[104] Kessler.
[105] Surah ii. 59; v. 73; xxii. 17
[106] According to Gesenius, Sabeans should be Tsabians from tsabaoth, the “host of heaven.” Nöldeke and others say it comes from a root subba to wash, baptise, and refers to the manner of their worship. Gibbon is perhaps correct when, on the authority of Pocock, Hettinger, and D’Herbelot, he states the origin of their other name thus: “A slight infusion of the gospel had transformed the last remnant of the Chaldean polytheists into the Christians of St. John at Bussora.”
In regard to their name Sabeans, Lane’s Arabic dictionary says that it comes from a root meaning “one who has departed from one religion to another religion.” The Arabs used to call the prophet as-Sabi, because he departed from the religion of the Koreish to El-Islam. Nasoreans is the name given them by some authors. According to Petermann they themselves give this title only to those of their number who are distinguished for character or knowledge. It doubtless comes from [Greek: Nazôrãioi], the early half-Christian sect of Syria.
[107] The only grammar of the language is the elaborate Mandäische Grammatik of the indefatigable scholar Nöldeke. One great drawback of the book however is that the Hebrew character is used throughout and not the Mandâitic.
[108] Leviticus xiv. 4-7, 49-53.
[109] Cf. Job xxxi. 26-28.
[110] The first printed and translated edition of the Sidra Rabba was by Math. Norberg (Copenhagen, 1815-16), but it is said to be so defective that it is quite useless critically; Petermann reproduced the Paris MSS. in two volumes at Leipsic, 1867. Besides the Sidra Rabba there are: Sidra d’Yaheya or Book of St. John, also called Drasche d’Malek (discourse of the King); The Diwan; The Sidra Neshmata, or book of souls; and last, but not least, the books of the zodiac called Asfar Malwashee. Except for the small portion of the Sidra Rabba found in Brandt’s recently published Mandäische Schriften (1895) all of the above still await critical study and editing.
[111] See the history of Gnostic teaching, especially that of the Ophites and Sethians. All the evil characters in the Old Testament, with Cain at their head, were set forth as spiritual heroes. Judas Iscariot was represented as alone knowing the truth. I find no large account of the serpent in the Sabean system; this may be otherwise accounted for.
[112] Gibbon.
[113] Sale’s Koran.
[114] Galatians i. 17.
[115] Gal. i. 18; Acts ix. 9, 25.
[116] Many others, including Hilary, Jerome, Theodoret and the Occumenian commentators are stated by Rawlinson (St. Paul in Damascus and Arabia, p. 128), to hold the same opinion. Porter, not alone of modern writers, puts forth the same view in his “Five Years in Damascus,” and supposes that Paul’s success was great enough to provoke the hostility of Aretas and make him join the later persecution.
[117] “Kinship and Marriage in Early Arabia,” p. 214.
[118] Koran, Surah vii. 71.
[119] Desert of the Exodus, p. 50.
[120] Acts xvii. 26.
[121] Acts xvii. 29.
[122] Acts xvii. 31.
[123] Acts xvii. 25.
[124] Acts xx. 20, 27.
[125] Wright’s “Early Christianity in Arabia,” 1855.
[126] Buchanan’s Christian Researches.
[127] Wright, p. 77.
[128] The latest version of his life is by Nöldeke in his “Sketches from Eastern History.” (London, 1892.)
[129] Wright, p. 144.
[130] Kurtz’ “Church History,” Vol. I., p. 386.
[131] See however, Christianity in China, Tartary and Tibet, by Abbe Huc, Vol. I., p. 88 (New York, 1857). He speaks of Christians in Nejran as late as the tenth century.
[132] See Smith’s “Short History of Missions.” Peroquet, Vie de Raymund Lull (1667). Low de Vita Ray. Lull (Halle, 1830). Helfferich Raymund Lull (Berlin, 1858). Dublin Univ. Mag., Vol. LXXVIII., p. 43, “His Life and Work.”
[133] O merciful God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that Thou hast made, nor wouldest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live: have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Heretics, and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of Thy Word, and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to Thy flock, that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites, and be made one fold under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
[134] “Life of Henry Martyn,” by George Smith, C. I. E., LL. D., (1892) p. 226.
[135] Journal of Mr. Anthony N. Groves, Missionary to and at Bagdad. (London, 1831.)
[136] George Smith’s Life of Martyn, p. 563.
