from this idea duly considered, will easily be deduced all those other attributes which we ought to ascribe to this eternal Being. If, nevertheless, any one should be found so senselessly arrogant, as to suppose man alone knowing and wise, but yet the product of mere ignorance and chance, and that all the rest of the universe acted only by that blind haphazard, I shall leave with him that very rational and emphatical rebuke of Tully l. ii. De leg. to be considered at his leisure : "What can be more sillily arrogant and misbecoming, than for a man to think that he has a mind and understanding in him, but yet in all the universe beside there is no such thing? Or that those things, which, with the utmost stretch of his reason he can scarce comprehend, should be moved and managed without any reason at all?" Quid est enim verius, quam neminem esse oportere tam stulte arrogantem, ut in se mentem et rationem putet inesse, in cælo mundoque non putet?

From what has been said, it is plain to me, we have a more certain knowledge of the existence of a God, than of any thing our senses have not immediately discovered to us. Nay, I presume I may say, that we more certainly know that there is a God, than that there is any thing else without us. When I say we know, I mean there is such a knowledge within our reach which we cannot miss, if we will but apply our minds to that as we do to several other inquiries. LOCKE.

MORALITY OF MAHOMETANISM.

"Unto every of you have we given a law, and an open path; and, if God had pleased, he had surely made you one people; but he hath thought fit to give you different laws, that he might try you in that which he hath given you respectively. Therefore strive to excel each other in good works; unto God shall ye all return, and then will he declare unto you that concerning which ye have disagreed." KORAN, chap. v.

MUCH abuse has been lavished upon the Mahometan religion and its author, by many who knew little or nothing of either;

and the most malignant prejudices have been cherished and inculcated between its professors and Christians, for no other reason but to serve the ambitious projects of the leaders and propagators of each. Although we do not believe that the Koran was delivered to Mahomet, as he asserts, by the angel Gabriel, yet we believe it to have as fair pretensions to divine origin, as any other pretended revelation, and is equal in point of morality, which is the only thing of importance in any religion. That our readers may judge of the correctness of this declaration, we shall present them with a compendium of the moral parts of that work, digested under alphabetical heads, by which they will be enabled to compare its merits with those of the Jewish scriptures, and the New Testament. Previously, however, to inserting our extracts from the Koran, we think it not improper to make some further preliminary remarks.

In order to form a proper judgment of men and things, it will be incumbent on us to generalise our ideas, to extend them beyond the contemplation of our own countrymen, the professors of the same religious principles, and beyond local modes of thinking; to mankind collectively, and subjects abstractedly: overlooking the several denominations by which humankind are broken into independant communities, and separate brotherhoods; whether by the barriers of nature, the policy of governments, or mere obstinate tenacity of particular opinions.

It is very natural for those who exercise dominion over mankind, whether in a civil or religious capacity, to pursue all such measures as may tend to confirm and extend their authority over their subjects; and nothing contributes more to these purposes, than a careful inculcation of such intellectual or local prejudices, as may perpetuate exclusive distinctions, confirm parties in their tenets of separation, and by teaching them directly or indirectly to detest each other, attach them the more closely under their respective leaders. However knowledge may be reproached with puffing men up, it is ignorance that puffeth up zeal.

A persuasion in favour of particular systems of belief has often no more foundation than an internal evidence, and arguments

which carry no conviction with them beyond a ridge of mountains, or across a river moreover the pleas urged in favour of one, will frequently admit of being adapted with equal advantage to the support of any other. Nor has there been want of martyrs who have laid down their lives in testimony of their sincerity for all opinions, even the most contradictory: a native of Rome, Paris, or London, might by an education, at Constantinople, have become a strenuous assertor of the mission of Mahomet or by receiving his ideas at Pekin, have rejected all other legislators and prophets in favour of Fohi and Confucius.

The coincidence of truth with utility, and the reciprocal proof they afford of each other, have been strongly insisted on by the learned Bishop of Gloucester, in his Divine Legation of Moses. It follows, that such truths which have no test of utility to which they may be brought, can be but of small importance to mankind. Yet of this nature have been most of those points, the establishing or rooting out of which, have spread so much horror and desolation in various parts of the earth. This in a great measure arose from a persuasion of the universality of truth; and a fond notion that the true religion ought to be the only religion; hence every one has strove, by all imaginable practices, both fair and foul, (the end sanctifying the means,) to be that universal church. But, if their several dogmas were to be estimated by their means of propagation, on the good Bishop's plan of utility to mankind, the probable result is left to the reader's conception.

