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A70386 A relation of the beginnings and proceedings of the rebellion in the county of Cavan within the province of Ulster in Ireland, from the 23. of October, 1641. untill the 15. of June, 1642. Whereof hitherto nothing hath been reported. Whereunto is added, the acts, and twenty nine conclusions of that great and generall congregation of archbishops, bishops, and others, all of the Romish clergy in Ireland, met in the city of Kilkenny in that kingdom, on the 10 11 and 13 of May, 1642. Concerning the present state of the warre in Ireland; and for the ordering of matters appertaining to the same, both there, and by negotiation with forraign princes. Written, set forth, and presented to the most honourable the Houses of Parliament, by Henry Iones, D.D. There is also added a letter written from Dublin, August 4. 1642. containing some late and very remarkable passages in Ireland. Jones, Henry, 1605-1682.; Culme, Hugh, 1599 or 1600-1644. aut 1642 (1642) Wing J942B; ESTC R200914 331,124 447

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Temples and Hospitals and are obliged to give to the poore the first day of the year the tithe of what they have gained during the preceding yeare They believe that after being well washt saying some prayer appropriate to that Ceremony they have also the soul purified from all filthiness and sinne which is the cause that they wash and bathe often especially before they pray They have no Sacrament but Circumcision they cause their children to be circumcised at the age of seven or eight years and when they can pronounce these words La ●●●a ill● a●ha Mehemet rasoul allha that is There is but one God Mahomet is his Prophet and Apostle this is their profession of Faith nevertheless there is no mention of Circumcision in all the Alcoran they say they observe it in imitation of Abraham whose Law is recommended to them by Mahomet they believe that the Alcoran was brought to him at severall times by the Angel Gabriel in the City of Mecca and that of Medina because the Jews and Christians had altered the holy Scriptures and the Law of God They are permitted to have four wives married at the same time and as many Concubines as they are able to maintain They can put away their wives when they think fit paying them what they promised them in contract of marriage and marry again at their pleasure but the women are bound to tarry untill they are assured that they a●●●●ith childe before they marry again and their 〈◊〉 ●●●re obliged to keep and take the care of the 〈◊〉 The children which they have by their slaves 〈◊〉 ●●●●rently esteemed with those of their wives and are a● held as legitimate They have Temples Colledges and Hospitalls well revenued they have covents of Religious that live exemplarily obey their Superiours without contradiction and dance after the sound of Flutes and other instruments when they make their prayers They have moreover another sort of Religious Vagabonds through the world clothed like fools of that Country they often go naked and cut their skin in many places are held to be holy persons and live by alms which are never refused them both the one and the other sort of Religious are called Dervis they are known by their habit and can retire and marry when they please They deny Jesus Christ to be God or the Son of God neither believe they in the holy Trinity they say that Jesus Christ was a great Prophet born of the Virgin Mary a Virgin both before and after her delivery that he was conceived by divine inspiration or by a divine breath without a father as Adam was created without a mother that he was not crucified that God took him into heaven and that he shall come again on earth at the end of the world to confirm the Law of Mahomet they likewise affirm that the Jews thinking to crucifie Jesus Christ crucified a man among them that resembled him They pray to God for the Dead they invoke their Saints A great question among Mahometans of whom they have a large Legend nevertheless they believe not Purgatory and many among them imagine that the soul and body remain together in the grave until the day of Judgment They have Mecca and Medina that are two Cities of Arabia in great veneration because Mahomet was born at Mecca and buried at Medina they make thither great pilgrimages and believe that Land to be Holy They bear likewise singular respect to the City of 〈◊〉 for that it hath been the Birth-place and ha●●● 〈◊〉 ●f many Prophets They use no Clocks at the hour of the●●●●●rs their Priests ascend the highest part of the Tower that is in a corner of the Temple and with a loud voyce call the people to prayer singing prayers composed for that purpose WE the Consuls Governors Protectors and Defenders of the Priviledges Freedoms and Liberties of the City of Marseillis do certifie and attest to all to whom it shall appertain that Mr. Andrew du Ryer Lord of Malezair Gentleman in Ordinary of the Kings Chamber and heretofore Consul to his Majesty in Aegypt hath executed the charge for the said Consulship like a man of honesty and honour no complaint having been made at any time or his administration or deportment during the time of his abode there and that he exercised that office Neither was any complaint ever made of the said Mr. du Ryer during the time he sojourned at Constantinople for the service of his Majesty but all the Captains and Officers of Merchant Vessels and of others that negotiated in the same parts received of him all favour as in matters that concerned them as in affairs that did relate to the service of his Majesty and the advantage of his Subjects traffique in testimony of which Wee have drawn and signed these presents and have put and affixed to them the Seal and accustomed Arms of this City At Marseillis the 12. day of Feb. 1633. De Bourgogne Consul I. Savornin Consul Meinardet Consul By the said Consuls Boet. To Mr. DU RYER Lord of Malezair Gentleman in Ordinary of the Kings Chamber at Constantinople SIR HAving heard by the report of many Merchants of this City the good offices that you have daily performed towards them of our Nation and particularly our fellow Citizens who all unanimously much commend your assection and singular care to protect and defend them We thought our duty to return you by these lines a thousand thanks and that the more affection for that your curtesie and not their merits carried you to all those good offices of which they and we shall ever keep a perpetuall memory to render you any acknowledgement when occasion shall be offered and give you a testimony by our services that you have not cast your seed upon barren ground In the mean time Sir we beseech you be pleased to continue to us the honour of your friendship and effects of your favour as we shall desire in all emergent occasion to testifie that we are really Sir Your most affectionate Servant the Consuls Governors of the City of Marseillis Monthouliau Francis Nappolon Du Pont. From Marseillis this 24. of August 1632. A Translation of the Command of the grand Seignior concerning Mr. Malezair ILlustrious and Excellent Commanders refuge of the great Triumphant Eminent Glorious and Honourable Lords endued with the speciall graces of God Bashaws or Vice-Roys Beyes or Governors that are upon the roads of our most August Port to the Realm of France God perpetuate your glory just Judges of the Nusulmans Minerals of Vertue and Knowledge that are upon the road of our most August Port to the Realm of France God increase your vertues Honorable and trusty Governors Captains of Frontires and Castles Captains and Patrons of Galleys and Vessels Customers that are upon the road of our most August Port to the Realm of France God augment your Honours and glory When this most August command shall come to you know that the Lord of
THE ALCORAN OF MAHOMET Translated out of Arabique into French BY THE Sieur Du Ryer Lord of Malezair and Resident for the King of France at ALEXANDRIA And newly Englished for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities LONDON Printed Anno Dom. 1649. THE TRANSLATOR TO THE CHRISTIAN READER THere being so many Sects and Heresies banded together against the Truth finding that of Mahomet wanting to the Muster I thought good to bring it to their Colours that so viewing thine enemies in their full body thou mayst the better prepare to encounter and I hope overcome them It may hapily startle thee to find him so to speak English as if he had made some Conquest on the Nation but thou wilt soon reject that feare if thou consider that this his Alcoran the Ground-work of the Turkish Religion hath been already translated into almost all Languages in Christendome at least the most generall as the Latin Italian French c. yet never gained any Proselyte where the Sword its most forcible and strongest argument hath not prevailed And indeed the greatest Doctors of their Religion have never alledged any thing for the truth thereof but the successe of their wars and greatnesse of their Empire then which nothing is more fallacious for that which both in former and these latter Ages hath been common to the bad with the good cannot be a certain evidence of the justice of a Cause or the truth of Religion Thou shalt find it of so rude and incongruous ● composure so fa●ced with contradictions obscene speeches and ridiculous fables that some modest and more rationall Mahometans have thus excused it that their Prophet wrote an hundred and twenty thousand sayings whereof three thousand only are good the residue as the impossibility of the Moons falling into his sleeve the Conversion and Salvation of the Devils and the like are false and ridiculous Yet is the whole esteemed so sacred that upon the Cover thereof is inscribed Let none touch it but he who is clean Nor are the vulgar permitted to read it but live and die in an implicite faith of what their Priests deliver which indeed as faith the learned Grotius is a manifest argument of its iniquity Grotius de ver Re● Christ. For that merchandise may justly be suspected which will not be sold unlesse unseen and though all men are not alike perspicacious in the knowledge and discer●nig of things some by arrogancy and vain co●ceit of themselves others by affection Some by custome being drawn into error yet should we belive that the way to eternall life cannot not be understood by them who without any respect of profit or preferment seek it submitting themselves withall they have to God imploring his assistance we should sin against his infinite goodnesse Therefore Christian Reader though some conscious of their own instability in Religion and of theirs too like Turks in this whose prosperity and opinions they follow were unwilling this should see the Presse yet am I confident if thou hast been so true a votary to orthodox Religion as to keep thy self untainted of their follies this shall not hurt thee And as for those of that Batch having once abandoned the Sun of the Gospel I believe they will wander as far into utter darkenesse by following strange lights as by this Ignis Fatuus of the Alcoran Such as it is I present ●o thee having taken the pains only to translate it ●ut of French not doubting though it hath been a ●oyson that hath infected a very great but most unsound part of the universe it may prove an Antidote to confirme in thee the health of Christianity THE FRENCH EPISTLE TO THE READER THe Book is a long conference of God the Angels and Mahomet which that false Prophet very grosly invented sometimes he introduceth God who speaketh to him and teacheth him his Law then an Angell anon the Prophets and frequently maketh God to speak in the plurall in a stile that is not ordinary He declaimeth against such as worship Idols particularly against the Inhabitants of the City of Mecca and against the * The Coreis were a powerfull family in Arabia in Mahomets time Coreis who were enemies to his designe He intituled this book the Alcoran as one would say the Collection o● Precepts He likewise termed it El Forcan that is that distinguisheth good from evill He divided i● into many Chapters to which he gave what inscription he thought good he most commonly intituleth them with words that are in their first line without regard to the matter they treat of an● speaketh little of their Inscription He divided in to many signs or Verses that contain his ordinances and fables without observation either of th● consequence or connexion of the discourse whic● is the cause that thou shalt find in this Book a multitude of incongruous pieces and divers repetitions of the same things It hath been expounded by many Mahometan Doctors their exposition being as ridiculous as the Text They affirme the originall of the Alcoran to be written upon a Table kept in Heaven that the Angel Gabriel brought this Copy to Mahomet who could neither write nor read and stile him Prophet or Apostle in honor Thou shalt find at beginning of some Chapters letters of the Arabique Alphabet which some men will not expound They feare to utter things that may displease their false Prophet Most of their Doctors affirm those Letters to be the first letters of the Names of God Thou shalt find the exposition in this version Thou wilt wonder that such absurdities have infected the best part of the world and wilt a vouch that the knowledge of what is contained in this Book will render that Law contemptible A Summary of the Religion of the TURKS THe Turks believe one sole God in one sole Person Creator of heaven and earth the rewarder of the good and punisher of the wicked who hath created Paradise for the recompense of the righteous and Hell for the last punishment of crimes They believe that Mahomet was a very great Prophet whom God sent into the world to teach men the way of salvation and call themselves Musulma●s that is to say recommended to God or saved They believe the Decalogue of Moses and are obliged to observe it they celebrate Friday as the Christians Sunday that day they assemble in Temples at noon to pray They are obliged to pray five times a day viz. in the morning at noon at the evening when the Sun setteth and an hour within night They fast the month or moon which they call Ramazan during this month they neither drink nor eat all the day untill the Sun be set but in the night drink and eat according to their appetites flesh and fish except the flesh of swine and wine that is at all times forbidden them after this fast they have the feast of great Bairan as the Christians Easter after Lent They are great founders of
belyed on● part and slew another The unbeleevers said our heart i● hardned It is God that hath cursed them by reason o● their impiety and few of them will beleeve the Commandements of his divine Majesty When God hath sent them any Book confirming the Scriptures which they before approved viz. the Old Testament and the Gospell they demanded succours when they meet with the wicked and being succoured they either understood it not or would not receive it The curse of God is upon Infidels especially upon them that have sold their souls and through envie disobeyed his Commandements He bestoweth his grace on whom he pleaseth they are returned in the displeasure of his Divine Majesty who hath prepared for them grievous torments because of the enormity of their crimes When it was said to them Believe in the Commandements of God See Kitab el tenoir they said Doe we not believe in what hath beene commanded us Neverthelesse they have no faith in the truth which God hath sent confirming the Prophecies and the precepts that they before approved Say unto them had you heretofore slain the Prophets if you had believed in his Law Moses certainly had caused you to see Miracles but ye adored the Calf after his departure wherfore you were greatly too blame We received your promise to observe the Commandements of the Law and raised a * The Turks believe that God raised a Mountain over the Israelites to overshadow them Mountain over you Understand with affection what we teach you and hearken what is commanded you they answered we have heard and disobeyed and inclined their heart to the adoration of the Calf because of their impietie Say to them doth your faith command you to doe it if you believe in God and life eternal T●●nk upon death if you be righteous They regard not their past errors but God knoweth the unjust Thou shalt find them with diligence and desire to live a long time The wicked hope to live a thousand years but they shal be exempt from the punishment to live long God beholdeth all their actions Say to them who is an enemy to Gabr●●● He by the permission of God hath inspired into * Maho met thee the Alcoran that confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and guideth the good in the way of their Salvation and declareth to them the joyes of Paradise He that is an enemy to God the Angels his Prophet to Gabriel and Michael shal be rigorously chastised God is an enemy to Infidels We have sent thee precepts cleare and intelligible none will abjure them but the wicked Some of them have acted against their own promises the greatest part is incredulous many of them that have knowledge in the written law have forsaken it even when God sent them any Prophet to confirm the Scriptures that they had before received and approved They cast the book of God behind their backs as if they knew it not and adhered to what the Devils taught in the raign of Solomon yet Solomon sinned not but the Devils only that instructed the people in Magick and what was taught by the two Angels Arot and Marot Magicians Arot and Marot in Babylon Before they taught the people they said We are not sedition ne●ther be you impious The people learnd of them what concerneth the separation of the man the woman what breedeth hatred betwixt them They did not harm to any by their Magick but through the permission of go● the people learned of them what might hurt and not to be profitable to them they instructed in Magick them that sold their part in Paradise at the losse 〈◊〉 their souls although they knew their error that they ha● before beleeved in God and feared his divine Majesty Repentance inspired by God is exceeding profitable they understood to know it O you that feare God say not honour us say regard us and hearken to what is commanded you To Infidels are prepared dolorous torments the Jews and Christians desired not that God should sen● you good but God very liberall gratifieth with his mercy whom he pleaseth he will not alter his Commandements neither forget them he will moreover teach other● more profitable or of the like nature know you not tha● God is omnipotent understand you not that to God appertains the Kingdom of heaven and of earth who excep● God will be your protector Will you question your Prophet as Moses was heretofore questioned He that shal● change faith into impiety The Jews and Christians who have the written Law shall forsake the good way Many that have knowledge in the Scripture endeavoured t● mislead you through impiety and envy notwithstanding they are not ignorant of the Truth forgive them and beware of them untill God hath otherwise disposed he i● Omnipotent See Gelaldin Make your prayers at the time appointed and pay your Tithes you shal find before God the good that you do for your souls he beholdeth all your actions They have said that none but the Jews and Christians shall enter into Paradise it is their fals invention say unto them if you be good men bring your Reasons on the contrary he that resigneth himself to God and is a just man shall be recompensed by his divine Majesty there needeth not be any fear for him he shal not be tormented in the fire of hel The Jews say the Christians are void of reason and the Christians affirm the Jews to be without reason neverthelesse they study the Scripture so speak the ignorant God will determine their difference at the day of the Resurrection Who is more unjust then he that hindred that God be remembred in Temples and that studieth nought but their destruction such men cannot enter therein but with fear and terrour they shall have on earth shame upon the ●orehead and in the other world shall suffer exceeding ●reat torments The East and West are Gods whither so●ver men turn themselves the face of God doth there meet ●●em his Divinity extendeth through the whole earth They said beleeve you that God hath a Son Praised be God on the contrary whatever is either in earth or hea●en appertaineth to his Divine Majesty and all things o●ey him he hath created heaven and earth and when he ●illeth any thing he saith Be thou and it is The unbe●eevers sa●d if God speak not to us or if thou performest ●o miracls we wil not beleeve thee their predecessors have ●aid as much and their words have been like unto their ●earts we have caused miracles to appear to the righteous ●nd have sent thee to preach and instruct the people in●uire not why those that shal descend into hell wil not be●ieve thee the Jews and Christians will not be satisfied of ●hee until thou follow their opinion say unto them there is ●o better guide in the world then God take heed lest thou ●ollow their appetites after that thou hast comprehended ●he knowledge which we inspired into thee
little or much and limit the time wherein payment ought to bee made such writings are just before God give more efficacy to testimonie and are requi●●te ●o avoide your complaints one of another If your merchandize be present you shall take it betweene you at the same time then shall you not sinne in not drawing a writing or contract Call witnesses when you sell or buy neither the witnesses nor the Notary shall receive any dammage If you shall doe that which is forbidden you shall doe very ill Feare God he will teach you his Commandements he knoweth all things If you are in a journey and cannot find a Notary you shall give earnest If one trusteth in the other he that shall be trusted in shall satisfie his promise and feare God his Lord no man shall conceale his testimony he that shall conceale shall sinne in his heart God knoweth all your actions Whatsoever is in Heaven or in Earth belonging unto God whether you conceale or reveale what in your minds he shall require an account of you he p●●doneth and chastiseth whom it pleaseth him he is o●nipotent The Prophet believed in all that God sent him as likewise all the true believers Such as believe God the Angels and Scriptures and generally all 〈◊〉 Prophets without exception say We have heard 〈◊〉 obeyed Pardon us oh Lord Thou art our refuge G●● requireth of no man more then he is able to peeform the good that a man shall doe shall be for himselfe 〈◊〉 the evill that he doth shall be likewise agninst him L●● excuse us if wee have forgotten thee or sinned L●● charge us not with any heavy burthen as thou di●charge them that were before us charge us not with t●●● which we are not able to suport blot out our sinnes 〈◊〉 give us thy mercy Thou art our Lord give us victory ●gainst the Infidels CHAP. III. The Chapter of the Lienage of Ioachim containing two h●●dred verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am 〈◊〉 most wise God God! There is but one only God ●●ving and eternall He hath sent to thee the Book 〈◊〉 containeth truth and confirmeth the Scriptures 〈◊〉 were sent before it He sent the Old Testament and 〈◊〉 Gospell that were heretofore guides to the people 〈◊〉 hath sent the Alcoran that distinguisheth good from ●vill they that believe not in the Law of God shall 〈◊〉 severely chastised He is omnipotent and revengefull N●thing is hid from him in Heaven or in Earth It is 〈◊〉 that formed you in the wombes of your mothers as it pl●●sed him there is no God but the omnipotent and 〈◊〉 God He it is that sent to thee the Book whose prece●●●● are necessary See Kitab el tenoir they are the originall and foundation the Law like in puritie one to the other and with contradiction Such as in their heart incline to depart from the truth doe often follow their inclination desirous of sedition and to understand the explication of the Alcoran but none understand its explication but God and such as are profound in learning they say we believe in God all things proceed from his divine wisdome neverthelesse none remember ●ut the wise Lord cause not our hearts to erre after thou hast guided us into the right way give us thy mercy thou art most bountifull towards thy creatures Lord thou art hee that shalt assemble the world at the day of Iudgement at which day nothing shall be found doubtfull when thou wilt not goe against thy promises and when wealth and children shall not serve to the wicked but to kindle the fire of Hell The Infidell lineage of Pharoah and those that preceded him blasphemed and abjured the Law of God but he surprized them in their sinne hee is grievous in his chastisements Say to the Infidels they shall be vanquished and shall be gathered together into the fire of Hell that is prepared for them You have an example in the two Troops that fought for the glory of God they beheld with their eyes Infidels become true believers like unto themselves God strengthneth with his aide whom it pleaseth him this shall be for example to such as shall cleerly see The love and desire of women of children of riches abundance of gold and of silver of horses cattell and of tillage are pleasing to men such are the riches of the life of this world but the most assured refuge is in God Say unto them I will declare unto you things much better for them that shall have the feare of God before their eyes they shall dwell eternally in Paradise where flow many rivers with women beautifull and leane and all manner of content God beholdeth them that adore him and that say Lord we believe in thy Law pardon our sinnes and deliver us from the torments of fire The patient the persevering true believers the obedient the good men such as beg pardon of God in the morning the Angels the Learned that love Iustice testifie that there is but one only God The Law of salvation is a Law pleasing to his divine Majestie no man contradicteth this truth among * The Iews and Christians such as know the written Law but through envie He that shall not obey the Commandements of God shall find his divine Majesty very exact to call him to an accompt See Gelaldin If the impious dispute with thee say to them I am wholy resigned to the will of God The Iews and Christians with all such as have followed me Aske of such as know the written Law and them that know it not if they resigne themselves to God if they doe they will follow the right way The Arabians if they goe astray thou hast none other obligation but to preach to them God beholdeth them that adore him See Kitab el tenoir Declare grievous torments to those that conceale his Commandements that kill the Prophets and injure them that instruct the people in Iustice the good works that they doe shall be unprofitable to them on earth and they shall be in the other world d●prived of protection Seest thou not a partie of them that know the written Law how they were called to a Lecture of the Book of God to the end they might judge with equitie the differences that are among them but many are returned to their sinne they contemned the Scripture in that they said the fire shall not touch us but for a certain number of dayes They are deceived in their blasphemies what will become of them when we shall assemble them at the day of Iudgement when nothing shall be doubtfull and every one shall be recompensed as he shall have merited No in justice shall be done unto them Say Lord thou possessest the Kingdomes of the world thou givest Royalty to whom thou seest good from thy hand oh Lord proceedeth all good thou art Omnipotent thou causest day to enter the night and night the day thou
not surprise you they are your declared Enemies when thou shalt be neare them and shalt appoint the true believers to make their prayers keep about thee a partie of them for a guard while the residue make their prayers having finished their Orisons they shall doe as the first take armes and keep a guard during the time their companions shall make their prayers the Infidels desire that you quit your armes to surprize you you shall not doe amisse to quit them if raine trouble you or you be sick but continue alwayes upon your guard God hath prepared for Infidels ignominious torments Having finished your prayers Remember God standing sitting or lying downe and pray when you shall be in a place of safety prayer is commanded the faithfull in a prefixed and appointed time Bee not negligent to pursue the Infidels if you suffer they shall suffer 〈◊〉 you but you hope for that which they must not hope for God knoweth all their actions hee is most prudent 〈◊〉 all his works We have sent to thee the most true Book the end thou mayst iudge the differences that are amo●● the people as thy Lord hath instructed thee Contend 〈◊〉 with Traitors and aske pardon of God he is gracious a●● mercifull Dispute not with those that betray their soul● God loveth not treacherous sinners they conceale the●selves from the world he is with them when they hide their hearts such things as are displeasing to him 〈◊〉 knoweth all their actions O yee you dispute for the in this world who shall dispute for them against God 〈◊〉 the day of Iudgement who shall that day be their pr●tector He that shall implore pardon of God have offended him shall finde him gracious and merciful who doth evill shall find evill God is Omniscient a●● most wise Gelaldin saith a great and little sin He that committeth a venial or a mortal sin a●● would excuse himself committeth evidently a mortall sin Many of them had endeavoured to seduce thee hadst th●● not been directed by the grace and mercy of God B●● they seduce only their own souls and shall do thee 〈◊〉 harme God hath sent to thee the Book that containe● his Commandements he hath taught thee what thou di● not understand and his grace is eminently upon thee there is no good in the multiplicity of their secrets or di●course except in such as command alms honesty a●● peace among the people with desire to please God the● shall recive from his divine Maiesty a great reward 〈◊〉 that shall contradict the Prophet having had knowled●● of the right way and shall follow other paths then that 〈◊〉 the true believers shall relapse into his impiety I wi●● cause him to burn in the fire of hell where is the habitatio● of the wicked God pardoneth not them that say he ha● companions except this he pardons all things as he see● good he that affirmeth that God hath a companio● greatly erreth and is estranged from the truth If they invoke other then God they invoke Idols the devill obstinate and cursed of God when he said to him thou wi●● not give me power over them that worship thee but I will seduce them from the right way I will prolong their wicked life to retard their conversion I will cause them to cut off the * The ancient Arabians cut off the ear of any beast and gave him liberty through their country for expiation of their sins ears of beasts they shall disobey thy commendements and they shall envie thy creatures He that demandeth succours of the devill is in manifest perdition he will promise to men long life and retard their repentance but he promiseth them but a vain glory hell is the dwelling place of such men out of which they shall find no issue Such as shall believe in God and do good works shall dwell eternally in Paradise where flow many rivers God is most true in what he promiseth who is more then God in his words Your lies and the lies of them that know the written Law do him no harm See Gelaldin be that shall do ill shall be punished and shall find no protector he that shall do well See Kitab el tenoir and shall believe in the Law of God shall enter into Paradise and shall have no iniustice done to him what better law is there then to resigne thy self to God and to be an honest man Follow the Law of Abraham God chose Abraham to love him whatsoever is in heaven and in earth belongeth to his divine Maiesty he knoweth all things They will question thee concerning women say to them God teacheth you in that what you were taught in the Scripture touching Orphans and women give to them what is appointed by the Law and desire not to espouse them only to possess their wealth God teacheth you likewise to give to Orphans what appertaineth to them and not to iniure them he will understand your good actions If a woman fear to be illentreated by her husband and that he will divorce her they shall do well mutually to accord for peace is exceeding good If you be too obstinate and cannot agree together if you do good to your wives in divorcing them and feare to wrong them God will take notice of your actions If you believe you cannot keep equality and iustice among your wives although you apply your selves to it Incline not altogether to your own appetites and leave not your wife as a thing left in toleration If you live in a good accord and fear to injure them God will be mercifull to you If they separate themselves conformably to the precepts of the Law God will enrich them with his protection he is bountifull and wise and whatever is in Heaven and Earth obeyeth him We have recommended to you the fear of God as we have heretofore to them that had knowledge of the written Law If you be impious know that whatever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods he hath no need of his creatures must be exalted it sufficeth thee he is thy protector If he will he can cause you to perish and put other creatures in your place for he is Omnipotent He that loveth the good things of the Earth shall find in God all the wealth of this world and of the other he understandeth and seeth all things Oh you that believe be true in your testimonies notwithstanding it be against your selves against your Father and Mother and against your kindred and consider the rich no more then the poore God is the protector of the one and the other follow not your appetites to favour the rich more then the poore pervert not the Truth be not sc●●pulous to testifie what you know God knoweth all your actions Oh ye that believe in God! and his Prophet and the Book that was sent before him know he that blasphemeth against his divine Majestie against his Angels the Scripture the Prophets and life eternall greatly erreth and departeth
to light many things of the Scripture which you conceale and he likewise leaveth in silence many things that it is not time to make manifest God hath sent you a Book full of light to conduct into the way of Salvation them that love him to bring them out of darknesse and by his speciall grace to lead them into the way of Salvation Certainly he that saith that the Messiah the Sonne of Mary is God is impious Say to him who can hinder God to exterminate the Messiah and his Mother with whatsoever is in the Earth when it shall seeme good to him God is King of Heaven and earth he created with them what seemed good to him he is Omnipotent The Jews and Christians have said we are the Children of God his wel-beloved Say to them shall not God chastise you for your sinnes Certainly ye are men He that created you pardoneth and punisheth as it pleaseth him he is the King of all that is in Heaven or Earth and of whatever is betweene them he is the refuge of the righteous O ye that have knowledge in the written Law The Poophet the Apostle of God is come to instruct you in a time that there is none other Prophet but hee on the Earth Will you say that no man preached to you the torments of Hell Certainly the word of God is this day preached to you the torment of Hell and the Omnipotencie of his Divine Majestie Remember thou what Moses said to his people Oh people call to mind the grace of God towards you he hath chosen from among you Prophets and Kings hath conferred on you what he hath given to none in the world Enter into the holy Land as God hath commanded turne not your backs to your enemies lest you be in the number of Reprobates They answered oh Moses there are Gyants and Tyrants in the Holy Land we will not enter into it untill they be gone out of it if they forsake it we will enter into it Then two men of them that were in the grace of God said to them enter at the gate and fight against them you shall be victorious trust in God if you believe in his Law They said oh Moses we will not enter so long as those Tyrants dwell therein goe and fight against them with thy Lord we will here attend Then said Moses Lord I dispose but of mine own and my brothers person separate us from this wicked people the Lord said to him the entrance into the Holy Land is prohibited to this people they shall wander forty years upon the Earth in confusion and amazement afflict not thy selfe with the deportments of the wicked teach them the Historie of the Sonnes of Adam how they offered sacrifices how the sacrifice of the one was accepted that of the other was not he through envie menaced his brother to murther him his brother said to him God receiveth the sacrifices and holocausts of such as have his feare before their eyes assuredly if thou extendest thine hand to slay me I will not stretch forth mine to hurt thee I feare the Lord of the Universe If thou chargest thy selfe with the murther of my person with thy past sinnes thou shalt goe to hell where the unjust shall be punished The murther of his brother seemed easie and advantagious for him he slew him and is in the number of the Damned God sent a Raven that made a pit in the Earth and shewed him the manner to bury the body of his brother Then said he would to God I had been weake and impotent that I were like to this Raven I must bury the body of my brother and he was penitent for his offence by reason of this murther we ordained to the children of Israel that he who shall slay a person innocent shall be punished as if he had slaine the whole world and he that shall give him his life shall be recompensed as if hee had given life to the whole world My Prophets came to the Children of Israel taught them my Commandements and caused them to see Miracles neverthelesse many of them were disobedient the punishment of them that oppose the will of God that of his Prophet and that endeavour to pollute the earth is to be slain hanged to have the right foot and the left hand or right hand and the left foot cut off and to bee extirpated from the earth they shall have in this world shame on the forehead and shall feele in the other great torments except such as shall be converted before their death and shall know that God is gracious and mercifull Oh ye that believe feare God fight for his Law you perhaps shall be happy All the Treasures of the world shall not bee able to redeeme Infidels at the day of Judgement they shall endure exceeding great torments they shall desire to goe out of the fire of Hell but shall dwell there eternally Cut off the hands of those men and women that steale they contract upon themselves the wrath of the world and the punishment that God hath prepared for the wicked He that shall turn and do good works shall be pardoned God is gracious and mercifull to the penitent Knowest thou not that the Kingdome of Heaven and of Earth is Gods that hee chastiseth and pardoneth whom it pleaseth him and that he is Omnipotent Oh Prophet afflict not thy selfe to behold them running to impietie that say with the mouth we believe and have no faith in their hearts neither for them that Judaize and hearken to the lies of their Doctors to relate them to others they pervert the language of the Old Testament and say If you be instructed in those precepts you ought to observe them if they instruct you not in them take heed to your selves Such as make use of the name of God to move the people to sedition are without faith God will not purifie their hearts they shall have in this world shame upon the forehead and feele in the other extreame torments They listen to blasphemies and eat what is prohibited If they repaire to thee and submit themselves to thy judgement judge their controversie with equity converse not with them if thou depart from their company they shall not hurt thee if thou givest judgement between them Judge with equitie God loveth the just How shall they submit to thy judgement seeing they have the Old Testament which containeth the Commandements of God They will not execute thy Judgement neither believe in the Old Testament whereis the guide of the right way and a light to the Prophets to judge the differences arising among true believers among Jews their Doctors and ther Priests who study the Scripture and are witnesses that it containeth the truth feare not the world but dread me sell not neither exchange my commandements for any price Such as judge not conformably to the Law of God are Infidels We have ordained the Talio man for man an eye for an eye a
Conceale not your testimony lest you be in the number of sinners If you discover those two witnesses to have erred in their testimonie substitute two other in their place although they partake in your succession and take oath of them to be more veritable in their dispositions then the two others otherwise they will offend God and be numbred with the unjust It is better to speake Truth then to be in feare lest your falshood be detected feare God and hearken to his Commandements he guideth not them that disobey him He shall one day assemble his Prophets and Apostles and say unto them what did you answer being questioned concerning my unity they shall reply Lord we are ignorant thou alone knowest all things He shall say to Jesus Oh Jesus Sonne of Mary remember thou my grace towards thee and thy mother I strengthned thee with the Holy Ghost Thou spakest in thy Cradle as a man of forty or fifty yeares thee did I instruct in Scripture and knowledge the Old Testament and the Gospell Thou didst forme of earth the figure of a Bird didst breath upon it and it did flie thou didst cure the borne-blind and the leprous didst revive the dead I delivered thee from the Jews when thou didst preach to them my Commandements and wroughtest miracles which the wicked affirmed to be magick and inchantment Remember how thou didst command thy Apostles to believe in me and obey my Prophet and how they said we believe in one sole God be thou witnesse that we entirely resign our selves to the will of God Remember * Mahomet thou that the Apostles said Oh Jesus Son of Mary can thy Lord send us from Heaven a Table covered with meats to satisfie us Jesus answered them Fear God if you believe in his Law they said we have an appetite and desire to eat of the food of Heaven for the repose of our hearts and to know if thou speakest the truth of which we shall be witnesses Then said he Oh God my Lord cause to descend upon us from Heaven a Table covered with meat this day shall be celebrated by us and them that shall succeed this shall be a signe of thy omnipotency enrich us with thy grace thou possessest all treasure God said to him I will cause to descend from Heaven the food which thou desirest and whosoever shall be impious shall be punished with torments that no man yet hath suffered He shal say at the day of ●udgment oh Jesus Sonne of Mary didst thou enjoyne the people to worship thee and thy mother as two Gods Jesus shall answer praised be thy name I will take heed of speaking what is not thou knowest if I have said it thou art omniscient thou knowest what is in my soul and I have no knowledge of what is in thee I delivered nothing but what thou didst command me to speake to wit Worship God your Lord and mine I am witnesse from the time that I was in the world untill thou didst cause me to dye thou didst observe the deportments of the people thou seest all if thou chastisest men they are thy Creatures if thou dost pardon them thou art omnipotent and wise Then shall God say this day shall good workes be profitable to the righteous they shall enter into Paradise wherein flow many rivers there shall they dwell eternally with my grace in exceeding great felicitie the Kingdome of Heaven of Earth is Gods he is Omnipotent CHAP. VI. The Chapter of Gratifications Gelaldin justifieth this Chapter of Animals containing one hundred and seventy five Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise bee to God the Creator of Heaven of Earth of darkenesse and of light such as believe not in their Lord are in error See Gelaldin He it is that created you of the dust of the Earth and appointed a prefixed time for your death and resurrection neverthelesse you doubt he is God in Heaven and in Earth he understandeth the secrets of your hearts and whatsoever you make manifest he knoweth the good and evil that you commit that his Commandements have been taught the Inhabitants of Mecca and that they have abjured them they opposed the revealed Truth but shall be chastised for their contempt They consider not how much people we have destroyed in past ages we gave them places to dwell in See Gelaldin more strong and spacious then those which you inhabit sent them about of raine caused fountaines flow in the places of their habitation after this did we extirpate them by reason of their sins and established in their place a new people We have sent to thee the Scripture written in Vellam the unbelievers have handled it with their hands yet say it is evident sorcery and enchantment that they will not believe therein unless they see an Angel descend to confirme it Should we have sent an Angel they had perished by his presence unless we had sent him under the Figure of a man like unto them and cloathed as they are They derided the Prophets and Apostles thy Predecessors derision is fallen upon such as contemned them Say to them goe through the world and consider the end of them that abjure the Law of God say to them to whom appertaineth whatsoever is in Heaven and earth it is Gods He will employ his mercy to save you doubtlesse he will assemble all of you at the day of Judgement Neverthelesse Infidels believe not in his Unity they consider not that whatsoever moveth by night and by day and whatsoever is in the world belongeth to his Divine Majesty who understandeth and knoweth all things Say to them require you other protection then that of God the Omnipotent Creator of heaven and earth who nourisheth all things is nourished by none Say to them I have received a command to embrace the Law of Salvation Be not ye in number of unbelievers I feare to disobey my Lord and feare the torments prepared for the wicked at the day of Judgement he that shall deliver himselfe shall enjoy the grace of God which is supreame felicity If God will punish you none shall deliver you from his punishment if his Will be to doe good to you he is Omnipotent alwayes victorious and hath all power over his Creatures he is most wise and Omniscient Say to them What better testimony is there in the world then that of God Say to them He shall testifie between you and me to whom he hath inspired the Alcoran to instruct you Will any among you that shall learn it say there is any other God but God I will not say so there is but one God and I am innocent from the sin you commit in associating him with a companion equall to him many of them that understand the written Law have knowledge of the truth of the Alcoran their children also know it but such as forsake their owne souls will not believe in God Who more unjust then he that
things like to those which God inspired into his Prophets When thou shalt see the wicked at the point of death and the Angels stretching forth their hands to take their souls say unto them This day the torments of hell shall be the punishment of the blasphemies that ye have vomited against God and your disobedience to his Commandements God shall say to them you are come before us without riches and children naked as you were created and have cast behind your backs the instructions which we gave you I see not with you the Idols you adored you are separated from each other and have forsaken them that you esteemed on earth should have been your protectors God separateth the good from the wicked as the corn from the ear and the stone from the Date He causeth the living to spring from the dead and the dead from the living behold the works of God why will you depart from his Law He divideth the morning from darkness hath established night for the repose of men and the Sun and Moon to compute ages years moneths and seasons such are the effects of Gods power he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He it is that created the Stars to give you light and guide you in the obscurity of the earth and sea he gratifieth with his grace and such as learn his Commandements He it is that created you of one sole person that gave you the earth to inhabit and preserveth you in the world hee hath conferred his grace on such as have obeyed his Commandements hath made raine to descend from heaven and caused the earth to produce divers sorts of herbs green things and corn he hath caused the Date to spring forth and the Palme tree with gardens enriched with Grapes Olives Pomgranets and many fruits alike and different Consider how fruits encrease and multiply this serveth for instruction of Gods Unity to them that have his fear before their eyes the Infidels have adored the devill with God who created them and said that God hath sons and daughters such is their ignorance praised be God he created heaven and earth how shall he have a son who hath no wives He created and knoweth all things he is your God and your Lord there is none other God but he worship him he conserveth all things he is seen of no man and beholdeth all things he is benigne and nothing is concealed from him O people there is come to you a light from your Lord to conduct you he that seeth clearly shall receive advantage and he that shall be blinde shall continue his miserie I am your Tutor neither observe I what you do Thus do I declare the mysteries of my Law the wicked shall in the end confesse that thou hast taught my Commandements to such as inclined to learn them Act what thy Lord hath inspired into thee there is no God but he separate thy selfe from the societie of unbelievers Had it pleased God they had not disobeyed his Commandements thou art not their Tutor injure not them that worship Idols they injure God through malice and ignoranc● every man esteemeth what he hath done and pleaseth himself in his opinion Certainly they shall all be assembled at the day of Judgement and be chastised after their demerits They have sworn by the name of God to fight for the faith if some miracle appeare to instruct them miracles proceed from God they know not the time wherein he will make them to appeare although they should see miracles they will not be converted I will overturne their hearts blind their sight and they shall never be converted I will leave them in their errors and disobedience with contempt and confusion If we should send to them Angels should the dead come and speake to them and should we bring about them all the witnesses of the world they shall not believe if it so please God most of them are ignorant we have allotted an enemy to each Prophet as the Devill is an enemy to men he tempteth them with the ornament of his discourses to render them proud If it had pleased thy Lord they had wanted that power depart thou from unbelievers and their blasphemies and incline not to their will they shall find no advantage in their impiety Do you desire another Judge then God who hath sent to you the Book that distinguisheth good from evill Such as know the Scripture are not ignorant that this Book was sent from God and containeth the Truth Be not thou in the number of them that doubt the word of God exactly commeth to passe no man can hinder its effects God understandet● and knoweth all things If thou incline to the will of most men they will seduce thee they believe but their own opinions and are lyars Thy Lord knoweth them that erre and such as follow the right way Eat what shall be slain in pronouncing the name of God they taught you what was forbidden eat not unlesse constrained through necessity Many erre from the right way and pursue their own appetites and ignorance God beholdeth them that offend him flie publike and secret sinne sinners shall be severely chastised eat not of what is not let-bloud in pronouncing the name of God lest you disobey his Commandements The Devils will tempt them that serve them they will perswade unbelievers to dispute against you if you incline to them you shall be Infidels as they are I raised again many of them that were dead through their sinnes I converted them and gave them a light to illuminate them in the darknesse wherein Infidels shall dwell for ever because they delight in their disobedience Thus will I place in every City leaders that shall seduce the wicked and themselves but shall not understand it When they beheld any signe of the truth of the Prophet appeare they said they will not believe in him unlesse he were accompanied with the vertues and merits of other Prophets God maketh choyce of them on whom he conferreth the grace of prophecie he shall chastise such as discourse in that manner with ignominie in this world and they shall feel in the other great torments by reason of their impietie God rejoyceth the hearts of them that he inclineth to lead into the way of Salvation and punisheth them that digresse from the right path his wrath fell upon the Infidels so soon as he ascended into Heaven The way thou followest is the right way we have recompensed such as have understanding to profit they shall be happy God shall be their protector because of their good works Remember thou the day wherein we shall assemble the people and when it shall be said to the Devils Oh ye bands of Devils wherefore are you risen against men The chiefe of those men that shall have obeyed them shall answer Lord suffer us to be revenged on each other and let each command in his turn See Gelaldin Oh Lord teach us the prefixed time that thou hast appointed to
eternally in hell fire Who is more unjust then he that blasphemeth against God and his Commandements Such shall be punished conformably to the Scripture When the Angels of death shall cause them to die they shall say Where be the Idols that you adored instead of God they shall answer that those false gods have forsaken them and shall acknowledge their Idolatry but God shall say to them enter into hell with the men and devils that are condemned they shall execrate the Sec●s that preceded them and being assembled they shall say Lord judge them they seduced us augment their miseries in hell God shall say We will adde to their and your pains but you understand it not They shall say among themselves we are not the cause that you were unbelievers you were not such to please us suffer with us the torments that you have merited I will not open the gate of heaven to such as disobey my Commandements untill a Camell pass through the eye of a needle so will I chastise sinners hell shall be their bed fire shall be their covering and such as shall have done good works according to their power shall dwell eternally in Paradise I will remove deceit far from their heart rivers shall flow in their fields with delights and they shall say praysed be God who hath brought us hither otherwise we had bin in the number of the erronious Certainly the Prophets Gods Messengers taught us the truth in saying the observance of the Commandements of his divine Majesty should render us heirs of Paradise Such as shall be saved shall tell the damned that they have found the grace foretold them of God and we will demand of them if they have not met with the punishment that his divine Majesty did denounce against them they shall say aloud Yes and that the curse of God is upon the unjust that misled men from his Law and they shall be eternally in the number of the miserable * The Mahometan Doctors believe that such as shall have do●e as much good as evil and whose ballance shall not decline neither on the scale of good works or of bad shall dwell in the place called Aaraf with them that have done neither good nor evill and this place is between Hell and Paradise Between the blessed and the damned there is a separation and a place called Aaraf or prisons wherin are many persons who know the blessed and the damned by their countenances they call to the blessed and salute them yet they go not into Paradise notwithstanding their great desire to enter When they turn their eyes towards the damned Lord say they involve us not in the number of the unjust Such as are in that place call to the damned they know them by their visages and say to what served your riches and that ye arose against the Faith and Commandements of God Behold the faithfull whom ye contemned you swore they should be deprived of mercy God hath spoken to them and hath said enter into Paradise and fear not you shall for ever be exempt from affliction the damned shall cry unto the blessed Give us of the water which you drink and the meats that you eat they shall answer The drink and bread of Paradise is prohibited to Infidels who sported with their faith that were proud of the wealth of the earth and that scoffed at the Commandements of God he hath forgotten them because they forgot the comming of the day of Judgement and blasphemed against his precepts We are come to the Inhabitants of Mecca to instruct them in the Alcoran we teach it unto men to give them knowledge of the right way and to acquire the mercy of God if they believe in that Book Shall they expect to believe untill they know its explication It s explication shall appear at the day of Judgement that day such as shall have lived without faith shall say Certainly the Prophets delivered the Truth shall we partake of their prayers will they intercede for us untill we return to the world to do better then we have done and to obey Gods Commandements But they shall be damned because of their blasphemies God is your Lord he created the heaven and the earth in six dayes and sitteth on his Throne he causeth the night incontinently to succeed the day the Sun the Moone and the Stars move at his command and all the world obeyeth him praised be God Lord of the Universe pray to God privately and publikely he abhorreth the unjust pollute not the earth after the ordure is removed pray to God to avoid his chastisements and obtain his mercy which is for the righteous It is God that sendeth the windes to dissipate the rain when they carry the clouds we drive them charged with water into places drie dead and ruined and cause the rain to fall there that they may produce herbs and fruits so will we cause the dead to arise again perhaps men will remember the good land bringeth forth good fruits through the permission of its Lord and the bad land produceth only darneill I teach my Commandements to such as are not ingratefull Certainly we sent Noah to instruct men he said O ye people worship one God alone if you adore other then him you shall be punished at the day of Judgement their Rulers answered O Noah thou art in a great error He replyed I erre not I am a messenger sent from God to preach his Will I give you most wholsome advise God hath taught me what you know not Is it strange to you that he hath sent you his Commandement by the tongue of a man like your selves to declare to you the torments of Hell Fear God he will pardon your sinnes But they belyed Noah we saved him in the Arke with his retinue and drowned those that contemned our Law they were altogether blinde We sent Hod to his brother Aad and to his retinue he said Oh ye people worship one God alone whom will ye adore or whom feare but God The Teachers answered thou art in an extream ignorance we believe thee to b● in the number of lyars he replyed I am not a lyar I am a messenger sent from God to preach his Commandements I give good and salutary advice wonder not that God teacheth you his precepts by the tongue of a man like you who declareth to you his pleasure Remember that he left you on Earth after Noah that he encreased you in number force and power Call to minde his grace you shall be happy They answered are we come to this to worship one God alone and to relinquish what our fathers adored Shew us the truth whereof thou dost preach if thou art true he said the wrath and indignation of God shall fall upon you will you dispute with us of the names that you and your fathers imposed on your Idols God did not enjoyne to worship them neither have you reason to doe it expect your punishment I will
expect it with perseverance Then did we deliver him from their malice and all the true believers that were with him and destroyed those Infidels by reason of their impiety Wee sent Salhe to Temod and his people he said to them Oh ye people worship but one God he shall shew you a miracle in this * The Turks believe that Salhe through Gods permission metamorphosed a rock into a Camel Camel suffer it to feed on the Earth and do to it no harm left you be chastised Remember how God left you on the Earth after Aad he gave you to dwell in the vallies in the plaines and mountaines Remember God and pollute not the Earth any more Their Captains who were proud demanded of the poore if they believed that Salhe was indeed the Messenger of God they answered We believe in his words and in his doctrine Then said those proud men We abjure what ye believe we condemne him and they slew the Camel of Salhe in derision disobeyed the Commandements of God and said Oh Salhe Let us now see the punishment that thou didst preach if thou art of the Prophets at the same time an Earthquake with thunder surprized them and they remained dead as carkasses in their houses Salhe forsook them and said Oh ye people I declared to you the will of God with fidelity but ye detest them that affect you and give you good counsels Remember thou how Lot spake to the people saying Will you daily defile your selves with whoredome and with a filthinesse that was never yet seen in the world by any your Predecessours Will you love men better then women will you love sin rather then piety They said Let us expell Lot and his family from our Citie for that they will not contaminate themselves with us but God delivered him out of their hands and those of his house except his wife who continued with them that were punished We caused a raine to fall upon them that destroyed all of them Consider the end of the wicked We sent Chaib to the Country of Madian hee said Oh ye people worship one God alone weigh with good weights measure with good measure and retaine nothing from your Neighbour Possesse not the high wayes to give terrour to the people Neither divert True-believers from the Law of God Remember that you were but a small handfull of men and he caused you to multiply consider the end of the wicked If any among you embrace the faith and others contemne it have patience untill God judge your differences there is no better judge then he Their Teachers said Oh Chaib wee will banish thee from Madian thee and those that are of thy faith if thou art of our Religion he answered should I not abhorre your Religion I should blaspheme against God who hath delivered me I will follow it if it please God hee knoweth all things I recommend my selfe wholly to the will of his divine Majesty Lord judge our controversie thou art the best Judge of the world Then said their Teachers to the people if you follow Chaib you are damned not long after an Earth-quake and Thunder surprized them and in the morning they were found dead in their houses such as belyed Chaib found no safety in their habitations they were wretched hee abandoned them and said Oh ye people I have preached to you the will of God with fidelity I will no longer afflict my selfe with the malice of the wicked Wee infflicted sicknesse and poverty on them that disobeyed the Prophets whom we sent to the Inhabitants of Madian peradventure they will be converted Wee proved them through diseases and health and gratified them in many occurrences yet they said our fathers were afflicted with sicknesse and povertie we shall be as they but we chastised them for their sinne when they least considered it Had the Inhabitants of Mecca had our feare before their eyes and obeyed our Commandements we had opened to them the blessing of Heaven and Earth wee will punish them because they are impious Some there be that shall be afflicted in the night when they sleep and others that shall be tormented by day when they sport and recreate themselves they believed God to be a deceiver and are damned God guideth into the right way True-believers and makes them Heire of the Earth after their parents had he so pleased he might have destroyed all the world he might have hardened the hearts of the people and no man had harkned to his word I recount what things befell that * To Mecca City many Prophets have been sent to its Inhabitants and wrought many miracles yet would they not relinqui●h their former impietie thus have we hardned the hearts of Infidels they violated their promises and wee found most of them to be wicked and disobedient We sent Moses to Pharaoh and his people he to them shewed miracles which through their malice they contemned but consider the end of those wicked men Moses said unto Pharaoh I am a messenger sent from God the God of the Universe when I speak of God I deliver the Truth I am come through his command to tell thee thou must dismisse with me the Children of Israel and no longer detaine them in thy dominions Pharaoh said if thou commest from God and art true in thy sayings let us see some miracles then he cast upon the ground his staffe which was changed into a Serpent shewed his hand that appeared exceeding white to the eyes of the Spectators The Doctors of Pharaoh said this man is a Magician he would have us to abandon our Country what is your opinion detain him prisoner and his brother and send into your Cities to assemble Magicians The Magicians of Pharaoh appearing before him they said Gelaldin saith Moses his hand was ●owne what shall be our reward if we shall be victorious He replyed to them you shall be well rewarded and shall be of them that approach my person They said oh Moses wilt thou first cast down thy staffe on the ground or shall we ours Moses bad them cast down theirs which they did enchanting the eyes of the spectators and terrifying them with an extraordinary enchantment God inspired Moses to cast down his Rod which devoured the staves of the other and the Truth appeared above falshood and above the vanity of their actions they were vanquished to their confusion forsook their magick and prostrating themselves on the earth uttered these words We believe in the Lord of the Universe the Lord of Moses and of Aaron Pharaoh said to them Ye believe in the God of Moses without my permission this is a deceit invented by you to drive the people out of my Dominions but you shall soon know the punishment that I will lay upon you I will cut off your feete and hands and command you to be crucified They answered We recommend our selves wholly to the will of God whatsoever is thy revenge on us thou shalt not hinder
