The miraculous story of Moses is consecrated and embellished in the Koran; [83] and the captive Jews enjoy the secret revenge of imposing their own belief on the nations whose recent creeds they deride.

For the author of Christianity, the Mahometans are taught by the prophet to entertain a high and mysterious reverence.

[84] "Verily, Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, is the apostle of God, and his word, which he conveyed unto Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from him; honorable in this world, and in the world to come, and one of those who approach near to the presence of God." [85] The wonders of the genuine and apocryphal gospels [86] are profusely heaped on his head; and the Latin church has not disdained to borrow from the Koran the immaculate conception [87] of his virgin mother.

Yet Jesus was a mere mortal; and, at the day of judgment, his testimony will serve to condemn both the Jews, who reject him as a prophet, and the Christians, who adore him as the Son of God.

The malice of his enemies aspersed his reputation, and conspired against his life; but their intention only was guilty; a phantom or a criminal was substituted on the cross; and the innocent saint was translated to the seventh heaven.