Page:The Mohammedan system of theology (IA mohammedansyste00neal).pdf/24

xviii the doctrine itself rests on other grounds, and will maintain its title to veneration and respect, until something more than mere assertion or calumny shall be brought to bear against its credibility.

This compendious survey will satisfy the reader of the futility of the pretensions of Islamism, and excite to closer and more elaborate investigation of that matchless chain of evidence (to say nothing at present of the doctrines) by which Christianity is pre-eminently distinguished! As to minor matters, the orthography of Sale's Koran has been followed, except in quotations; and in regard to a few terms of frequent occurrence, the words Scriptures and Scripture, denote the books received by the Jews and Christians as the rule of faith: the Pentateuch means the five books of Moses, viz. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, from