supreme error was that he was the greatest as well as the last of the prophets.  This was fanaticism, but he was probably honest in the belief.  His brain was turned by dreams, ecstasies, and ascetic devotions.  But with all his visionary ideas of his call, his own morality and his teachings had been lofty, and apparently unsuccessful.  Possibly he was discouraged with the small progress he had made,—­disgusted, irritated, fierce.

Certainly, soon after he was established at Medina, a great change took place in his mode of propagating his doctrines.  His great ideas remained the same, but he adopted a new way to spread them.  So that I can almost fancy that some Mephistopheles, some form of Satanic agency, some lying Voice whispered to him in this wise:  “O Mohammed! of a truth thou art the Prophet of the living God.  Thou hast declared the grandest truths ever uttered in Arabia; but see how powerless they are on the minds and hearts of thy countrymen, with all thy eloquence, sincerity, and fervor.  By moral means thou hast effected comparatively nothing.  Thou hast preached thirteen years, and only made a few converts.  Thy truths are too elevated for a corrupt and wicked generation to accept.  Even thine own life is in danger.  Thou hast been obliged to fly to these barren rocks and sands.  Thou hast failed.  Why not pursue a new course, and adapt thy doctrines to men as they are?  Thy countrymen are wild, fierce, and warlike:  why not incite their martial passions in defence of thy doctrines?  They are an earnest people, and, believing in the truths which thou now declarest, they will fight for them and establish them by the sword, not merely in Arabia, but throughout the East.  They are a pleasure-loving and imaginative people:  why not promise the victors of thy faith a sensual bliss in Paradise?  They will not be subverters of your grand truths; they will simply extend them, and jealously, if they have a reward in what their passions crave.  In short, use the proper means for a great end.  The end justifies the means.”

Whether influenced by such specious sophistries, or disheartened by his former method, or corrupted in his own heart, as Solomon was, by his numerous wives,—­for Mohammed permitted polygamy and practised it himself,—­it is certain that he now was bent on achieving more signal and rapid victories.  He resolved to adapt his religion to the depraved hearts of his followers.  He would mix up truth with error; he would make truth palatable; he would use the means which secure success.  It was success he wanted, and success he thus far had not secured.  He was ambitious; he would become a mighty spiritual potentate.