Muhammadan seekers after truth to recognize this issue and investigate it for themselves. This issue will be seen to rest on the historical relation which Muhammadanism bears to Christianity and the attitude which Muhammadans take towards Christianity. And it can be settled only by an examination of the historical facts on which that relation depends, apart from any preconceived idea as to what these facts ought to be, and how they are to be interpreted or explained metaphysically or theologically.

In investigating the truth or untruth of Christianity, one must deal with Judaism and the relation which it holds to the later religion; but that matter having once been decided, there is no further question which can be raised by Muhammadanism which came six hundred years later. Without Judaism there could not have been any such thing as historical Christianity such as we know it. Judaism never felt itself to be complete and final. It looked forward to the fulfilment of its hopes in the Messiah, and Christianity is not the denial of Judaism, but its fulfilment. It, however, knows itself to be final, and while the comprehension by the Church of what it fully means and implies, may grow and increase from century to century, any apparent development there may be, cannot be a development of the essence of Christianity, but must be only an increasingly deeper apprehension of

its intent and not any addition to its content. It is true that Christianity looks forward to the second coming of Christ; but this is not for any expected completion of it as a religious system which feels itself wanting at present in any respect, but only for the deepening of the experience of union with Christ, and the fuller outward manifestation of the Spirit which already exists in and vivifies Christianity.

The relation, however, which Muhammadanism occupies to Christianity cannot be in any degree analogous to that existing between Christianity and Judaism. Indeed, it is far otherwise. For Muhammadanism is the virtual denial of Christianity, not its fulfilment. Judaism and Christianity may both be revelations from the same God; for the latter has its roots in the former and is but its consummation. But Christianity and Muhammadanism cannot both be true. The latter is the denial and rejection of the former; and it is in this denial and rejection of Christianity by Muhammadanism, that we find the definite and clear issue between the two systems.

Some might be inclined to argue that as Christianity from its own position, and of itself, has nothing to say to Muhammadanism, so Muhammadanism has nothing to say to Christianity; but this is not so, and that it is not so is, as a matter of fact, recognized by Muhammadans. Consciously, or unconsciously, they do so; for they do