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monks belong to the exterior people; and its wor-
ship is, according to rules, relative to every thing
exterior; and its purpose, on account of service,
directed to the retribution of deeds, reward of hea-
ven, adherence to a particular prophet, and the
like. Further • obedience is an indication which
bears towards temporal actions; on that account its
revelation is connected with temporal concerns.
The devout Muselman follows also the rule of mo-
nastic life, and the Christian is not without partici-
pation in absorption and eternal life.

It is to be known that in the service of a king
there are two confidential Amirs,who are not friends,
but entertain enmity against each other. They
may bring their own friends before the king. So
are the prophets appointed at the court of God; if
not so, how would the absolute Being have divided
the extent of his empire by religion, if this were to
be confined to one person? Another opinion is that
of a pious philosopher, who contemplates the light
of God in all objects of this and the other world,
and turns not his regard from the least atom; he

so natural is ascetism, seclusion, and contemplation, that Muhammed, in
order to restrain a propensity which he felt and now and then showed
himself, declared that, for monachism, the pilgrimage to Mecca was sub-
stituted by divine order. Even during the prophet's life, the love of
monastic and anachoretic professions gained ascendancy among Musel-
rnans, and easily united with Silfisni.