CharitymaybelievethattheoriginalmotivesofMahometwerethoseofpureandgenuinebenevolence；butahumanmissionaryisincapableofcherishingtheobstinateunbelieverswhorejecthisclaimsdespisehisarguments，andpersecutehislife；hemightforgivehispersonaladversaries，hemaylawfullyhatetheenemiesofGod；thesternpassionsofprideandrevengewerekindledinthebosomofMahomet，andhesighed，liketheprophetofNineveh，forthedestructionoftherebelswhomhehadcondemned。TheinjusticeofMeccaandthechoiceofMedina，transformedthecitizenintoaprince，thehumblepreacherintotheleaderofarmies；buthisswordwasconsecratedbytheexampleofthesaints；andthesameGodwhoafflictsasinfulworldwithpestilenceandearthquakes，mightinspirefortheirconversionorchastisementthevalorofhisservants。Intheexerciseofpoliticalgovernment，hewascompelledtoabateofthesternrigoroffanaticism，tocomplyinsomemeasurewiththeprejudicesandpassionsofhisfollowers，andtoemployeventhevicesofmankindastheinstrumentsoftheirsalvation。Theuseoffraudandperfidy，ofcrueltyandinjustice，wereoftensubservienttothepropagationofthefaith；andMahometcommandedorapprovedtheassassinationoftheJewsandidolaterswhohadescapedfromthefieldofbattle。Bytherepetitionofsuchacts，thecharacterofMahometmusthavebeengraduallystained；andtheinfluenceofsuchpernicioushabitswouldbepoorlycompensatedbythepracticeofthepersonalandsocialvirtueswhicharenecessarytomaintainthereputationofaprophetamonghissectariesandfriends。Ofhislastyears，ambitionwastherulingpassion；andapoliticianwillsuspect，thathesecretlysmiledthevictoriousimpostor!attheenthusiasmofhisyouth，andthecredulityofhisproselytes。
^156Aphilosopherwillobserve，thattheircredulityandhissuccesswouldtendmorestronglytofortifytheassuranceofhisdivinemission，thathisinterestandreligionwereinseparablyconnected，andthathisconsciencewouldbesoothedbythepersuasion，thathealonewasabsolvedbytheDeityfromtheobligationofpositiveandmorallaws。Ifheretainedanyvestigeofhisnativeinnocence，thesinsofMahometmaybeallowedasanevidenceofhissincerity。Inthesupportoftruth，theartsoffraudandfictionmaybedeemedlesscriminal；
andhewouldhavestartedatthefoulnessofthemeans，hadhenotbeensatisfiedoftheimportanceandjusticeoftheend。Eveninaconquerororapriest，Icansurpriseawordoractionofunaffectedhumanity；andthedecreeofMahomet，that，inthesaleofcaptives，themothersshouldneverbeseparatedfromtheirchildren，maysuspend，ormoderate，thecensureofthehistorian。
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[Footnote154:TheChristians，rashlyenough，haveassignedtoMahometatamepigeon，thatseemedtodescendfromheavenandwhisperinhisear。AsthispretendedmiracleisurgedbyGrotius，deVeritateReligionisChristianae，hisArabictranslator，thelearnedPocock，inquiredofhimthenamesofhisauthors；andGrotiusconfessed，thatitisunknowntotheMahometansthemselves。Lestitshouldprovoketheirindignationandlaughter，thepiouslieissuppressedintheArabicversion；