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THE MOHAMMEDAN CONTROVERSY
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books, from the time of their alleged authors to that of their publication;
e.g., from the time of Ezra to Ptolemy, and from that of the apostles to
Constantine. The fifteenth Question asserts that the miracles of Mohammed are
the only ones of any prophet that can be proved by testimony, those of all
others being dependent upon his evidence (pp. 183-245). The sixteenth holds
that, notwithstanding the corruption of the Bible, it contains more prophecies
in favour of Mohammed than in favour of Christ. This subject is treated at
great length, and with much casuistry (pp. 245-385). The seventeenth and main
proposition is that the same objections may be brought against Moses, Jesus
and the other prophets, and their books, as against Mohammed. Under this head
is embraced the refutation of the Mîzân and Dîn Haqq (pp.
385-709). The eighteenth proposition closes the book, with a chapter on the
beauties and excellencies of Islam.
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The work is written in pleasing language, and in a more respectful style than
generally characterises such productions but this praise is only comparative,
for bigotry and pride often overbear the author's natural good feeling, and
dictate passages respecting Christianity which the dogmas, even of Islam,
should have led him to shrink from. Added to the usual materials brought
forward by Moslems on such occasions, there is an ostentatious display of some
shallow English learning and ideas which the author has picked up from
translations and conversation. On the whole, the spirit of the work, though
abounding with the usual blasphemies which make the ears of Christians to
tingle, is better and more reasonable than we usually find. A few specimens,
taken pretty much at random, will, perhaps, be interesting to the reader.
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Thirteen pages are spent in labouring to prove that Mohammed is "the
Prince of this world" spoken of in the New Testament. In disposing of the
objections to this view, he endeavours to explain away the text,"the
whole world lieth in wickedness": and finding that other versions
translate the latter words "in the wicked one," he adds:
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Behold! Two copies give it one
way, and three the other. To which shall the preference be given? How
conclusively the corruption of the
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