Martin，vol。xi。p。59。—M。
Dr。WeildecidesonA。D。571。Mahometdiedin632，aged63；
buttheArabsreckonedhislifebylunaryears，whichreduceshislifenearlyto61p。21。—M。1845]
[Footnote67:IcopythehonorabletestimonyofAbuTalebtohisfamilyandnephew。LausDei，quinosastirpeAbrahamietsemineIsmaelisconstituit，etnobisregionemsacramdedit，etnosjudiceshominibusstatuit。PorroMohammedfiliusAbdollahinepotismeineposmeusquocumexaequolibrabitureKoraishidisquispiamcuinonpraeponderaturusest，bonitateetexcellentia，etintellectuetgloria，etacumineetsiopuminopsfuerit，etcerteopesumbratransienssuntetdepositumquodreddidebet，desiderioChadijaefiliaeChowaileditenetur，etillavicissimipsius，quicquidautemdotisvicepetieritis，egoinmesuscipiam，Pocock，Specimen，eseptimapartelibriEbnHamduni。]
[Footnote68:TheprivatelifeofMahomet，fromhisbirthtohismission，ispreservedbyAbulfeda，inVit。c。3—7，andtheArabianwritersofgenuineorapocryphalnote，whoareallegedbyHottinger，Hist。Orient。p。204—211Maracci，tom。i。p。10—
14，andGagnier，ViedeMahomet，tom。i。p。97—134。]
Accordingtothetraditionofhiscompanions，Mahomet^69
wasdistinguishedbythebeautyofhisperson，anoutwardgiftwhichisseldomdespised，exceptbythosetowhomithasbeenrefused。Beforehespoke，theoratorengagedonhissidetheaffectionsofapublicorprivateaudience。Theyapplaudedhiscommandingpresence，hismajesticaspect，hispiercingeye，hisgracioussmile，hisflowingbeard，hiscountenancethatpaintedeverysensationofthesoul，andhisgesturesthatenforcedeachexpressionofthetongue。Inthefamiliarofficesoflifehescrupulouslyadheredtothegraveandceremoniouspolitenessofhiscountry:hisrespectfulattentiontotherichandpowerfulwasdignifiedbyhiscondescensionandaffabilitytothepoorestcitizensofMecca:thefranknessofhismannerconcealedtheartificeofhisviews；andthehabitsofcourtesywereimputedtopersonalfriendshiporuniversalbenevolence。Hismemorywascapaciousandretentive；hiswiteasyandsocial；hisimaginationsublime；hisjudgmentclear，rapid，anddecisive。Hepossessedthecouragebothofthoughtandaction；and，althoughhisdesignsmightgraduallyexpandwithhissuccess，thefirstideawhichheentertainedofhisdivinemissionbearsthestampofanoriginalandsuperiorgenius。ThesonofAbdallahwaseducatedinthebosomofthenoblestrace，intheuseofthepurestdialectofArabia；andthefluencyofhisspeechwascorrectedandenhancedbythepracticeofdiscreetandseasonablesilence。Withthesepowersofeloquence，MahometwasanilliterateBarbarian:hisyouthhadneverbeeninstructedintheartsofreadingandwriting；^70thecommonignoranceexemptedhimfromshameorreproach，buthewasreducedtoanarrowcircleofexistence，anddeprivedofthosefaithfulmirrors，whichreflecttoourmindthemindsofsagesandheroes。Yetthebookofnatureandofmanwasopentohisview；andsomefancyhasbeenindulgedinthepoliticalandphilosophicalobservationswhichareascribedtotheArabiantraveller。^71Hecomparesthenationsandtheregionsoftheearth；discoverstheweaknessofthePersianandRomanmonarchies；beholds，withpityandindignation，thedegeneracyofthetimes；andresolvestouniteunderoneGodandonekingtheinvinciblespiritandprimitivevirtuesoftheArabs。Ourmoreaccurateinquirywillsuggest，that，insteadofvisitingthecourts，thecamps，thetemples，oftheEast，thetwojourneysofMahometintoSyriawereconfinedtothefairsofBostraandDamascus；thathewasonlythirteenyearsofagewhenheaccompaniedthecaravanofhisuncle；andthathisdutycompelledhimtoreturnassoonashehaddisposedofthemerchandiseofCadijah。