the faith Such as shall obey them shall offend exceedingly if your father your children your brothers your wives your parents your friends the wealth that you have gained the fear of losing your riches and apprehension of poverty have more of power over you then God and his Prophet and hinder you to fight for the faith the Commandement of God shall be executed against you he guideth not the wicked and hath protected you in many occasions Remember the day of battel of Hanin when ye rejoyced in the multitude of your men it did not advantage you fear made you finde the place too narrow for flight and ye turned the back as vanquished Remember that God at that time put his Prophet and the True-believers in a place of safety and sent invisible Troops to chastise the Infidels he pardoneth sinnes as seemeth good to him he is gracious and mercifull Oh ye that believe in God! Unbelievers are unclean permit not that they enter into the Temple of Mecca after this year if ye have apprehension of want God shall enrich you with his grace if it please him he is omniscient and most prudent Fight against them that believe not in God no● the day of Judgement that forbid not to act what God hath prohibited and his Prophet hath forbidden and that judge not according to the Law of truth wherein they were instructed who heretofore received the written Law they chuse rather to pay Tribute then to be converted therefore are they contemptible The Jews have said that the Son of God is most powerfull the Christians that the Messiah is the Son of God their words are like to the words of the Infidels that preceded them but God shall lay upon them his curse Consider how they blaspheme they adore their Doctors and Priests and the Messiah also the Son of Mary who commanded them to worship one God alone there is but on sole God praised be God there is nothing equall to him they would extinguish the light of God with their mouth but he shall not suffer them he shall cause it appear notwithstanding it be vexatious to the Infidels He hath sent his Prophet to conduct men into the right way to preach the Law of Truth and to make it eminent above all other Laws of the world against the will of Idolaters O ye that truly believe many of the Doctors and Priests eat unprofitably the substance of the people and divert them from the Law of God declare to such as treasure up and expend nothing in pious works they shall suffer great torments at the day when the fire of hell shall be kindled upon them it shall burn their forehead sides and back it shall be said to them behold the wealth which ye have treasured up for your souls tast the fruits of your treasures which ye have amass●d When God created the heaven and the earth hee ordained the year of twelve moneths amongst which foure are priviledged O stead not God especially in those moneths fight at all times against unbelievers as they will fight against you and know that God is with them that have his feare before their eyes Sloath and forgetfuln●ss abound in impiety God misleadeth thro●gh negligence the unbelievers that prefer one moneth to another in imitation of what is command●d they permit to do what God hath forbidden and delight in the malice of their actions but God is not the guide of the wicked O ye that believe wherefore have ye inclined to the earth Why did ye prefer the wealth of this world to that of Paradise when you were commanded to go forth of your houses to fight for the Law of God The riches of this world are contemptible if you consider those of heaven if you leave not your houses to fight with the Prophet God shall severely punish you and put other persons in your places you shall not protect the Prophet God alone is his protector he protected him when he went out of Mecca he with his Companion they being both in a cave he said to his Companion afflict not thy selfe God is with us He hath defended and succoured us by invisible troops hee hath debased the word of unbelievers and exalted that of true believers he is Omnipotent and wise Fight according to your power for the Law of God you shall do well if you have knowledge to understand it if you require the wealth of this world honour and reputation they are not far from you they follow you at hand but the punishment of crimes and misery are as yet farre remote of Infidels they sweare by the Name of God that they were unable to go out of Mecca with the Prophet in which they destroy their soules for God knoweth them to be lyars excuse them not that thou knowest not them that spoke truth and those that were lyars True believers will not excuse themselves from fighting or employing their wealth and persons for the Law of God hee knoweth such as fear him They that believe not in God neither the day of Judgement refuse to go with thee they doubt the mysteries of Faith but shall continue in their doubt to their confusion had they inclined to go out against the enemy they had arms to perform it God contemned their going out rendred them negligent and caused them to remain with the sick the women and children had they gone forth with you they had brought with them more of disorder then affection to the service of his divine Majestie they hate you neverthelesse you hearken to them God knoweth them that are too blame they hated thee heretofore accused thee of all their mischief untill through the permission of God the truth appeared against their will many of them said excuse us and scandalize us not and they fell themselves into scandall and impiety but hell is the habitation of those wicke● persons if good happen to you they are discontented if evill befall you they say they took heed to themselves and foresaw it and depart from you with joy say unto them nothing befell us but what God had ordained h● is our Lord See Gelaldin all true believers are resigned to the will o● his divine Majestie say unto them will ye expect tha● one of the two graces either victory or martyrdom befall us we will expect with you untill God hath chastised you by our hands expect we will expect with you say unto them expend through force or affection for th● glory of God your works shall not be accepted of him because you are Infidels your alms shall be unprofitable for that you believe not in God nor in his Prophet y● praise not God but with negligence and with regret fo● what you spend for his service Be not then amazed at th● quantity of their treasures neither the number of thei● children God shall make use of them to punish them i● this world and shall destroy them with their wickedness They swear by the name of God
The righteous are not obliged to do but what is in their power God shall be to them gracious and mercifull Such as repaired to thee to fight Benou Moc●en and whom thou didst dismiss for want of occasion did not offend God they returned to their houses with tears in their eyes with discontent to have wanted means to employ in the Service of his divine Majesty the war is appointed to such as intreat thee to exempt them that are rich and have wealth to subsist they require leave to remain with their wives and children God hath hardned their hearts and they know it not they shall come to excuse themselves when thou shalt meet them Say unto them excuse not your selves I do not believe you God hath given us to understand your news he and his Prophet likewise hath rendred your good works vain and unprofitable ye shall one day appear before him that knoweth what is past present and future he shall cause you to remember whatsoever you have done and shall punish you according to your demerits They shall conjure you by the name of God when you approach them to depart from them depart from them they are full of uncleanness hell shall be their habitation whe●e they shall be tormented for their crimes They shall beseech you to love them if you love them know that God abhorreth them that disobey him The Arabians who observe not the precepts which God hath sent to his Prophet are ye more impious and ingratefull God knoweth all things and is most prudent There be persons among the Arabians who account it lost money that they expend for the Service of God and protract their departure to retard yours and make you to attend the wheel of misery is upon them God understandeth what ever they say and knoweth all their actions there be among them who believe in God and the day of Judgement they esteem that their expence for the Service of God draweth them nigh to his divine Majesty and they invite the Prophet to pray for them God shall give them his mercy he is gracious and mercifull to them that obey him They that first arrived at Medina the first of them that went out of Mecca to depart from the wicked such as were at the battell of Beder and such as imitated them in well doing shall injoy the grace of God he hath prepared for them gardens wherein flow many rivers with supreme felicitie There be Arabians about you and in Medina they affect impietie you know them not but I know them all I will chastise them twice on earth to wit through ignominie and death and they shall feele in the other world exceeding great torments Others there bee that confesse their sinnes and who doe good and evill works peradventure God will pardon them hee is altogether gracious and mercifull take of their substance for almes thou shalt render them righteous and shalt purifie them pray for them thy prayers shall procure them the mercy of God he understandeth and knoweth all things Know they not that God accepteth the conversion of his Creatures that their almes are pleasing to him and that he is gracious and mercifull Say unto them doe what shall please you God his Prophet and the True-believers shall see what you do you shall one day appear before him who knoweth the present past and future he shall make you to know whatsoever ye have done and shall chastise you after your demerits There be others that attend the pleasure of God either his grace or his wrath his punishment or his mercy God understandeth what is in their soules and is most wise They that esteemed that the Temple built by unbelievers to seduce the righteous to distinguish the wicked from the good and to observe such as had before fought against God and against his Prophet is the Temple of his divine Majestie sweare that they desire to do well and that their intention is most honest but they are lyars and God shall be witnesse of their falshood make not thy prayers in that Temple make the prayers in the Temple founded on the fear of God that is reasonable there be persons in that Temple who desire to be purified God loveth such as have a clean soul Who is he that buildeth best he that foundeth his bullding upon the fear of God or he who layeth the foundation of his building upon the brink of a ditch of sand which falleth and ruineth it self They who esteem the Temple built by unbelievers to seduce the people to be the Temple of God shall be with that Temple and with the Infidels that built it burnt in the fire of Hell God guideth not the unjust their building shall serve only to torment them God knoweth their designe and is most wise he purchaseth of True-believers their souls and goods and giveth them Paradise if they be slain or if they slay when they shall fight for the faith they shall have what he hath promised to them in the Old Testament the Gospel and in the Alcoran Who better satisfieth what hee hath promised then God Declare to them that they have made a good purchase they have gained the height of felicity Such as are firme in their faith who pray honour and worship God who observe his Commandements and all True-believers shall enjoy the delights of Paradise with all manner of content The Prophet and True-believers ought not to ask pardon of God for Infidels notwithstanding they be their parents having had knowledge that they are damned because of their infidelity Abraham prayed not for his father untill he had promised him to adore one God alone when hee knew his father to be an enemie to God he declared himselfe an enemy to his sin he ceased praying for him although he was exceeding charitable and patient in his afflictions God misleadeth not them that he hath put into the right way he giveth them to understand what they ought to doe he knoweth them that deserve to be seduced and such as merit to be guided through the right way The Kingdome of heaven and Earth is Gods he giveth life and death to whom he seeth good Who except God shall protect you he hath given his grace to the Prophet and to such as followed him in his affliction although it wanted but a little that the hearts of many of them inclined not to the party of the unbelievers but he pardoned them he hath been gracious and mercifull to three persons who deserted the Prophet and were sorry for their error they knew there was no sure refuge but in God he pardoned them when they were converted Kiab bin Malik h●lal bin A●ihe Mesrarhe bin ●abin he is gracious and mercifull to such as repent Oh ye that believe feare God be righteous the Inhabitants of Medina and the Arabians that dwell about that City ought not to contradict the will of the Prophet of God neither dislike what he approveth because they have endured neither
thirst nor paine nor anguish for the service of his divine Majesty they have not been trampled under-foot by their enemies they shall irritate the Infidels and shall receive no displeasure on the contrary they shall acquire merit and perform a good work God doth not deprive them of recompence that doe well he shall write down their expence for his service and the number of the Idols that they shall destroy for reward of their good works It is not necessary that all the faithfull goe to the warre it is sufficient that of every lineage and of every Nation there goe a party while the rest shall learn the Lawes and mysteries of faith to instruct their Companions when they shall return from their voyage perhaps they will fear the chastisement of God Oh ye that believe in God fight against them that would cause you to be defiled in impiety be valiant and know that God is with them that have his feare before their eyes When God caused to descend from Heaven any Chapter of the Alcoran some of them said through disdaine that will increase the faith of this people Certainly it augmenteth the faith of True-believers it rejoyceth them and enflameth the wrath of his divine Majesty upon Infidels who persist in their pollutions and dye in their wickednesse They know not that God tryeth the good once or twice a year they will not be converted it is lost time to preach to them When God sent from Heaven any Chapter of the Alcoran they beheld each others and said doth any one see us They returned in their impiety and God turned their heart from the right way for that they would not learn the Truth God hath sent you a Prophet of your own Nation who with passion desireth to deliver you from your obstinacy and is extreamly affected to instruct you in the way of Salvation God is milde and pitifull towards True-believers If they abandon the faith say unto them God is my protector there is but one sole God I recommend my selfe to the will of his divine Majesty he is the Lord of the Majestique Throne CHAP. X. The Chapter of Jonas containing an hundred and nine verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am God the mercifull The precepts contained in this Book proceed from the Omnipotent Doth the people wonder that we have inspired a man to preach to the wicked the torments of Hell and to declare to True-believers that they shall finde true what their Lord to them hath promised The wicked say that it is but sorcery and enchantment Certainly God is your Lord who created Heaven and Earth in six dayes and sitteth on his Throne disposing all things no man intercedeth for his Neighbour without his permission he is your God and your Lord worship him alone will ye not consider it you all shall be one day assembled before him he promised with truth that he will cause men to die and raise them again to recompence such as have believed in his Law and done good works The unbelievers shall drink a boyling drink and shall endure great torments because of their impiety He it is that gave light to the Sun and brightness to the Moon that created the signes to know the number of years the account of moneths and of whatsoever he hath created these things teach with truth the miracles of his divine Majesty to such as have knowledge to understand them the difference of day and of night and what God hath created in Heaven and in Earth are marks of his unity to them that have his fear before their eyes They who believe there is no resurrection such as place their content in the wealth of this world they that trust in their riches and that are ignorant of the commandements of God shal be precipitated into the fire of Hell because of their sins and the True-believers shall be conducted by his divine Majesty into delicious gardens wherin flow many rivers they shall there find whatsoever they shall desire and shal say at the beginning of their prayers praised be God afterwards they shall say Salvation be to God and at the end of their prayers prayse be to God Lord of the Universe Although God doth sometimes suddenly chastise men he alwayes attendeth the time of their Destiny I will leave them that shall not believe in the Resurrection in their errors to their confusion When man is afflicted he invoketh us standing sitting lying and in all postures and when we have delivered him from his affliction he persisteth in his wickedness It seemeth good to the wicked to do in this manner we destroyed their Predecessors when they believed not in the Prophets neither obeyed the precepts that we sent them and have established you on the Earth in their place after them to see your deportments When thou teachest our commandements to them that believe not in the Resurrection they say that the precepts of the Alcoran are altogether contrary to what thou preachest and that thou hast altered them Say unto them I have no will to alter them of my selfe I do but what is inspired into me of God I fear to be punished at the day of Judgement should I disobey his divine Majesty Say unto them Had it pleased God I had neither read nor taught you his Commandements I sojourned a long time with you before I taught you will you not learn them Who is more unjust then hee that blasphemeth God doth not aid the Infidels that worship what can neither benefit nor hurt them and say their Idols shall intercede for them will you instruct God in any thing that he knoweth not of what is in Heaven or in Earth Praised be God he hath no companion Men were all of one Religion before Infidelity took place and if God had not said that he would deferre the punishment of the wicked untill the day of Judgement he had already destroyed them in this world because of their impiety They say We will not believe in the Prophet if God make not some miracles to appear in him Say unto them God knoweth what shall be expect I will expect with you when we gave them to taste of content after their affliction they had subtilty upon our Commandements Say unto them God is more subtile then you his Messengers shall write your subtilties he it is that made men to travell upon the earth and sea It is he that sendeth them a favourable winde to rejoyce them in their ships when tempest surpriseth them they believe that the waves will overwhelm them then they invoke God with desire to embrace his Law and say if God doth deliver us from this danger wee will believe in his Unity and return him thanks for this mercy and being delivered from perill persist in their wickedness O people you draw mischief on your selves you require nothing but the wealth of this world you all shall appear before us to be judged according to your
works the life of the world is like to the rain which we cause to descend from Heaven it causeth with mixture all sorts of herbage to spring forth for the nourishment of men and beasts When the Earth is adorned with flowers and enriched with its fruits the Inhabitants oftentimes believe they have the power to cause their production then send we our chastisements day and night upon the Earth and render it as mown and as if the day before it had brought no fruit Thus do I discover mysteries to such as have knowledge to comprehend them They beg their salvation of God he saveth and putteth in the way of salvation whom it pleaseth him He shall not cover the visage of them that have done good works they shall appear without shame and dwell in Paradise where they shall remain eternally and such as shall have done evill shall be punished after their demerits they shall be covered with shame and none shall be able to protect them they shall be as if a great part of the obscurity of the night had covered their countenance they shall be condemned to the fire of hell where they shall dwell eternally Think on the day wherein we will assemble all the world and will say to the Infidels hell shall be your habitation where be the Idols you adored we have separated you from each other Their Idols shall say to them you have not worshipped us God is witness was there any thing between us and you that rendred us ignorant of your adorations That day shall every one see what he hath done and know that God is Truth it self their Idols shall be separated farre from them and they shall understand their blasphemies Say unto them who enricheth you with the wealth of heaven and earth Who causeth life to come out of death and death out of life Who disposeth all things in the world They shall answer it is God Say unto them why have you not therefore his fear before your eyes God is indeed your Lord what is there after the Truth but falshood How will you depart from his Law his Word shal be accomplished against Infidels Say unto them Have your Idols the power to cause men to die and to rise again how shall they be able to blaspheme after these reasons Say unto them Are your Idols able to conduct you into the right way God guideth the people into the way of Salvation who ought rather to be followed he that guideth the people into the right way or he that misleadeth them What reason have ye to follow the evill way The greatest part of them follow but their own opinion but their opinion is not conformable to the Truth God knoweth all their actions there is no falshood in the Alcoran it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and perspicuously explaineth them there is no doubt but it proceedeth from the Lord of the Universe They say Mahomet hath invented this Book say unto them come and bring any thing that resembleth it in Doctrine and Eloquence and call the Idols which ye adore we shall see if you are sincere on the contrary they have blasphemed and have talked of what they understood not when they heard the exposition of the Alcoran Thus did their Predecessours but consider what is the end of the unjust There be among them who will believe in this Book and others that will not believe Thy Lord knoweth them that defile the earth if they slander thee say unto them I will answer with my actions and yee shall answer with yours yee are innocent of what I act and I am innocent of what yee doe There be persons among them that have inclination to heare thee but art thou able to cause the deafe to heare Should they not be deafe they would learn nothing Others there be who look towards thee but art thou able to guide the blind should they see clearly they would not follow the right way God doth no injustice to men they doe injury to themselves through the enormity of their offences I will cause them to rise again at the day of Judgement as if they had remained but one houre of a day in the grave they shall know each other and the w●cked who have not believed in the Resurrection shall be damned I will shew thee many of them whom I will chastise I will cause thee to die before they be chastised and they all shall appear before me to be judged God is witness of their actions he shall punish them according to their demerits every Nation of the world hath had a Prophet sent from God who hath judged with reason and without injustice the differences that were among them touching Religion They have said at what time shall the wrath of God appear Say unto them I of my selfe can neither procure good nor evill if God doth not permit it every one hath his destiny when the time of their destiny arriveth they can neither retard or advance it one hour Have ye considered the punishment which God heretofore sent by day and by night against the wicked When ye felt it ye believed it and fell into it headlong It shall be said to the wicked at the day of Judgement tast eternall torments shall you not be punished according to your demerits They will ask of thee if the pains denounced against the wicked and if the Resurrection be matters of truth Say unto them yes my Lord is most exact in his words and all the treasures of the world shall not be able to redeem one soul. They shal repent of their sins when they shall feel the punishment of their offences but shal be condemned without injustice whatsoever is in heaven and in earth appertaineth to God he is exact in his promise yet the greatest part of the world do not know him He it is who causeth to die and giveth life and shall assemble men at the day of Judgement O people God hath sent you instructions and remedies for your infirmities he hath sent a guide to conduct true-believers into the way of his mercy it shall be to them of more advantage then the treasures that they accumulate Have ye considered the good things which he hath created for you Ye have appointed one part to be eaten and have prohibited to eate of another Hath God permitted you to blaspheme against him The opinion of such as blaspheme against God shall be but misery at the day of Judgement God is full of goodnesse for the people but most of them are ingratefull In whatsoever place thou art whether thou teach what is contained in the Alcoran or whether thou labour I am alwayes present nothing is concealed from thy Lord of whatsoever is in heaven and earth be it great or litle all is written in the intelligible Booke that explaineth all things There needeth no feare for such as recommend themselves to God they shall be exempt from the pains of hell The true-believers who have his feare
before their eyes shall suffer no torments in the other world it is declared to them on earth that they shall have all content the word of God admits of no alteration they shall enjoy perfection of felicity in Paradise Afflict not thy self for the words of the impious vertue proceedeth from God he understandeth and knoweth all things whatsoever is in heaven and in earth appertaineth to him They who worship Idols follow but their opinion and are lyars God hath created the night for repose and the day for labour such as heare his Word find therein marks of his omnipotency They have said doe ye believe that God hath a Son Praised be God he is most rich and hath no need of any person he possesseth whatsoever is in heaven and earth you have no reason in what ye alledge will you speak of God what ye know not God doth not aide in this world them that blaspheme against him he shall cause them to feele after their death great torments because of their impiety Instruct them in the History of Noah how he spake to his people and said O people if my abode with you the preaching of the Commandments of God be irksom to you know that all my support is in God assemble your Doctors with your Idols conceal not what ye doe goe whither you will ye shall find none to protect you if ye contemne my instructions I require not of you a reward for my pains I desire to receive of none other then God the Omnipotent and recommend my self to the Mill of his divine Majesty They slandered Noah then did we save him in the Arke and them that were with him we prolonged their posterity on earth and drowned the wicked consider the end of such as heard the word of God and contemned it We sent to them other Prophets after Noah they made them to see miracles and gave them most salutary instructions but they did not believe in what they had no will before to believe Thus I harden the heart of the wicked We after them sent Moses to Pharaoh and his subjects without miracles they arose against our Commandements when the truth was preached to them and said it was but Magick and enchantment Moses said to them will you say that the Truth is Sorcery God doth not assist Magicians and Sorcerers they said Art thou with thy brother come to divert us from the Religion of our Fathers and to be esteemed on earth We will believe in thy words Then Pharaoh commanded to summon the most skilfull of his Magicians they being assembled Moses said to them cast downe what yee have a will to cast downe on the ground having cast downe their cords and staves Moses said to them know ye none other thing but Magick God shall render it vaine and unprofitable he abhorreth such as defile the earth he confirmeth the Truth through his Word although it be against the will of the wicked Few men believed in Moses because of their feare to displease Pharoah and his Ministers Pharoah was powerfull on earth and in the number of the wicked Moses said O people if ye believe in God resign your selves to his will they answered All our confidence is in God Lord doe not thou abandon us to the malice of the unjust deliver us through thy mercy from the hands of Infidels We inspired Moses and his brother to dwell some time in Egypt with their people and to make Oratories in their houses therein to make their prayers and Preach to true believers Lord said Moses thou hast enriched Pha●oah and his people in this world they goe astray from the way of thy Law confound their riches and harden their hearts they will not believe untill they see thy judgements and feel the effect of thy wrath he said I h●●e heard the prayers of you both be faithfull in your Embassie and follow not the way of the ignorant We gave passage through the sea to the children of Israel Pharoah pursued them with hatred and envy untill his people were drowned Then said Pharoah I believe there is none other God but the God of the children of Israel and I wholly recommend my self to his Will Thou dost now believe in God O Pharoah and wert before disobedient to his Commandements filling the earth with thy enormities I have delivered thee from this perill that thou maist be an example to posterity for many among the people are ignorant of my omnipotency We gave the Children of Israell to dwell in places full of delights and enriched them with the good things of the Earth they knew the differences that arose among them touching Religion thy Lord shall judge them at the day of Judgement If thou doubtest what we have taught thee repaire to them that have read the Scripture before thee what thy Lord hath taught thee is most true be not thou of them that doubt neither of such as derogate from the Commandements of God thou shalt be in the number of the wretched Those whom God will chastise shall not believe in his divine Majesty should they behold all the miracles of the world untill they see the torments of Hell The faith is exceeding profitable to the Cities that have received it when the Inhabitants of the City of Jonas embraced it we delivered them from our punishment we delivered them from ignominy and enriched them untill the time appointed if it pleased thy Lord all the world should believe in him wilt thou abhorre the people untill they believe in God No man can embrace the faith with●ut his permission he sendeth his indignation against them that disobey his Commandements Say unto them Consider all that is in Heaven and Earth miracles and preaching are of no use to such as will not believe shall they expect what their Predecessors expected Say unto them expect I will expect with you I will deliver my Prophets and the True-believers from the torments of Hell it is reasonable that I deliver them that obey my Commandements Oh people who causeth you to doubt of the Law which I teach you I will not worship the Idols that you adore I worship one God alone who shall cause you all to dye I will embrace his Law it commandeth to professe his Unity I am not of them that say he hath a companion equall to him Adore not what can neither benefit nor hurt thee if thou doe it thou shalt be in the number of the unjust If God will afflict thee none can deliver thee from affliction if God will doe good to thee none can deprive thee of his grace he hath given it to whom seemeth good to himself he is gracious and mercifull Oh people God teacheth you the truth whosoever shall follow the right way shall save his soule and whosoever shall go astray shall destroy it I am not your Tutor I do but what is inspired into me I have patience in my perseverance I wil expect the Judgement of God there is
