PREFACE. HAD it not been for the recent outbursts of Moslem fanaticism, it would almost have been forgotten, that Islamism maintains an unequivocally hostile relation to Christianity. We should doubtless have continued to flatter ourselves with having done our duty towards its followers, in praying once a year that God might "have mercy upon all... Turks,... and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of His Word." But, if the calculation of the learned French infidel Bayle be correct, that were the globe divided into thirty equal portions, nineteen of them would fall to the dominion of Paganism, six to Islamism, and five only to Christianity,-we must acknowledge that something more is to be done, and if so, the object of this work can scarcely be deemed futile or chimerical. It is not only since the Mohammedans have so painfully protruded themselves upon the attention of Europe, but many years ago, that the author first commenced gathering information upon the subject of this volume, and that, during a sojourn in Egypt, Arabia, Palestine, East Africa, Abyssinia, and more especially in India. The work is now published with a view to cherish, if possible, the missionary spirit which has been called forth by recent events; and to place some of the leading truths of Christianity antithetically to the falsities and perversions of the Koran, so as to render the comparison available for actual missionary operations among the numerous posterity of Ishmael. May God, in His infinite mercy, "stir up," by this, or any other means, "the spirit of the remnant of His people," that they may no longer neglect to do this "work in the house of the Lord of Hosts." February 10, 1859. J. M. A. |