the Mind; and also in a violent adhering to (a) the Party they had chosen; the final Event of which was, that there were every where a great many (b) Christians in Name, but very few in reality. God did not overlook these Faults of his People; but from the farthest Corners (c) of Scythia, (d) and Germany, poured vast Armies, like a Deluge, upon the Christian World: And when the great Slaughter made by these, did not suffice to reform those which remained; by the just Permission of God, (e) Mahomet planted in Arabia a new Religion, directly opposite to the Christian Religion; yet such as did in a good Measure express in Words, the Life of a great Part of the Christians. This Religion was first embraced by the Saracens, who revolted from the Emperor Heraclius; whose Arms quickly subdued Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Persia; and afterwards they invaded Africa, and came over Sea into Spain. But the Power of the Saracens was derived to others, (f) particularly to the Turks, a very warlike People; who after many long Engagements

(a) The Party they had chosen, &c.] Roman. x. 2. 1 Cor. i. 12. and following Verses.

(b) Christians in Name, &c.] See Salvian, Book III. concerning the Government of God. "Excepting a very few who "avoid Wickedness, what else is the whole Body of Christians, "but a Sink of Vice?"

(c) Of Scythia, &c.] Huns, Avari, Sabiri, Alani, Enthalites, and Turks.

(d) And Germany, &c.] Goths, Eruli, Gepidæ, Vandals, Franks, Burgundians, Swedes, Almains, Saxons, Varni, and Lombards.

(e) Mahomet planted in Arabia, &c.] Dr Prideaux's Life of Mahomet, wrote in English, is very well worth reading, published at London, Anno 1697. Le Clerc.

(f) Particularly to the Turks, &c.] See Leunclavius's History of Turkey, and Laonicus Chalcocondilas.

with the Saracens, being desired to enter into a League, they easily embraced a Religion agreeable to their Manners, and transferred the Imperial Power to themselves. Having taken the Cities of Asia and Greece, and the Success of their Arms increasing, they came into the Borders of Hungary and Germany.

SECT. II.

The Mahometans' Foundation overturned, in that they do not examine into Religion.

THIS Religion, which was plainly calculated for Bloodshed, delights much in Ceremonies, (a) and would be believed, without allowing Liberty to inquire into it: For which Reason the Vulgar are prohibited reading those Books which they account sacred; which is a manifest Sign of their Iniquity. For those Goods may justly be suspected, which are imposed upon us with this Condition, that they must not be looked into. It is true indeed, all Men have not like Capacities for understanding every Thing; many are drawn into Error by Pride, others by Passion, and some by Custom (6) But the Divine Goodness will not allow

(a) And would be believed, &c.] See the Alcoran, Azoara, XIII. according to the first Latin Edition, which, for the Reader's Sake, we here follow.

(b) But the Divine Goodness will not allow us, &c.] See the Answer to the Orthodox, Question the Fourth, among the Works of Justin: "That it is impossible for him not to find "the Truth, who seeks it with all his Heart and Power; this

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our Lord testifies, when he says; he that asks receives, he "that seeks shall find, and to him that knocks, it shall be "opened." And Origen in his Thirteenth Book against Celsus: "He ought to consider that he who sees and hears "all Things, the common Parent and Maker of the Uni66 verse,

allow us to believe, that the Way to eternal Salvation cannot be known by those who seek it, without any Regard to Profit or Honour; submitting themselves, and all that belong to them, to God, and begging Assistance from him. And indeed, since God has planted in the Mind of Man a Power of judging; no part of Truth is more worthy to employ it about, than that which they cannot be ignorant of, without being in Danger of missing eternal Salvation.

SECT. III.

A Proof against the Mahometans taken out of the sacred Books of the Hebrews and Christians; and that they are not corrupted.

MAHOMET and his Followers confess (a) that both Moses (b) and Jesus were sent by God; and that they who first propagated the Institution of Jesus, (c) were holy Men. (d) But there are many Things related in the Alcoran, which is the Law of

*verse, judges according to Men's Deserts, of the Disposition "of every one that seeks him, and is willing to worship him; "and he will render to every one of these the Fruit of his Piety."