no better Judge then he CHAP. XI The Chapter of Hod containing an hundred twenty and three Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am the mercifull God The signs contained in this Booke are most true they proceed from the most wise who knoweth all things Worship ye but one God alone I preach to you from him the torments of Hell and declare the joyes of Paradise that ye may implore pardon of his divine Majesty and be converted he shall give you an happy life in the world untill the time appointed and shall reward every one according to his works I feare lest you should be chastised at the day of Judgement if you forsake the right way you all shall be assembled before God to be judged The heart of the impious inclined to hatred of the Prophet and they would have concealed themselves for some time from God they are covered with their garments that they may not be knowne but God knoweth what is in their soules he understandeth whatsoever they conceale and whatsoever they make manifest All the Creatures of the world live of his grace he knoweth the place of their repaire and the place where they must dye all is written in an intelligible booke that explaineth all things He it is that created Heaven and Earth in six days See Kitab el tenoir his Throne was before upon the waters the Alcoran exhorteth you to wel-doing If thou saist to the wicked that they shall rise againe after their death they will say it is but witchcraft and sorcery if retard some time to chastise them they say there is no punishment for their crimes but they shall not avoid it in the day when it shall appeare and they shall feel the rigour of the paines which they contemne If we conferre riches and health on the impious and deprive them of them they dispaire in their impiety if we give them good after their evill they say misery hath forsaken them they rejoyce and become arrogant Such as are humble and patient in their afflictions and doe good works shall obtaine pardon of their sinnes and a very great reward Perhaps thou wilt forget to teach something of what I have inspired into thee and be afflicted because they say that what thou speakest shall bring thee no profit Certainly thou art sent only to reprove them of their sin thy Lord is omnipotent and shall chastise them after their demerits Assuredly they will say thou hast * Controve supra forged the Alcoran and that it is of thy invention Say unto them come and bring with you ten Chapters of your invention like to the Alcoran in instruction and Eloquence and call to your aid the Idols that ye adore if you be righteous if they hear not your prayers neither afford you succors know then that the Alcoran descended from Heaven through Gods permission that there is but one sole God wil yet not trust in him I wil bestow the riches and honours of the Earth on many persons that affect them and in the end they shall be confined in the fire of Hell and the good works that they shall doe in this world shall be unprofitable in the other They who observe what God hath ordained study the Alcoran and believe that it proceedeth from his divine Majesty to teach the right way and to obtain his mercy as before it was the book of Moses Such as shall believe in the Alcoran shall be happy doubtlesse the fire of Hell is prepared for the Infidels who will not believe therein but the greatest part of the world is incredulous who is more impious then they that blaspheme against God Such men shall not see his face the Angels shall say at the day of Judgement behold them that have been impious a curse is upon them and upon the unjust that have mislead the people from the right way they were indeed Infidels Such men shall not escape the punishment of their crimes on Earth they shall find none that is able to protect them but God he shall augment their paines because they would not abandon their wickednesse neither receive the light of faith Such are miserable men their Idols shall not afford them succors they doubtlesse shall be eternally damned and such as shall believe in God doe good works and be converted shall dwell for ever in Paradise The wicked are as deaf and blind and the True believers are like those who have good sight and perfect hearing shall they be in paralell to each other will ye never consider it We sent Noah to reprove men for their sinnes he said to them worship but one God alone otherwise I feare ye shall be chastised at the day of Judgement The Doctors of the Infidels answered him we see thee to be a man like us and that such as follow thee are poore people blind and without counsell we perceive not that thou hast any grace that ought to preferre thee to us contrariwise we believe thee to be a lyar he said oh people know ye not that God hath taught me what I preach to you that he hath given me the grace of Prophecie and deprived you of it shall I exhort you to acknowledge his grace seeing ye abhorre him Oh people I require no recompense of you for my paines God will reward me largely I desire not to banish True-believers from my company they shall one day appeare before their Lord but I perceive that ye are ignorant Oh people who shall hinder God to punish me if I abuse True-believers Will ye not consider it I say not that I possesse the treasures of God I know not what shall be I say not that I am an Angell I say not to them whom you contemne that God shall enrich them God knoweth what is in their souls should I maintaine such discourse I should have great blame They said oh Noah we have a long time disputed together if thou art sincere let us see the paines which thou preachest to us God said he when it shall please him shall cause you to see them you shall not escape them my instructions shall be to you unprofitable if God will prove you he is your Lord and you shall one day be assembled before him to be judged Will the unbelievers say that thou hast forged the Alcoran and that it is of thine invention Say unto them if I have invented it sinne will be upon me and I am innocent of your blasphemies God inspired into Noah that none should believe in his words but such as had already believed in him He said unto him build an Arke conformable to the inspiration that we have sent thee but speak no more to me of the unjust they shall be drowned the passengers derided him and his Arke he said to them ye scoffe at me I will laugh at you and we shall see them that shall best understand he whom God shall chastise shall be covered with
shame and perpetually tormented When our will was to destroy that people and the light of the morning appeared and the water boyled in Noah's pot we commanded him to charge his Arke with two beasts of every kind and Species all creatures were destroyed except those of which we before made mention as well such as believed as them that did not believe and that but a few Noah said unto them ascend the Arke in the name of God who shall cause it to swimme and to anchor the Lord is gracious and mercifull towards us When the Arke began to flote like to a Mountaine Noah called to one of his sonnes who stayed on the Earth and said my * Gelalldin saith that he was called Kinan sonne come up into the Arke with us and remaine not with the Infidels he answered I will ascend an high mountaine that shall save me from the waters Noah said to him none is able this day to deliver thee from the punishment of God if it be not through his mercy The waters being risen he was in the number of them that were drowned God commanded the Earth to drinke its water and the Heavens to poure downe no more raine the water diminished upon the Earth after the people were drowned and the Arke rested upon the Mountaine called Gioudy thus were the unjust extirpated Noah prayed to his Lord and said Lord my son that remained in the waters was of my lineage thou didst promise me to save my family thou dost exactly performe thy promise thou art true in thy words and most just in thine actions Oh Noah answered ●od that son is not of thy lineage he hath offended me and disobeyed my Commandements doe not enquire of me concerning that which thou oughtest not to know otherwise thou shalt be in the number of the ignorant Lord said Noah I will take heed through thine assistance to enquire of thee what I ought not to know if thou hast not pitie on me I shall be in the number of the miserable God said oh Noah descend from the Arke with Salvation and blessing upon thee and upon a part of them that are with thee I will enrich the other part with the wealth of this world to punish them most severely at the day of Judgement I teach what shall be what neither thou nor thy people have not yet knowne be patient in thine afflictions Paradise is for them that have my feare before their eyes Wee sent Hod to the people of Aad his brother he said unto them oh people adore but one God alone otherwise ye shall be in the number of Infidels I require of you no recompense for the paines I take in preaching to you he that created me shall reward me will ye never be wise implore pardon of God be converted and obey his divine will he shall send you raine from Heaven and shall encrease your strength and riches be not in the number of the wicked they answered oh Hod thou shewest us no reasons to prove thy sayings thy words shall not make us to quit our Gods we give no credit to thy discourse and tell thee that some one of our Gods shall severely chastise thee He said take God and your selves to w●tnesse that I am innocent of the sinne that you commit in adoring Idols if you conspire against me none shall be able to protect you at the day of Judgement I recommend my selfe to the will of God mine and your Lord he conserveth all the cr●atures of the Earth and loveth them that follow the right way I have discharged my duty and commission I have taught you what God commanded me if you goe astray he shall establish another ●eople in your place you do him no harme through your impiety he exactly observeth whatsoever is done in the world When we destroyed that p●ople we by our speciall grace delivered Hod from their malice and all the True-believers that were with him we delivered them from great affliction The p●ople of Aad contemned the Commandements of God and disobeyed his Prophets they followed the will of the obstinate were cursed in this world and shall be accursed at the day of Judgement because they disobeyed his divine Majesty with designe to extirpate the people of Hod his brother We sent Salhe to Temod his brother and his people he said to them oh p●ople worsh●p one God alone he it is who hath created you of the dust of the earth and filled it with many sorts of fruits that you might inhabit it beg pardon of him and be converted he hearkneth to his creatures and heareth their prayers they answered oh Salhe it was hoped thou wouldst have beene our Captaine before the prohibit●on was made to adore the Gods of our fathers wee exceedingly doubt of what thou preachest Oh people said Salhe know ye not that God taught me what to you I preach and that he hath given me his grace who shall protect me if I disobey him You can but augment my paine should I believe you O people this Camell which God for you hath created shall be to you a miracle and instruction suf●er it to feed and doe it no harme The Turks believe that Salhe changed a rock into a Ca●ell lest you be suddenly chastised They th●ough contempt wounded the Camell Then said he unto them ye shall live in your houses for the space of three dayes before ye be destroyed what is foretold to you is no Fiction when we destroyed them we through our speciall grace saved Salhe and the true-believers that were with him thunder surprized those Infidels and in the morning they were found in their houses dead extended as carkases Thus did Temod and his people contemne the Commandments of God to their disadvantage● Our Messengers that came to Abrahams house declared to him the birth of Isaac Jacob and their posterity they mutualy saluted when they en●●ed into his house he caused rosted flesh to be brought to them to eate and perceiving that they did not eate contemned them in himself and was terrified with their coming they said unto him feare not we are sent to Lot to extirpate the inhabitants of his City Abrahams wife being present began to laugh when they foretold the birth of Isaac Jacob and their posterity she said ah God! shall I beate a son I who am old and have an husband extreamly aged this would be a miracle they answered are ye astonished at the power of God O ye of the family of Abraham God hath given you his bl●ssing praise and glory are due to him in all places When Abraham was freed from his feare and they having announced the birth of his children he disputed with them a long time touching the inhabitants of the City of Lot he was of a mild disposition and frequently repeated the pra●ses of God The Messengers said unto him O Abraham put an end to thy questions the houre is come wherein God hath commanded to destroy them they shall
unde●goe inevitable torment When they arrived in Lots house he was grieved in that he was not able to secure them from the insolency of the people he said behold here a day extremly difficult to passe The inhabitants of the City having knowledge of their arrival repaired to Lots house to continue their filthiness Lot said unto them O people I have two daughters whom I wil give you feare God trouble me not abuse not my guests is there none among you to shew you your error They answered thou well knowest that we have nothing to doe with thy daughters thou knowest what we require he said were I of sufficient power I would dwell in a fortified place to avoid the assaults of your malice Then said the Messengers of God unto him O Lot we are Angels sent from God those villains shall not approach thee go this night out of the City with thy family none shall look back but thy wife she shall feel the punishment prepared for the wicked they shall be punished early in the morning be gone speedily the day approacheth when we destroyed them we turned the City upside downe and caused it to raine upon them stones marked with fire to confound them Such chastisement is not far from the Infidels that are in Mecca We sent Chaib into the Country of Madian See Kitab el tenoir and Gelaldin he said O people Worship one God alone weigh with good weights and measure with good measure detain nothing from your neighbour and defile not the earth if ye believe in God otherwise I feare you may be punished at the day of Judgement the little that shall remaine shall bring you more of content then all that ye can purloin in weighing with false weight and measuring with false measure I am not sent to be your Tutor but only to declare the word of God they said O Chaib doth thy Law enjoyne us to abandon the gods of our Fathers and hinder us to make of our goods what shall seeme good to us thou art not of an humour good enough to be our Director He said O people see ye not that God hath taught me what I preach He hath given me wealth for subsistance I contradict you in nothing but what is forbidden you I will doe nothing but what is reasonable and conform the most I shal be able to Justice my whole support is in God I recommend my selfe to the will of his divine Majesty before which I must one day appeare O people take heed least ye become criminall if ye forsake the company of the righteous and lest that befall you that hapned to them who would not believe Noah Hod Salhe and Lot the punishment of God is not far from you beg pardon of him and be converted he is mercifull and amiable They said O Chaib we understand not all that thou sayest we see thee amongst us without force and power wert thou not accompanied we would stone thee thou shalt have no dominion over us He said O people esteeme ye my company and feare ye it more then God Have ye turned the back towards him He knoweth all your actions live after your own manner I will live after mine you shall hereafter know your error he whom God will chastise shall remaine in perpetuall misery you shall soon understand who shall be the lyar you or I expect the issue I will expect with you when we commanded to destroy them we through our especiall grace preserved Chaib and the true-believers that were with him thunder surprized those wicked ones and they in the morning remained dead extended as carkases in their houses Thus were the Inhabitants of Madian chastised like the people of ●emod We sent Moses to Pharoah and his Doctors with Miracles with Arguments and Reasons most clear and intelligible but those Doctors followed his will and obeyed his commandments notwithstanding they were contrary to reason they shall follow him at the day of Judgement as they followed him upon earth that day shall they be accursed and shall find none that shall be able to protect them the punishment of Mecca shall be like to that I relate to thee there be of its Inhabitants who subsist and that do not subsist and are no more we have done them no injustice they have drawn mischief on themselves and their Idols have been of no use to them but to augment their misery when God hath commanded to destroy them Thus hath God surprized the inhabitants of Mecca he hath chastised them because they were unjust this shall serve for example to them that feare the day of Judgement all men shall there be gathered together all the world shall see it I will retard it untill the time appointed that day shal no man speakwithout my permission there be that shal be miserable others who shal be happy the miserable shal dwel in the fire of hel they shal cry complain so long as the earth the heavens shal endure and so long as it shall please God who doth as seemeth good to himself The happy shall enjoy Paradise where they shall abide eternally so long as earth and heaven shall endure and so long as it shall please God Doubt not what the unbelievers worship they adore but the Idols which their Fathers worshipped assuredly I will chastise them as their Fathers were chastised Moses preached the old Testament yet did the wicked contradict his Precepts had not God said that he will not punish them untill the day of Judgement he had already destroyed them because they are in an exceeding great error thy Lord shall reward every one according to his works he knoweth all their actions Observe exactly what hath been commanded you with them that are converted transgresse not the Law of God he beholdeth whatsoever you doe Incline not to the affections of the unjust lest the fire of hell surprise you and you be deprived of protection Pray to God evening and morning and a part of the night prayers blot out sins it is the doctrine of Preachers be patient and persevere God will not deprive the righteous of their reward He prohibited your Predecessors and their posterity to defile the earth neverthelesse there were few among them that abstained the unjust acted what ever pleased them and were guilty before God He shall not destroy Mecca if the Inhabitants thereof obey his Commandements and if it pleased him the whole world should be of one Religion they to whom he giveth his grace transgresse not his Will his Word shall be accomplished and hell shall be filled with devills and the wicked of all Nations They have recounted to thee and thou understandest whatsoever things are necessary for them and what the Prophets have heretofore taught thine heart hath been strengthened they containe the truth and they shall be for a lesson to true believers Say unto Infidels doc on your part as ye shall understand we will doe on our part as we understand and
the wicked dispute his omnipotency He it is who ought to be implored the prayers of them who implore another God are ineffectuall they are like to such as are very thirsty and stretch forth the hand towards a Fountain to which they cannot reach the prayers of the wicked are impiety Whatsoever is in Heaven and in the Earth the shadow of the morning the obscurity of the evening humble themselves before God through force or affection Say unto them Who is the Lord of Heaven and Earth but God who except God shall protect you your Idols can neither benefit nor hurt you Is the blind like unto him that seeth cleerly is darkness like unto light shall they adore the Creatures in stead of the Creator God hath created all things and is omnipotent he causeth rain to descend from Heaven and Rivers covered with Foam to flow in the Valleys The Gold the Silver and Mettals which ye melt to adorn and enrich your selves are like unto froth Thus doth God teach what is profitable and what unprofitable froth suddenly vanisheth and is of no utility to men So falshood vanisheth before truth Thus doth God speak through a parable to them that obey him and giveth them Paradise All the riches of the Earth and as much again cannot ransom the Infidels they shall be eternally tormented in the fire of Hell Who knoweth that the truth contained in this Book was not sent to thee from God He that doubteth is blind men of Spirit do not doubt They who satisfie what they promise to God who transgress not his Commandements who have his fear before their eyes who apprehend the day of Judgement who are patient in their afflictions for love of his divine Majesty who make their prayers at the time appointed who give alms privately and publikely and blot out their offendes with good works shall be blessed They shall enter into the Garden of Eden with their father their wives and families the Angels shall visit them shall salute them and say Behold the recompence of your perseverance behold eternall grace Such as shall swarve from their promise and disobey the Commandements of God and pollute the Earth shall be accursed of God and severely chastised he giveth and deprived of wealth as seemeth good to him The unbelievers rejoyce in the riches of the earth but those riches are of little value if they consider them of the other world They say If Mahomet doth not make some miracle to appear from God we will not believe him Say unto them God guideth and misleadeth whom it pleaseth him he confirmeth the hearts of them that have faith in his Law the Remembrance of God confirmeth the hearts of True-believers Such as shall do good works shall be happy We have sent thee as we did send other Prophets to them that preceded thee Teach the people what we have inspired into thee When they shall disobey thee say unto them God is my Lord there is but one God alone I am wholly resigned to his divine wil my refuge is in his goodness If the Alcoran should make Mountains to go ●hould it cause the Earth to open and the dead to arise all would proceed from God True-believers ought not to dispair of any thing God shall guide all the world into the right way when it shall please him and unbelievers shall not escape the punishment of their crimes Thou shalt dwell with them until the word of God be f●lfilled He swarveth not from what he promiseth they derided the Prophets that came before thee I prolonged the time of their punishment and in the end rigorously chastised them and with what affl●ct●ons Doth not God behold the actions of every man They have said God hath companions to whom they have given names after their fancy will you instruct God in any thing The wicked take delight in their wickedness and are gone astray from the right way He whom God shall mislead shall find none to guide him he shall be affl●cted in this world and yet more in the other None shall be able to save him but God Paradise is promised to them that have his fear before their eyes they shall enjoy eternally all manner of content such is the end of the righteous and Hell is prepared for Infidels They to whom we have given the knowledge of Scriptures rejoyce in the doctrine which we have sent thee there be that abjure one part say unto them I recommend unto you only the worship of one sole God who is the assured refuge of the righteous We have sent the Alcoran in the Arabique tongue to the end the Arabians may comprehend it If thou dost follow the will of unbelievers having had the knowledge of the unity of God who shall be able to save or protect thee We sent Prophets before thee commanded them to marry they had children Prophets cannot performe miracles w●thout the permission of God and the end of every thing is written in his Book he blo●●eth out and leaveth permanent what seemeth good to him he cannot alter I perceive that some of the wicked have a designe to murther thee thou art obliged only to preach to them I will keep an accompt of their sins to punish them See they not that their Countries and possessions diminisheth daily through thy conquests God commandeth what pleaseth him no man can escape his judgements he is most exact in his acc●unt their predecessors used subtilties as they but God is more subtile then they he wel knoweth the good and evil which every one doth they shall one day understand who must have Paradise They say thou art no Prophet say unto them It is sufficient that God is witnes of the truth between you and me who is he that knoweth what is written in the Book of his divine Majesty CHAP. XIV The Chapter of Abraham containing fifty verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am the mercifull God That Book We have sent it to thee to bring the people out of darkness to guide them to the light and the way of thy Lord alwayes victorious and glorious Whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth is Gods misery is upon unbelievers they shall undergoe at the end of the world exceeding great torments They who preferre the wealth of this world to that of Heaven who goe astray from the way of the Law and would pervert it are in a great error far from truth The Prophets spake the language of them to whom they were sent to instruct them God guideth and misleadeth whom to him seemeth good he is omnipotent and prudent We sent Moses with prodigies to bring the children of Israel out of darkness and to conduct them to light he taught them the Commandements of the Law to serve for instruction to such as shall persevere to do well and shall not be ingratefull for the favours they have received Moses spake to his people and said remember the grace of God towards
you he delivered you from the men of Pharaoh who caused you to suffer great afflictions who murthered your Children abused your wives and layed upon you great evills sent from God because of your sins The Lord hath said if ye be not ingratefull I will augment my graces upon you if ye be impious you shall be afflicted Moses said to his people if you and all men be impious know that God will be alwayes glorious and hath no need of you Know ye not what befell before you the people of Noah Aad Temod and their posterity that none had knowledge of but God because of their great number He sent them his Commandements by his Prophets they bit their fingers for anger and said unto them we renounce and condemne your Doctrine The Prophets said unto them is there any doubt in the beliefe of the unity of God Creator of Heaven and Earth he calleth you to remit your sinnes and deferreth your punishment unill the day appointed They answered ye are men like unto us will you hinder us to adore the Gods of our fathers Produce arguments of strength sufficient to prove what you preach the Prophet replyed Wee are men as you are but God giveth his grace to whom seemeth good to him we are come to you through his permission the True-believers ought to trust in him wherefore should wee not be resigned to the will of God who hath guided us in the right way we will continue in wel-doing the righteous trust in his divine Majesty Then said the Infidels unto them we will banish you from our Country if you be not of our Religion but God inspired into them that the Infidels should perish and that they should inhabit the Land after them that he would protect such as should have his fear before their eyes and fear the pains that are prepared for the wicked The Prophets were protected of God and the obstinate wicked were destroyed they shall be precipitated into Hell and drink of water full of corruption urine and blood death shal appear on all sides before their eyes before they have swallowed that drink they shall not dye in that misery they shall suffer yet greater pains The good works which the wicked have done are like to dust carryed away by an impetuous winde they shall be unprofitable to them and they shall be extirpated because they depart from the truth See they not that God hath created Heaven and Earth that he can destroy them and create in their place a new people if it seem good to him This is not difficult to God all things are known to him The more impotent of them that have followed the wicked shall say at the day of Judgement we obeyed you wil you this day deliver us from the punishment of God They shall answer had God guided us in the right way we had conducted you thither we are alike miserable with you we cry and lament in our misery but finde neither refuge nor protection The Devill shall say unto them what God hath promised to you is infallible I foretold it to you I caused you to transgresse his Commandements through my tentations I had none other power over you but to tempt you you did me no harm when ye hearkened to me you drew mischief on your selves I am not your Tutor neither are you mine I was impious when heretofore I suffered you to adore me Hell is prepared for you and for all unbelievers there shall they endure great torments and the righteous shall enter into Paradise wherein flow many rivers where they shall dwell eternally with all manner of blessednesse and content Seest thou not how God speaketh by a parable A good word is like to a good tree that hath taken root in the Earth and hath raised its branches to heaven and produceth its fruit in due time through the permission of his divine Majesty hee teacheth the people his parables perhaps they will be mindfull An evill word is like to a bad tree that hath been torne from the Earth there is nothing to sustain it and it is without root or fruit God fortifieth the True-believers through his word in this world and in the other and causeth the unjust to erre he doth what to him seemeth good Seest thou not them that have changed his grace into impiety and have made such as have followed them to dwell in the house of perdition They shall abide eternally in the fire of Hell They say that God hath a companion equall to him and erre from the way of his Law Say unto them ye shall have wealth in this world but Hell is your Rendezvous Say to the True-believers who make their prayers at the time appointed and give aimes in private or in publike that the day shall come wherein they shall neither buy nor sell and where every one shall be recompenced for his works Say unto them God hath created the Earth and the Heavens he maketh the rain to descend from Heaven which causeth to spring forth all sorts of fruits to enrich you he created the ship that through his permission saileth on the Sea hee created the Rivers the Sunne and the Moone which move continually hee created the day and the night and bestoweth on you whatsoever yee desire his favours towards you can neither be numbred nor recounted nevertheless the Inhabitants of Mecca are alwayes impious and wicked Abraham said Lord protect this City and make it to be the refuge of the world Keep me and my Children from the worship of Idols they have seduced a part of the people he that shall follow me and professe thy unity shall be mine if any one disobey me thou art gracious and mercifull Lord one part of my Lineage inhabiteth Mecca in a place unfruitfull give them the grace to persevere in thy service incline the hearts of men to affect them enrich them with the f●uits of the Earth peradventure they will thanke thee thou knowest whatsoever is in the world I know it not nothing that is in Heaven or in Earth is hid from thee praysed be God who hath given me Ismael and Isaac in mine old age he heareth prayers when it pleaseth him Lord give me and my posterity the grace to persevere in well-doing hear my prayers pardon me and pardon my father and all True-believers at the day of Judgement Think not that God is ignorant of the actions of Infidels he deferreth the punishment of their crimes untill the day that all men shall have their eyes opened that day shall they behold their sins before their eyes and their hearts shall be full of desolation If thou preachest to the people the day of Judgement hath God will the wicked say preserved us to this present time to do what thou dost appoint us Say unto them have ye not sworn heretofore that there is no resurrection Ye have dwelt with the unjust ye have seen how they have been chastised and how we have spoken to you
