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THE FALL OF ROME.

1. AFTER various wars and competitions, Constantine, in the year of Christ 320, became sole master of the Roman empire. He certainly did whatever could be done, by an accomplished general and statesman, toward restoring the empire to its ancient glory. But, alas! he did not reign over the ancient Romans. His people had been often defeated, humbled, enslaved, and trampled in the dust. The true Roman spirit was long since utterly extinguished; and, as we have had occasion to observe, Italy itself was filled with a mighty heterogeneous mass of population, of no fixed character. His strong genius, for a moment, sustained, but could not ultimately save, the falling fabric.

2. The ambition of Constantine gave a more fatal blow to the Roman empire, than even the vices of Commodus. To secure to himself a glory equal to that of Romulus, he formed the resolution of changing the seat of empire, The place upon which he pitched as a new capital, and which should immortalize his name, was indeed well chosen. The ancient city of Byzantium enjoyed the finest port in the world, on the strait of the Thracian Bosphorus, which communicates with those inland seas, whose shores are formed by the most opulent and delightful countries of Europe and Asia. Thither Constantine caused the wealth of the empire to be conveyed; and directly a new and splendid city arose, which was able to 'rival ancient Rome. That proud capital, so long the mistress of empire, suddenly became but a satellite, and was forsaken of honour, wealth, and glory; since the emperor, and all who were devoted to his interest, used every possible means to exalt the new seat of empire.

3. This wound was deadly and incurable. It proved fatal not only to one city, but to the western empire. Rome was utterly abandoned by Constantine; nor was it much alleviated under his successors, among whom a permanent division of the empire taking place, Rome and Italy fell under the government of a series of weak,

miserable, short-lived tyrants, who rose by conspiracy, and fell by murder, in rapid succession; till, in the 476th year of the Christian æra, Augustulus, the last of the Roman emperors, was conquered and dethroned by Odoacer, king of the Heruli, who, at the head of an immense army of barbarians, overrun all Italy, and put a period to the western empire.

4. Thus ended Rome, after having stood 1229 years. When we consider the length of her duration, her character, and the nature and extent of her resources, we shall not hesitate to pronounce her the most powerful and important city which ever existed, and as standing at the head of the first rank of cities. But if this remark is true of Rome in the times of which we are now speaking, it will serve to awaken our admiration, when we consider that Rome survived even this shock; and, as though she was destined to bear rule, from being the head of a most powerful empire, she soon became the head of an ecclesiastical institution not less powerful. She spread her wing over all the powers of Europe. They trembled at her mandates. She deposed monarchs at her pleasure, trampled on crowns and sceptres, and, for ten centuries, exerted the most despotic sovereignty. She is, even to this day, one of the finest cities in the world.

QUESTIONS.

1. When did Constantine become master of Rome ?-2.. What method did he adopt to immortalize his name?-3. What was the original name of Constantinople?-4. Who put a period to the Roman empire ?-5. When did he do it?-6. How long had Rome then existed?

RISE OF MAHOMETANISM.

1. WHATEVER might have been the extraction of Mahomet, his property was small. He engaged himself as a servant to a rich widow of Mecca, who bestowed on him her hand and her fortune, and raised him to the rank of an opulent citizen. He is said to have

been a man of extraordinary bodily and mental accomplishments. The former part of his character is probable, the latter is unquestionable. The endowments of his mind, however, were the gifts of nature, not of education, since, as it is asserted, he was wholly illiterate. Such was the man, who was destined to effect the greatest revolution in human ideas, as well as in human affairs, that has ever taken place since the establishment of Christianity. Inspired by enthusiasm or ambition, he withdrew to a cave about three miles from the city, and having there spent some time in silent contemplation, announced himself a prophet of the Most High, and proclaimed the religion of the Koran.

2. The religion then prevailing in Arabia was Zabaism, which, as in all other countries, had degenerated into the grossest idolatry; but as universal toleration and uncivilized freedom there prevailed, while the adjacent countries were shaken with the storms of conquest and tyranny, the victims of political and religious oppression took refuge in the deep recesses of those extensive deserts. In the reigns of Titus and Adrian, great numbers of Jews had retired into Arabia, and Christians of all the persecuted sects had sought the same calm retreat. Arabia, therefore, displayed a mixture of Pagans, Jews, and Christians of all sects and denominations.

