us an instructive lesson on the instability of human affairs; and it is with religious the same as civil privileges: if not suitably improved, they may be judicially withdrawn. Where are the once flourishing Churches of Africa, rendered famous by the labours of Origen? and what is now the state of the Eastern hemisphere, once so highly celebrated? These considerations may well excite us to watchfulness and diligent scrutiny of our principles and practices: we should note the causes which contributed to the downfall of others, that we may be better prepared to encounter and happily overcome the difficulties to which, under some form or other, all are alike exposed.
Mohammed, who was the principal actor in effecting this stupendous mental and political revolution, was born at Mecca, in Arabia Petræa, A.D. 569[1], his father's
- ↑ Gibbon.