night is to prove the people as the cursed tree See Gelaldin which is spoken of in the Alcoran there be persons that will believe it others that will not believe but I will trie them to augment their confusion Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to humble themselves before Adam and that they did humble themselves except the devill who said shall I adore him whom thou hast created of the earth who is he whom thou hast preferred to me Certainly if thou tarry untill the day of Judgement I will destroy his race except that small number that shall be under thy protection Thy Lord said unto him get thee hence hell shall be thy punishment and the punishment of them that shall follow thee deceive by thy speeches them whom thou shalt be able to deceive seduce whom thou canst seduce with the wealth of the earth cause them to exercise Usury and commit the sin of whoredome tell them there is neither Resurrection nor Judgement whatsoever thou shalt promise them shall be but vanity and falshood thou shalt have no power over them that shall worship me I will protect them against thee It is your Lord who causeth the ship to travell upon the waters for the advantage of traffique when the tempest chargeth you your Idols forsake you he alone is able to protect you neverthelesse when he hath caused you to arrive at the Port you deny his Unity and follow your impiety believe ye that he will another time make the sea calm to you and that he will send you a favourable wind if you doe not acknowledge him your protector Believe ye to returne againe to the sea He shall send you an impetuous wind that shall overwhelme you with your impietie and ye shall find none to protect you against him We have conferred on men many favours we have ●onducted them on th● earth and sea enriched with all sorts of riches and gratified them above all creatures of the earth preach to them the day wherein I will assemble before me all the Nations of the world with the Prophet that shall have preached to them He to whom shall be given the Book of the Accompt of his works in his right hand shall read his accompt entirely no injustice shall be done to him and he shall be happy He that shall be blind in this world shall be so in the other and shall not see the right way They would divert thee from performing what we have inspired into thee to induce thee to blaspheme against me If thou do it thou shalt be of their friends were it not for the strength that we have given thee they would make thee to incline to their impiety hadst thou done it we had given thee to taste of great afflictions in this world in the other thou hadst found none to protect thee against us it wanted not much but they had affrighted thee at Medina to cause thee to go out of it had they driven thee thence they had not continued there long after thee We heretofore sent our Prophets to instruct the people in our Law thou shall find therein nothing to change make thy prayers when the Sun shall set at the beginning and at the end of the night and at the dawning of day the Angels shall be witnesses of thine orisons spend one part of the night in prayer this shall be an augmentation of merit thy Lord shall establish thee in the place of his glory Say Lord into whatsoever place I goe make me to enter and goe forth with truth give me thy protection Say See Gelaldin that truth is come and that vanity is vanished this Book shall heal the people of their error it shall bring them into the way of mercy and encrease the misery of unbelievers We have exhorted men to abandon their impiety they have not done it and despaired when they were touched with affliction Say unto them each of us doth after his will and God knoweth him that followeth the right way they shall demand of thee concerning the Soul Say unto them the soul is an effect of God he hath given you very little knowledge assuredly had it so pleased him he could have deprived you of the knowledge he hath given you you shall find nothing that is able to protect you but his mercy Say unto them if the devils and men were all assembled against me they should not be able to compose a Book like the Alcoran We have taught in the Alcoran whatsoever is necessary for the salvation of men neverthelesse the greatest part of the people depart from the Truth and say we will not believe thee unlesse thou cause fountains to spring out of the earth and make in this place a garden beautified with Date trees and Vines with rivers flowing in the midst or unlesse we see descend from heaven a part of the pains which thou preachest we will not believe thee unlesse God and the Angels come to thy assistance unlesse thy house be of fine gold and that we see the Book of Truth sent from heaven we will not believe in thy Parchment unlesse we see descend from heaven a Book which we may be able to read Say unto them praised be my Lord am I any thing but a man sent from him what hindreth men to believe since there hath been sent to them a Pilot to conduct them into the way of salvation They say that thou art a man and not an Angel Say unto them should the Angels have inhabited the Earth God would have sent an Angel to instruct them it sufficeth that he is the witnesse of mine actions between you and me he knoweth and seeth all things he whom God guideth is well guided and such as God shall cause to erre shall find none to put them into the right way he will assemble all of them at the day of Judgement they shall be infamous deaf mute and blind and condemned to the flames of hell because they are wicked and have said through derision that they are bones and flesh and that they shall rise againe as new creatures see they not that God hath created heaven and earth that he can create yet more and hath established a destiny indubitable and infallible The unbelievers are exceedingly too blame Say unto them should you possesse all the treasures of the world yet would ye feare to make expence for the service of God man is too avaricious we gave to Moses nine marks of our Omnipotency known to the children of Israel Pharoah told him that he was a Magician His hand his staffe the deluge grashoppers lice frogs blood fear and famine See Bedaoi assuredly said Moses these signs and miracles that thou seest proceed from God Lord of heaven and earth I believe Oh Pharoah that thou forsakest the Truth Then would Pharoah have driven him out of Egypt but we drowned all those that were with him and commanded the children of Israel to inhabit the land we
will assemble them at the end of the world to reward them after their works We have indeed sent thee the Alcoran from heaven to proclaime the joys of Paradise and to preach the torments of hell we have sent it to the end thou maist teach it to the people we have sent it clear and intelligible that it may be understood according to occurences Say unto them believe or b●l●eve it not when those that have knowledge in the written Law heard it read they prostrated themselves on the ground with humility and said praised be God what he promiseth is infallible and incontinently is his command executed they wept prostrating the face towards the earth and the reading of the Alcoran augmented their devotion Say unto them implore God call God mercifull all his Attributes are most glorious Make it not appear to the world how often thou shalt pray neither how often thou shalt read the Alcoran and fear not to pray to God and to read the Alcoran follow in this the middle path and say praised be God he hath no Son he hath no companion neither protector to preserve him from contempt his greatness is perfect and compleat CHAP. XVIII The Chapter of the Cave containing an hundred and ten Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise be to God who hath sent the Alcoran to his servant There is no contradiction in this Book it teacheth the right way it preacheth to the wicked that they shall suffer great torments and proclaimeth to the righteous that they shall enjoy an eternall felicity it preacheth the torments of Hell principally to such as affirm That God hath a Son they are ignorant like to their predecessors they are arrogant in their discourse and utter nothing but blaspemies Wilt thou destroy thy self in following their footsteps If they believe not in the Alcoran they shall one day have sorrow and shall repent it We adorned the Earth with whatsoever is upon it for the advantage of men One part thereof is happy and plentifull and the other unfruitfull and desart Do ye not believe that the sleepers that entred the Cave and the Paper wherein their names were written be our miracles when those men entred the Cave they said Lord give us thy mercy and guide us into the right way Then did we cause them to sleep for the space of some years and awaked them having continued some time in that Cave to make it appear which of the two Religions was the most just I will relate to thee their History with truth they were young men who had the fear of their Lord before their eyes we strengthned them and encreased their faith when they were with the Infidels they said Our God is Lord of Heaven and Earth we will never worship but one God otherwise we shall separate our selves from the truth This people have adored Idols without reason who is more unjust then he who blasphemeth against God When they deserted the Infidels they worshipped one God alone Enter into the Cave God shall make his mercy towards you to appear and shall guide you through a path smooth and pleasant When the Sun arose he cast his rayes on the right side of their Cave and on the left at his going down they in the mean time were in the most spacious place of this Cave This is one of Gods miracles hee whom he guideth is well guided and whom he misleadeth shall find none to give him succour or to guide him Believe ye that they should be awake Assuredly they slept and turned themselves sometimes to one side sometimes to another Consider how their Dog extended his feet before that old habitation of stone if any one had entred towards them he would have caused them to flie and had affrighted them In the end we awaked them and they mutually enquired of each other in what place they were and how long they had there continued one of them replyed That they had been there a day or two then they all said God knoweth the time that we have abode here send one of us to the City with money to buy bread and meat let him not be fearfull neither make himself known to any if wee be known they will murther or constrain us to follow their Religion in which we shall be eternally miserable Thus did we stir up the people against them to the end they might know that thy Lord is true when he said He will cause the dead to arise again the Resurrection is indubitable nevertheless unbelievers dispute among them concerning the History of the Sleepers and say That they built a secret place to retire themselves God knoweth the Truth The True-believers believe that they made no building the Infidels say they were five and that their dog was the sixth they speak by opinion but the True-believers affirm them to be seven and their dog to be the eighth Say unto them My Lord knoweth how many they were few persons except God know ●heir number Doubt no more the History of the Slee●ers the matter is averred and known dispute no more with the Jews and say not I will do this to morrow without saying If it please God Call God to minde after thou hast forgot him and say The Lord shall guide me and teach me the History of the Sleepers See Gelaldin who remained in the Cave three hundred years there be who affirme they continued there nine hundred years Say unto them God knoweth the time of their abode there he knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth he understandeth and seeth all things he alone disposeth every thing and hath no companion Preach what thy Lord hath inspired into thee his word admitteth of no alteration there is no safer refuge then in him dwell with those that invoke him morning and evening and desire to see his face depart not from their company if thou desirest to have content of life in this world obey not those whose heart we have hardned and are unmindfull of us follow not their impiety whatsoever they do is but offence and sin Say unto them the truth proceedeth from your Lord who shall desire it shall be True-believers and who shall not desire it shall be an Infidell we have prepared Hell to chastise the impious and prisons wherein to detaine them They shall implore succors against the melting pit into which they shall be plunged as into waters it shall rost their faces and shall be their drink I will not frustrate of reward them that shall have done well they shall enjoy the delights of the gardens of Eden wherein flow many rivers they shall have bracelets of ●ine Gold they shall be cloathed with green with Scarlet and shining colours and shall sit on thrones with an eternall felicity Declare to them this parable there were two men I gave to the one of them gardens where●n was store of fruits he in contempt told his companion that he was more wealthy
that I shall dye and the day of my resurrection Thus spake Jesus the sonne of M●●y with truth of which ye doubt God approveth not the discourse of them that say he hath a sonne praised be God when he willeth any thing he saith be thou and it is he is mine and your Lord worship him this is the right way there be persons who in this regard have been of different opinion but misery is upon the incrudulous they shall be miserable at the day of Judgement The Infidels are manifestly erroneous from the right way If thou preach to them the torments of Hell and their ignorance they will not hear thee Wee are Lords of whatsoever is on Earth and dispose of every thing at our pleasure they shall be one day assembled before us to be judged Remember thou what is written of Abraham he was a righteous man and a Prophet he said to his Father adore not what neither seeth nor understandeth any thing and that cannot be profitable I know what ye know not follow me and I will conduct you into the right way worship not the Devill he is disobedient unto God otherwise I fear that God may chastise you and you may be in the number of the damned He answered oh Abraham dost thou abhorre my Gods unlesse thou change thy discourse I will stone thee depart from me for a long time he said May God inspire you I will pray for you he is exceeding good and will hear my prayers Whom will ye adore when I shall be gone from you Worship God my Lord and your prayers shall be heard he departed from them and worshipped one God We gave him two sonnes Iasaac and Jacob both Prophets we conferred our grace upon him with an eloquent and true tongue Remember thou what is written of Moses he was a righteous man our Prophet and Messenger we called him on the right side of the Mount Sinai drew him neer unto us and taught him our secrets We through speciall g●●● gave him a brother named Aaron Remember thou what is written of Ismael he exactly observed what he promised was a Prophet and an Apostle of the Lord preached purity and recommended to men to make their prayers often and was pleasing to his Lord. Remember thou what is written of Enoch hee was a just man and a Prophet and we took him up to an exceeding high place God gave his grace to these men among the Prophets of the lineage of Adam among them whom we caused to embarke with Noah among those of the lineage of Abraham and Israel and among those that we assembled and guided into the right way When the miracles of the mercifull were related to them they fell prostrate and adored him with tears in their eyes their posterity forsook their footsteps abandoned the Law and followed their own appetites but they shall be precipitated into Hell except such as shall be converted and do good works they shall enter into Paradise and no injustice shall be done to them they shall enter into the garden of Eden what the mercifull God doth promise is infallible they shall hear nothing spoken in Paradise that shall displease them they shall hear the salutation of Angels and morning and evening shall have what they desire such is Paradise which God giveth to his creatures that have his fear before their eyes I * Gelaldin saith ● that Mahomet complaineth to the Angel Gabriel for having been so long absent from him descend not from Heaven but by the permission of the Lord he is master of our actions in Heaven and Earth and of whatsoever is between them he hath not forgot thee worship him and persevere in thy adoration knowest thou any person that is named like him Man saith what shall I dye and rise again He considereth not that God hath created him of nothing I will one day assemble the Infidels and Devils I will cause them to appear at the gate of Hell upon their knees and will cast upon them all manner of misery because they have encreased their impiety towards their Lord. I know such as deserve to burn in Hell they shall be thrown thither headlong this is a most just sentence pronounced by the Lord. I will save the righteous and forbid●●● fidels to fall on their knees before Idols when the unbelievers and many of the faithfull heard my Commandements preached they said among themselves that they were in a better way then their neighbour how many have we destroyed befor them in past Ages more rich then they and hypocrites like unto them Say unto them God prolongeth the l●fe of the erroneous that they may know their errors and learn the knowledge of the pains prepared for them they shall understand who shall be the most miserable and who shall have been most weak in their faith and least affectionate to the service of his divine Majesty God shall encrease their faith who shall follow the right way and such as be obedient to him shall enjoy his grace Hast thou considered the action of the wicked They demand if they shall have riches and children after their Resurrection Would you know what shall be would you capitulate with the mercifull I will not do it I will write all that they say and will adde to their miseries I will give to them in this world what they require and they shall rise again naked without treasure and children See Gelaldin They adored Idols to have their protection Certainly they erred in that adoration they shall renounce them and be their enemies at the day of Judgement Seest thou not how we have sent the Devils against unbeliev●rs to seduce them Be not impatient to to see them punished they shall be judged at the day appointed Be thou mindfull of the day when I shall assemble all the righteous in the presence of God and pr●cipitate all the wicked into Hell their prayers shall not be heard except such as have accomplished their promises to the mercifull They have said Do ye believe that God hath a Son You utter a strange thing it wanteth not much but that Heaven and Earth open themselves and that the Mountains fall with their utter destruction They call God God the Son God hath not to do with a Son whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth adore him he knoweth the accompt and number of all things of the world Men shall appear before him at the day of Judgement and the True-believers that shall do good works shall be beloved of his divine Majesty We have sent thee the Alcoran written in thine own Language that thou mayst proclaim the delights of Paradise to them that fear me and preach the torments of Hell to such as dispute with obstinacy against the Faith How many of the wicked have we destroyed in past ages Hast thou heard speak of them Hast thou heard mention of their memory CHAP. XX. The Chapter of Beatitude and of Hell containing on hundred and thi●ty Verses
written at Mecca Reader the Mahometans have entituled this Chapter Tthé which is two letters of the Arabique Alphabet ●o wit Tt and Hé where in this place Tt signifieth Thouba ●hat is to say Beatitude and H● Hao●h that is to say Hell See the gloss and interpretation of Gelaldin and Bedao● they have intituled this Chapter of Beatitude and of Hell IN the name of God gracious and mercifull We have not given thee the Alcoran to torment thee but to instruct therein the righteous It was sent thee by him that created the Heavens and the Earth the mercifull sitteth on his Throne whatsoever is in Heaven● and Earth whatsoever is between them and beneath the Earth appertaineth to him He knoweth thy thoughts he understandeth what thou keepest secret and what thou makest manifest God! there is but one God all the glorious names of the world are due unto him Knowest thou the History of Moses When he beheld the fire he said to his family Stay ye here I see a great fire I will bring to you a spark and you shall find in it the right way When he approached it was said unto him O Moses I am thy Lord put off thy shooes thou art in the holy Valley of Toy I have elected thee among my people hear my word and receive mine inspirations I am God there is none other God but I worship me alone and make thy prayers as it is ordained The hour unknown to the world approacheth wherein I will recompence and chastise every one after his works Take heed lest the wicked seduce thee from the right way if thou follow their appetite thou shalt be destroyed Is it not what thou hast sworn to me he answered Lord I will apply my selfe unto thee and will lean upon my staffe I will beat the fruits of the Trees to make them fall upon my flocks I have yet another manner to nourish my sheep with this staff I will make use of it to defend and preserve them from mischief God said unto him O Moses cast that staffe to the ground behold a Serpent it creepeth take it and be not afraid I will cause it to return to its former condition draw back thine hand and put it under thy arm it shall become white and shining without harm and pain it shall be a most certain sign of my Unity I will give thee to see the miracles of my Omnipotencie go to Pharoah he is in an exceeding great error and seduced from the right way Moses said Lord rejoyce my heart and facilitate my commission unloose the knot of my tongue that they may understand my speech give me Aaron to assist me in this business that I may praise thee and highly exalt thy glory thou only art our protector God said thy prayer is heard we were favourable to thee another time when we inspired thy mother to put thee into a coffer and expose thee to the river of Nile the water drove thee to the shore whence Pharoah took thee I caused thee to be beloved of him to have care of my people when thy sister sought t●dings of what was become of thee she said who will guide us where he is who will conduct us to him that keepeth him we sent thee back to thy mother to stop her tears and put an end to her affection Thou slewest a man we have delivered thee from the hands of thine enemies and have approved thy perseverance thou hast continued some time with the inhabitants of Madian after this we sent thee to preach our Commandements I have made choise of thee goe with thy brother to Pharoah and lie not in speaking of me he is gone astray from the right way speak to him both of you with mildnesse peradventure he will hearken to you and will fear the fire of hell they answered Lord wee fear that he may torment and rise up against us he said fear nothing I will be with you hear what he will say consider his actions address your selves to him and say we are the Messengers of the Omnipotent God dismiss with us the children of Israel and no more torment them we are come hither by the Commandement of God thy Lord. Salvation is for such as follow the right way damnation for them that blaspheme against his Law and depart from his Commandements Pharoah said unto them who is your God Moses said my God is he that created the world and guideth men into the right way Pharoah said what law did your predecessors observe what is become of them Moses answered God knoweth in what condition they are nothing is concealed from God he extended the earth and established the wayes he causeth rain to descend from heaven and maketh to spring forth the plants herbs and fruits which ye eat and that nourish your flocks These things are signs of his Omnipotency to them that understand them We created you of earth and to earth will we make you to return and will cause you to come out of it once again we shewed miracles to Pharoah but he was incredulous contemned them and said O Moses Are thou come to drive us out of our Dominions with thy Magick I will shew thee Magick like to thine let us meet at a place and day prefixed between the and me to come together Moses said unto him let us make choise of the day of your feast if it seem good to you the people may assemble at the Sun rising After this discourse Pharoah withdrew recollected all his subtilties and at the day and hour prefixed came with his people to the place appointed where Moses was who said unto them misery is upon you blaspheme not against God he will punish you and destroy them that blaspheme against him The people of Pharaoh differed in opinion what they should do kept their designe secret and said to Pharoah these two men are Magicians they would chase you from your Countrey through their Magick and seduce your subjects from your Religion recollect your subtilties and power and chuse persons capable to dispute against them this day shall be happy to him that shall be victorious They said to Moses wilt thou first cast thy staffe on the ground or shall we ours Their cords and staves arose against Moses through their Magick and crawled Moses spake low between his teeth we said unto him fear nothing thou shalt be victorious cast thy staffe in thy right hand on the ground it shall devoure what they have done it is but witchcraft and magick that produceth neither Profit nor Content Then fell the Magicians of Pharoah prostrate on the ground and said We believe in the God of Aaron and Moses Pharoah said unto them believe ye in him without my permission Moses is your master I will cut off your right feet and your left hands or your left feet and your right hands and cause you to be hanged on Palme trees that ye may know who is the more severe in his chastisements I
they have don them that God is sufficiently powerfull to protect them When they were driven from their houses without reason they said God is our Lord Had not God stirred up the people against each other the Covents of the Religious the Churches of the Christians the Synagogues of the Jews and the Temples of the Believers had been ruined through the multitude of the wicked See Gelaldin and their malice The name of God is exalted in the Temples of believers and therein is his Law defended and protected God is most strong he hath all power over his people Those whom God hath established on Earth with victory over their enemies make their prayers in the maner ordained pay Tythes and enjoyn to do what is honest and civill forbid to do what is prohibited of God who knoweth the end of all things If the Infid●ls traduce thee their predecessors traduced Noah A●d Chiab Abraham and Lot they also slandred Mos●s God for a time deferred their punishment but in the end most severely chastised them How many Cities have we destroyed because of their impiety We have overthrown and made them desart through the death of their Inhabitants Shall those of Mecca walk for ever upon Earth with an hard heart without reflecting upon what hath heretofore befalne the Infidels Their eyes are not blinde but their hearts are blinde and hardned They will require thee to cause the wicked to be speedily chastised God will not go against what he hath promised One day before thy Lord is as a thousand yeers before men How often hath the punishments of impi●us Cities been deferred that in the end were destr●yed The whole world shall one day be assembled before me to be recompenced after their merits Say unto them O people I preach unto you publikely the torments of Hell such as shall believe and do good works they shal receive pardon of their sins a precious treasure they that shall endevor to make voyd the faith shal be damned We sent our Prophet to read only our Commandments to the People the unbeleivers read many things that are not in the Alcoran but God hath made vain what the Devil had there inserted and confirmed the precepts of his Law What the Devill there inserted serveth for sedition to them that are weak in their faith have an heart the Infidels are in an exceeding great error are far from the Truth Such as have the knowledg of Scripture know that the Alcoran is truth it self which proceedeth from thy Lord They beleive in it and humble their heart in reading it God guideth into the right way such as beleive in the truth The Infidels shall be in doubt untill they be surprized of the day of Judgement That day shall they be rigorously chastised that day shall God command and judg the good and the bad the righteous that shall have beleived and done good works shall enter into delicious Gardens and the Infidells that shall have disobeyed his Commandments shall suffer exceeding great torments See Gelaldin They that departed from Mecca and went to Medina to abandon the society of unbeleivers and were slain or died of sicknesse shall be rewarded of his divine Majesty God is the greatest benefactor in the world he shal give them to enter where they shall desire he is omniscient most merciful The believers that shall take revenge of the injury that the unbeleivers have done them shall be protected of God He is gracious and merciful towards his people he maketh day to enter into night night into day he heareth the Prayers of True beleivers and seeth whatsoever they do and will protect them because he is truth it selfe Idols are but vanity God is most high omnipotent Dost thou not consider that God sendeth the rain from Heaven and that the earth becommeth green He is benign to his people knoweth all things whatsoever is in Heaven Earth is his he hath no need of his people and ought to be exalted Seest thou not that God hath subjected to you all the beasts that are upon the Earth Seest thou not that the ship runneth upon the SEA through his command to transport you and your substance Seest thou not that he hindreth heaven to fal upon the earth certainly he is benign and merciful He it is that hath given you life and death he shal make you to dy and shall raise you againe neverthelesse man is ingrateful for his favors We have given a Law to all the Nations of the World to guide them into the right way if they observe it they will not dispute against thee Invoke thy Lord thou art in the right way if they dispute against thee Say unto them God knoweth all your actions he shal judg your differences at the day of judgment knewest thou not that God knoweth whatsoever is in heaven or in earth All is written this is most easie to his divine Maj. Idolaters adore without reason Idols that understand not whether they be gods or no that shall be without protection at the day of Judgment when they preach to men my commandements they know by their countenance those that are impious and ingratefull for my graces they would with wrath fall upon them that instruct them Say unto them I declare unto you things more greivous God hath prepared the fire of hell to chastise Infidels O people A parable is related to you hear it All the Idolls that ye adore cannot create a flye when they shall be assembled to do it if the flies corrupt any thing that is offered to them they have not the power to drive them away because of their impotency and the weaknesse of them that adore them They praise not God in that manner as is just and reasonable he is most strong most powerfull he hath chosen messengers to bear and and execute his Commandements among Angels and men he heareth whatsoever they say beholdeth whatsoever they do he knoweth whatsoever they have don and all things obey him O ye that believe honor and worship your Lord and do good perhaps ye shall be blessed Fight for the establishment of his Law with affection he hath chosen you to follow it he hath not given you a Law heavy and troublesom It is the Law of Abraham your father he hath stiled you the Resigned to God before the coming of the Alch●ran The Prophet shall testifie against you at the day of judgment and ye shal testifie against the people that the Prophet hath preached to them the right way persevere in your prayers pay tithes trust in God he is your Lord your Prophet and your protector CHAP. XXIII The Chapter of True Believers containing an hundred and eighteen verses written at Mecca I the Name of God gracious and merifull Certainly the True beleivers shall be blessed that make their prayers with humility they abstain from reviling they pay tithes they commit not whoredom they touch not other women