(a) That both Moses, &c.] Azoara V. XXI.

(b) And Jesus, &c.] Azoara V. VII.

(c) Were holy Men, &c.] Azoara V. LXXI.

(d) But there are many Things related, &c.] As the Temple of Mecha, built by Abraham, Azoara XI. And many other Things of Abraham, Azoara XXXI. A confused History of Gideon and Saul, Azoara III. Many Things in the History of Exodus, Azoara XVII. XXX. and XXXVIII. Many Things in the History of Joseph, Azoara XII. concerning the Birds cut in pieces by Abraham, and called to Life again, Azoara IV, concerning Mary's being brought up with Zachariah, Azoara V. concerning the Birds made of Clay by Jesus, Ibid. and XIII.

Mahomet,

Mahomet, directly contrary to what is delivered by Moses, and the Disciples of Jesus. To instance in one Example out of many. All the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus entirely agree in this Testimony, that Jesus died upon the Cross, returned to Life upon the third Day, and was seen of many: On the contrary, Mahomet says, (a) that Jesus was privately taken up into Heaven, and that a certain Resemblance of him was fixed to the Cross; and consequently Jesus was not dead, but the Eyes of the Jews were deceived. This Objection cannot be evaded, unless Mahomet will say, as indeed he does, (b) that the Books both of Moses, and of the Disciples of Jesus, have not continued as they were, but are corrupted; but this Fiction we have already confuted in the third Book. Certainly, if any one should say, that the Alcoran is corrupted, the Mahometans would deny it, and say, that was a sufficient Answer to a Thing which was not proved. But they cannot easily bring such Arguments for the Uncorruptness of their Book, as we bring for ours, viz. that Copies of them were immediately dispersed all over the World; and that not like the Alcoran in one Language only; and were faithfully preserved, by so many Sects, who differed so much in other Things. The Mahometans persuade themselves, that in the xvith Chapter of St. John, which speaks of sending the Comforter, there was something written of Mahomet, which the Christians have put out: But here we may ask them; do they suppose this Alteration of the Scripture to have been made after the coming of Mahomet, or before? It is plainly impossible to have been done after the coming of Mahomet, because at that Time there were extant

(a) That Jesus was privately taken up into Heaven, &c.] Azoara XI.

(b) That the Books both of Moses, &c.] Azoara IX.

all

than one.

all over the World, very many Copies, not only Greek, but Syriac, Arabic, and in Places distant from Arabia, Ethiopic and Latin, of more Versions Before the coming of Mahomet, there was no Reason for such a Change; for nobody could know what Mahomet would teach: Further, if the Doctrine of Mahomet had nothing in it contrary to the Doctrine of Jesus, the Christians would as easily have received his Books, as they did the Books of Moses and the Hebrew Prophets. Let us suppose on each Side, that there was nothing written either of the Doctrine of Jesus, or of that of Mahomet: Equity will tell us, that that is to be esteemed the Doctrine of Jesus, in which all Christians agree; and that the Doctrine of Mahomet, in which all Mahometans agree.

SECT. IV.

From comparing Mahomet with Christ.

LET us now compare the Adjuncts and Circumstances of each Doctrine together, that we may see which is to be preferred to the other: And first let us examine their Authors. Mahomet himself confessed (a) that Jesus was the Messiah, promised in the Law and the Prophets; he is called by Mahomet himself (b) the Word, (c) Mind, (d) and Wisdom of God; he is also said

(a) That Jesus was the Messiah, &c.] Azoara XXIX.

(b) The Word, &c.] Azoara V. and XI. and in the Book of Mahomet's Doctrine: Enthymius Zigabenus, in his Disputations against the Saracens, says, that Jesus is called by Mahomet, "the Word and Spirit of God."

(c) Mind, &c.] Azoara IV. XI. XXIX. and in the forementioned Book.

(d) And Wisdom, &c.] In the forecited Places.

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