LAW. By the Word Law is often understood the whole Scripture of the Old Testament. The Mahometans after their Leader Mahomet, maintain, that the Jews have corrupted the Law, as the Christians, they say, have in like Manner corrupted the Gospel. It is easy to see what is aimed at by this Accusation, viz. to discredit the genuine Scriptures, and so disarm both Jews and Christians of the Weapons necessary to attack and destroy Mahometanism, which is founded properly on this chimerical Supposition only, and the diabolical Calumny of this infamous Impostor. As soon as he had convinced his Followers of this, he put both the Jews and Christians, the only People with whom the sacred Oracles were lodged, under a Necessity of proving that they have authentick Copies, free from Corruption, and written by the inspired Authors; and in the mean while Mahomet impudently advances what he thinks fit, corrupts the Histories of the Old and New Testament, makes the Patriarchs, Moses, and Jesus Christ speak in a Manner suitable to his Interests and System; and when we cry out against Imposture and Corruption, he says, that we our selves have altered the sacred Writings, that we have neither the Law nor Gospel intire and pure.
And wherein have the Jews falsified the Books of the Old Testament? Why, the Mahometans say, by adding Vowels which before they had not. It is true the Vowel Points are of a pretty modern Invention; but this is no Corruption of the Text, it is a Determination of the Manner wherein we are to read certain Words, which without this might admit of diverse Meanings. But these Vowel Points deprive no one of the Liberty of reading otherwise, if in so doing he can find a better Sense. They add farther, that in the Books of Moses there is no one Precept to be met with which obliges the Jews to Praying, Fasting, Almsgiving, or Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, which is manifestly false: But instead of examining the Matter, the Contest may be sooner ended by saying with Mahomet, When they who have Books present them to you, neither believe nor reject them; but say only, we believe in God, in his Books, and in his Messengers. Upon this Principle the Mussulmen think themselves forbidden to translate or cite any Thing out of the Law or Gospel.