then their own and their slaves such as covet other transgresse the bounds of reason they that faithfully preserve what hath been intrusted to them they that effect what they have promised and that make their prayers at the time appointed shall be heirs of Paradise where they shall dwell eternally We formed man of the dust of the earth with mire blood congealed with a little flesh and bones which we invested with skin we another time created him when we breathed into him the soul in the body and blessed him as one of our fairest ornaments O men ye shall all dye and shall rise again at the day of judgment we created above you seven heavens See Gelaldin and have care of the conservation of al people that are beneath we send water from heaven to satisfy your necessities we make it to fall upon the earth and have power to cause to passe away and deprive you of it We have created made gardens to bring forth Date trees Grapes many other fruits by which ye live we created trees in the mountain of Sinai that produce oyl and * Or dying Colours tincture ye receive great advantage by beasts they sustain you with milk and afford you many other proffits ye mount them and ships also carry you whither ye desire to go We sent Noah who spake to the people and said worship one God alone what other God wil ye implore but him Will ye not fear to worship another The chief among the people that were idolaters said to their adherents this man is a man like your selvs he would appear and be esteemed more then you if God would be adored alone as he saith he would cause an angel to descend that should bring his Commandments we have not heard spoken to our Predecessors what he saith he is a man possessed of the Devil tarry and ye shal see what will become of him Then Noah said Lord protect me against them and defend me from their blasphemies we commanded him to build an Ark when our commandment was given to destroy the wicked and when the water of his caldron boyled we commanded him to enter into the Ark with two beasts of every kinde and species all men we destroyed except them of whom we have before spoken we said unto him speak not to me for Infidels they shall be drowned when thou shalt have taken order for every thing that must enter into the Ark with thee Say praise be to God who hath delivered us from the malice of the wicked Lord give us to descend in a blessed place thou art the best Pilot in the world It was a sign of my omnipotency to prove the people of Noah we created after them another people to whom we sent an Apostle to instruct them to worship one God and he said what God will ye adore other then God will ye not feare his wrath Their Doctors that were impious who denyed the Resurrection of the flesh and on whom we had conferred the wealth of the Earth said he is a man he eateth and and drinketh like you if ye obey not a man like to your selves ●hall ye be destroyed doth he promise you to return into the world after having been bones and dust O abuse O abuse ye are abused in what he promiseth he is a man like other● he is a lyar we will not beleive him That apostle said Lord preserve me from their blasphemyes they shal repeat suddenly of their impiety then thunder surprised them and destroyed them as they deserved we made the land dry barren without fruit created other persons in the●● place Man cannot die before his hour and none can retard it we sent our Apostles and our Prophets to instruct the peopl but they were slain one after another every Nation traduced the Prophet that we sent to them and we made them serve for examples to posterity and destroyed the wicked We sent Moses and his brother Aaron to Pharoah and his Doctors with our miracles and with most intelligible reasons they arose against the Faith they tormented the children of Israel and said shall we believe in a man like to our selves of them that obey us They slandred both of them and were in the number of the damned We gave to Moses the Book of the Law peradventure it wil guide the children of Israel into the right way we created Jesus Mary his mother they are signs of our Unity we established them in an eminent place where they stayed neere a fountaine O Apostles and Prophets eat of the frurts of the earth do good I know whatsoever ye do your Law is one law I alone am your Lord take heed to your selvs follow not the law of the Infidels every one liketh what he doth depart frō the wicked leave them in their errors an accompt shal be required of thē of the riches of the children that we have given them but they know it not Such as fear the punishment of their Lord that obey his Commandements profes his unity give Alms of the substance that he hath given them and feare in their hearts that they are not acceptable to them shall appear in his presence such as shall obey him shall enjoy his grace he requireth not of any man what he is unable to performe We have a booke that declareth the truth no injustice shall be done to him that shall doe what he is able certainly the Infidels are in ignorance of the Alcoran they act what is quite contrary to that which is commanded true believers but we have punished the chief among them in their prosperity Be not this day resolute ye shall not be protected of us Our Commandments are taught you neverthelesse ye are returned upon your steps and are risen against the Faith and in discoursing by night withdrew your selvs from the righteous Consider they not the words of the Alcoran ●oth it contain any thing that hath not bin ordained to their predecessors know they not the Prophet that God hath sent to them Wherefore will they not acknowledg him Will they say that he is possessed of the devil On the contrary he reacheth them the truth neverthelesse the greatest part of them detest him if their will had place heaven and earth whatsoever is betwixt them should be confounded we have instructed them in the Law which they ought to observe but they have renounced it Dost thou require of them any recompence for thy instructions Thy Lord shall reward thee there is none that is of power to recompence thee better then He. Call them to the right way such as shall not believe the Resurrection shall err If we pardon and deliver them from affliction they will still continue in their errors to their confusion we heretofore chastised them neverthelesse they humble not themselves neither implored their Lord and when we opened upon them the gate of our Judgements they became desperate God hath
to them that fight for the law of God neverthelesse they do it not to them and flie them desire they not that God should pardon them He is neither gentle nor pitifull but towards True-belivers They that accuse of immodesty women chast innocent and faithfull shall be accursed in this world and shall suffer great torments at the day when their tongues their hands and their feet shall testifie ageinst them at the same time shall God pay to them what shall be due unto them without injustice and they shall know that God is truth it selfe The wicked women shall speak as the wicked men and the wicked men as the wicked women The good women shall speak as the good men and the good men as the good women the good are innocent of the imposture of the wicked they shall injoy the grace of God and the treasures of Paradse Oh ye that are True-beleivers enter not into anothers house without permission if ye salute them that dwell there ye sh●ll do well peradventure ye wil be mindfull if ye find none of the house enter not without permission if they speak to you to returne ye shall return it is better then to stay at the door God beholdeth all that ye do ye shal not offend God to enter into houses inhabited if ye have affairs there God knoweth all your intentions Speak unto the true-believers that they contain their sight that they be chast that they do good and that God knowes all their action Speak unto the True-beleiving women that they retain their fight and that they be chast that they suffer nothing of their beauty to be seen but what ought to be seen that they cover their bosome and their vissage that they permit them not to be seene but by their husbands their Children the Children of their husbands their brothers their nephew● their sisters their women their daughters maid-servants and slaves by their domestiques that are not capable of marriage by children that regard not the beauty of Women and that they move not their feete to shew they are well shod Implore pardon of God peradventure ye shall be happy many maidens of your owne Religion the daughters of the righteous or your slaves if they be poor God shall enrich them with his grace he is most liberall and omniscient Such as have not means to marry shall live chastly untill God hath given them means Such as have desire to marry their slaves shall have power to passe a contract of marriage if they know them to be wise and shall give them part of the wealth that God hath bestowed on them despise not your wives that are chast to commit whoredom if ye desire good in this world if yee contemne them God shall be to them propitious and mercifull we have sent to you these precepts clear and intelligible like to them that were taught your Prede●essours to be preached to the righteous God illuminateth the heaven and the Earth as the Lamp that is in the Lanthorn of of Chrystall fed with oyl of the blessed Olive It seemeth to be a Star full of light which goeth neither to the West nor the East and yeildeth brightness upon brightness God guideth by his light whom it pleaseth him he teacheth his people parables and is omniscient ●e permitteth you to praise him in your houses there to be mindfull of his name and to exalt him evening and morning Oh ye men your affairs ought not to hinder your remembrance of his divine Majesty to make your prayers at the time appointed neither to pay Tithes Fear the day when the hearts of men shall be perplexed and their fight troubled when God shall reward and chastise every one after his works and shall augment his grace upon the good he enricheth with his innumerable benefits whom to him seemeth good The good works of the wicked are like to mists in a spacious pl●in they seem to be water when afar off and being appreache● nothing is to be there found They shall finde before God the book wherein is written whatsoever they have don he shall punish them according to their dem●rits he is exact to keep accompt Their actions are moreover like to the darkness that is in the bottom of the sea that is covered with wave upon wave obscurity and darknesse upon one another he that is in this darknesse cannot see his hand he that shall not be illuminated by God sha●l not see a jot Seest thou not that whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth exalteth the glory of God The Birds extend their wings before him to praise him he heareth the prayers of all his creatures and understandeth the prayses that they give him he knoweth all that they do he is King of Heaven and Earth the refuge of all the world Soest thou not how he assembleth the clouds how he plac●th them one upon another considerest thou not how the rain falleth through their pores and that God causeth fresh water to descend from the mountains He hath given it to whom seemeth good to him he causeth the brightnes of lightning to approach men which blindeth their sight overwhelmeth the day with night These things are signes of his omnipotency to them that consider them He created of a little water all sorts of living Creatures some creep upon the Earth others walk upon two feet others upon four he created what pleased hi● he is omnipotent Certainly he hath sent a law clear intelligible to conduct into the right way whom it shall seeme good to him The Infidels say We beleive in God his Prophet nevertheles a party among them abandon his Law and believe not in his divine Majesty when they are called before God and before the Prophet to judge their differences many among them refuse to come if they come it is with contempt They are greatly afflicted at heart do they fear that God and his Prophet will do them injustice On the contrary they themselves are unjust When the True-beleivers are called before God and the Prophet to be judged they s●● We have heard obeyyed they are not ignorant Th●se that shall obey God and his Prophet shall be bless●d Many swear to fight gallantly for the Faith when they shall be commanded to march against the enemy say unto them Swear not your obedience to the Prophet shal be pref●rred to your Oaths God knoweth whatsoever ye do say unto them Obey God and his Prophet if they be disobedient they shall bear their burden ye shall bear your own if ye obey ye shall follow the right way The Prophet is obliged only to preach intelligibly God promised to the True beleivers that shal do good works that they shall live long up-upon e●rth as he promised to them that were before them that they might establish the Law that he gave them he shall change their fear into assurance he shal deliver them from terror that they may adore him alone without companion He that is
each others veiw will yee love men more then women ye are ignorant They replyed Let us drive Lot and his family out of our City they defile not themselvs like us we preserved him with all his family except his wif● she remained among them that were chastised We caused it to rain upon them a rain that gave them to know the severity of our chastisements Say unto them praised be God that destroyeth the wicked and salvation to all those who he hath chosen are they not more happy then such as beleive there are many Gods who created the Heavens the earth who caused rain to fal from heaven who hath made many delicious gardens to bring for●h you have not the power to cause the plants to spring forth without the assistance of God certainly unbeleivers do erre frō the right way Who hath established the earth made the rivers to flow who hath made heavy the mountains who but God hath put separation that is between the Seas The greatest part of the world know it not Who rendreth men miserable who delivereth them from affliction when they invoke him who hath caused you to multiply and leave your posterity on Earth but God Neverthelesse few men give him thanks Who guideth in the darknesse of the Earth and Sea who but God sendeth the windes the forerunners of raine he is most high and m●st powerfull but the wicked will not consider the effects of his omnipotency Who formeth men who maketh them to live dye and rise again who enricheth them with the wealth of Heaven and of Earth but God Say unto them produce your reasons bring your arguments if what ye alleadg be true Say unto them none but God knoweth what is in Heaven and Earth no man knoweth the future present and past do men know the day of the Resurrection Contrarywise they doubt and are blind The wicked have said what we shall be dust as are our fathers and shall come forth out of our Graves This was heretofore promised to our fathers and to us this is but a fable of old men Tell them that they consider not what was heretofore the end of the wicked afflict not thy selfe for that they conspire against thee and that they demand at what time they shall see the punishment that is foretold them Say unto them it is not farre from you ●e throw your selves headlong into it but God is pitifull towards his people neverthelesse the greatest part give him no thanks for his grace thy Lord knoweth what is in their heart and whatsoever they speak there is nothing in Heaven or Earth that is not written in a most intel●igible Book the A●coran explaineth to the children of Israel the greatest part of their difficulties it will guide them into the right way deliver from Hell them that shall believe thee th● Lord sh●ll judge them at the day of Judgment he is omnipotent and wise Trust thou in God thou art in the way of truth the dead and deafe shall not heare thee and unbelievers shall depart from t●ee pensive and astonished thou oughtest not to guide the blinde neither to make the deaf to h●ar except such as shall believe in the Alcoran and be obedient when the time of the punishment that is denounced against them shall be come we wil cause a Beast to com from under the earth that shal speak unto them and shall say The people beleive not in the Law of G●d they know not his wondrous works Be thou mindfull of the day when I will assemble a multitude of all Nations that have disobeyed my Commandments to give accompt of their actions I wil say unto them ye have traduced my prophets ye know not what ye said what hove ye done Then shall they be punished for their sins and be inexcusable they shall not speak a word Do not infidels see that we have created the night for rest and the day for travel this is a sign of my Omnipotency Be thou mindfull of the day wherein the Angell shall sound the Trumpet and whatsoever is in Heaven or Earth shall tremble with fear except such as shall be in the favour of God that day shalt thou see the Mountains suspended to move like the Clouds this shall be a work of God who created all things and knoweth their end He that shall have done good works shall be rewarded he shall be without fear and they that had don evil shall remain in the fire of Hel It shall be said unto them are ye no chastised according to your demerits Say unto the people I command you to worship the Lord of this priviledged * Mecca See Gelaldin City al things appertain to him I command you to believe in the unity of his divine Maj. and to study the Alcoran who so doth good shal find good Say unto them that shall be seduced I am sent only to preach the torments of Hel. Say to true-believers praysed be God that hath given you to see his Miracles and hath given you knowledge of the right way thy Lord is not ignorant of what they do CHAP. XXVIII The Chapter of History containing foure score and eight Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God is most pure he understandeth all things and is most wise These mysteries are the mysteries of the Book that distinguisheth the truth from a lye I relate to thee the history of Moses and of Pharoah with truth for the contentment of True-beleivers Pharoah was powerfull on Earth he entreated his Subjects as seemed good to him he tormented ted one party and murthered their Children he abused their wives and was of them that defiled the Earth I gave my grace to thē that were afflicted on earth I made them successors of Pharoahs Kingdom I established them in his Dominions I made Pharoah Haman and their Army to see what they most feared we said to the mother of Moses give suck to thy Child if thou fearest that they will mischief him cast him upon Nile fear not neither afflict thy self I will restore him to thee between thine arms and place him in the number of Prophets The domestiques of Pharoah found him upon the water saved him to be one day their enemy to tormen● them because Pharoah Haman and their people were Infidels Pharoahs wife said unto him I entreat thee not to suffer this Infant to be slain mine eyes rejoyce to see him he shall one day be proffitable for our service as our Son but they were ignorant of what should befall them the heart of his mother was freed from fear when she beheld him in the hands of Pharoah's wife and scarce could she refrain to let them know that she was his mother we caused her to have patience and she had faith in our promises She spa●e to his sister to follow him step by step she followed afar off without intimation that she was his sister or that she regarded him We
have beleived that it is sufficient to say we beleive in God and that they be not proved Certainly God proved their predecessors and knew such as were zealous in his Law and them that were Infidels Do they who have done evill think to escape the punishment of their crimes and not to be judged Such as hope to see God shall behold him at the time appointed by his divine Majesty he understandeth and knoweth all things He that fighteth for the faith fighteth for his soule certainly God hath no need of men their sins shall be pardoned who shall beleive in his divine Majesty and shall do good works We enjoyned the children of Israel to honour their father and mother and to do good to them if they press thee to worship many Gods thou shalt be damned if thou give ear to them obey them not in this matter ye shall be assembled before me I will set before you all that ye have done I will reward you according to your works and place such as shall have observed my Law in the number of the blessed There be men who affirm that they beleive in God and are impatient when evill befalleth them from God to prove them If God give victory to the True beleivers they say that they are on their side but doth not God know what is in their heart he knoweth them that beleive in his Law and those that are impious The Infidels said to the True-beleivers do like us follow our way we will bear your sins They will not bear them they are lyars they shal bear their own burthen shal not an accompt of their sins be required of them at the day of Judgment We sent Noah to instruct men he lived upon the earth 900. 50. years The flood surprized destroyed the people of his time because they were unjust and we saved Noah and those that were with him in the Ark this ought to serve for example to all the world Remember Abraham who said to his people adore one God and fear him ye shall do well if ye have knowledge to comprehend it ye worship but Idols are but lyars those whom ye worship cannot benefit you implore succor of God worship him and give him thanks for his graces ye shall one day appear before him if ye traduce me those that were before you traduced the prophet● Gods Messengers Messengers are obliged only to discharge their message are ye ignorant that God causeth men to dye and shall raise them again it is a thing easie to God Walk through the earth and consider how God hath extirpated your predecessors created after them another people certainly he is omnipotent He punisheth and pardoneth as he seeth goed yo● shall one day be assembled before him to be judged you shall not render him impotent either in the Earth or in the heavens ye shall find none of power to protect or defend you against his divine Majesty such as obey not his Commandments who beleive not the resurrection and despair of his mercy shall suffer great torments the people answered kill Abraham and burn him but God delivered him from the fire that they had kindled which shall serve for example to True-beleivers He said unto them ye adore only Idols because of your love to the wealth of the world ye shall despise and curse each other at the day of judgement Hel shall be your habitatation and ye shall be deprived of protection Lot beleived in his words and said I wil retyre ●o the place which my Lord shal appoint me he alone îs omnipotent and most wise We gave to Abraham two sons Isaac and Jacob we caused Prophets to be borne of his race and t●ught his progeny the Scripture we rewarded him in this world he shal be at the day of judgment in the number of the blessed Rmember Lot who said to his people Ye defile your selvs with filthinesse unknown to any before you ye incline to the love of men ye rob upon the high ways and defile on another This people answered Let us see the Judgements of God if what tho● speakest be true Then he said Lord protect me against unbelievers When our Messengers came towards Abraham to declare to him that he should have children they said unto him We will ruine Lots City and destroy all the inhabitants thereof because they are impious Abraham answered Lot dwelleth in that City they said We know all that is within it and we will preserve him with all his family except his wife she shall be in the number of them that shall be punished When our Messengers arrived at Lots house he was troubled in that he had not strength sufficient to defend them from the malice of the people they said unto him fear nothing neither afflict thy selfe We will preserve thee and all thy family except thy wife she shall abide among them that shall be destroyed we wil cause t●e indignation of God to fall upon this City because of their impiety it shal serve for exampl to posterity We sent Chaib to his brethren the inhabitants of Madian he said unto them Worship one God fear the day of Judgment and defile not the Earth They impudently traduced him but were surprized by an Ear●hquake and rem●ined dead in their houses as c●rkases We destroyed Aad and Temod their ruine is yet apparent in the places of their habitations the Devil tempted and seduced them from the right way notwithstanding they knew their error We destroyed Caron Pharaoh and Haman Moses preached to them my Commandments they contemned them and became proud in the Earth but escaped not the punishment of their crimes We chastised some by an impetuous wind and other were surprized by thunder we deprived them of their riches and they were drowned God was not unjust towards them they drew mischiefe on themselves through their impiety They that worship Id●ls are like to the Spider she buildeth her house of her cob-wed that cannot defend from heat or cold They would not adore Idols did they understand what they do God seeth what they worship he is omnipotent and wise I teach the people these parables and none but the wise understand them Truly God created heaven earth it is a sign of his Omnipotency to True-beleivers Instruct them in the Book that is inspired i●to thee make thy prayers at the time appointed prayers divert men from sin to be mindful of God is the best work thou canst perform he knoweth al the actions of men Dispute with mildnesse against them that have knowledge of the written Law except against the wicked that are among them Say unto them we beleive in what hath been taught you in what hath been taught us Your God our God is one God we are resigned to his divine will We have sent thee the Alcoran as we sent to them the old Testament Such as understand the Old Testament bleive in the Truth of the Alcoran Thou hast not
written it with thine own hand hadst thou written it thou hadst caused them to doubt who desire to make it voyd certainly it containeth and teacheh Intelligibly the Commandments of the Law none but infidels reject it They have said we will not beleive in this Book unles God work in it some miracle Say unto them Miracles proceed from God I am sent only to preach the torments of Hell Is it not sufficient that we have sent thee the Alcoran to instruct them it containeth the effects of my mercy precepts necessary for their salvatiō Say unto them it suficeth that God is witnesse of mine actions betwixt you and me he knoweth whatsoever is in heaven and in Earth they that beleive in Idols and have not faith in God are damned They urge thee to make them see the punishment of their crimes if the time were come they should soone feel it they shall rescent it when they least think of it but they know it not they shall presse thee to make them see it Say unto them Hell is prepared for Infidels When they shall be plunged in torments over their heads and under their feet it shall be said unto them tast the punishment w ch ye have deserved O ye people that beleive the earth is sufficiently large spacious for you to separat your selvs from the wicked worship me alone al creatures shal die be assembled before me to be judged The true beleivers that shal have don good works shall inhabit Paradise wherin flow many rivers wherin is the reward of the righteous of them that persevere to do good and are patient in their affliction and trust in their Lord. How many beasts be there that have not wherewith to live God nourisheth them and you also he understandeth knowet● all things If thou ask of the I●fidels who created Heaven and Earth the Sun and the Moon they will say It is God Wherefore then do they deny his Vnity God en●icheth and impoverisheth whom pleaseth him he is omniscient If thou demand of them who causeth the rain to fall from Heaven to give life to the Earth after the death thereof they will say It is God Say unto them Praised be God that ye avouch it neverthelesse the greatest part of men understand it not The life o● this world is but sport and vanity life is in Paradise ha● they knowledge to comprehend it When they enter into a ship and see the tempest they call upon God and protest to profess his Law And when he hath preserved them on the Land they are imgrateful for his grace and return to their Idolatry they shall too late understand their error Know they not that we have established in Mecca all safety and freedom and that men are take● away by violence to be slain and made slaves believe they in things unprofitable shall they be ingratefull for for the graces of God who is more impious then he that blasphemeth against God and impugneth the known Truth Is there no place in Hell for the wicked I will guide into the right way them that shall fight for the Faith God is with them that do good CHAP. XXX The Chapter of the Grecians containing sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious merciful I am the most wise God The Grecians were vanquished upon the frontier of the Persians but shall be victorious before the end of seven yeers God disposeth all things from the beginning to the end When they shall be victorious the True-beleivers shall rejoyce in the victory that God shall give them he protecteth whom to him seemeth good he is omnipotent and merciful He hath promised them victory and departeth not from his promises of which the greatest part of men are ignorant they affect the life of this world and consider not their end Will they not consider that God hath created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them and hath appointed to every thing a limited and prefixed time Certainly the greatest part of the people believe not in the Resurrection Will they not consider the end of their predecessors who were more powerfull and wealthy then they God hath sent to all an Apostle to teach them his Law he hath don to them no injustice they have drawn mischief on themselves through their iniquity the end of the wicked shall be like to their works they despise the Commandments of God deride them but God shall cause them to die and rise again and all shall be assembled before him at the day of Judgement that day shall they be desperate their Idols shall not intercede for them they shall forsake them and they shall be separated from the true-believers Such as believe in God and do good works shall enjoy the delights of Paradise and the wicked shall be chastised according to their demerits Praise God pray unto him evening and morning praise is due to him in heaven and earth pray unto him before the Sun set and at the hour of noon he maketh the dead to come out of the living and the living out of the dead he causeth the barren earth to revive and grow green after its death in like manner will he cause you to arise again and come out of your sepulchers it is a sign of his omnipotency to have created you of earth to have given you flesh and bones and to have created the woman of the rib of the man to dwell with him he hath commanded you to love mutually and to exercise charity among you these things are signs of his omnipotency to them that consider his graces The creation of heaven and earth the diversity of tongues the differences of your visages and of your colour the night created for repose and the day for travell the lightning that terrifieth the people and which through rain causeth the earth again to flourish are signs of his Omnipotency It is a token of his Omnipotency to sustain the heaven and the earth ye shall come out of your sepulchres when he shall call you whatsoever is in heaven and earth obey him he causeth men to dye and to rise again he alone is God in heaven earth he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He speaketh to you in a parable drawn from your selves your slaves are they your companions do they equally partake with you in the goods which God hath given you How then will ye say that God hath a companion equall to him Thus do I unfold his misteries to persons that have knowledg to comprehend them c●rtainly the wicked have followed their apetites with ignorance who shall guide him whom God shall cause to err he shall find no protector embrace the law of Salvation God hath established it that men may observe it it admitteth no alteration but the greatest part of the wo●ld are ignorant of it Feare God make your pra●ers at the time app●inted be not like to them t●at say God hath a companion
neither like to them that are at present in the number or Heretiques were before as ye are every Sect is pleased in its opinions when any evill b●falleth them that call upon God and are converted neverthelesse some of them return to their Idolatry after the reception of his grace they are ingratefull they shall awhile be tolerated and in the end they shall too late understand their error Have we taught them reasons and arguments that prove that I have a companion The peopl● rejoyced when we enlarged to them our graces and became desperate when evill befell them see they not that I give and take away wealth as to me seemeth good This is a t●ken of my Vnity to such as obey my Commandments Give to your neighbour what appertaineth to him and particularly to the poor and true beleivers if ye desire to see the face of God such as shall do it shall be blessed The money which ye put to Vsury encreaseth in the hands of men God shal not suffer it to prosper the almes which ye give shal make you to see the face of his divine Maj. and shall be doubly restored to you God hath created you he enricheth you causeth you to die rise again can your Idols do as much Praised be God he hath no companion disorder appeared in the e●rth and in t●e sea because of the iniquities of men peradventure they will be converted when they shall feel the punishment of their crimes Say unto them go throughout the earth and consider the end of your predecessor the greatest part of them were Idolaters embrace the true Law before the day cometh when none shall be heard that day shall the wicked be separated from the good the impious shall give an accompt of their impiety and such as sha●l have lived well shall enjoy the joyes of Paradise the grace of God shall be their recompense God abhorreth Infidels It is a sign of his Omnipotency to send the winds to bring you rain and make you to taste the fruits of his grace the ship runneth upon the water through his permission for the advantage of your commerce will ye not be thankfull to him for his benefits We sent to every Nation Prophets and Apostles before thee they came with most intelligible precepts and with many miracles we chastis●d those that slandred them and protected the faithful God sendeth the winds that elevate the clouds and extendeth them in the aire in many pieces at his pleasure he causeth the rain to fall where he listeth and rejoyceth whom to him seemeth good of them that expect it with impatience consider the effects of his bounty he causeth the dry and barren earth to flourish again and restoreth the dead to life he i● Omnipoten● We sent the winds to assemble the clouds that covered men with their shaddow nevertheless they are returned to their impiety the dead shall not understand thee neither likewise the dumbe thou art not obliged to lead the blind none shall hearken to thee but such as shall believe in my Law and be obedient Say unto them God created you impotent he hath given you strength and after having reduced you to the weakness of old age doth what to him seemeth good he knoweth mens secrets and doth what pleaseth him ●he wicked shal swear at the day of judgment that they have remained but an hour in their sepulchers they lye in like manner when they deny the Resurrection the true believers that know the truth shal say unto thē ye have remained there the time apointed in the book of God to w●t untill the day of Resurrection behold the day of resurrection ye knew not at what time it should arrive this day excuses shall be unprofitable to Infidels they shall be ●eprived of protection We have taught in the Alcoran all that is profitable for the salvation of men if thou teachest them my Commandments unbeleivers will say thou bringest nothing but disorder thus God hardneth the hearts of the ignorant Be patient and persevere what God promiseth is infallible beware lest unbeleivers shake thy perseverance CHAP. XXXI The Chapter of Locman containing thirty four Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious merciful I am the most wise God The Turks say that Locman was a great Doctor in Davids time These precepts are the precepts of the book filled with doctrine it guideth into the way of salvation the righteous who make their prayers at the time appointed that pay tithes and beleive in the day of Judgment they are guided by their Lord and shall be blessed There be who deride this book they ignorantly depa●t from the law of God and have despised it but shall one day be severely punished when they are taught the comandments of God they turn the back with disdain they will not hear have ears stopped Say unto them you shall in the end suffer infinit pains Such as beleive in the Law of God and do good works shal eternally enjoy the delights of Paradise what God promiseth is infallible he is Omnipotent and altogether wise he created the heaven and sustaineth it without a pillar appearing to your eyes he lifted up the mountains upon the ear●h to fasten and hinder it to move he hath thereon dispersed many beasts and sent rain from Heaven which causeth plants to spring forth and herbs of divers sorts Behold here what God hath created shew me what your Idols have created assuredly idolaters are manifestly seduced from the right way We inspired knowledg into Locman and spake unto him to give God thanks he that returneth thanks to God for his graces doth good for his soul God rejecteth the ingrateful and praise is due to him in al places Remember thou that Locman said unto his son O my son beleive not thou that God hath a companion it is an exceeding great sin we have commanded man to honour his father and mother his mother beareth him with greif upon grief weaneth him at the age of two years be thou not ingrateful for Gods benefits honor father mother thou shalt be one day before God to be Judged If thy parents press thee to beleive that God hath companions obey them not follow the way of them that obey him all men shall be one day assembled before him to be rewarded according to their works O my son if thou dost evil of the weight of a grain of Mustardseed or of the weight of a rock or of the greatnesse of heaven and earth God wil know it and put it in accompt he is exact and omniscient O my son make thy prayers at the time appointed do what is honest and civill fly what is not approved and be patient in thy adversities regard not the world disordred through pride converse not with the proud God detesteth the haughty observe thy steps walk with modesty speak gently they be persons that bray like Asses when they speak seest thou not that God hath
