was most affected with admiration from the Jewish and Christian in the perusal of its beauties, scriptures, from the Talmudical seemed fitly the object of that legends and apocryphal gospels mercy which had given it to igno- then current in the east, and from rant man. The Koran, therefore, the traditions and fables which became naturally and necessarily abounded in Arabia. The matethe standard of taste. With arials collected from these several language thus hallowed in their sources are here heaped together imaginations, they were too well with perpetual and needless repesatisfied either to dispute its cle-itions, without any settled princigance, or improve its structure.ple or visible connexion. When In succeeding ages, the additional a great part of the life of Mahosanction of antiquity, or prescrip-met had been spent in preparation, was given to these composi-tory meditation on the system he tions which their fathers had ad-was about to establish, its chapmired; and while the belief of its ters were dealt out slowly and sedivine original continues, that ad- parately during the long period of miration which has thus become twenty-three years. Yet, thus dethe test and the duty of the faith-fective in its structure, and no ful, can neither be altered nor di-less exceptionable in its doctrines, minished. When, therefore, we was the work which Mahomet deconsider these peculiar advantages livered to his followers as the oraof the Koran, we have no reasoncles of God. The most promito be surprised at the admirationnent feature of the Koran, that in which it is held. But if, de-point of excellence in which the scending to a more minute in-partiality of its admirers has ever vestigation of it, we consider its delighted to view it, is the subperpetual inconsistence and ab-lime notion it generally impresses surdity, we shall indeed have cause of the nature and attributes of for astonishment at that weakness God. If its author had really of humanity, which could ever derived these just conceptions from have received such compositions the inspiration of that Being whom as the work of Deity." they attempt to describe, they 6. Koran, the style and merits would not have been surrounded, of the, examined. "The first praiseas they now are on every side, of all the productions of genius with error and absurdity. But it (continues this author) is inven- might be easily proved, that whattion; that quality of the mind, ever it justly defines of the Divine which, by the extent and quick-attributes was borrowed from our ness of its views, is capable of the holy scripture; which even from largest conceptions, and of form-its first promulgation, but especiing new combinations of objects ally from the completion of the the most distant and unusual. But New Testament, has extended the Koran bears little impression the views and enlightened the unof this transcendant character.derstandings of mankind; and thus Its materials are wholly borrowed furnished them with arms which exalt expecta.o explain to describe and to mateSelf is spiritual, impiously aimed ne purity of the Di Thus he fabricated have too often been ineffectually tions of heaven and paradise. Unturned against itself by its unge-assisted by the necessary influence nerous enemies. In this instance, of virtuous intentions and Divine particularly, the copy is far below inspiration, he was neither de sithe great original, both in the rous, nor indeed able, to propriety of its images and the the minds of men to sublim .e conforce of its descriptions." ceptions, or to rational 7. Koran, the sublimity of the, tions. By attempting contrasted. "Our holy scriptures what is inconceivable, are the only compositions that what is ineffable, can enable the dim sight of mor- rialize what in it tality to penetrate into the invisi-he absurdly and ble world, and to behold a glimpse to sensualize t' of the Divine perfections. Ac-vine essence cordingly, when they would repre-a system o incoherence, a religion sent to us the happiness of heaven, of depravity, totally repugnant to they describe it, not by any thing the nat are of that Being, who, as minute and particular, but by he pretended, was its object; but something general and great; therefore more likely to accord something that, without descend-with the appetites and (conceptions ing to any determinate object, of a corrupt and sensual age. may at once by its beauty and im That we may not appear to exalt mensity excite our wishes, nd our scriptures thus far above the elevate our affections. Though in Koran by an unreasonable preferthe prophetical and evangelical ence, we shall produce a part of writings the joys that shall at-the second chapter of the latter, tend us in a future state are of-which is deservedly admired by the ten mentioned with ardent admi-Mahometans, who wear it engravration, they are expressed rathered on their ornaments, and recite by allusion than by similitude; ra- it in their prayers. God! there ther by indefinite and figurative is no God but he; the living, the terms, than by any thing fixed self-subsisting; neither slumber nor and determinate. Eye hath not sleep seizeth him: to him belongseen, nor ear heard, neither have eth whatsoever is in heaven, and entered into the heart of man on earth. Who is he that can inthe things which God hath pre-tercede with him but through his pared for them that love him,' 1st good pleasure? He knoweth that Cor. ii, 9. What a reverence and which is past, and that which is astonishment does this passage ex-to come. His throne is extended cite in every hearer of taste and over heaven and earth, and the piety! What energy, and at the preservation of both is to him no same time what simplicity, in the burden. He is the high, the expression! How sublime, and at mighty.' Sale's Koran, v. ii, p. 30. the same time how obscure, is the To, this description who can refuse imagery! Different was the con- the praise of magnificence? Part duct of Mahomet in his descrip-of that magnificence, however, is to be referred to that verse of the examination, far from supporting psalmist whence it was borrowed its arrogant claim to a supernatuHe that keepeth Israel shall nei-ral work, sinks below the level of ther slumber nor sleep,' Psal. cxxi, many compositions confessedly of 4. But if we compare it with that human original; and still lower other passage of the inspired does it fall in our estimation, when psalmist (Psal. cii, 24, 27) all its compared with that pure and perboasted grandeur is at once ob- fect pattern which we justly adscured, and lost in the blaze of a mire in the scriptures of truth. greater light. O my God, take It is, therefore, abundantly appame not away in the midst of my rent, that no miracle either was days; thy years are throughout externally performed for the supall generations. Of old hast thou port, or is internally involved in laid the foundation of the earth;the composition of the Mahoand the heavens are the work of metan revelation." See Sale's Kothy hands. They shall perish, but ran, Prideaux's Life of Mahomet; thou shalt endure; yea, all of White's Sermons at Bampton Lecthem shall wax old like a gar-tures; and article MAHOMETANment; as a vesture shalt thou ISM. change them, and they shall be KTISTOLATRÆ, a branch of changed. But thou art the same, the Monophysites which maintainand thy years shall have no end.'ed that the body of Christ before The Koran, therefore, upon a fair his resurrection was corruptible END OF VOL. I. WILLIAM W. WOODWARD's THEOLOGICAL AND LITERARY BOOR-STORE, W. W. WOODWARD, WILL PRINT BY SUBSCRIPTION, A SECOND EDITION OF THE FAMILY BIBLE, ACCORDING TO THE PUBLIC VERSION: THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, With Explanatory Notes, Practical Observations, and copious Marginal References. IN FIVE HANDSOME QUARTO VOLUMES; With Butterworth's Concordance, and Dr. Scott's Maps and Tables, or without, as Subscribers choose. BY THE REV. DR. THOMAS SCOTT, RECTOR OF ASHTON SANFORD, BUCKS, LATE CHAPLAIN TO THE LOCK HOSPITAL From a new and improved edition lately printed and sold by the intended publisher of this. As many of the patrons (and others) of the first edition, have given the preference to Quarto editions, with a large type, as it was first printed; W. W. 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