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sects into which the Christians of the east were then miserably divided, did engage against each other; he from thence concluded, that nothing would be more likely to gain a party firm to him, for the compassing of his ambitious ends, than the making of a new religion: and, for such a change, he judged his fellow-citizens might be well disposed, because their traffic and frequent converse with Christians, having much taken off their affection and zeal for that gross idolatry which they had hitherto been addicted to, they were at that timo from Heathenism generally falling into Zendicism, an error among the Arabs near of kin to the Sadducism of the Jews, as denying Providence, the Resurrection, aud a Future State; which being in fact to be without any religion at all, they were tho better fitted, while thus void of all other impressions of God, and his worship, to receive any he should impose upon them.
Therefore, betaking himself to frame such a religion as he thought might best go down with them, he drew up a scheme of that Imposture he afterwards deluded them with; which being a medley made up of Judaism, the several heresies of the Christians then in the east, and the old Pagan rites of the Arabs, with an indulgence to all sensual delights, it did too well answer his design in drawing men of all sorts to the embracing of it.
But that he might not immediately, from that idolatry which he had hitherto practised with the rest of his citizens, commence a preacher against it, and from his present course of life, which was very licentious and wicked, take upon him a character so unsuitable to it, as that of a prophet, without some previous change; in the 38th year of
