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long entertained , of the Arabian He * former , or , as I denominated him in my last letter , the Arabian Prophet , a term which , I conceive , implies a preacher of righteousness . I was prepared to enter the lists as the champion oi the character of Mohamed ,
and was arranging selectious from the Koran ; but G . Miggins , Esq ., has entered the field so well accoutred , that my ambition is gratified by appearing only in the capacity of his esquire , considering it far better to be second in a good than foremost in a bad cause .
That Mohamed was an extraordinary character , that the religion he inculcated suppressed many idolatrous opinions and practices , are facts unquestionable . Were any one to ask whether I consider him to have been inspired , I should decline an-8 we ring the question until I hear from some of your correspondents a sound definition of the term inspiration . Thus
far I readily admit , that when speaking of the tvise men and prophets whom God , in hi& Divine Providience * hath , at sundry times and in divers places , permitted to instruct mankind , 1 do not hesitate to include the man who was in his daily life a caaiel-driver , who became the reviver of the worship of (> ne God , and the promoter of righteousness amongst millions of the human race .
We kuow that every Moslem can bow or prostrate himself at the appointed hours for prayer , whether in solitude or in public , and I shall thank some of your correspondents for information relative to the stated religious services in the Mosques .- *—whether the public service is any where amongst the followers of Mohamed conducted iu an unintelligible language ; whether , as in the Greek
church in Russia , the prayers are in a tongue that the learned scarcely under * stand ; as amongst the Jews , souuds called Hebrew are heard which few of the syuagogue can literally translate ; as amongst the Roman Catholics , Latin supersedes the language of every country , without supposing it most acceptable to the Da vine Being ; whilst the multitude ace incompetent to decide whether
blesstugs or curses are uttered in the un ~ known tongue . I congratulate you , Mr . Editor , and your readers , o » the approximation of that period when abstruse distinctions , fanciful reveries , and illiberal dogmas , will , under the influence of the sun op
• Query . —Do not some of the ancient superstitious practices still form part of the ceremonials in some countries ?
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ttiQHTOousNjsss , pate a way U&e the dew of the morning ; when Idolater * , Jet * > Christians , and Moharnedans ^ will unani * mousiy acknowledge that God is Omb * and that to do Justly y love mete& % and walk humbly with God , are the principal
constituents oi true religion * Greeds formed by nqbody knows whom , and heterogeneous article * originally intended to promote harmony amongst persons of different opinions , will be dressed in the fan of candour , and the chaff be cast aside .
A CHRISTIAN MOSLEM . " The day , however , I trust , is not at a great distance , when every national church will open her eyes to reason , and perform every part of the divine office iu the language of her own country , unaccompanied with auy ceremony that has the least resemblance to farcical exhibition . " —Vide Geddes' Modest Apology , for the Roman Catholics *
The Church of Rome is said to have permitted the Poles to use the prayers translated into their own laugua&e .
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On Lay Preaching . To the Editor . Sir , It appears to me that the letter- of your correspondent , who subscribes himself " A Grateful Hearer , " is liable to several objections ; it does not take a
fair view of the question of which it professes to treat , and it proceeds on an inference , the legitimacy of which 1 confess myself quite unable to perceive on reperusing the * ' Observer ' s" letter , namely , that 4 i only those who teach , LEARN . "
The " Observer" says no such thing . It is only intimated that the conduct of public devotion and public- instruction , now committed to a single individual , might , by being distributed among several , be the means of diffusing a more general spirit of religion . The man who , as elder or deacon , had prepared his mind for assisting in the public offices of devotion-, would be mow likely to perform the saiae duties with interest and
effect in his own familyv Example would d&itbttesv operate here , as well an eUewfcere t and thu * I conceive , it would be that M worldly thoughts and worldly habits might receive a great check . " Freely granting , with your correspondent , that " ¦ to throw our pulpito , * pe n to all who may wish to enter , " would be to put us under great danger of ha » ving them filled by the presumptuous ,
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MUcellaneoui Correspondence . 419
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1830, page 419, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2585/page/59/
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