Human nature is nearly the same in all places and at all times; it is the education bestowed on it, that stamps the varieties between the ancient and modern; and together with an allowance for the influence of climate, between the European and the Asiatic. Legislative policy working upon national pride, has given rise to many particular missions, and exclusive claims to the favour of Heaven; which have been supported by various means as circumstances have dictated. But on whatever wild reveries they may have been founded, or however common sense may bẹ insulted by their rites and ceremonies; the relative duties of hu

manity have not so often been mistaken, at least within the circle of the votaries of the same persuasion. These being of general concern, and having their foundation, not in fancy, but our feelings; mankind were not so likely to be led astray by the intoxications of heated imaginations with regard to them; especially when we reflect that no community can subsist under a disregard of matters of such immediate importance.

To form an impartial estimate of the intrinsic merits of any religion, it may be necessary to pass over all the supernaturals wherewith it is embellished, and recommended to the veneration of its votaries; and to examine the tendency of those practical duties enjoined for the conduct of man towards man.

The operations of that zeal, which is not according to knowledge, are so violent in some, contract the operations of the mind into so narrow a circle, and warp the judgment so far from the truth; that we ought to pray for that degree of Laodicean lukewarmness, which may preserve to us the free and perfect use of our rational faculties; and there are many sincere and well meaning people, to whom it may be some information to find that mussulmen, although painted with such fierce whiskers on sign-posts at inn doors, are taught by their law, understand, and practice, the moral duties, to a degree that may shame many who take pride in professing, as they suppose, a better religion. Some account, therefore, of their principles, may not be without its use in extending that charity of opinion towards our fellow creatures, which, though much talked of, is little practised by

sectarians.

In faith and hope, the world may disagree;

But all mankind's concern is charity.-POPE.

Mahomet arose at a most convenient time for a man of talents to give birth to a new reform of religion. Born in the midst of pagan darkness, and monkish barbarism, religion was debased to such a degree, as rendered his dictates really sublime, when compared with the grossness of pagan idolatry on the one hand, and with the then mixture of christian idolatry on the other. Per

haps a more concise, clear, and just account of Mahomet may not easily be found or collected, than is contained in the learned Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History; from which we take the following extract:

A new and most powerful opponent to Christianity started up in Arabia, A. D. 611, under the reign of Heraclius. This was Mahomet, an illiterate man,* but endowed by nature with 'the most flowing and attractive eloquence, and with a vast and 'penetrating genius, distinguished also by the advantages he enjoyed from the place of his birth, which added a lustre to his • name and his undertakings. He declared publicly, that he was • commissioned, by God, to destroy polytheism and adolatry, and then to reform, first the religion of the Arabians, and afterwards the Jewish and Christian worship. For these purposes •he delivered a new law, which is known by the name of the Koran, or Alcoran; and having gained several victories over his enemies, he compelled an incredible multitude of persons, 'both in Arabia and the neighbouring nations, to receive his doctrine, and range themselves under his standards. Elated with this rapid and unexpected success, he extended yet further his • ambitious views, and formed the vast and arduous project of founding an empire. Here again, success crowned his adventurous efforts; and his plan was executed with such intrepidity, • that he died master of all Arabia, besides several adjacent pro'vinces.

It is, perhaps, impossible at this time, to form such an ac'curate judgment of the character, views, and conduct of Mahomet, as would entirely satisfy the curiosity of a sagacious in'quirer after truth. To give entire credit to the Grecian writers in this matter, is neither prudent nor safe, since their bitter ' resentment against this hostile invader led them to invent, without scruple or hesitation, fables and calumnies to blacken his

'Mahomet himself expressly declared, that he was totally ignorant of all 'branches of learning and science, and was even unable either to write or 'read and his followers have drawn from this ignorance an argument in fafour of the divinity of his mission, and of the religion he taught.