[137] In 1876, after the death of Dr. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Stothert of the Free Church Mission arranged to take a trip up the Persian Gulf as far as Bagdad. They were deeply impressed by the spiritual needs of the whole of Eastern Arabia. On the way they sold Scriptures and on their return called attention to the needs of Bagdad. For twenty-five years special prayer was offered for Eastern Arabia every Monday by these two missionaries!
[138] Church Missionary Intelligencer for May and June, 1887.
[139] The General also published an account of his journey in Yemen from a geographical standpoint in the Geographical Journal, Vol. IX., p. 479. See also The Missionary Review of the World, October, 1895.
[140] “The Missionary Expansion since the Reformation.”—Graham, p. 19. “Life and Letters of Rev. A. Stern.”
[141] On Van Tassel’s work and experiences see “North Africa” (21 Linton Road, Barking, London), Vol. for 1890, pp. 4, 21, 43, 59, 78; Vol for 1891, pp. 2, 14, 27, 31 and 50.
[142] Mackay of Uganda, by his sister, (New York, 1897) pp. 417-430 gives the article in full.
[143] The text of this resolution is quoted at the head of chapter thirty-five.
[144] See “Memorials of the Hon. Ion Keith Falconer.”—Robert Sinker (6th Edition Cambridge 1890) and Ion Keith Falconer, Pioneer in Arabia by Rev. A. T. Pierson, D. D. (Oct. 1897, Missionary Review of the World).
[145] Kalilah and Dimnah, or The Fables of Bidpai, by I. G. N. Keith Falconer, Cambridge, 1885.
[146] Life and Correspondence of T. V. French, First Bishop of Lahore, by Rev. Robert Birks, (Murray, London, 1895). 2 vols.
[147] The letters appeared in the Church Missionary Intelligencer, for May and July, 1891.
[148] An able plea for the acceptance of the Mission by the Church was made by Rev. J. A. Davis, in the Christian Intelligencer, N. Y., September 18, 1889.
[149] This meeting with General Haig was described by him in an account in the London Christian (June, 1891).
[150] The Mohammedan Missionary Problem.—H. H. Jessup, D.D., 1879.
[151] Vol. II., pp. 503-529.
[152] Notes on Islam: A Hand-book for Missionaries.—Rev. Arthur Brinckman. London, 1868.
[153] Reprinted in “North Africa” (April, 1892), under the title: Preaching, not Controversy.
[154] History of the Church Missionary Society, Vol. II., p. 155.
[155] The Mohammedan Controversy and other articles—Sir Wm. Muir, Edinburgh, 1897.
[156] Missionary Review, October, 1893, p. 727, in article by “C. H.”
[157] Christianity, Islam and the Negro Race, by E. W. Blyden, London, 1888.
[158] Missions in Sumatra, Dr. A. Schreiber, “North Africa,” May, 1896.
[159] Gen. xii. 3, xviii. 8, xxii. 18, xxvi. 4, xxviii. 14; Num. xiv. 21; Forty-three of the Psalms; Isaiah ii. 2, 18, etc., etc.; Jeremiah iii. 17; Dan. vii. 13, 14; Joel ii. 28; Jonah, iii., iv.; Micah v. 4; Hab. ii. 14; Zeph. ii. 11; Hag. ii. 6, 7; Zech. ix. 10, xiv. 9; Mal. i. 11.
[160] See Isaiah xxxv. 1-3, xl. 3, xli. 19, xliii. 19, li. 3; Ezekiel xxxiv. 25, xlvii. 8; Ps. lxxii. 9, etc.
[161] According to Gesenius this is Suez, while Keil identifies it with Jifar, a site in the northwestern part of Arabia near Egypt.
[162] Compare Rom. iv. 11, and Gal. iii. 17.
[163] Gen. xxi. 9-22.
[164] Gen. xxv. 11-18, and 1 Chron. i. 28.
[165] Isaiah xxi. 13-17 and Jer. xlix. 28-33.
[166] See Smith’s Bible Dictionary.
[167] Cf. Exodus xxiii. 31 and Deut. xi. 24.
[168] The Christian Intelligencer (N. Y.), March 15, 1899.
[169] Consult Bibliographies of Palestine and Syria with inference to Nomad life; also D. Islam.
[170] Consult also list in Gilman’s Saracens.
[171] Consult British and Foreign Bible Society Reports for account of Scripture circulation; the Free Church of Scotland Monthly for reports of Keith Falconer Mission; the Church Missionary Intelligencer, 1887, vol. xii., pp. 215, 273, 346, 408; Missionary Review of the World, 1892-1899, October numbers, and Record of the American Bible Society, 1898-1900.