created for men all that is in heaven and earth and conferreth on them his graces in generall and particular There be ignorant persons that dispute of the Diety without reason when it is said unto them do what God hath appointed they answer we will do what we saw don by our fathers They consider not that the devill calleth them their fathers to the pains of Hel he that obeyeth God doth good works fastneth him to the strongest knot will have a care of him at the hour of his end The impiety of the wicked ought not to afflict thee they shal be one day assembled in our presence to be chastised I will shew them all that they have don I know what is in the hearts of men I will prolong a while their punishment upon earth and precipitate them in the other world into the fire of hell Hast thou not damanded of them who created heaven and earth they said it is God say unto them therefore 〈…〉 be God nevertheless the greatest part of them are ignorant Whatsoever is in heaven Earth is Gods he hath no want of the world praise is due unto him in all that he doth if all the Trees of the world were Pens and the Sea Ink they could not comprehend the effect of his Omnipotency he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He created and shall make you to rise again with one word he understandeth and seeth all things Consider they not that God causeth the night to enter into the day and the day into the night that he created the Sun and the Moon that move in the heaven until the day appointed he knoweth whatsoever ye do because he is truly God they that invoke other then him invoke things vain and unprofitable God alone is most high and most mighty Seest thou not how the ship runneth upon the water for a token of his Omnipotency to such as acknowledg his graces When the Wars arose against the Infidels many called upon God with resolution to follow his Law when he saved them on the Land some persevered to do well and others returned to their impiety none but deceivers and ingratfull persons despise his Commandments O people fear God and the day when the father shall not be able to succour his child neither the child serve his father Gods promises are infallible be not proud of your riches neither that God tolerateth and suffereth you he knoweth the time when ye shall be chastised the hour that the rain shall fall upon the earth he knoweth what is in the wombs of women whether it be male or female none but God knoweth what thou wilt ●o to morrow none but he knoweth the place where thou shalt die he knoweth all he knoweth all CHAP. XXXII The Chapter of Worship containing an hundred and thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am the most wise God D●ubtless this book was sent by the lord of the Vniverse will the wicked say that thou hast invented it On the contrary it is the truth it self which proceedeth from thy Lord to preach to them that heretofore had none to instruct them peradventure they will follow the right way God created heaven and earth and all that is between them in six dayes and sitteth on his Throne who shall protect you who shall hear your prayers but he will you never consider it He disposeth all things in heaven and earth all men shall one day be assembled before him to be judged a thousand years are but one day before his divine Majesty he knoweth what is past present and future he is omnipotent merciful he hath created every thing for his people he formed man of the dirt and dust of the earth he inspired the soul into his body he giveth you hearing sight sense but few men return him thanks for his graces they say what shall we die and return to be a new people Certainly they beleive not in the Resurrection Say unto them the Angel of death shall cause you to dye and ye shall return before God to be judged Thou shalt then see how the Infidel will hang downe the head before their Lord and say Lord we now see the certainty of the Resurrection we this day know the truth of thy words permit us to reurn into the world we will be righteous we now understand what is profitable necessary for us we could have given a guide to every person my word is most true I will fill hell with the wicked Paradise with the righteous thus shal men be rewarded chastised according to their works Tast o ye wicked the pains that ye have deserved in refusing to beleive in this day w ch ye have found we leave you in the miseries du to your incredulity tast the eternall torments that ye have merited through your impiety Such as believe in the mysteries of my Law are humble they worship me alone praise me when they here mention of me they are not proud rebell not against my Commandments they arise from their bed to make their prayers with fear and hope and imploy in pious works some part of the wealth that we have given them No man hath either seen or knoweth what God reserveth to recompence the righteous for their perseverance The believers and unbelievers shall not be alike entreated the believers that have don good works shall enjoy Paradise as the reward of their labours and the unbelievers shall be precipita●ed into the fire of hell the more they shall labour to get out the further shall they enter into it it shall be said to them tast the pains of eternall flames which ye would not believe I will make the wicked to tast of the torments of the world and the pains of hell if they be not converted Who is more unjust then he that knoweth the Commandments of his Lord and disobeyeth them we will be avenged on his impiety we gave a most true Book to Moses to instruct the children of Israel we put into the right way those among them that persevered in their faith and obeyed our Commandments Thy Lord shall judge the difficulties of the Infidels at the day of Judgment see they not how much people we destroyed in times past that reposed confidence in their houses It is a token of our Omnipotency will they never understand it See they not how I thrust forth water in desert and barren lands that I cause herbs to spring forth for the nourishment of men beasts will they never consider it They demand when will the day of Judgement come Say unto them that da● shall not bring contentment to Infidels and they shall be without protection Depart thou far from them perseveere and attend they wait an occasion to mischief thee but thou shalt see them chastised CHAP. XXXIII The Chapter of Bands and Troups of Souldiers containing fourscore and seven Verses written at Medina IN the name of
flow they eat of the fruits which are not the works of their hands will they not acknowledg the works of their Lord Praise is due to h●m that created the male and the female of all plants that the Earth produceth who created man and woman and many other things of which they have no knowledg It is a sign of my omnipotency to seperate the day from the night to make the Sunne to run to his appointed place We have appointed to the Moon her signes she goeth and commeth alwayes through her old way the Sun neither hasteneth nor retardeth his course at any time neither doth joyn himself by night to the Moon the night cometh not untill the end of the day And all to wit the Moon the Sun and the Stars exalt my glory in the Heaven it is a mark of mine omnipotency to have born their Fathers upon the waters in the Ark and to have given them vessels like the Ark to bear them had it pleased me I had caused them to be drowned without succor and salvation I saved them through my special grace until the time appointed The wicked despise the signs of Gods omnipotency and scoffed when they were required to fear the wrath of his divine Majesty present and to come and that their iniquities shall be forgiven them When it was said unto them give almes of the wealth that God hath given you they answered shall I give him to eat to whom God shall give bread when it shall please him They are in a very great error They will enquire of you when the day of Judgement shall be and if ye beleive it tel them that they must expect but one sole voice that shall surprise them they shall quarrell they shall not be able to make their Testament neither return to see their parents in the end they shall go out of their Sepulche●● and present themselves before God when the Trumpet shall sound Then shal they say we are most miserable to have departed from our graves behold what God hath promised us The Prophets spake to us the Truth viz. That the world ought to expect but one voice This day shall all men be assembled before their Lord no injustice shall be done to any person and every one shall be rewarded chastised after his works Such as shall go into Paradise shall be in exceeding great repose with al● manner of contentment they and their wives shall be safe from all evills lying on delicious beds they shall have all sorts of fruits and whatsoever they shall desire they shall be saluted on the behalf of the Lord gracious and mercifull God shall say to the wicked at the day of Judgment Depart yee this day from the company of the good did I not forbid you to worship the Devill your open enemy but to worship me alone and that it was the right way Did I not tell you that the Devill seduced a multitude of the people Ye would not beleive it behold Hell that is prepared for you through your incredulity I will shut their mouth their hand shall speak and their feet shall be witnesses of their crimes If we wil we can make the Infidels blind they shall find no way they shall not be able to go or come and shall be succored of none had it been our pleasure we could have transformed them in their houses and they had not been able to go forth I will cast their head against the ground and will render them infamous whose life I shall prolong and they shall not know their errors We have not made them to understand the mysteries of the Alcoran but that was not necessary it is but to preach to the living who comprehend what is spoken to them it is most true that the wicked shall be punished See they not that we alone have created all the beasts of the earth over which they command We have made them subject to them Some serve them to ride on and others for their nourishment will they be ingratfull Neverthelesse they have worshipped Idols they adored what could not deliver them from the pains of Hell Afflict not thy selfe at their discourse I know whatsoever they say and all that they keep secret in their souls Doth not man consider that we created him of dust And that he is to arogant God hath taught us how he formed his Creatures neverthelesse the wicked have said who is he that can give life to bones that are rotten Say unto them he it is that created you at first and that knoweth what he created he maketh fire to come out of the Greene Woods which ye burn and created the Heaven and the Earth cannot he create other creatures like unto you yes without doubt he createth what pleaseth him he knoweth all things when he willeth any thing he saith be thou and it is praised be he to whome all things appertain and before whom you all shall returne to be judged CHAP. XXXVII The Chapter of Orders containing fourescore Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull See Kitab el tenoir I swear by the orders of Angels that worship God and attend his commands by them that hinder men to obey the Devill and by them that read and meditate on the Alcoran that your God is one sole God Lord of the Heaven and the Earth and of all that is between them he is Lord of the West and of the East Wee adorned the Heaven and the Earth with Planets and have kept them safe from the malice of the Devills they cannot hear what is spoken in the Firmament they are shamefully driven away on all sides and shall be eternally tormented if they heare any thing spoken they heare it greedily and follow it speedily but the shining Planet persueth them and detecteth their malice The wicked have demanded if wee created any thing more illustrious then they Certainely wee created them all of the dust of the Earth Thou art amazed at their blasphemies they deride thy amazement and shall never be converted When they shall see miracles they shall scoffe and say that it is but evident magick to believe that they shall dye and after being earth bones and dust they shall rise againe with their Fathers and predecessors Say unto them that they shall rise againe and that they ere seduced from the right way that the world shall be but once destroyed and they shall see what will befall them at the day of Judgment They shall that day say they are wretched and the Angel shall say unto them behold the day of Judgment behold the day that the Godly shall be separated from the wicked behold the day w ch ye would not beleiv● It shall be said to the Angels gather them together assemble their wives and their Idolls put them into the way of Hell and stay them to give accompt of their deportments and why their Idols do not succour them Certainly they shall desire to be
he will have to die in the heavens and earth the second time all the world shall rise again and attend his commandments the earth shall be full of the light of the Lord thereof he shall bring his book where in shal be written what the Prophets Martyrs have taught he shal judg the world with equity shall not do injustice to any every one shal be rewarded chastised for his works he knoweth all that they have don he shal send the Infidels into the fire of hel in troops ●hen they shal be arrived at the gate it shal open before their eyes it shall be said unto them behold Hell which ye have merited were there not Prophets and Apostles to teach you the Commandments of God and to preach unto you on Earth the coming of this rigorous day They shall say yes but the word of God shall be accomplished against the wicked It shall be said unto them goe enter into Hell ye shall abide there eternally it is the habitation of the proud Such as shall have the fear of God before their eyes shall be conducted in troups to the gate of Paradise the gate shall open before their eyes it shall be said unto them behold what ye have gained the peace of God is with you ye have not been ignorant enter into Paradise ye shall dwel therein eternally They shall say praised be God for that we believed in his Law and because we are heirs of his grace we will goe into Paradise into what place shall seeme good to us God giveth his blessing to the righteous Thou shalt see the Angels about the throne of thy Lord who shall praise and exalt his glory they shall say God hath judged his creatures with equity praise is due to the Lord of the Vniverse CHAP. XL. The Chapter of the True-believer containing eighty five Verses written at Mecca Reader Gelaldin entituleth this Chapter Of the Pitifull IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent and wise This Book is sent by the omnipotent who knoweth all things who pardoneth sinnes and accepteth the conversion of his Creatures he is severe in his chastisements and indulgent to his people there is no God but he and all the world shall one day be assembled before his divine Majesty to be judged No man disputeth against the precepts of the Alcoran but the wicked be not thou discontented if they live on earth with some felicity the people of Noahs time contemned his instructions their posterity did like them and every Nation hath conspired the death of them whom God sent to instruct them thy disputed to obscure the truth through their lies but they were punished and after what manner So is the word of God accomplished against the wicked they all shall be damned The Angells that are about the Throne of God and those that bear him praise and exalt his divine Majesty they beleive in his unity and beg pardon of him for the True-believers Lord Lord thy mercy extendeth through the whole world nothing is hid from thee either in Heaven or Earth pardon their sins that convert and embrace thy holy Law deliver them from the fire of Hell open to them the gate of the gardens of Eden which thou hast prepared for them their Fathers wives and children and them of their lineage that shal do good works thou art omnipotent and wise Depart from sin he that shall depart from it shall resent the effects of Gods mercy at the day of Iudgment and shall enjoy eternall felicity the Infidels shall be hated of God his hatred is far more dangerous then yours wil ye be Indels after being called to the observation of the Law of Salvation They said Lord wilt thou cause us to dye twice and shall we twice rise againe But they shall say at the the day of Judgment Lord we confesse we have offended thee we acknowledge our sinne in having renounced the belief of thine unity Shall we never go out of Hell to observe thy Law and follow the way of salvation No ye shal suffer in the fire of Hell because that ye have believd them that adored Idols and because ye have said that God hath companions equall to him All things obey one sole God omnipotent he it is that made you to see his Miracles and sendeth you the riches of Heaven and Earth none consider it but such as are converted Pray to God and observe his LAW although it be against the will of the wicked he elevateth his Creatures to what degree he listeth he hath created his Throne and sent his inspirations to whom he seeth good to preach the day of Judgement that day shall the people come out of their Monuments none shal be able to hide himselfe from his divine Majesty Who shall command that day It shall be God alone victorious that day shall he recompense every one after his works without injustice he is exact to make accompt If thou preach to the wicked the day of Judgement their heart will lift them up and they shall be full of affliction their prayers shall not be heard and none shall intereede for them God knoweth them that have eyes of treachery and seeth all that is in the hearts of men he judgeth of every thing with truth the Idols which they worship are without power God alone understandeth all things and is omnipotent Consider they not what was the end of their predecessors who were more powerfull and more wealthy then they God surprized them in their sinnes there was none of power to save them for that they despised the Prophets of his divine Majesty they contemned his Law and were impious but he severely chastised them he is omnipotent and most severe Wee sent Moses with miracles with reasons cleare and intelligible to Pharoah to Haman and Caron they said that Moses was A Sorcerer and a Lyar and when hee preached to them the truth on our behalfe they said kill him with all those that believe him and make their wives infamous but their conspiracy was but impiety Pharoah said hinder me not to kill Moses let him invoke his God to save him I fear that he may alter your Law and introduce some disorder in the Land Moses said God mine and your Lord shall defend me from the malice of the proud that believe not the day of judgement Then a man of the domestiques of Pharoah that secretly professe the true Law said will ye slay a man that declareth that God is his Lord and that hath made you to see miracles if he be a lyar his lye shal be against him but if he speak the truth something of what he hath preached shall befal you God guideth nether the wicked nor lyars Oh people you this day command on Ear●h with splendor who shall defend us from the wrath of God if it fall upon us Pharoah said I speak nothing to you but what I have told you heretofore and I will guid you
father and his people I am innocent of the sin that you commit in adoring Idols I wo●ship him alone that created me he shall guide me into the way of Salvation and hath left his words to posterity perhaps the Infidels shall be converted I deferred heretofore the punishment of Idolaters until they had learned the truth and that a Prophet came to instruct them When he preached unto them the truth they said that it is but witchcraft and that they would give no faith to it Had the Alcoran beene sent to a man * ●Olid bin Magui●he and Ar●ua bin M●s●oud in whom the Arabians had confidence See Kitab el tenior Master and Lord of two Cities or Villages they had esteemed and approved it Would they dispose of the graces of GOD He hath divided the riches of the world among men Some there be that are more eminent and scorn each other but the mercy of God is more advantageous then the riches of the Earth which they accumulate Although all the people be not of the same Religion we cease not to bestow on the wicked houses adorned with seeling enchased with silver staires doores and Beds of silver and gold These things are the riches of the Earth and Paradise is for them that are righteous I will cause to fall headlong with the Devils such as shall reject the Law of the mercifull the Devils shall be their companions they shall seduce them from the way of Salvation and they shall not know it When we shall come to judge the Vniverse they shall say would to GOD we had been as remote from you as the West is from the East Oh what company for you This day your repentance and your hopes shall be vaine ye were Infidels for company ye shall be companions in the Fire of Hel. Wilt thou make the blind to see and the deafe to heare Wilt thou guide them that wilfully erre If they dye before being punished on Earth I will be avenged on them in the other world Shall I shew thee during thy life the punishment that we have prepared for them We can do it but do thou only what hath been commanded thee thou art in the way of salva●ion instruct men therein an accompt of thy mission shal be required of thee I wil require an accompt of their mission that we sent heretofore to instruct the people we wil demand of them if we appointed them to worship any other God but us Wee sent Moses to Pharoah and his Ministers he caused them to see our Miracles preached to them our Commandment he told them that he was the Messenger of the God of the Vniverse neverthelesse they scoffed I shewed them no greater Miracle then that of Moses his sister and we chastised them because of their n●redulity They said unto Moses oh Magician pray unto thy Lord that he deliver us from these evils and we will be converted when they were delivered they violated their promiser and Pharoah said to his people am not I King of Aegypt doth not the River NILVS flow under my obedience Know ye not that I am more powerful then that poor wretch Moses that knowes not what he sayes Give him * Pharoah caused bra●●lets of guil●ed Iron to be given with Collers to criminalls and made the● to go t●●o●gh the City bracelets of Gold we will see if the Angels and those that follow his Doct●ine will testifie the truth of his words He terrified his Subjects they obeyed him for they were Infidels but we were avenged on them when they provoked us we drowned them and made them serve for example to posterity like those that preceeded them in impiety The people would not hearken to the Sonne of Mary when he spake by parable they said our Gods are more profitable to us then his lyes and questions On the contrary they were refractory he is our servant we conferred on him our grace and made him like to the other Prophets of the Children of Israel Had it pleased me I had created Angels on earth in your place the comming of Jesus the Sonne of Mary shall be a sign of the certainty of the day of Iudgment See Gelaldin And Kitab el tenoir doubt not concerning that day He said unto men ●ollow me it is the right way beware lest the Devill seduce you he is your open enemy I come to teach you the Commandments of God to resolve the doubts and judg the differences that are among you Fear God obey him he is your Lord and mine worship him it is the right way The people doubted his Doctrine but misery shall be upon the wicked they shall suffer great torments at the day of ●udgement will they expect that day for their conversion it shall surprize them and they know it not that day shall they be enemies one of another God shall say to the righteous fear not ye shall not this day resent any affliction The believers that have obeyed my Commandments shall enter into Paradise you and your wives shall there rejoyce ye shall drink in cups of fine gold ye shall there find whatsoever ye shall desire and all that can content the minde and delight the eyes and ye shall dwell eternally in supream felicity behold the Paradise that ye have gained by your good life it is enriched with abundance of fruits which ye shall eat with contentment and the wicked shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell they shall not be eased in their miseries and shall be dum● with despaire we do no injustice to them they drew mischief on themselves through their disobedience They shall demand of the Keeper of the fire will thy Lord never deliver ●s from these paines He shall answer them ye shall abide there Eternally We have taught men the truth but the greatest part of them would not believe it The wicked have conspired against thee and we conspired against them think they that I know not their secrets and whatsoever they utter The Angels our Messengers keep accompt Say unto them if God have a Son who shall we first adore Praised be God King of the Heavens and of the Earth the matter is not as the Infidels deliver it Leave them implunged in their impiety let them Laugh and rejoyce untill the day of their punishment arrive One God alone ought to be worshiped in Heaven and Earth he is most wise and omniscient Praised be he to whom appertaineth the Kingdome of the Heavens and Earth and whatsoever is between them He knoweth the hour and the day that all the world shall be assembled before him to be judged The Idols that the Infidels adore shall not be able to intercede for them the good intercede for them tha● have knowledge of the truth If thou ask of men who created them they will say it is God How can they then depart from his Commandments Lord this peole is incredulous Depart thou far form their company they shall in
the end too late acknowledg their errors CHAP. XLIIII The Chapter of Smoke cnotaining fifty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent and wise I swear by the book that distinguish the good from evil that we sent it the night of blessing to teach the people the torments of hel this book explaineth our commandments al that we heretofore comanded the Prophets this is a speciall grace of thy Lord he heareth knoweth all things he is Lord of Heaven and Earth a●● of all that is between them beleive in his omnipotency There is no God but he he giveth life and death to whom he listeth he is your Lord the Lord of your fathers and predecessors the wicked deride this discourse but the day of judgment attends them that day the heaven shal resemble smoak that shall cover the world that day shall the people say behold here grievous torments Lord deliver us from this misery we will believe in thy Law Their conversion shall be in vain because when the Prophet preched to them they scorned his words and said that he was a foolish teacher and when they were comforted on earth they returned to their impiety Remember thou the day when they were vanquished and taken by force and that we were revenged on their impiety We heretofore tryed the people of Pharoah my beloved Prophet preached to them my Commandments and said Come follow me oh ye servants of God! I am a faithful Messenger of his divine Maj. resist not his Law I wil teach you his Comandments he shal defend me from your malice he shal preserve me from being stoned but if ye will not believe me depart far from me He prayed to his Lord when he knew that that people were unbelieving impious God said unto him goe by night out of the City with my servants if the men of Pharoah pursue thee enter into the sea through a path large and spacious thine enemyes that shall follow thee shal be drownd How many gardens fountains places of pleasure wherin they took delight did they forsake They fel into the power of another with al their treasures and none lamented them either in Heaven or earth they expected not that punishment We delivered the Children of Israel from Pharoahs tyranny he was powerfull and a great sinner We elected them through our certain knowledg among all the world and tryed them through our Miracles and Commandments The wicked say we shall dye and not rise again If the Resurrection be true cause our fathers to revive to evidence the ●ruth of thy words Are they more powerful then their predecessors whom we destroyed because of their impiety We have not created in vain the Heaven and the Earth and whatsoever is between them we created them for certain signes of our Vnity the greatest part of the world understand it not the day of Iudgment is th● time appointed for their punishment that day none shall be able to save his neighbour or parent or freind nor shall any be saved but those to whom God shall give his mercy he is omnipotent and mercifull The fruit of the Tree of Hel called Zacon shall serve for food to the wicked it shal boil in their bellyes like pitch or water They shall cry take the wicked drag them into the fire of Hell pour upon their heads all manner of torments It shall bee said unto them tast the pains of Hell ye believed your selves to be the Omnipotent precious on Earth behold the punishment of which ye doubted The righteous shall be in delicious places in Gardens adorned with Fountains they shall be clothed with purple they s●all behold each other face to face we wil assemble them with women pure clean who shall have most beautifull eyes that shall have fruits savory and delicious of all seasons they shal never dye and shall be delivered from the torments of Hell through the special grace of thy Lord behold supreme felicity Certainly we have sent the Alcoran in thy tongue peradventure the Arabians will learn it they covet thy ruine but persevere thou and expect the time of the punishment of their crimes CHAP. XLV The Chapter of Genuflexion or Knee-bowing containing fifty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is most prudent and wise This Book is sent by the Omnipotent and wise The Heavens and the Earth are most certain signes of his Vnity to such as believe in his Law your Creation and the Creation of all Creatures are marks of his greatnesse to them that have his fear before their Eyes the difference of the night and the day the rain that he sendeth from Heaven to cause fruits to spring out of the Earth and to revive it after its death and the diversity of wind● are signes of his Omnipotency to them that have knowledg to comprehend it I relate to thee the wonders of God with truth in what will Infidels believe if they believe not in the word of his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that hear the Commandments of God and become proud as if they had not heard them Preach unto such men that they shall suffer ●he rigors of infinite pains They deride the Faith when they are spoken to Certainly they be punished in the fire of Hell their riches shall not be able to save them neither the Idols which they adore they shall be eternally damned This Book guideth men into the way of salvation they that shall not believe in the Law of God shall feel the effects of his fury He created the Seas that bear the Ships for the advantage of your commerce peradventure ye will acknowledg this grace He hath created for you all that is in Heaven and on Earth it is a sign of his goodness to such as consider it Speak unto them that believe in the Law of Salvation that they pardon those that have not the fear of God before their Eyes God shall chastise them after their demirits Whosoever shall do good shall finde good and ye shall be assembled before his divine Majesty to be judged Certaiuly we instructed the children Israel in the Scripture and our Commandments we taught them knowledg and gave them the grace of Prophesie we enriched them with all sorts of riches preferred them to al the world We taught them our Law none disputed against our Commandmenes but such as had knowledg that through the envy thar arose among them but thy Lord shall judg their differences at the day of Iudgment We have sent thee our Law observe it and follow not the appetites of the ignorant they shall not be able to deliver thee from eternall pains The Infidels obey each other and the true-belivers obey God This book is the light of the world it guideth into the way of Salvation and the mercy of God them that believe in his divine Majesty Do the wicked imagine they shall