Inthesehastyandsuperficialexcursions，theeyeofgeniusmightdiscernsomeobjectsinvisibletohisgrossercompanions；someseedsofknowledgemightbecastuponafruitfulsoil；buthisignoranceoftheSyriaclanguagemusthavecheckedhiscuriosity；andIcannotperceive，inthelifeorwritingsofMahomet，thathisprospectwasfarextendedbeyondthelimitsoftheArabianworld。Fromeveryregionofthatsolitaryworld，thepilgrimsofMeccawereannuallyassembled，bythecallsofdevotionandcommerce:inthefreeconcourseofmultitudes，asimplecitizen，inhisnativetongue，mightstudythepoliticalstateandcharacterofthetribes，thetheoryandpracticeoftheJewsandChristians。Someusefulstrangersmightbetempted，orforced，toimploretherightsofhospitality；andtheenemiesofMahomethavenamedtheJew，thePersian，andtheSyrianmonk，whomtheyaccuseoflendingtheirsecretaidtothecompositionoftheKoran。^72
Conversationenrichestheunderstanding，butsolitudeistheschoolofgenius；andtheuniformityofaworkdenotesthehandofasingleartist。FromhisearliestyouthMahometwasaddictedtoreligiouscontemplation；eachyear，duringthemonthofRamadan，hewithdrewfromtheworld，andfromthearmsofCadijah:inthecaveofHera，threemilesfromMecca，^73heconsultedthespiritoffraudorenthusiasm，whoseabodeisnotintheheavens，butinthemindoftheprophet。Thefaithwhich，underthenameofIslam，hepreachedtohisfamilyandnation，iscompoundedofaneternaltruth，andanecessaryfiction，ThatthereisonlyoneGod，andthatMahometistheapostleofGod。
[Footnote69:Abulfeda，inVit。c。lxv。lxvi。Gagnier，ViedeMahomet，tom。iii。p。272—289。ThebesttraditionsofthepersonandconversationoftheprophetarederivedfromAyesha，Ali，andAbuHoraira，Gagnier，tom。ii。p。267。Ockley'sHist。
oftheSaracens，vol。ii。p。149，surnamedtheFatherofaCat，whodiedintheyear59oftheHegira。
Note:Compare，likewise，thenewLifeofMahometMohammedderprophetbyDr。Weil，Stuttgart，1843。Dr。Weilhasanewtradition，thatMahometwasatonetimeashepherd。ThisassimilationtothelifeofMoses，insteadofgivingprobabilitytothestory，asDr。Weilsuggests，makesitmoresuspicious。
Note，p。34。—M。1845。]
[Footnote70:ThosewhobelievethatMahometcouldreadorwriteareincapableofreadingwhatiswrittenwithanotherpen，intheSuras，orchaptersoftheKoran，vii。xxix。xcvi。Thesetexts，andthetraditionoftheSonna，areadmitted，withoutdoubt，byAbulfeda，inVit。vii。，Gagnier，Not。adAbulfed。p。15，
Pocock，Specimen，p。151，Reland，deReligioneMohammedica，p。
236，andSale，PreliminaryDiscourse，p。42。Mr。White，almostalone，deniestheignorance，toaccusetheimposture，oftheprophet。Hisargumentsarefarfromsatisfactory。TwoshorttradingjourneystothefairsofSyriaweresurelynotsufficienttoinfuseasciencesorareamongthecitizensofMecca:itwasnotinthecool，deliberateactoftreaty，thatMahometwouldhavedroppedthemask；norcananyconclusionbedrawnfromthewordsofdiseaseanddelirium。Theletteredyouth，beforeheaspiredtothepropheticcharacter，musthaveoftenexercised，inprivatelife，theartsofreadingandwriting；andhisfirstconverts，ofhisownfamily，wouldhavebeenthefirsttodetectandupbraidhisscandaloushypocrisy，White'sSermons，p。203，204，Notes，p。xxxvi。—xxxviii。
Note:Academ。desInscript。I。p。295hasobservedthatthetextofthesevethSuraimpliesthatMahometcouldread，thetraditionalonedeniesit，and，accordingtoDr。Weil，p。46，
thereisanotherreadingofthetradition，that"hecouldnotreadwell。"Dr。WeilisnotquitesosuccessfulinexplainingawaySuraxxix。Itmeans，hethinksthathehadnotreadanybooks，fromwhichhecouldhaveborrowed。—M。1845。]
[Footnote71:ThecountdeBoulainvilliersViedeMahomet，p。
