TO MAHOMED ANISM. 145 



tions of superstitious religion have only disgusted or 

 amused. Such princes converted to a rational 

 belief, have but to promulgate their adhesion to be 

 followed by the whole of their courtiers, who again 

 impose it upon their dependants, from whom the 

 process passes on to their slaves, and one universal 

 obsequiousness characterizes the conversion of people 

 so situated. 



This was the principle that led whole states of 

 Europe, in the earlier feudal ages, to be baptized 

 together, and which, at the present time, is the 

 chief cause of the fast progress of Mahomedanism 

 in Africa. Princes of extraordinary powers of 

 intellect are first converted, who, in the simpb 

 unembodied unity of the Deity perceive no 

 absurdity, nor yet dare to deny. Atheism is a sin 

 peculiarly of civilization, for the nearer man 

 approaches barbarism the more predisposed he 

 becomes to a belief in a Providence; and this, in 

 fact, distinguishes him, in his most abject state, from 

 the beasts of the field who defile the inanimate idols 

 he in his ignorance bows down to and worships. 

 The Christianity of Abyssinia is a religion spoiled 

 by human intervention ; it appears to be a faith too 

 pure for the nature of the inhabitants, and they 

 have accordingly disfigured it to reduce it to their 

 condition. Abyssinians have, by their abuse of the 

 revered name of the Redeemer of mankind, brought 

 his religion into contempt ; whilst the professors of 

 Islamism respect Jesus as a prophet, and profess to 



