Reply to the Alleged Influence of the System on Christianity--The
Distinction to be made between the Credible History of Gautama and
Later Legends--The Legends of the Pre-existent States and the
Wonders Attending the Earthly Life--The Northern and the Southern
Buddhism--The Sources of the Principal Legends--The Four Principal
Doctrines of Buddhism, Skandas, Trishna, Kharma, and
Nirvana--Difficulties in the Doctrines of Kharma and
Nirvana--Various Opinions of Scholars in Regard to the Nature of
Nirvana--Buddha's Final Reticence on the Subject--The Real Goal at
which the Average Buddhist Aims--The Need of a Careful Estimate of
the Merits and Demerits of Buddhism, and of the Hold which it is
likely to have on Western Minds--Its Points of Contact with Western
Errors--The Fact that Modern Buddhism, like many other False
Systems, Claims Christ as a Believer in its Principles--The Theory
that the Life of Christ is Modelled after that of the Buddha--The
Superior Authenticity of the Life of Christ--The Unreliable
Character of Buddhist Legends--The Intrinsic Improbability that a
Religion claiming a Distinct Derivation from Jewish Sources would
Borrow from a far-off Heathen System--The Contrast of Christ's
Loving Recognition of the Father in Heaven with the Avowed Atheism
of Buddhism--The General Spirit of the System Forbids all Thought
of Borrowing from it--Points of Contrast.

LECTURE VI.

MOHAMMEDANISM PAST AND PRESENT 178

Posthumous Legends of Mohammed; how they were Produced--Ancient
Arabia and its Religious Systems--The Vale of Mecca and its Former
Uses--The Birth of Mohammed, and his Religious Associations--His
Temperament and Character--The Beginnings of his Prophetic
Mission--Jews and Christians in Arabia and their Influence on
Mohammedanism--Their Errors and Shortcomings a Help to the
Reformer--Strange Doctrines of the Christian Church in Arabia--The
Lost Opportunity of the Early Christian Sects and the Fatal Neglect
of the Surrounding Nations--The Nomads of Arabia specially Prepared
for Conquest by their Manner of Life and their Enlistment as
Mercenary Soldiers--The Question of Mohammed's Real Character--The
Growth of his Ambition and his Increasing Sensuality and
Cruelty--Blasphemous Revelations in Behalf of the Prophet's Own
Lust--Di