ult. According to the text of the Gospel the Pharisees
said, "Is not this the son of Joseph of Nazareth Whom we know? How can He
say, therefore, I came down from heaven?"(6)

Briefly, this Man, Who, apparently, and in the eyes of all, was lowly,
arose with such great power that He abolished a religion that had lasted
fifteen hundred years, at a time when the slightest deviation from it
exposed the offender to danger or to death. Moreover, in the days of
Christ the morals of the whole world and the condition of the Israelites
had become completely confused and corrupted, and Israel had fallen into a
state of the utmost degradation, misery and bondage. At one time they had
been taken captive by the Chaldeans and Persians; at another time they
were reduced to slavery to the Assyrians; then they became the subjects
and vassals of the Greeks; and finally they were ruled over and despised
by the Romans.

This young Man, Christ, by the help of a supernatural power, abrogated the
ancient Mosaic Law, reformed the general morals, and once again laid the
foundation of eternal glory for the Israelites. Moreover, He brought to
humanity the glad tidings of universal peace, and spread abroad teachings
which were not for Israel alone but were for the general happiness of the
whole human race.

Those who first strove to do away with Him were the Israelites, His own
kindred. To all outward appearances they overcame Him and brought Him into
direst distress. At last they crowned Him with the crown of thorns and
crucified Him. But Christ, while apparently in the deepest misery and
affliction, proclaimed, "This Sun will be resplendent, this Light will
shine, My grace will surround the world, and all My enemies will be
brought low." And as He said, so it was; for all the kings of the earth
have not been able to withstand Him. Nay, all their standards have been
overthrown, while the banner of that Oppressed One has been raised to the
zenith.

But this is opposed to all the rules of human reason. Then it becomes
clear and evident that this Glorious Being was a true Educator of the
world of humanity, and that He was helped and confirmed by divine power.

7: MUHAMMAD

Now we come to Muhammad. Americans and Europeans have heard a number of
stories about the Prophet which they have thought to be true, although the
narrators were either ignorant or antagonistic: most of them were clergy;
others were ignorant Muslims who repeated unfoun