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Miscellaneous Correspondence. 127
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
used . by Mosheitn , in describing the mode of conversion pursued by the so-called Christians , is , that they dragooned the unbelievers into Christianity . If your correspondent should reply , that these horrors were nevertheless attended with many benefits , I reply , that , whatever may have been the effect of these victories on the part of Trinitarian
Christianity , it is beyond dispute , that the Mohammedan conquerors did much towards forming the morals , and elevating the intellectual and religious character of those whom they brought into subjection . The following remarks of Mr . Beaufoy * are , I believe , in accordance with the history of Islam is in in its more extensive relations :
" The present state of the empire of Bornou , compared with its condition when Leo Africanus , who wrote his account in the year 1526 , was its visitor , exhibits an interesting proof of the advancement of the Mahometan faith , and of the progress of imperfect civilization . A savage nakedness , or the rude covering which the skins of beasts afford , are now
relinquished for the decency and convenience of a dress of cotton manufacture . Tempered by the courtesy of commerce , and the conciliating interchange of important benefits , the ancient barbarism of the people is softened to habits of kindness ; and , in the minds of the greatest part , the absurd superstitious of Paganism have given place to the natural and sublime idea of the unity of God . "
A little further in the ninth chapter of the Koran I find the following passage : " If they turn , and make their prayers at the time appointed , if they pay tithes , they shall be your brethren in God . I teach the mysteries of faith to such as have understanding to comprehend them . " It appears to me , Sir , that if we had met with these identical words in a Visitation Sermon , they would not have appeared to contain auy thing out of the
common way . In drawing this comparison we are continually struck with the blindness of men to their ovvu faults , and their proportionate acuteness in discerning the fault ? of other * . In the same ninth chapter Mohammed says with truth respecting the Christiana of his time , ' * They adore their doctors and priests , and the Messiah also , the sou of Mary , who commanded them to worship one God alone . "
* Proceedings of the Association for Promoting the Discovery oi the Interim * of Africa , Vol . I . p , 1 U 7 .
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When he wrote this , he seems to have been unconscious , that he was countenancing the very same error with which he charges the Christians , by setting up himself a * an object of no less submission to his followers than the Pope and the
Christian priesthood were to their adherents . Ever since he published the Koran , mutual hatred , supported by mutual ignorance , has been cherished on both sides between Mohammedans and Christians , especially under the fostering care and godly instructions of the " doctors and priests" of the respective parties .
It in often argued , that the Mohammedans are not deserving of the name of Christians , because , although they acr knowledge the divine mission of Christ , they nevertheless consider Mohammed as superior to Christ . But , Sir , allow me to ask , Do not those who assume to themselves this honoured name to the
exclusiou of Mohammedans , almost universally look up to some human authority , to which they submit iu preference to that of Jesus ? In illustration of this fact , allow me to make mention of a picture which I saw a few years ago in Lombardy , which strikes every traveller as a fine specimen of the Venetian School , but which interested me more especially
as shewing the comparative deference paid by Roman Catholics to the authority of Christ , and to that of the great doctors of their church . It was painted by Paul Veronese on the wall of the refectory of the convent of Santa Maria del Moute , near Viceuza . By an anachronism comm <) n with the old masters , it represents Pope Gregory entertainiug our
Saviour at a grant ! dinner-party . The Pope , gorgeously arrayed , sits in the middle of the table ; Jesus , simply clad , at his ri ^ ht hand . The latter is represeuted as a very modest , intelligent , and interesting youug man , who is deeply impressed with a sense of the honour done him , and listens with great attention and de / erence to the conversation of
his noble , learned , and accomplished host . Gregory , on the other band , though perfectly conscious that he is the greater man of the two , seems much pleased with his humble but promising guest , and behaves towards him with dignity , with graceful ease , and , at the
same time , witn great condescension and kindness . This paiuting represents with great accuracy , as the artist iiir tended , the comparative degrees of admiration , deference , and submission , which Roman Catholics pay respectively to our Saviour and to the moat famous o ( their popes . Tliifl preference of nort
Miscellaneous Correspondence. 127
Miscellaneous Correspondence . 127
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1831, page 127, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2594/page/55/
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