202—228leadshisArabianpupil，liketheTelemachusofFenelon，ortheCyrusofRamsay。HisjourneytothecourtofPersiaisprobablyafictionnorcanItracetheoriginofhisexclamation，"LesGrecssontpourtantdeshommes。"ThetwoSyrianjourneysareexpressedbyalmostalltheArabianwriters，bothMahometansandChristians，GagnierAbulfed。p。10。]
[Footnote72:IamnotatleisuretopursuethefablesorconjectureswhichnamethestrangersaccusedorsuspectedbytheinfidelsofMecca，Koran，c。16，p。223，c。35，p。297，withSale'sRemarks。Prideaux'sLifeofMahomet，p。22—27。
Gagnier，Not。adAbulfed。p。11，74。Maracci，tom。ii。p。400。
EvenPrideauxhasobserved，thatthetransactionmusthavebeensecret，andthatthescenelayintheheartofArabia。]
[Footnote73:AbulfedainVit。c。7，p。15。Gagnier，tom。i。p。
133，135。ThesituationofMountHeraisremarkedbyAbulfedaGeograph。Arabp。4。YetMahomethadneverreadofthecaveofEgeria，ubinocturnaeNumaconstituebatamicae，oftheIdaeanMount，whereMinosconversedwithJove，&c。]
ItistheboastoftheJewishapologists，thatwhilethelearnednationsofantiquityweredeludedbythefablesofpolytheism，theirsimpleancestorsofPalestinepreservedtheknowledgeandworshipofthetrueGod。ThemoralattributesofJehovahmaynoteasilybereconciledwiththestandardofhumanvirtue:hismetaphysicalqualitiesaredarklyexpressed；buteachpageofthePentateuchandtheProphetsisanevidenceofhispower:theunityofhisnameisinscribedonthefirsttableofthelaw；andhissanctuarywasneverdefiledbyanyvisibleimageoftheinvisibleessence。Aftertheruinofthetemple，thefaithoftheHebrewexileswaspurified，fixed，andenlightened，bythespiritualdevotionofthesynagogue；andtheauthorityofMahometwillnotjustifyhisperpetualreproach，thattheJewsofMeccaorMedinaadoredEzraasthesonofGod。^74ButthechildrenofIsraelhadceasedtobeapeople；andthereligionsoftheworldwereguilty，atleastintheeyesoftheprophet，ofgivingsons，ordaughters，orcompanions，tothesupremeGod。IntherudeidolatryoftheArabs，thecrimeismanifestandaudacious:theSabiansarepoorlyexcusedbythepreeminenceofthefirstplanet，orintelligence，intheircelestialhierarchy；
andintheMagiansystemtheconflictofthetwoprinciplesbetraystheimperfectionoftheconqueror。TheChristiansoftheseventhcenturyhadinsensiblyrelapsedintoasemblanceofPaganism:theirpublicandprivatevowswereaddressedtotherelicsandimagesthatdisgracedthetemplesoftheEast:thethroneoftheAlmightywasdarkenedbyacloudofmartyrs，andsaints，andangels，theobjectsofpopularveneration；andtheCollyridianheretics，whoflourishedinthefruitfulsoilofArabia，investedtheVirginMarywiththenameandhonorsofagoddess。^75ThemysteriesoftheTrinityandIncarnationappeartocontradicttheprincipleofthedivineunity。Intheirobvioussense，theyintroducethreeequaldeities，andtransformthemanJesusintothesubstanceoftheSonofGod:^76anorthodoxcommentarywillsatisfyonlyabelievingmind:
intemperatecuriosityandzealhadtorntheveilofthesanctuary；andeachoftheOrientalsectswaseagertoconfessthatall，exceptthemselves，deservedthereproachofidolatryandpolytheism。ThecreedofMahometisfreefromsuspicionorambiguity；andtheKoranisaglorioustestimonytotheunityofGod。TheprophetofMeccarejectedtheworshipofidolsandmen，ofstarsandplanets，ontherationalprinciplethatwhateverrisesmustset，thatwhateverisbornmustdie，thatwhateveriscorruptiblemustdecayandperish。^77IntheAuthoroftheuniverse，hisrationalenthusiasmconfessedandadoredaninfiniteandeternalbeing，withoutformorplace，withoutissueorsimilitude，presenttoourmostsecretthoughts，existingbythenecessityofhisownnature，andderivingfromhimselfallmoralandintellectualperfection。