argument in proof of the abrogation of the Injil by the Qur'an is therefore contrary to the Qur'an itself, to the Gospel, and to Reason.

78. M. Christ and Moses gave different and contrary commands regarding divorce. Thus we see that the Gospel did annul the Law, even in certain matters of morality.

C. Not so: for Christ tells us that the permission for divorce which Moses gave (Matt. xix. 3-10; cf. Matt. v. 31, 32), because of the "hardness of heart" of the Israelites, was but temporary, and it was given only in order doubtless to prevent worse evils. But Christ does not annul this by making a new law on the subject. He points to the fact that, in Gen. ii. 24, God had once for all stated the eternal Moral Law in this matter, and that that Law is still and must ever be in force. Neither Moses nor any one else could abrogate that Law, recorded as it is in the Torah itself. It is God's law, and is in force from the beginning to the end of the world. It can never be annulled, because it is founded on the eternal principles of morality.

Somewhat similarly in certain countries the people are so prone to commit murder, and think it so slight a crime, that the legislature of those countries has attached to murder something less than the death penalty: otherwise no one would ever be there convicted of murder. But the law of God on the subject (Gen. ix. 6) cannot be altered

or annulled, though even Christian rulers may reasonably relax the punishment in such cases, in consequence of the "hardness of men's hearts."

There is therefore no ground whatever for saying that the Gospel or any other part of the Bible has been annulled by the Qur'an, even if we accept the latter as from God. The opinion of Muslims that the Qur'an has annulled the Bible is contrary (1) to the Qur'an itself (see the passages referred to in § 6), and also (2) opposed to Reason and to the distinct statements of Christ Himself (Matt. xxiv. 35).