[18] Confessions, 1. VII. c. ix. v. 28. [↑]
[19] See the discourse of Aristophanes, in the “Banquet of Plato.” [↑]
[20] [Luke’s Gospel, chap. xvi. v. 24]. [↑]
[21] “The City of God,” book I. chap. xiv. [↑]
[22] Orig. adv. Cels. 1. VIII. chap. iv. Compare with, [Matthew, chap. xix. v. 24]. [↑]
[23] Op. adv. Jorin. 1. II. chap. viii.—“In indication of their refusal to take an oath, the Society of Friends quote the words of Christ, “Swear not at all;” unaware, or overlooking, that this expression is descriptive of a state of social perfection, when the word of a man will be as good as his oath. Many others of Christ’s precepts besides this are unobserved by Christians, such as ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth,’ ‘Give to every one that asketh, and from him that would borrow of you turn not thou away.’ The morality of Christ is a beau ideal so far from being realized, that there is not even a similitude of it in the Christian world. The Quakers who vauntingly obey this precept regarding oaths, has no hesitation in breaking the other precepts respecting the hoarding of money, and refusing to give it away.”—Translator’s Note. [↑]
[25] “I can believe,” observes the Count de Boulainvilliers, “that Mahomet was ignorant of the common elements of education. But assuredly he was not ignorant in respect to that vast knowledge which a far travelled man of great natural powers may acquire. He was not ignorant of his native tongue, although he could not read it, being master of all its subtleness and all its beauties. He was thoroughly qualified to render hateful whatever was truly blameworthy, and to paint truth in colours so simple and vivid, that it was impossible to misunderstand it. All that he has said is true, as regards the essential dogmas of Religion; but he has not said all that is true, and in this respect alone does our religion differ from his.” Farther on he adds, that “Mahomet was neither ignorant nor a barbarian; he conducted his enterprise with all the skill, delicacy, perseverance, and intrepidity, which was necessary to ensure its success. His views were as lofty as any which Alexander the Great, or Julius Cæsar, were capable of entertaining, had they been in his position.”—Life of Mahomet by Count de Boulainvilliers, book II. pp. 266–8. Amsterdam edit. 1731. [↑]