Thesesublimetruths，thusannouncedinthelanguageoftheprophet，^78arefirmlyheldbyhisdisciples，anddefinedwithmetaphysicalprecisionbytheinterpretersoftheKoran。AphilosophictheistmightsubscribethepopularcreedoftheMahometans；^79acreedtoosublime，perhaps，forourpresentfaculties。Whatobjectremainsforthefancy，oreventheunderstanding，whenwehaveabstractedfromtheunknownsubstanceallideasoftimeandspace，ofmotionandmatter，ofsensationandreflection?ThefirstprincipleofreasonandrevolutionwasconfirmedbythevoiceofMahomet:hisproselytes，fromIndiatoMorocco，aredistinguishedbythenameofUnitarians；andthedangerofidolatryhasbeenpreventedbytheinterdictionofimages。ThedoctrineofeternaldecreesandabsolutepredestinationisstrictlyembracedbytheMahometans；
andtheystruggle，withthecommondifficulties，howtoreconciletheprescienceofGodwiththefreedomandresponsibilityofman；
howtoexplainthepermissionofevilunderthereignofinfinitepowerandinfinitegoodness。
[Footnote74:Koran，c。9，p。153。AlBeidawi，andtheothercommentatorsquotedbySale，adheretothecharge；butIdonotunderstandthatitiscoloredbythemostobscureorabsurdtraditionoftheTalmud。]
[Footnote75:Hottinger，Hist。Orient。p。225—228。TheCollyridianheresywascarriedfromThracetoArabiabysomewomen，andthenamewasborrowedfromthecake，whichtheyofferedtothegoddess。Thisexample，thatofBeryllusbishopofBostra，Euseb。Hist。Eccles。l。vi。c。33，andseveralothers，mayexcusethereproach，Arabiahaeresehaersewnferax。]
[Footnote76:ThethreegodsintheKoranc。4，p。81，c。5，p。
92areobviouslydirectedagainstourCatholicmystery:buttheArabiccommentatorsunderstandthemoftheFather，theSon，andtheVirginMary，anhereticalTrinity，maintained，asitissaid，bysomeBarbariansattheCouncilofNice，Eutych。Annal。tom。
i。p。440。ButtheexistenceoftheMarianitesisdeniedbythecandidBeausobre，Hist。deManicheisme，tom。i。p。532；andhederivesthemistakefromthewordRoxah，theHolyGhost，whichinsomeOrientaltonguesisofthefemininegender，andisfigurativelystyledthemotherofChristintheGospeloftheNazarenes。]
[Footnote77:ThistrainofthoughtisphilosophicallyexemplifiedinthecharacterofAbraham，whoopposedinChaldaeathefirstintroductionofidolatry，Koran，c。6，p。106。
D'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orient。p。13。]
[Footnote78:SeetheKoran，particularlythesecond，p。30，
thefifty—seventh，p。437，thefifty—eighthp。441chapters，whichproclaimtheomnipotenceoftheCreator。]
[Footnote79:ThemostorthodoxcreedsaretranslatedbyPocock，Specimen，p。274，284—292，Ockley，Hist。oftheSaracens，vol。ii。p。lxxxii。—xcv。，Reland，deReligion。Moham。l。i。
p。7—13，andChardin，VoyagesenPerse，tom。iv。p。4—28。
Thegreattruth，thatGodiswithoutsimilitude，isfoolishlycriticizedbyMaracci，Alcoran，tom。i。partiii。p。87—94，
becausehemademanafterhisownimage。]
TheGodofnaturehaswrittenhisexistenceonallhisworks，andhislawintheheartofman。Torestoretheknowledgeoftheone，andthepracticeoftheother，hasbeentherealorpretendedaimoftheprophetsofeveryage:theliberalityofMahometallowedtohispredecessorsthesamecreditwhichheclaimedforhimself；andthechainofinspirationwasprolongedfromthefallofAdamtothepromulgationoftheKoran。^80
Duringthatperiod，someraysofpropheticlighthadbeenimpartedtoonehundredandtwenty—fourthousandoftheelect，discriminatedbytheirrespectivemeasureofvirtueandgrace；
threehundredandthirteenapostlesweresentwithaspecialcommissiontorecalltheircountryfromidolatryandvice；onehundredandfourvolumeshavebeendictatedbytheHolySpirit；
