LIFE OF MOHAMMED. 211 



THE Apostle of God. On these two pillars, — the 

 one an eternal truth, the other an impious fiction, — 

 the Eastern imposture has rested with unshaken 

 stability for upwards of 1200 years. 



Having at length matured his plans, and acquired 

 a reputation for sanctity corresponding in some 

 measure with the high and venerable office he was 

 about to assume, he now resolved to make his pre- 

 tensions to revelation no longer a secret. His 

 fortieth year was the period chosen for announcing 

 his mission to the world. He had retired, according 

 to custom, to the grotto of Mount Hara, accompanied 

 with some of his domestics. It was on the 25th of 

 the month Ramadan, — the night styled in the Koran 

 Al Kadr, or the Divine Decree, — that he received 

 his instalment into the apostolic office in " a true 

 and nocturnal vision." Tlie archangel Gabriel, his 

 confidant and oracle in all his celestial communi- 

 cations, descended in a brilliant form. He held in 

 his hand a book brouglit from the seventh heaven. 

 " Read !" exclaimed the angel. " I cannot," replied 

 his awe-struck pupil. " Read," added the other, " in 

 the name of God, the Creator, who hath formed 

 man, and taught him the use of the pen, and lighted 

 up his soul with a ray of knowledge !" The Prophet 

 obeyed ; and a voice immediately pronounced these 

 words : — " O Mohammed ! thou art the apostle of 

 God, and I am Gabriel." This joyful inauguration 

 into his ministry was received in silent wonder ; the 

 angel, having performed his part, ascended slowly 

 and majestically until he disappeared in the clouds. 



The conductor of the Israelites had produced the 

 Pentateuch, and the Redeemer of mankind had 

 taught the gospel. This " last of the prophets," too, 

 must have his book ; and now, for the first time, the 

 Koran descends to earth. It was one of the most 

 skilful of his artifices, and to which he mainly owed 

 his success, — that instead of communicating this 

 celestial volume entire, as the archangel brought it. 



