If the Christian apostles, St.Peter or St.Paul, could return to the Vatican, they might possibly inquire the name of the Deity who is worshipped with such mysterious rites in that magnificent temple: at Oxford or Geneva, they would experience less surprise; but it might still be incumbent on them to peruse the catechism of the church, and to study the orthodox commentators on their own writings and the words of their Master.

But the Turkish dome of St.
Sophia, with an increase of splendor and size, represents the humble tabernacle erected at Medina by the hands of Mahomet.

The Mahometans have uniformly withstood the temptation of reducing the object of their faith and devotion to a level with the senses and imagination of man.

"I believe in one God, and Mahomet the apostle of God," is the simple and invariable profession of Islam.

The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol; the honors of the prophet have never transgressed the measure of human virtue; and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion.