Koran seems to be to unite the professors of the three different religions then followed in the populous country of Arabia, who, for the most part, lived promiscuously, and wandered without guides, the far greater number being idolaters, and the rest Jews and Christians mostly of erroneous and heterodox belief, in the worship of one eternal, invisible God.
In all religions, true or false, there is one reigning idea, the nucleus about which the different parts may crystallize, in regular logical process. In the Mohammedan scheme the dominant pretension is that of “replanting the only true and ancient religion professed by Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and all the prophets.” The supreme idea in the Mormon imposture seems to be the restoration of the Church to its ancient apostolic powers—the gift of faith, discerning of spirits, prophecy, revelation, visions, healings, tongues, interpretation of tongues—and the recovery of certain lost ordinances, such as the Priesthood with its sacrifices, and the laying on of hands with the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Arabian, like the American prophet, recognised the mission of Moses and of Christ, and compiled largely from the Christian and Jewish Scriptures in framing his own revelation. Moses need not leave his seat, nor Christ his throne, if only Mohammed be admitted to their company, and be crowned as the last of the prophets.
II. The second feature of resemblance between the two systems is, that Judaism is assumed as mainly the basis of both. Mohammed began his career with sentiments of high consideration for the Jews; though his disappointment in gaining them as proselytes, through the proverbial tenacity of their faith, eventually converted this regard into rancour. It is possible that the heart of the Ishmaelite may have softened towards the children of Abraham, as both recognised in their flesh the seal of an early brotherhood. The Jews too, whom the wild freedom of Arabia had nourished into consequence, were the great confessors of that sublime truth which now filled the reason and the fancy of the reformer. Judaism thus unquestionably furnished the ground-doctrine of the Koran, and gave to Islamism its rallying cry. Mohammed displayed great
