHNSON.

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