3. Mahomet, although destitute of literature, had studied the book of nature and of man, and conceived the great design of instituting a religion that might unite all the Arabians under its banners; and his scheme was admirably calculated for that purpose. His observations on the state of the world, might convince him that idolatry was not only an unreasonable, but a declining system. His naturally strong understanding and sound judgment, would enable him to perceive the existence of one Supreme and sole Deity to be so rational an article of belief, that no permanent system of religion could be established, except on that solid basis. By testifying his regard for the Scriptures, and acknowledging the prophetic character and divine

mission of Moses and Jesus, he lessened the prejudices of the Jews and Christians against his doctrine, while his recommendation, and practice of prayer, fasting, and mass, acquired him the reputation of superior sanctity.

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4. Comprising in his grand design a military, as well as a religious system, he promised a paradise of sensual delights, to all who should fall in the cause of his faith. He allowed poligamy, to which he knew the Arabians to be strongly inclined; but he reprobated drunkenness, to which they had much less propensity. Considering intoxication as a vice degrading to human nature, and incompatible with a capacity for great understandings, he resolved to take away the temptation to a habit so pernicious, by prohibiting the use of inebriating liquors. To investigate all the particulars of his system, would lead to a tedious prolixity; and it suffices to observe, that they were admirably adapted to the ideas and circumstances of his countrymen. His pretensions, however, to a celestial authority, excited the jealousy of the citizens of Mecca, and a powerful faction expelled him from his native city.

5. In the year of the Christian æra 622, the memorable epoch of the Hegira, Mahomet, with his friend Abubekar, and a few other followers, escaping from Mecca, fled to Medina, where he assumed the military, as well as the prophetic character. Having made many proselytes in that place, he assembled a determined and daring band, inspired with enthusiasm, and animated with the expectation of a paradise of sensual delights, which he promised to all his followers, but in a superior degree of glory and pleasure to those who should fall in the cause of the Koran. This was the first vital spark of the empire of the Arabs. Here he assumed the exercise of the regal as well as the sacerdotal function; and declared himself authorized to use force as well as persuasion, in order to propagate his doctrines. Liberty of conscience was granted to Christians and Jews, on condition of the payment of tribute; but to

idolaters, no other alternative was left, but conversion or the sword.

6. By inculcating, in the most absolute sense, the doctrines of fate and predestination, he extinguished the principles of fear, and exalted the courage of his followers into a dauntless confidence. By impressing strongly on the ardent imagination of the Arabs a voluptuous picture of the invisible world, he brought them to regard death as an object not of dread, but of hope and desire. From all sides, the rovers of the desert were allured to the standard of religion and plunder; and the holy robbers were soon able to intercept the trading caravans. In all enterprises of danger and difficulty, their leader promised them the assistance of the angel Gabriel, with his legions of the heavenly host; and his authoritative eloquence impressed on their enthusiastic imaginations the forms of those angelic warriors, invisible to mortal eyes. By these arts, he inspired his followers with an irresistible enthusiasm.

7. A regular war was commenced between the Mahometans and the inhabitants of Mecca, in consequence of an attack by the former upon a caravan belonging to the latter. The caravan was plundered, although it was escorted by 950 men, while the assailants amounted to no more than 313. In the year 625, the Meccans, with about 10,000 men, laid siege to Medina, but without success; and finally lost all hopes of subverting the throne, or of putting a stop to the conquests of the exiled prophet. Mahomet, encouraged by their defeat, directed his attention to the subjugation of Mecca, his native city. His power had increased by the submission of several Arabian tribes; and his army, which consisted of a few hundreds only, now amounted to 10,000 enthusiastic warriors. Mecca surrendered on his approach, and acknowledged him as the apostle of God. Thus, after seven years of exile, the fugitive was enthroned as the prince and prophet of his country.

8. The conquest of Mecca determined the faith and obedience of the principal Arabian tribes; and the obstinate remnant, which still adhered to the idolatry of their ancestors, was soon subdued or extirpated. The

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