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THE MOHAMMEDAN CONTROVERSY
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their country, so far from endeavouring to impart to its inhabitants the
benefits of their religion, too often banished it from their own minds, and
exhibited to heathens and Mohammedans the sad spectacle of men without a faith.
Were they then neutral and inactive in the contest? Alas, no! for their lives
too often presented a practical and powerful, a constant and a living, argument
against the truth of our holy faith. The great controversy was thus silently
advancing in favour of the Mohammedan, whose views, arguments and faith, were
receiving so convincing a corroboration from the conduct and manners of their
apparently infidel conquerors.
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But the nineteenth century dawned with brighter prospects; and, as it advanced,
the dark incubus of idolatry, superstition and bigotry began gradually to
receive the light and teaching of the Gospel. Buchanan and Martyn, Brown and
Thomason, are among the harbingers of this better era, in which Britain started
from her lethargy; and, as if she had been treasuring up strength during her
long inaction, came forth as a giant to the encounter. Her missionaries, with
the venerable Carey at their head, led the van in a strong array; many of her
exiled sons began to perceive their responsibility for India's regeneration, and
their number has since steadily, increased. England now pours forth her gold in
the merciful and blessed work of enlightening the people; while a material
portion of her people in India has assumed a new aspect, and acknowledges by its
deeds that its highest object is the enlightenment of India. How, then, has the
great argument between the Christian and the Moslem fared in this altered
position: has it advanced as rapidly in the direction of truth as we might have
anticipated: what has been effected since the tone of society has thus improved?
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In endeavouring to answer this question, we propose to examine several works
which have lately appeared and given rise to some important discussions,
-indicating remarkable signs of the times, if they do not indeed constitute a
new epoch in the controversy. To give, however, as complete a view of the state
of the argument as possible, we notice first a previous treatise of great merit
and interest, which was published twenty-one years ago by
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