(xiii) 23; Suratu'sh-Shu'ara (xxvi) 56; Suratu'l-Mu'min (xl) 8; Suratu'z-Zukhruf (xliii) 70] . It is true, we must be careful not to infer too much from this latter concession; for in spite of it the Qur'an remains far from admitting that their assumed inferiority to men will disappear even there. On the contrary, it promises rewards and enjoyments to the male sex [see, e.g. Suratu'l-Waqi'a (lvi) 23-4; Suratu'r-Rahman (lv) 56, 70-8], for which women will search in vain in the same book with regard to their own sex.

After all this, we can hardly wonder that men should be admirers of a religion which gives them so great a superiority over the other sex, extending even to the future world; but if women could be found who were Muslims by choice, and not from the mere force of circumstances, this would be strange indeed, and could only be accounted for on the ground that their want of education must prevent them from duly reflecting upon, and fully realizing, the degradation to which they are reduced by Islam, both in the life which now is, and in that which is to come.

CONCLUSION

We have now done with our subject, so far as it was intended to be discussed on the present occasion. Adopting the statements of both Muhammadan and Christian theologians that God did not reveal His true and. saving religion at once, but gradually and

at long intervals of time, we applied this principle to the three widely-spread monotheistic religions — Judaism, Christianity and Muhammadanism.¹ The professed believers of these three religions all agree in this, that Judaism, or the religion communicated to Moses, and other Israelitish prophets after him, was revealed by God, and consequently was a true religion. Hence it was not thought necessary to adduce proofs in support of the true religion in its Jewish or Israelitish form. But after God had ceased for several hundred years to send prophets to the Jews, a new religion sprung up in Judea, claiming to be the higher development or fulfilment of Judaism, or the true religion in its highest form, and in the absolute sense. That this new religion, i.e. Christianity, was likewise a genuine revelation from God, and ranked higher than Judaism, upon this both Muhammadans and Christians also essentially agree, while the Jews deny it. On this latter account we found it necessary to show what strong reasons the Muhammadans and Christians have for believing that Christianity is a higher stage of the true religion than Judaism. It was not our object to enlarge on that head, in order not to exceed the limits of this present pamphlet. Accordingly we only referred, first, to the wonderful intrinsic life and victorious