freedom there prevailed, while the adjacent countries were shaken with the storms of conquest and tyranny, the victims of political and religious oppression took refuge in the deep recesses of those extensive deserts. In the reigns of Titus ind Adrian, great numbers of Jews had retired into Arabia, and Christians of all the persecuted sects had sought the ame calm retreat. Arabia, therefore, displayed a mixture of Pagans, Jews, and Christians of all sects and denominations. 3. Mahomet, although destitute of literature, had studied the book of nature and of man, and conceived the great design of instituting a religion that might unite all the Arabiins under its banners; and his scheme was admirably calcuated for that purpose. His observations on the state of the world might convince him that idolatry was not only an uneasonable, but a declining system. His naturally strong understanding and sound judgment would enable him to pereive the existence of one Supreme and sole Deity to be so ational an article of belief, that no permanent system of eligion could be established, except on that solid basis. By estifying his regard for the Scriptures, and acknowledging he prophetic character and divine mission of Moses and Jeus, he lessened the prejudices of the Jews and Christians gainst his doctrine, while his recommendation and practice if prayer, fasting, and mass, acquired him the reputation of uperior sanctity.

4. Comprising in his grand design a military, as well as a eligious system, he promised a paradise of sensual delights o all who should fall in the cause of his faith. He allowed olygamy, to which he knew the Arabians to be strongly inlined; but he reprobated drunkenness, to which they had nuch less propensity. Considering intoxication as a vice legrading to human nature, and incompatible, with a capaity for great understandings, he resolved to take away the emptation to a habit so pernicious, by prohibiting the use f inebriating liquors. To investigate all the particulars of is system would lead to a tedious prolixity; and it suffices o observe, that they were admirably adapted to the ideas and ircumstances of his countrymen. His pretensions, however, › a celestial authority, excited the jealousy of the citizens f Mecca, and a powerful faction expelled him from his nave city.

5. In the year of the Christian æra 622, the memorable

epoch of the Hegira, Mahomet, with his friend Abubekar and a few other followers, escaping from Mecca, fled to Me dina, where he assumed the military, as well as the propheti character. Having made many proselytes in that place, h assembled a determined and daring band, inspired with en thusiasm, and animated with the expectation of a paradise o sensual delights, which he promised to all his followers, bu in a superior degree of glory and pleasure to those who shoul fall in the cause of the Koran. This was the first vital spar of the empire of the Arabs. Here he assumed the exercis of the regal as well as the sacerdotal function; and declare himself authorized to use force as well as persuasion, i order to propagate his doctrines. Liberty of conscience wa granted to Christians and Jews, on condition of the paymen of tribute; but to idolaters, no other alternative was left bu conversion or the sword.

6. By inculcating, in the most absolute sense, the doc trines of fate and predestination, he extinguished the princ ples of fear, and exalted the courage of his followers into dauntless confidence. By impressing strongly on the arden imagination of the Arabs a voluptuous picture of the invis ble world, he brought them to regard death as an object no of dread, but of hope and desire. From all sides, the rover of the desert were allured to the standard of religion an plunder; and the holy robbers were soon able to intercep the trading caravans. In all enterprises of danger and diffi culty, their leader promised them the assistance of the ange Gabriel, with his legions of the heavenly host; and his au thoritative eloquence impressed on their enthusiastic imagi nations the forms of those angelic warriors, invisible to morta eyes. By these arts, he inspired his followers with an irre sistible enthusiasm.

7. A regular war was commenced between the Mahome tans and the inhabitants of Mecca, in consequence of al attack by the former upon a caravan belonging to the latter The caravan was plundered, although it was escorted by 950 men, while the assailants amounted to no more than 313 In the year 625, the Meccans, with about 10,000 men, lai siege to Medina, but without success; and finally lost al

What is Mahomet's flight to Medina called?-When did it take place -What toleration did he allow the Jews and Christians of Arabia'

hopes of subverting the throne, or of putting a stop to the conquests of the exiled prophet. Mahomet, encouraged by their defeat, directed his attention to the subjugation of Mecca, his native city. His power had increased by the submission of several Arabian tribes; and his army, which consisted of a few hundreds only, now amounted to 10,000 enthusiastic warriors. Mecca surrendered on his approach, and acknowledged him as the apostle of God. Thus, after seven years of exile, the fugitive was enthroned as the prince and prophet of his country.

8. The conquest of Mecca determined the faith and obedience of the principal Arabian tribes; and the obstinate remnant, which still adhered to the idolatry of their ances tors, was soon subdued or extirpated. The famous kaaba, or pantheon of Mecca, was purified, and 350 idols, with which it was defiled, were broken in pieces. The sentence of destruction was in the same manner executed on all the idols of Arabia. All the people of that vast country adopted the worship of one God, and acknowledged Mahomet as his prophet and their sovereign. The rites of pilgrimage were, through piety or policy, re-established. The prophet himself set an example to future ages, by fulfilling the duties of a pilgrim; and 114,000 pious believers accompanied his last visit to the kaaba, or house of God. A perpetual law was also enacted, prohibiting all unbelievers in the Koran from setting foot within the precincts of the holy city.

9. A revolution was thus effected in an obscure corner of the world, which shortly after subverted or shook the most powerful monarchies, and extended its effects to the distant regions of Asia, Africa, and Europe. The prophet of Arabia commenced hostilities with the Greek empire, and unfurled his banners on the confines of Syria; but after having lost some of his most intrepid commanders, without having made any great progress, the war was neither of long continuance, nor productive of any remarkable events. The mission and life of Mahomet now drew near to an end. ing the space of four years, his health had gradually declined; but till the third day preceding his dissolution, he performed the functions of public prayer, and asserting to the last the divine authority of his mission, he expired at about

Dur

How long had Mahomet been exiled from Mecca, when it surrendered to his arms?