A Review.

Such a person has arisen in the person of Mr . John Joseph Lake , who has just presentee ! us with the result of his labours in a highly condensed , and yet preeminently pleasant and readable form , entitled "Islam : its Origin , Genius , and Mission . " Our author , beginning by explaining the meaning of the terms "Islam" and " Moslem , " as " saved or reconciled" and " resigned to God , " gives us at once a

clue to Avhat so many have often Avondered at , namely , the engrafting upon the lost determined bravery of the most stolid indifference to consequences . Fiercely the Moslem fights , but a HOAV pierces his defence . " Kismet ! " he exclaims— " it is fate "—and resigns himself to his lot AAithoiit a murmur ; his very name is an index of his character . "Mahometan , " "Mohammedan , " Mr . Lake says , and all such terms are much disliked and deprecated , being only applied to the Moslems

—Avho render no worship to their Prophet ;—by outsiders . The origin of Islam , Mr . Lake contends to be the rei'idsion of feeling produced in the mind of Mohammed by the superstitions and abuses engrafted upon religion by SeA'enth-Council Christianity . Idolatry and Paganism , AA'ith all their concomitant abuses , he contends , Avere as rife amongst so-called Christians in " the Prophet's " days and country as eA'er they Avere amongst the most essentially heathen nations

in the times of their grossest abominations . Against all these things the mind of Mohammed revolted ; and , according to his light and , by the way , a little admixture of hysterical , or even epileptic , frenzy , he restored what he considered do be " the religion of Abraham" in all its vigour and purity ; by which , Ave are told , he meant a belief in the Hnity of God aud the absolute rejection of every form of idolatry . "i . Hai'iug thus laid CIOAVU the great leading principle of Islam , our author says of its genius , —

' ¦ Ihcre are two passages m the Koran ( ch . n . ) that afford almost an epitome of the system of Mohammed . The first occurs at the opening , and is as fofloAvs : ' There is no doubt in this book ; it is a direction to the pious AVIIO believe in the mysteries of faith , Avho observe tbc appointed times of prayer , and distribute alms out of Avhat Ave have bestowed on them ; and Avho believe in that revelation which hath been sent doAvn unto thee , and that Avhich hath been sent down unto the prophets before thee , and have firm assurance in the life to come . ' To this may be added the Pledge of Akaba , called also the Pledge of Women , because of the exclusion of appeal to arms in case of need . It Avas adopted by Mohammed and' his folloAvers in their earl

y troubles , when his system Avas beginning to assume a shape , and illustrates his better spirit before he was forced to adopt harsh means in self-defence , ancl ran as folloAVS : ' We Avill not associate anything Avith God ; Ave Avill not steal , nor commit adultery , nor fornication ; Ave will not kill our children ; Ave will abstain from calumny and slander ; Ave will obey the Prophet- in everything that is right , ancl we will be faithful to him in Aveal and SOITOAV . ' These principles Avere subsequently developed at Mecca in the sixth chapter of the Koran , Avhere it is said , 'Come , I will rehearse that Avhich your Lord hath forbidden you ; that is to say , that ye be not guilty of idolatryand that show kindness to parentsand that murder not children

, ye your , ye your for fear lest ye be reduced to poverty ; Ave Avill provide for you and them ; and draw not near uton heinous crimes , neither openly nor in secret ; and slay not the soul AA'hich God hath forbidden you to slay , unless for a just cause . . . . And meddle not Avith the substance of the orphan , otherwise than for the improving thereof , until he attain his age ancl strength ; and use a full measure and a just balance . . . . And when yc pronounce judgment observe justice , although it be for or against one Avho is near of kin ; ancl fulfil the covenant of God . '"

Mr . Lake , remarking once more upon Mohammed ' s hatred of idolatry ancl zeal for the unity of God— " Say , God is one God ; the eternal God . He begetteth not , neither is begotten ; there is no God but He , the mst merciful" —marred , however , " by a disbelief in the divinity of our Saviour consequent upon a Aveakness of judgment ancl observation , " says , —

Hence , Mohammed ' s system is an incomplete , imperfect , development of the truth , and one cannot help thinking that if he had had access to our Scriptures , and had not acquired his knowled ge of our religion through Seventh-Council Christianity , he would have been a Christian and AVC should have heard nothing of Islam through him , "