Muhammad professed to derive from Heaven, and he has inserted in the Koran, not only a body of religious doctrines, but political maxims, civil and criminal laws, and theories of science. The gospel, on the contrary, only speaks of the general relations of men to God and to each other - beyond which it inculcates and imposes no point of faith. This alone, besides a thousand other reasons, would suffice to prove that the former of these religions will never long predominate in a cultivated and democratic age, whilst the latter is destined to retain its sway at these as at all other periods.

Summary

This quote suggests that Muhammad, the founder of Islam, claimed to receive not only religious teachings but also political laws, scientific theories, and other legislative aspects in the form of the Quran. In contrast, the gospel primarily focuses on general human relationships with God and each other, without imposing specific points of belief. The quote implies that due to its comprehensive approach, Islam might struggle to dominate in a cultured and democratic era, while Christianity, with its emphasis on broader principles, will continue to have influence throughout different periods in history.

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