There is no great abuse of hypothesis in supposing that a founder of a new religion commences by attaching himself to the moral aphorisms already in circulation in his time, and to the practices which are in vogue; that, when riper, and in full possession of his idea, he delights in a kind of calm and poetical eloquence, remote from all controversy, sweet and free as pure feeling; that he warms by degrees, becomes animated by opposition, and finishes by polemics and strong invectives.

Such are the periods which may plainly be distinguished in the Koran.

The order adopted with an extremely fine tact by the synoptics, supposes an analogous progress.

If Matthew be attentively read, we shall find in the distribution of the discourses, a gradation perfectly analogous to that which we have just indicated.

The reserved turns of expression of which we make use in unfolding the progress of the ideas of Jesus will also be observed.