Page:The Mohammedan system of theology (IA mohammedansyste00neal).pdf/198

 discussion may do much to illustrate the mystery, but no good will ever occur by giving up the outworks of our faith in accommodation to the foolish and mistaken prejudices of others. Sale, in his preface, recommends a rule in regard to the Mohammedans which Bishop Kidder prescribes for the conversion of the Jews, viz. not to quit any article of the Christian faith to gain the Mohammedans. He designates it "as a fond conceit of the Socinians to expect to gain them over on their principles; the Church of Rome must part with many practices and some doctrines; we are not so much to win them over to a system of dogmas as to the ancient and primitive faith." But difficulties attach not only to Christianity; notwithstanding all the boasts of Unity, even that is violated by some of the Musulmans considering the Koran as uncreate, and the charge of holding two Gods may as justly be retorted