the spurious analogy, between the pseudo-bible of Mahometanism, and our sacred books, may, in the next place, therefore, be illustrated by a selection of coincidences of this description: which shall be presented side by side with the parallel passages of Scripture. BIBLE. Take heed that ye do not alms before men, to be But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth; that thine alms may be in secret and thy Father, which seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly. § KORAN.* Make not your alms of none effect, by reproaching, or mischief; as he who layeth out what he hath, to appear unto men to give alms. Vol. i. chap. ii. p. 50. † If ye make your alms to appear, it is well; but if ye conceal them, and give them unto the poor, this will be better for you, ‡ and will atone for your sins: and God is well informed of that which ye do. Ib. p. 51. Sale's translation. The passages which follow might have been easily arranged under heads: but it has been judged more simple and satisfactory, to take them nearly in the order in which they occur in the Koran. 66 + They who lay out their substance for the religion of God, and afterwards follow not what they have so laid out by reproaches or mischief, they shall have their reward with their Lord." Koran, ib. The more strongly marked plagiarisms may be sometimes completed from the context of the Koran: such passages shall be occasionally added at the foot of the page. How marked the contrast, in this imitation, between the uncompromising spirit of the Gospel, and the accommodating facility of the Koran. Our Lord enjoins secrecy in well-doing: Mahomet leaves the choice of concealment, or publicity. "They who distribute alms of their substance, night and day, in private and in public, shall have their reward with their Lord." Koran, ch. ii. p. 51. For the Lord giveth wisdom. God giveth wisdom unto Prov. ii. 6. Whoso is wise, will ponder these things. Ps.cvii. 43. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence. But ye are a chosen ge whom he pleaseth: But none will consider, except the wise in heart. Ib. God is the patron of those But as to those who believe * Another passage, p. 52. of this context, plainly seems taken from our Lord's parable, St. Luke, xviii. 23-35. "If there be any debtor under a difficulty of paying his debt, let his creditor wait, till it be easy for him to do it but if ye remit it as alms, it will be better for you, if ye knew it. And fear the day wherein ye shall return unto God: then shall every soul be paid what it hath gained." Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by him. Acts, iii. 22. Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. (Heb. iii. 1.) And the Word was made flesh. (St. John, i. 14.) I proceeded forth and came. from God. (Ib. viii. 42.) Christ took upon him the form of a servant. (Philipp. ii. 7.) I * i. e. Idols, or demons. Verily, Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, is the Apostle of God; and his Word which he conveyed into Mary; and a spirit proceeding from him. Christ doth not proudly disdain to be a servant unto God. Ch. iv. p. 126. ‡ + The reader will not fail to remark, that, with one exception, the above coincidences occur in the same chapter of the Koran; and within the space of three or four page. This passage of the Koran is compiled quite in the spirit of modern Unitarianism. Like his heretical successors, those very passages of Scripture which most strongly affirm the divinity of Christ, the Arabian impostor perverts into denials of that divinity. The first chapter of Saint John, and the second of Philippians, adduced to prove that Christ is not God! It should not be lost sight of whence the Unitarians of later times have stolen their boasted denomination: "The Unitarians," was, in every age, the favourite title of the Moslems. Saladin. p. 104. See Bohadin. Vit. BIBLE. Jesus said unto them, The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up. St. Luke, vii. 22. Who can forgive sins but God alone? Ib. v. 21. Godliness is profitable unto all things: KORAN. He [Jesus] shall say - I will heal him that hath been blind from his birth; and the leper; and I will raise the dead. * Who forgiveth sins except Having promise of the life And a glorious reward in that now is, And of that which is to come. 1 Tim. iv. 8. I the Lord search the heart; the life to come: For God loveth the well doers. Ib. p. 81. And this came to pass: was in your breasts; And might discern what was in your hearts. Ib. p.83. Be not afraid of them that Be ye not afraid of them; kill the body; But fear Him, which hath power to cast into hell. St. Luke, xii. 4, 5. He that receiveth me, receiveth Him that sent me. St. Matt. x. 40. Such were some of you: but ye are sanctified by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. vi. 11. These sinners against their own souls. Num. xvi. 38. But fear me, if ye be true believers. Ib. p. 87. Whoever obeyeth the apostle, Whoso committeth wicked- * These scriptural signs are adulterated in the Koran, by the ridiculous legend of the creation of a bird from clay. "For God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Cor. ix. 7. BIBLE. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance. Heb. vi. 4-6. Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our Father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. St. Matth. iii. 9. But woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men. Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation, St. Matth. xxiii. 13, 14. * It is the Jews who are spoken of in the above contexts; and it is very remarkable, with how much precision the denunciations of Scripture are applied to them. Among other accusations here preferred against them, it is said, "They have made void their covenant; and have not believed in the signs of God; and have slain the prophets unjustly; and have said, our hearts are uncircumcised," &c. p. 123, 124. Allusions applied so correctly and in point, as to make it almost clear that they were taken immediately from Scripture. |