placed unreservedly at my command, his valuable and various collection on oriental subjects; including, among other rare articles, the Adversaria, and unpublished MSS. of the learned Sale: materials by which I have not failed to profit; especially in the final notes.

May I be permitted, also, to notice the liberality of my respectable publishers; who voluntarily engaged to supply me with all the necessary authorities; and have made their engagement more than good; sparing, for this purpose, neither their trouble, nor their time.

But my last, no less than my earliest, acknowledgments, are due to him, who, “even from my youth up," has been the chosen guide and guardian of my pursuits and studies. Through every previous stage of the present work, it has been my happiness to find in Your Lordship a safe and wise adviser; and, in passing it through the

Press, each sheet has had the advantage of being submitted to the censure of a vigilant, but friendly eye.

I have the honour to remain,

With dutiful respect,

My LORD,

Your Lordship's most faithful

LONDON, February 16. 1829.

and affectionate friend and servant,

CHARLES FORSTER.

S

CONTENTS.

VOL. I.

INTRODUCTION. - Pages 1-110.

Success of Mahometanism. A subject of great and general
interest. Not satisfactorily accounted for. Inquiry on
just principles recommended. General features. Ob-
scure origin. Social and political state of Arabia. Sudden
rise of Mahometanism. Rapid and wide propagation.
Permanence. Completeness of mental dominion. Trans-
formative power, as conquering, as conquered. Abstract
nature of belief. Simplicity of rites. Summary. Ob-
jections of infidels. Mr. Gibbon. Replies of Christian
advocates. Dr. Paley. Dr. White. Instances of argu-
mentative unfairness. Fanciful causes of success. Mis-
taken estimate of real causes. Re-statement. Subject
examined on a new principle. Two promises to Abraham.
Covenant of Isaac. Covenant of Ishmael. Analogy in
terms and results. Advantages of this view. Objection-
able matter measured by a just standard.
Ways of Pro-
vidence vindicated. Basis of the present argument. Its
general outline. Correspondence with prophetic Scrip-
ture. Agreement with actual phenomena. Twofold
prediction and accomplishment. Temporal, spiritual.
Isaac; Jews, Christians. Ishmael; Arabs, Turks, Tartars.
Child of promise; true revelation. Spurious offspring;
false creed. Plan of work. Concluding reflections.

VOL. I.

a

SECTION I.-Pages 113-161.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GOD'S TWOFOLD

WITH ABRAHAM, IN BEHALF OF HIS SONS ISAAC AND
ISHMAEL.

Original promise to Abraham.
Two parts-lineal— social.
Twice renewed in former part. Third renewal -to Hagar
for Ishmael. Enlarged for Isaac-in both parts. Two
distinct covenants Bishop Sherlock. Spiritual blessing
peculiar to Isaac. Chief portion of Ishmael-temporal
blessing. Not without spiritual signification — proofs.
Common predictions-corresponding fulfilments. Nature
of proof. Tabular view of promises. As to worldly
prosperity covenants nearly identical. Balance in favour
of Ishmael a great nation. Subject of inquiry- not the
fact but mode of fulfilment. Comparison of prophecy
with events. History of Jews of Arabs. Twelve pa-
triarchs twelve princes. Twelve tribes- twelve na-
tions. Judah-Jews- Messiah. Kedar - Kedarites
Mahomet. Covenant of Isaac - Christianity. Covenant
of Ishmael - Mahometanism. Appropriate characters of
promises and accomplishments. Two promises to Abra-
ham confounded by Jews. Temporal blessing-ap-
plication of to Jews to ancient Arabs. Appearance of
Mahomet clears the two promises-completes the ana-
logous fulfilments. Nations of earth adopted into fami-
lies of Isaac and Ishmael. Mahometanism compared with
Christianity with Judaism. Correspondence and con-
trast of systems equally important. Existence of two-fold
promise a pledge of twofold accomplishment. Covenant
of Isaac fulfilled manner of fulfilment known its ful-
filment an assurance that Ishmael's will be accomplished
in like manner. Anticipations met by history of Israel-
ites and Ishmaelites of Jews and Saracens sustained
by intermediate prophecies realized in Christianity and
Mahometanism.

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COVENANT

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