had, when he began to make his pretended mis. sion public. He was now forty-four years old.

Elizabeth. Why, mother, I always thought the religion of Mohammed spread faster than the religion of Christ. But Christ preached only three years in all; and when he was crucified, he had more than five hundred followers.*

Mother. While Mohammed depended only upon the value of his system to recommend it, his progress was very slow; for there is no moral power in error. Christ and his apostles depended alone upon the moral force of the truth, accompanied by the Holy Spirit. No other system ever made its way so rapidly, without the aid of force. Mohammed must have felt the want of moral power in his religion, while he was trying to spread it by preaching and persuasion; for as soon as he had, by great zeal and perseverance, made a few converts, we find him taking up arms, to compel the people to embrace it.

It is very remarkable that Mohammed retired to the cave of Hera, to contrive his imposture, just about the time that Boniface, bishop of Rome, was declared Universal Bishop of the church, by the tyrant Phocas.† The bishop of

*I Cor. 15: 6.

† See Great Apostasy, p. 77.

Rome did not obtain any civil power till some time after this; neither did Mohammed. But both these anti-Christian powers rose up about the same time.

QUESTIONS.

What

What

From whom are the Arabs descended? Can you mention any proofs of this? When and where was Mohammed born? How have the Arabs always been divided? How have they lived? From what tribe was Mohammed descended? Can you give an account of his early life? How old was he when he married Cadijah? How old was she? Was it proper for him to marry, one so much older than himself? Why? How long did they live together, and how many children had they? was the ruling motive of Mohammed's conduct? is the governing motive of all unconverted persons? What prevents some persons from being as wicked as others? What objects should we have in view while studying history? What effect had Mohammed's marriage upon his condition in life? What did he do between this time and his fortieth year? How did Mohammed first begin to make known the principles of his new religion? Who were his first converts? How long did it take him to make nine converts? How ma ny followers had Christ after preaching three years? Why was Christ's ministry so much the more powerful? What other remarkable anti-Christian powers rose up at the same time with Mohammedanism?

CONVERSATION IV.

Mohammed makes known his mission,-He is treated with contempt by his relations,-His doctrines,-the Koran,-He is reviled by the people of Mecca.

Caroline. Mother, will you please to tell us more about Mohammed?

Mother. Yes, my dear; I am glad that you are interested with the story. After he had labored four years in private, to make nine converts, he declared that the Lord had commanded him to make his message publicly known. He therefore told Ali to make a great feast, and invite the descendants of his grandfather, Abdol Motalleb. At this feast, he intended to make known to them his apostolic commission. But Abu Taleb caused some disturbance, and the company broke up before he had an opportunity of doing so. The next day, Mohammed invited them to his own house, and about forty came. When they were all assembled, Mohammed addressed them, and said: "I know of no man in

the whole country of the Arabs, who can propose any thing more excellent to his neighbors than what I now do to you: I offer you happiness both in this life and in that which is to come. God Almighty hath commanded me to call you unto him. Who, therefore, among you, will be my Vizier, and will become my brother and Vicegerent?"

Caroline. What do Vizier and Vicegerent mean, mother?

Mother. Vizier means Assistant,- Vicegerent means one that is entrusted with the power of another.

Samuel. I should think his relations would have been very much surprised to hear him talk so.

Mother. They were struck with astonishment, and for some time remained silent. At length, Ali broke out in a most extravagant strain: "I, O prophet of God, will be thy Vi zier I myself will break out the teeth, pull out the eyes, rip open the bellies, and cut off the legs, of all those who shall dare oppose thee." Elizabeth. Why, mother, did Mohammed like what the young man said? Did he approve

such a spirit? How different is this from the Gospel of the blessed Jesus, which was first introduced by a declaration of peace and good will to all men.

Mother. A very different spirit, indeed; yet Mohammed was overjoyed with the resolution. of his young disciple; for he caught him in his arms and exclaimed, "This is my brother, my deputy, my successor; show yourselves obedient to him."

Samuel. Did his relations submit peaceably to him, mother? I should think they would have been offended at such a haughty command.

Mother. It appeared so ridiculous to them, that the whole company burst into a loud laugh, telling Abu Taleb, Ali's father, that he must now obey his own son. But, when they saw that Mohammed was in earnest, they were filled with indignation; and after much contention, the assembly broke up in confusion.

Elizabeth. I should suppose he would have been discouraged at meeting with so little success among his relations.

Mother. No, my dear; he was so far from being discouraged, that he now began to preach