Page:The Mohammedan system of theology (IA mohammedansyste00neal).pdf/180

 to the same source, Ali for instanee, or Ayesha, or Hasan or Hosein, who delivered the account orally to some one, who delivered to another in the same way; and so on; after many generations, the account is committed to writing by Kuleini or Bochari or some other respectable collector of the traditions. These then are copied by a number of compilers who follow, and then the number calculated to produce assurance is cited as worthy of all credit."

What a contrast to all this sophistry and fraud, either at depreciating the value of miracles or investing their prophet with an idle, unsupported title, is presented in the conduct of Jesus Christ, and the stupendous miracles effected by him, which were recorded at or near the time by the Evangelists, with every requisite to recommend them, and which have been acknowledged by enemies as well as friends, such as Celsus, Porphyry, Tacitus,