Page images
PDF
EPUB

according to the fcriptures. And that he was feen of Cephas: then of the twelve. After that he was feen of above five hundred brethren at once: of whom the greater part remain unto this prefent; but fome are fallen afleep. After this he was feen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was feen of me alfo. Add to this the testimony of the Roman cohort, which must have confifted of no inconfiderable number of men. These guarded the fepulchre, and faw with amazement every circumstance of the refurrection; and declared the whole to people in the city. This was matter of fuch notoriety, that it could not be contradicted. Peter therefore in his very firft addrefs to the Jews preffes home this argument of the refurrection, as a circumstance undeniable and adds-† Therefore let all the house of Ifrael know affuredly, that God hath made that Jefus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. And what was the confequence? The Apostle

*

[blocks in formation]

tells us- The fame day there were added to the church, of these very perfons, who had crucified Chrift-about three thousand fouls and upon another day five thousand. * After this there came in from all parts + multitudes without number.

[blocks in formation]

V.

A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN AND MOHAMMEDAN RELIGIONS.

TH

HE law of Mofes is cancelled, and but imperfectly maintained. And as all other religions upon earth are idolatrous, excepting the Mohammedan, that only can be brought in competition with the religion of Christ. But it will be found to lofe greatly by the contraft. For all, that it has good and laudable, is taken from the former as there was no other fource, from whence the impoftor could borrow. He therefore drew largely but blended the truths, which he treacherously purloined, with fictions of his own creating, and with a permit of fenfual gratifications, which he adapted to the temper of the people, for whom he wrote. By this unnatural mix

ture

ture he purposed to ruin the religion, to which he was fo much beholden: and in fome degree fucceeded.

He was born at Mecca, a city of Arabia, and lived, and wrote, about fix hundred years after the death of Chrift. He admits one God, the creator of all things: and allows him his most effential attributes. Hence we find this good to have arifen from evil; that wherever his religion was propagated, all idolatrous worship has ceafed. But then on the other hand the true religion has at the fame time been exiled: and a large portion of the world been deprived of the light of the gofpel. In confequence of this deprivation, fcience, and every liberal art, have been equally banished or depreffed. He was acquainted with the fcriptures: and mentions many of the patriarchs and prophets, as holy men, and fhews a great refpect to the character of Jefus Chrift. He fpeaks of his miraculous powers, as well as thofe of his difciples, and particularly his raifing of dead perfons to life: Koran, p. 41, c. iii., and

he

he ftiles them evident * miracles. He describes him as the chief of all prophets, and the Logos, or Word of God, c. iii. p. 40. In one of his + chapters a curse is denounced against those, who do not believe in the hiftory of Jefus, the fon of Mary; and punishment both in this world and the world to come. He fays alfo of the Deity, by whom Chrift was fent into the world-The words of thy Lord are perfect in truth and juftice; there is none that can change his words. C. vi. p. 110.

But, though he allows thefe evident miracles of our Saviour; yet he fets afide his doctrines, and fubftitutes his own in their room; though not ascertained by the leaft evidence of this kind. Our Saviour faid to the Jews, The works, which I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. § If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not: but if I do; believe the works: that ye may know and believe, that the Father is in

* Koran, C. xliii. p. 399. When Jefus came with evident miracles, &c.

+ C. iii. p. 43, 44; and c. xix. p. 252.

John x. 25.

§ John x. 37, 38.

me,

« PreviousContinue »