Page:History of Mahomet, the great imposter.pdf/9

 age he began to take upon him the stylostyle [sic] of thothe [sic] Apostle of GOD, and under that character to propagate the imposture which he had been so long in projecting. But for four years, he did it only in private, among such as he had most confidence in, clancularly insinuating his delusions into them.

His first proselyte, as has been said, was Cadigha his wife; his second was Zayd Ebn Hareth, his servant; and the third his cousin Ali, the son of Abu Taleb, his uncle, who, from hence, was used to style himself the first of believers, not reckoning on the other two. He tempted his servant Zayd, by promising him his freedom; and accordingly, on his receiving his religion, he manumised him. And from hence it hath become a law among the Mahometans ever since, to make their slaves free, whenever they turn to their religion.

It is to be observed, that Mahomet began this imposture about the same time that the Bishop of Rome, by virtue of a grant from the wicked tyrant Phocas, first assumed the title of Universal Pastor, and thereon claimed to himself that supremacy which he hath been ever since endeavouring to usurp over the church of Christ. And, from this time, both having conspired to found themselves an empire in imposture, their followers have been ever since endeavouring by the same methods, that is, those of fire and sword, to propagate it among mankind; so that Antichrist seems at this time to have set both his feet upon Christendom together, the one in the East, and the other in the West; and how much each hath trampled upon the church of Christ, the ages ever since succeeding havohave [sic] abundantly experienced.

fourth disciple was Abu Beker, who being one of the richest men of Mecca, and a person