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THE MOHAMMEDAN CONTROVERSY
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of the true light. How delusive, therefore, are such anticipations as these of
Mr. Forster:—
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"Since we find among the followers of Mohammed, such favourable
prepossessions, and established doctrines, As WILL RENDER EASY THE
APPROACH TO THEIR CONVERSION, neither force of obligation, NOR PROSPECT of
SUCCESS,1 is wanting to encourage our progress, and animate our
zeal": and again, he affirms, that the two religions "hold so many
great fundamentals in common, that they contain a natural and necessary
tendency to convergence; —the imperfect scheme, when its providential
work shall have been accomplished, becoming absorbed in the perfect, and the
moon of Mohammed resigning its borrowed rays, to melt in the undivided light
of the everlasting Gospel."
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It is certainly a novel idea to
speak of Mohammed or his Coran under the simile of the moon; his own people2
style him the sun, and our Saviour the moon, and they would laugh to scorn any
mention of their Prophet's "borrowed light" melting into that of the
Gospel.
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These are melancholy reflections. Have we, then, no more encouraging thoughts
with which to conclude this article? Have all our efforts been thrown away,
and our cause nowise advanced? God forbid! for, amid discouragement, we can
discern pleasing tokens of progress. And first, our friends, it is evident,
are closely and carefully examining the Scriptures; the simple fact,
therefore, of the perusal of the Word of God is a step gained, and one which
will, we yet may hope, lead to favourable results. Again, as the controversy
advances, and books on the subject are spread abroad, the mistaken views
hitherto entertained of our leading doctrines, will be removed, and scriptural
knowledge substituted in their stead. This should sweep away many of the
strongholds built on erroneous notions of Christianity;—and then rejection
of our faith will be in the face of the clearest light. We trust, too, that
Christian character is now more generally exhibited to the view of our
adversaries; and its excellencies and graces cannot fail (if we are but true
to our profession) to aid their conviction of the truth of our religion. And,
lastly, we look with anxious hope, to the influence of the native Christians
from amongst our Orphan
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