Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1823-09-24
MAHoMET.

MAHOMET.
The following brief notice of the life
and conduct of this great impostor. is
taken from scarce book, attributed to
the Able de Boufers, the first edition
of which was published at Amsterdam,
in 1861. 1t is intended by him TO ex-
hibit the passion of ambition, united with
a heart that has no feelings of venera-
ton for truths of the most sacred kind;
and, in order TO attain the pinnacle
of its wishes, will countenance false
representation of religion even 10 the
dying hour. The narration is as fol-
lows -
" Mahomet was the son of a Pagan
and Jewess, both of whom had sprung
from the very dregs of the people;
their poverty prevented them supplying
him with an education. His childhood
was consequently neglected, and the
only things he in all probability acquir-
ed, (the fruits Of wreichednessJ were
abstemiousness, and vigor of body. The
daily wants 10 which the poor are sub
ject, ordinarily, leave but little time for
reflection; consequently, there is not
much food for passions : notwithstanding
every thing 10 active minds serves as
stimulus 10 infame the feelings. A for
tunate circumstance placed Mahomet in
rich Arabian merchants house, and he
dying, Mahomet married bis widow. By
this marriage he suddenly became pos
SCISSOR Of immense wealth, which his
master had left.
"The seeds of ambition with which
he had been born, sprang up in his
heart on obtaining this unexpected for
tune. Al first he only proposed to ag-
grandize himself; but the spirit of con-
quest having seized him, he was chiefly
anxious to fulfil this desire however.
they both seemed to be worthy his pur-
suit, and he studied every way to ac-
complish his ends.-Treason, perfdy.
murders, sacrilege, aud robbery Of every
description, excited in him no remorse.
He viewed them only as greedy con-
queror. He trampled upon justice and
humanity, regarding them only as the
offspring Of weak and timid minds, which
not being capable of great or elevated
undertaking, are sensible to pity only,
because they feel how they themselves
need support. He put himself at the
head Of band Of robbers, by whose aid
he ravaged Arabia: the expectation OF
booty increased his banditti, and daily
his dominion enlarged; bis success
spread terror around, and very soon he
became master of an immense extent of
country. But arms alone were not suC-
ficient for the preservation Of his power.
over people whom he had subdued
through fear. He felt the necessity of
adding imposture TO tyranny, in order to
strengthen his empire, and he suggested
a system Of religion that assured to him
the blind obedience oft people whom
he had conquered. The few principles
he had imbibed when under the infu-
ence of his parents, ought to have raised
some remorse when he was centem-
plating the impious part he was about TO
play; but when ambition is carried to
its highest pitch, every object is sscn-
feed to this unbridled passion, and even
the most sacred things are abused, when
lit is believed they may prove instru-
mental to aggrandizement To accom-
! plish his purpose, he employed an he .
retical Jacobite--a true HISTORIAN
Monk, and Jew, to assist him in writing
his Koran most extraordinary COM
position, full Of sublime ideas, mixed
together without order or method. By
this disorder and irregularity, he Aatter.
ed himself the divinity of his mission
would be established. The. prophetic
enthusiasm--the obscurity Of his writ
ings-their want Of connection--the
miracles with which this extraordinary
compilation abounds, produced astonis6.
ment in the vulgar, and contributed 10
excite belief ifSthe imposition, and pre.
seutly 10 firm reliance that The impos.
tor himself was prophet sent from the
Most High to declare to man the true