CONVERSATION IV.

Mohammed makes known his mission,-He is treated with contempt by his relations,-His doctrines,-the Koran,-He is reviled by the people of Mecca.

Caroline. Mother, will you please to tell us more about Mohammed?

Mother. Yes, my dear; I am glad that you are interested with the story. After he had labored four years in private, to make nine converts, he declared that the Lord had commanded him to make his message publicly known. He therefore told Ali to make a great feast, and invite the descendents of his grandfather, Abdol Motalleb. At this feast, he intended to make known to them his apostolic commission. But Abu Taleb caused some disturbance, and the company broke up before he had an opportunity of doing so. The next day, Mohammed invited them to his own house, and about forty came. When they were all assembled, Mohammed ad

dressed them, and said: "I know of no man in the whole country of the Arabs, who can propose any thing more excellent to his neighbors than what I now do to you: I offer you happiness both in this life and in that which is to come. God Almighty hath commanded me to call you unto him. Who, therefore, among you, will be my Vizier, and will become my brother and Vicegerent?

Caroline. What do Vizier and Vicegerent mean, mother?

Mother. Vizier means Assistant,- Vicegerent means one that is entrusted with the power of another.

Samuel. I should think his relations would have been very much surprised to hear him talk so.

Mother. They were struck with astonishment, and for some time remained silent. At length, Ali broke out in a most extravagant strain: "I, O prophet of God, will be thy Vizier: I myself will break out the teeth, pull out the eyes, rip open the bellies, and cut off the legs, of all those who shall dare oppose thee."

Elizabeth. Why, mother, did Mohammed like what the young man said? Did he approve

such a spirit? How different is this from the Gospel of the blessed Jesus, which was first introduced by a declaration of peace and good will to all men.

Mother. A very different spirit, indeed; yet Mohammed was overjoyed with the resolution of his young disciple; for he caught him in his arms and exclaimed, "This is my brother, my deputy, my successor; show yourselves obedient to him."

Samuel. Did his relations submit peaceably to him, mother? I should think they would have been offended at such a haughty command.

Mother. It appeared so ridiculous to them, that the whole company burst into a loud laugh, telling Abu Taleb, Ali's father, that he must now obey his own son. But, when they saw that Mohammed was in earnest, they were filled with indignation; and after much contention, the assembly broke up in confusion.

Elizabeth. I should suppose he would have been discouraged at meeting with so little success among his relations.

Mother.

No, my dear; he was so far from being discouraged, that he now began to preach openly to the people of Mecca. He told them

that God had sent him to be his prophet on earth; to declare that there is but one God; to denounce the worship of idols; to bring the people back to the true and only religion; to promise paradise to such as should believe in him; and to threaten those who would not believe in him with the terrible vengeance of God. Samuel. What doctrines did he preach, mother?

Mother. His two leading doctrines are, 1. That there is but one God, who exists in but one person; and who made all things of nothing; that he alone is to be worshiped, and that all idolatry is a foul abomination; 2. that Mohammed is the prophet of God. He taught that God had revealed himself in former times to Moses, the prophets, and Jesus; but that at last he sent Mohammed with the Koran, to abolish all the laws taught by them, and guide all nations to a state of firm and lasting happiness. Samuel. Did he preach no other doctrines, mother?

Mother. Yes; his followers believe that there are two recording angels in heaven, one standing on the right hand of God, and the other on the left, who keep an account of all the actions

of men, both good and bad; that after people die, two angels will ask them who was their Lord and prophet; those who shall be able to answer that God was their only Lord, and Mohammed their prophet, they say shall find a great light in their graves, and shall rest in glory; but those who cannot so answer these questions, shall be kept in darkness till the day of judgment. They hold that, at the end of the world, after the last trumpet shall have sounded, all things will turn to nothing again, and God only shall remain in existence; but afterwards all creatures will be raised again to life, and gathered together for judgment. At that day, they believe God, accompanied by Mohammed, will judge all mankind; and that Mohammed, will intercede for his followers. All the works of men, say they, will be weighed in scales, the good against the bad. Those whose good works outweigh their bad, shall enter immediately into Paradise. Those whose bad actions outweigh their good, shall be cast into hell. Those whose good and bad deeds are equal, shall remain in the middle, between Paradise and hell, without either enjoying happiness or enduring misery; but all of them who are Mohammedans shall be