andsixlegislatorsoftranscendentbrightnesshaveannouncedtomankindthesixsuccessiverevelationsofvariousrites，butofoneimmutablereligion。TheauthorityandstationofAdam，Noah，Abraham，Moses，Christ，andMahomet，riseinjustgradationaboveeachother；butwhosoeverhatesorrejectsanyoneoftheprophetsisnumberedwiththeinfidels。ThewritingsofthepatriarchswereextantonlyintheapocryphalcopiesoftheGreeksandSyrians:^81theconductofAdamhadnotentitledhimtothegratitudeorrespectofhischildren；thesevenpreceptsofNoahwereobservedbyaninferiorandimperfectclassoftheproselytesofthesynagogue；^82andthememoryofAbrahamwasobscurelyreveredbytheSabiansinhisnativelandofChaldaea:
ofthemyriadsofprophets，MosesandChristalonelivedandreigned；andtheremnantoftheinspiredwritingswascomprisedinthebooksoftheOldandtheNewTestament。ThemiraculousstoryofMosesisconsecratedandembellishedintheKoran；^83
andthecaptiveJewsenjoythesecretrevengeofimposingtheirownbeliefonthenationswhoserecentcreedstheyderide。FortheauthorofChristianity，theMahometansaretaughtbytheprophettoentertainahighandmysteriousreverence。^84
"Verily，ChristJesus，thesonofMary，istheapostleofGod，andhisword，whichheconveyeduntoMary，andaSpiritproceedingfromhim；honorableinthisworld，andintheworldtocome，andoneofthosewhoapproachneartothepresenceofGod。"
^85Thewondersofthegenuineandapocryphalgospels^86areprofuselyheapedonhishead；andtheLatinchurchhasnotdisdainedtoborrowfromtheKorantheimmaculateconception^87
ofhisvirginmother。YetJesuswasameremortal；and，atthedayofjudgment，histestimonywillservetocondemnboththeJews，whorejecthimasaprophet，andtheChristians，whoadorehimastheSonofGod。Themaliceofhisenemiesaspersedhisreputation，andconspiredagainsthislife；buttheirintentiononlywasguilty；aphantomoracriminalwassubstitutedonthecross；andtheinnocentsaintwastranslatedtotheseventhheaven。^88Duringsixhundredyearsthegospelwasthewayoftruthandsalvation；buttheChristiansinsensiblyforgotboththelawsandexampleoftheirfounder；andMahometwasinstructedbytheGnosticstoaccusethechurch，aswellasthesynagogue，ofcorruptingtheintegrityofthesacredtext。^89ThepietyofMosesandofChristrejoicedintheassuranceofafutureprophet，moreillustriousthanthemselves:theevangelicalpromiseoftheParaclete，orHolyGhost，wasprefiguredinthename，andaccomplishedintheperson，ofMahomet，^90thegreatestandthelastoftheapostlesofGod。
[Footnote80:Reland，deRelig。Moham。l。i。p。17—47。Sale'sPreliminaryDiscourse，p。73—76。VoyagedeChardin，tom。iv。
p。28—37，and37—47，forthePersianaddition，"AliisthevicarofGod!"Yettheprecisenumberoftheprophetsisnotanarticleoffaith。]
[Footnote81:FortheapocryphalbooksofAdam，seeFabricius，CodexPseudepigraphusV。T。p。27—29；ofSeth，p。154—157；ofEnoch，p。160—219。ButthebookofEnochisconsecrated，insomemeasure，bythequotationoftheapostleSt。Jude；andalonglegendaryfragmentisallegedbySyncellusandScaliger。
Note:ThewholebookhassincebeenrecoveredintheEthiopiclanguage，—andhasbeeneditedandtranslatedbyArchbishopLawrence，Oxford，1881—M。]
[Footnote82:ThesevenpreceptsofNoahareexplainedbyMarsham，CanonChronicus，p。154—180，whoadopts，onthisoccasion，thelearningandcredulityofSelden。]
[Footnote83:ThearticlesofAdam，Noah，Abraham，Moses，&c。，intheBibliothequeofD'Herbelot，aregaylybedeckedwiththefancifullegendsoftheMahometans，whohavebuiltonthegroundworkofScriptureandtheTalmud。]
[Footnote84:Koran，c。7，p。128，&c。，c。10，p。173，&c。
D'Herbelot，p。647，&c。]