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 upon the subject by scholars, tends to shew the arrogance and futility of Mohammed's pretensions.

The genuine and authentic Scriptures, which are termed canonical, possess more real beauties than can be found in the most esteemed writings of antiquity or modern times; and this not from any affectation of fine composition or attention to the rules of art, but naturally and spontaneously arising from the subject-matter of those divinely inspired Records: the matter of inspiration stamps a character on the language or vehicle of thought, which is uniformly simple and appropriate, and often rises to sublimity. The style, however, is not artificially laboured for the subject, and designed to produce effect, but the sentiments form the style and constitute its leading excellence.

Long before Longinus had critically de-