Hugo Grotius · 99 of 132

SECT. I. A confutation of Mahometanism: the original thereof.

INSTEAD of a preface to this sixth book, which is designed against the Mahometans, it relates the judgments of Cod against the Christians, down to the original of Mahometanism; namely, how that sincere and unfeigned piety, which flourished amongst the Christians, who were most grievously afflicted and tormented, began by degrees to abate: after Constantine and the following emperors had made the profession of the Christian religion not only safe, but honourable, by having, as it were, brought the world into the church. First, the Christian princes waged war without measure, even when they might have enjoyed peace. The bishops quarrelled with each other most bitterly about the highest places: and, as of old, the preferring the tree of knowledge to the tree of life, was the occasion of the greatest evils;Gen. ii. and iii. so then nice inquiries were esteemed more than piety, and religion was made an art. The consequence of which was, that after the example of them who built the tower of Babel, their rashly affecting matters, produced different languages and confusion among them; which the common people taking notice of, many times not knowing which way to turn themselves, cast all the blame upon the sacred writings, and began to avoid them, as if they were infected. And religion began every where to be placed, not in purity of mind, but in rites, as if Judaism were brought back again: and in those things, which contained in them more of bodily exercise, than improvement of the mind; and also in a violent adhering to the party they had chosen; the final event of which was, that there were every where a great many Christians in name, but very few in reality. God did not overlook these faults of his people; but from the farthest corners of Scythia, and Germany, poured vast armies, like a deluge, upon the Christian world: and when the great slaughter made by these, did nut suffice to reform those which remained; by the just permission of God, Mahomet planted in Arabia a new religion directly opposite to the Christian religion; yet such as did, in a good measure, express in words, the life of a great part of the Christians. This religion was first embraced by the Saracens, who revolted from the emperor Heraclius; whose arms quickly subdued Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Persia; and afterwards they invaded Africa, and came over sea into Spain. But the power of the Saracens was derived to others, particularly to the Turks, a very warlike people; who after many long engagements with the Saracens, being desired to enter into a league, they easily embraced a religion agreeable to their manners, and transferred the imperial power to them selves. Having taken the cities of Asia and Greece, and the success of their arms increasing, they came into the borders of Hungary and Germany.