the believers in a place of safty they had recourse to the word of force and vertue wherein they did better then the Infidels God knoweth all Assuredly the dream of the Prophet of God was true when he dreamed that ye were in the Temple of Mecca without fear your hair shaven and beards trimed fear nothing God knoweth what you know not in lieu of this dream he hath given you a great victory he it is that hath sent you his Prophet to teach you his Law more salutary then all other Laws of the world It is sufficient that God is witnesse that Mahomet is his Prophet and Apostle it sufficeth that the true believers who are with him bear testimony God encreaseth his mercy towards those Infidels that convert thou shalt see them worship God humble themselves before his divine Majesty and implore his grace thou shalt know them by their aspect they shall have in their countenance the marks of their zeal it is so written in the old Testament and she Gospel they are like a plant that produceth its leaves that grows strong by little and little and becommeth big afterwards it taketh strength upon its roots becometh a great tree and the wood thereof serveth to make war against Infidels God hath promised his mercy and an exceeding great reward to the Infidels that shall be converted that shall believe in his Law and do good works CHAP. XLIX The Chapter of Inclosures containing eighteene Verses written at Medina Exteri intituled This Chapter the Chapter Of Walls IN the name of God gracious and merciful O ye that belevie prefer not what ye have done to what God and his Prophet hath performed and fear God he heareth what soever ye say and seeth all that ye do O ye that beleieve when ye shall speak to the Prophet speak not louder then he cry not as when ye talk among your selves least ye render your good works vain and unprofitable and know it not God hath tryed the vertue of them that speak low in the presence of the Prophet he shall pardon their sinns and give them an exceeding great reward They that call thee behind the Inclosures know not what they do had they attended untill thou hadst been towards them they had done very well God is gracious and merciful O ye that believe if any Infidel desireth to preach to you distinguish the truth from a lye if ye give credit to the ignorant ye shall repent you Know that the Apostle of God is among you ye shall offend God if ye obey unbelievers in many things God willeth that ye embrace his Law it shal rejoyce your hearts and make ye to abhorre disobedience and impiety such as abhorre it are stedfast in their faith through his speciall grace he knoweth them and is most wise I● two Nations or two Provinces of such as believe in God are at odds reconcile them if the one doe injury to the other fight against him that is unjust untill he repai●e what God hath ordained if he make reparation reconcile them with equity be just God loveth them that do justice to his people all those that believe in his LAW are BRETHREN make peace among your brethren and fear God he shall give you his mercy O ye that believe scorn not your neighbour peradventure that he shall one day be of better value then you O ye women scorn not others perhaps they shall one day be more worth then you Vtter no reproaches and give no name to your neighbour that may displease him call him by his name otherwise ye will disobey God such as repent not are exceedingly too blame O ye that believe in God! take heed of evill thoughts these are oftentimes in the number of sins do no displeasure to your neighbour and speak to each other nothing that may displease who among you would eat the flesh of his dead brother ye shall abhor it fear therefore God who is gracious and merciful to such as have his fear before their eyes O people we created you male and female we have caused to issue out of your loyns people and Nations ye koow each other but your greatest honour is to fear God he knoweth you and understandeth all your secrets Some among the Arabians have said we believe say unto them say not we believe but say we are obedient otherwise faith shall not enter into your hearts if ye obey God and his Prophet ye shall be recompenced for your good works God is gracious and merciful to them that obey his Commandments Such as are beloved of God believe in his Vnity and in his Prophet they doub not of his Law and imploy their persons and wealth for the propagation of the faith Say unto them know ye not that your Law proceedeth from God he knoweth whatsoever is in the heavens and earth he knoweth all They think to do thee a pleasure in saving them say unto them believe not that ye pleasure me for it is God that guideth you into the way of salvation ye ought so to believe it God knoweth all that is in the heavens and earth and beholdeth whatsoever ye do CHAP. L The Chapter of the Thing Judged containing fourty five Verses written at Mecca Mahomet hath intituled this Chapter with the letter Kaf of the Arabique Alphabet which signifyeth in this place Kda el mer that is to say the thing judged See Gelaldin and Bedaoi who have entituled this the Chapter of Judgment or the thing judged Many Mahomitans say likewise that Kaf is a mountain that environeth the world and that Mahomet swore by that Mountain IN the name of God gracious merciful I swear by the Alcoran worthy of praise that the Inhabitants of Mecca wonder that a man of their Nation teacheth them the torments of hell they say that he speaketh strange things What say they shall we die shall we be earth and return into the world Behold a very strong return We know assuredly what the earth will do with us we have a book wherein all is written they impugne the known truth are in a great confusion See they not heaven above them how we have built it how we have adorned it and how there is no defect We have extended the earth raised the mountains and caused all sorts of fruits to spring forth for a sign of our omnipotency We have sent the blessed raine from heaven made gardens to produce grain pleasing to the Reapers and Date trees exceeding each other in height to enrich our creatures We have given life to the dead dry barren earth so shall the dead come out of their sepulchers The peopl of Noahs time those that inhabited ne●r the wel Temod Pharoah and the fellow Citizens of Lot they that d●elt in the Forrest and people of King Teba did heretofore traduce our Prophets Teba was a King of Lieme● and felt the punishment denounced against Infidells Was it a trouble to us to create men at first
neverthelesse they ere in doubt if they shall rise again See ●edaoi We created man without difficulty we know the mo●ions of his soul penetrate into his heart as the bloud in to the veins of his body O man think upon the day that thou shalt see thy good and evill Angell near thee at the right hand and on thy left they have observed and written all that thou hast done represent to thy self death before thine eies it is inevitable Think on the Angel that shall sound the Trumpet at the day of the Resurrection that day shall the wicked behold what was promised them and all men shall come before God to be judged Their guardian Angels shall conduct them and be the witnesses of their deportments It shall be said to the Infidells behold the day of which ye would have no thoughts we have now opened your eyes you shal see this day more hard then iron their guardian Angells shall say unto them behold here b●fore your eyes all that ye have done cast into Hell those obstinate Infidels that have hindrd their neighbour to do good that have offended in doubting of Gods Law and have affirmed there was another god with God cast them into the most grievous torments Then shall the Devill say to them Lord I did not seduce them they seduced themselves God shall say dispute not before me what was heretofore promised you is infallible my Word admitteth no alteration and I will do injustice to none God shall ask at the day of judgment if hell be full it shall answer is there any more Paradise is prepared for thē righteous who shal have the fear of God before their eyes it is promised to thē that shall be converted that shall obey the Commendments of his divine Majesty and persevere in their obendience It shall be said to them enter ye into Paradise exempt from all evill behold the eternall day ye shall have all that ye shall desire and more How rich and powerful Cities have we in times past destroyed their inhabitants sought in their Countryes places of retreat and escaped not the punishment of their crimes this ought to serve for example to them that comprehend it to them that hear it and to such that saw it Certainly we created in six dayes without difficulty the heaven earth all that is between them Persevere be not impatient for the words of unbelievers exalt the glory of thy Lord before the Sun go down an● before it rise pray to thy Lord at the entrance of the night the last of all shall be worship Hearken when the Angel shall call thee to generall Judgment that day shall all the world hear the Trumpet the people shall come out of their sepulchers and earth shall open before the eyes of men I give life and death and all the world shall be assembled before me to be judged This assemble is easie for me to accomplish I know what the wicked say thou shal● not cause them by force to embrace my Law teach it those that fear the torments prepared for Infidels CHAP. LI. The Chapter of Things dispersed containing sixty Verses Gelaldin Falkredin intitle this the Capter of things that disperse writen at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the winds that disperse the dust by ●he clouds charged with rain by the ship that runneth upon the waters and by them that divide the wealth of the earth that what hath been promised to you is true and that the day of Judgment is infallible I swear by heaven and the stars thereof that ye are in an exceeding great error God expelleth lyars far from him he curseth them that blasphem and such as beleive not in the Resurrection They ask when shall be the day of Judgment That day shall they be punished in the fire of hell It shall be said unto them taste the torments that ye have with impatience demanded They who had the fear of God befo●e their eyes shall be in gardens adorned with fountains they shall enjoy the pleasures prepared for them by God because they are righteous ●hey sleep very little by night implore pardon of God at the dawning of the day and give almes to the poor that beg and the poor that are bashfull God manifesteth on the earth and in your persons the signs of his omnipotenc● consider ye not that what is promised to you is written in heaven God is Lord of heaven and earth he is truth it self wil ye not confess him ●●d the Angels conveigh to th●e the books of Abraham Wh●n they ●ntred into his house they saluted him he likewise saluted them made signs to his ●ervants to bring a fat calf roasted which he presented to them he said unto them wherefore do ye not eat and was afraid in his mind of their coming They said fear not we are the Messengers of God they declared to him that he should have a son that should be a great personage Then his wife drew near crying with a loud voice smiting her face said one that is barren beareth no child they said the thing shall come to pass as we have spoken thy Lord ordaineth what pleaseth him and knoweth all Abraham said unto them O ye Messengers of God! what is your design they replied we are sent from God to destroy the Cities inhabited by the wicked and cast upon them stones of fire whereon are inscribed the names of them that they shall strike we will cau●e all the righteous to depart from among them if we finde there but one family of righteous we will there leave an example to posterity for them that fear the tormen●s of hel Moses is a sign of our omnipotency we sent him to Pharoah with reasons clear and intelligible he despised my Commandments and said that Moses was a Magician and possessed of the devil but we surprised him and drowned his people to his great displeasure Aad is an example of our omnipotency we sent an impetuous winde against those wicked people that destroyed them Temod is an example of our omnipotency with his Nation they waxed prou● and resisted the Commandments of their Lord when it was said to them that the punishment of the wicked was defer●ed to another time but thunder surprised th●m they saw it they had not the power to stand on their feet and were deprived of protection The people of Noahs time are an example of our omnipotency we p●stroyed them because they were impi●us we built heaven with strength and vertue I am he that giveth power strength we extended the earth created of every thing male female perhaps ye will consider it Say unto them turn ye to God I am sent from him to preach to you the pains of hell believe not that God hath another God with him the wicked said heretofore that the Prophets and Apostles whom he sent were Magicians and possessed of the Devil have they recommended to their
posterity to do the like Certainly they are in a great error Separate thy self far from their company and be not troubled at what they say preach the Alcoran it is profitable to the righteous I did not create the devils and men but to worship me Say unto them I require nothing of unbelievers for instructing them I require not that they nourish me God enricheth whom he pleaseth he is omnipotent the wicked shall be chastised as heretofore have been their predecessors in their malice their time shal come and misery shall befal them at the day of judgment CHAP. LII The Chapter of the Mountain containing thirty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Mountain upon which God spake to Moses by what is contained in the book written in parchment by the first Temple of Mecca by the arches of the heavens and by the sea full of water that God is one sole God and the punishment promised to unbelievers is infallible they shall not be able to escape it in the day when the heaven shal tremble and the mountains shall w●●●●●at day shall be unhappy 〈…〉 ●●ated in the fire 〈…〉 that ye 〈…〉 pa●● 〈…〉 our 〈…〉 ●ore 〈…〉 ●od 〈…〉 ●e 〈…〉 ●d 〈…〉 ●d 〈…〉 works they shall repose upon beds well ordered we will marry them to wives that shall have fair eyes they shall be attended of their family and be largly rewarded for their good works every good action shall be to them a dégree of happiness We will give them such fruits and Vines as they shall desire they shall present to each other the cup to drink they shall not speak an evill word and shall not si● they shall have pages about them for their service beautifull as pollished pearls they shall discourse among them concerning what they did before on Earth and say We were in the world we and our families with a great apprehension of the pains of hell but God hath gratified us he hath delivered us from eternall flames They shall say moreover we worshipped in the world but one God most just and most mercifull Remember thou to preach the Alcoran thou art not ingratefull for the grace of God thou art not possessed of the Devill will they say that thou art a Poet a Rimer that nothing must be expected from thee but fables of past Ages Say unto them ye expect the time of my destruction but I with you expect the time of your ruine Do their superiors command them to speak in this manner Will they be obstinate in their errors Will they say that Mahomet hath invented the Alcoran Certainly they are incredulous let them bring any discourse like to this book in Doctrine and Eloquence if what they affirm be true Were they created of any thing have they created any thing have they created themselves have they created the Heavens and the Earth Certainly they are incredulous Have they in their power the treasures of thy Lord are they Gyants Have they a ladder that may raise them to hear what is spoken in Heaven Let them produce some reason of their opinion Believe ye that God hath daughters and that ye have sonnes Will ye require of him a Salary for obeying his Law Is he your debtor The wicked are lyars do they know what shall be do they weite it Desire they to conspire against thee The wicked often conspire against the righteous that worship but one God Praised be God he hath no companion If the Infidels should see a piece of the Heaven to fall they would say it is a cloud driven by the winds leave them in their obstinacy untill they come to the day of their death that day shall their conspiracy be vain and they deprived of protection They likewise shall be punished before their death but the greatest part know it not Have pacience and expect the Judgment of God thou shalt soon see it I will protect thee and thou shalt not want help Praise thy Lord exalt his glory when thou shalt rise praise him in the night and before the Stars disappear CHAP. LIII The Chapter of the Starre containing sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Star that disappeareth that your friend Mahomet ●rreth not he speaketh nothing of his own he speaketh but what hath been inspired into him by the omnipotent and most bountifull God The Angell approached him in the highest place of heaven within the length of two bowes somewhat nearer The Turks believe that there is an Apple tree at the right side of throne of God and that none can ascend higher then its branches no not the angels God hath inspired into him what he hath inspired into his servant who altered nothing of what hath been inspired into him He hath spoken what he hath seen and in what form the Angel was Dispute not against him concerning what he saw he another time saw the Angel in Heaven near to the Tree that is at the right side of Gods throne and although that tree was covered with that which covered him his fight was not dazled and he is not in error Certainly he hath seen the great wonders of his Lord Have ye considered Alat Az and Menat those three Idols Will ye s●●are that God hath daughters and that ye have Sonnes ye will make a false Oath and shall be in a manifest error Those Idols have nothing but the names which your Fathers and you have given them See Gelaldin God hath not commanded you to worship them ye follow only your passions remote from the truth God teacheth you the way of Salvation by the mouth of his Prophet doth man obtain from Idols what he required of them God is God in the beginning and the end How many Angels be there in Heaven whose prayers are unprofitable if God doth not accept them They that believe not in the day of Judgment say that Angels are maidens they understand not what they say they speak through opinion and that opinion is not conformed to truth Depart thou farre from them that reject our Law and desire only the goods of the Earth and are ignorant of all other things Thy Lord knoweth them that go a stray from the right way and such as follow the path of Salvation all that is in the Heavens and Earth is Gods he shall chastise the wicked See Gelaldin and reward the just He pardoneth their veniall sinnes who flie sinnes mortall he is exceeding merciful He knoweth that he hath created you of Earth Great and small sins and that he formed you in your mothers womb Extol not your selves he knoweth such as have his fear before their eyes Hast thou seen him that abandoned the faith a little wealth was given him and nothing more doth he know what must befall him hath he knowledg of what is to come will he not learn what is written in the books
be forsaken and that no accompt shall be required of his actions Was not he created through our speciall grace of mire and of congealed blood Did we not create him male and female He that hath done this cannot he revive the dead CHAP. LXXVI The Chapter of Man containing thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Man continued a while without having in him any thing memorable We created his posterity of his seed mingled with that of the woman we gave him sight and hearing and taught him the way of Salvation Some have embraced the faith and others have been Infidels we have prepared for them chains and bonds to drag them into the fire of hell See Exteri The just shall drink of wine that shall issue out of a faire Fountaine all the servants of God shall drink thereof and shall cause it to flow as shall seeme good to them God will deliver from the pains of hell such as shall satisfie their vowes as shall apprehend the day of Judgement as shall give alms to the poore to orphans and prisoners without hope of thanks or recompense but only for the love of his divine Majesty because of the feare they have of the torments of the day grievous and irksome to behold God shall rejoyce and reward them for their good works he shall open to them the gate of Paradise they shall be cloathed with silk reposed on stately beds and shall not be troubled either with the heat of the Sun or the cold of the Moon they shall be under the shadow of the Trees of Paradise there shall they gather fruits as they stand sit and lie down Vessels of silver shall be brought about them and round Cups full of a delicious drink as much as they shall desire mingled with ginger that shall issue out of a clear fountain and shall be encompassed with young pages to serve them who shall resemble polished pearls when thou shalt behold them thou shalt see a grace that cannot be exprest they shall be cloathed with purple and green shining silk and shall have bracelets of Silver God shall give them a drink clear and most pure these delights shall be the reward of their perseverance We have sent thee the Alcoran to instruct the people attend the Judgement of thy Lord against them that scoffe and obey not the wicked Remember thou the name of God morning and evening worship him by night praise him a long time the Infidels affect the world and think not on their end neither the day of Judgement we created them we have given them strength to walk and if it be our pleasure we will establish other persons in their place He that shall desire to follow the Law of God shall ●ollow it but none shall follow it if it please his divine Majesty he knoweth all and ●s most wise he giveth his ●race to whom he pleaseth and hath prepared grievous ●●rments for the unjust CHAP. LXXVII The Chapter of them that are Sent containing fifty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I sweare by the Angels that followed each other thick as the hair of the foretop of horses when God sendeth them to execute his commands by the Angels which he sendeth to punish them whom he will destroy by the winds which he sendeth to make the rain to fall where he listeth by the Alcoran that distinguisheth good from evill and by the Angels that inspire into men the fear of the pains of hell and implore pardon of his divine Majesty that the punishment promised to the wicked is infallible Then shall not the Stars appeare any more the heaven shall open the Mountains shall walk the Prophets and Apostles of God shall assemble to bear testimony against them that have despised their instructions the good and the wicked the believers and unbelievers shall be separated I will not tell thee when this day shall be it shall be unhappy for the wicked Have not I heretofore destroyed the impious with their blasphemies Have not they left a posterity wicked as they whom I likewise have destroyed Thus will I hereafter destroy the Infidels and misery shall be upon them eternally Have we not created you of weak seed retained in the wombe of your mothers untill the time appointed This is a grace that we have conferred on you Misery shall be upon the Infidels at the day of Judgement Have we not created the earth to assemble the living and the dead Have wee not raised the Mountaines Have we not given you fresh water to drink Misery shall be upon the wicked at the day of Judgement It shall be● said unto them goe into the fire of hell which ye would not believe goe into the smoak divided into three parts nothing shall free you from the heat thereof and flight shall not deliver you from that fire it shall cast forth black flames that shall rise higher then the highest buildings of the earth and like to large coverlets of beds extremely black The day of Judgement shall be unhappy to Infidels It shall be said to them behold the day of the separation of the good from the bad exercise your flights if ye can to deliver you from the pains of hell the day of Judgement shall be unhappy to Infidels The good who shall have had the feare of God before their eyes shall be under the shadow of the trees of Paradise nigh to delicious fountains with all sorts of fruits that they shall desire It shall be said to them eat and drinke at your pleasure in reward of your good works thus are the righteous rewarded The day of Judgement shall be unhappy for Infidels Oh ye Infidels live in the world ye shal be there suffered some time ye are wicked but ye shall be miserable at the day of Judgement The wicked deride them that exhort them to pray to God they shall be miserable at the day of Judgement In what will they believe if they believe not in the Alcoran CHAP. LXXVIII The Chapter of News containing forty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull What doe the wicked enquire of each other touching the great news of which they are in different opinion They shall learn it they shall learn it Have not I created and extended the earth have not I raised the Mountains to establish it Have not we created you male and female Have not we created sleep and the night for repose and the day of labour have we not built over you seven heavens and the Sun full of light have we not caused rain descend from the clouds to cause the earth to produce plants and gardens of divers fashions The day of ●dgement shall be a day of joy and sorrow When the Angel shall sound the Trumpet all the world shall come ●troups to universall Judgement Heaven shall open its ●●es the Mountains shall walk and hell is the place ●epared for
the seduced there shall they remain eternal● They shall find there no rest neither drink but of boy●ng and most stinking water a reward conformed to their ●orks the Infidels believe not that they must render an ●ccompt of their actions and blaspheme but we keep ●ccompt and write exactly what they doe It will be said 〈◊〉 them at the day of Judgement Taste this day the punishment that ye have merited your pains shall be augmented and pains upon pains They who shall have had the feare of God before their eyes shall be in a place of felicity in the gardens of a most fertile Land enriched with grapes and Pomegranats they shall drink in Cups full of a delicious liquor and shall hear no vain speeches nor lying such is the recompense of them that obey the Commandements of God He is Lord of the heavens and earth none shall dare to speak when the Spirits and Angels shall be assembled before him none shall be able to speak or pray for another without his permission This day shall be the day of truth they that shal be acceptable to him shall retire towards his divine Majesty We have preached unto you that the punishment of God shal speedily come upon you every one shall see all that he shall have done and the wicked shall say at the day of Judgment would to God that I had been earth and dust CHAP. LXXIX The Chapter of them that take away containing forty six Verses written at Mecca Gelaldin entituleth this the Chapter of them that draw forth the soul. IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I sweare by the Angels that take away the souls from the bodies of Infidels and the wicked By the Angels that accompany the souls of believers By the Angels that exalt the glory of God By the Angels that guide the souls of the righteous when they goe into Paradise and by the Angels that are appointed for the affairs of the world that all people shall rise again at the day of Judgement that day the earth shall tremble and the hearts of men shall tremble at the first time that the Trumpet shall sound at the second their sight shall be troubled with feare and they shall say Behold we we are returned upon earth to the place whence we departed our bones were rotten and our returne to the world shall bring upon us only misery this second sound of the Trumpet is a sign of the wrath of God Then shall they be out of their sepulchers revived upon the earth Hast thou learned the history of Moses and how God his Lord called him in the holy valley called Tor and how he said goe towards Pharoah he is seduced from the right way and is in a great error Say unto him I called thee to the way of Salvation I will purifie and guide thee into the way of the Law of God to the end thou mayst have his fear before thine eyes Moses made Pharoah to see one of his great miracles neverthelesse he contemned Moses disobeyed him and departed from the right way he caused his people to assemble and made Proclamation that he was their God but God rigorously chastised him because of his blasphemies this is an example of his omnipotency to them that are righteous O ye wicked were ye more difficult to create then heaven God hath raised the roof thereof and proportioned it he hath made the night obscure and the day full of splendor he hath stretched forth the earth hath made fountains to spring forth to water the plants and to give drink to beasts he hath elevated and established the Mountains for you and for your flocks Men shall call to mind the good and the evill that they have done at the second sound of the Trumpet and hell shall appeare open before their eyes The wicked that have followed their own appetites on earth shall be precipitated into hell and such as have had the feare of God before their eyes and have subdued their passions in this world shall goe into Paradise The wic●ed will ask of thee when the day of Judgement shall be none knoweth it but thy Lord Thou art not sent but to preach the pains of hell to them that feare that day as if they saw it present before their eyes they shall imagine that they have not remained in the tomb but from evening untill morning when they rise againe CHAP. LXXX The Chapter of the Blind containing forty two Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The Prophet frowned had a surly countenance and withdrew himself when the blind came towards him He will not tell thee if he will believe in God and if he will professe thy preaching depart thou from him that shall depart from the Law of God thou art obliged only to preach to him and not to make him to believe but forsake not them that shall come to see thee to be instructed and shall fear God The Alcoran is sent for the instruction of men it was copied upon the book that is kept in heaven to which honour and praise is due eternally Wherefore is man impious Is it because he is created of a little water retained in the womb of his mother untill the time appointed and because hee found the way to come forth is it for that God causeth him to dye and to revive when it seems good to him Hee performeth nor what God commandeth neither considereth the good things that nourish him We have sent rain we opened the treasures of the earth we made all sorts of grain to spring forth Blites Olives Dates Gardens and fields full of fruits and herbs to nourish you and your flocks When the Angel shall sound the Trumpet the second time Man shall flie his brother his mother wife and children every one shall take thought for himself that day shall the wicked have countenances covered with affliction the countenance of the good shall be joyfull and such as have sought the way between faith and impiety shall have the countenance covered with earth and dust CHAP. LXXXI The Chapter of Roundnesse containing twenty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull When the Roundnesse of the Sun shall appeare the Stars fall the Mountains walk the Camel be without burden and without keeper when the beast shall be gathered together the Sea covered with fire Souls returne into bodies * The Arabians buried their daughters alive when they had done a fault the Daughter demand why they put her to death when the book of good and evill shall open when heaven shall cast oft its ornaments the fire of hell appeare and Paradise be opened then shall souls know the good and the evill that they have committed I sweare by the Planets by the obscurity of night and by the brightnesse of day that the words of the Alcoran are the words of the Prophet beloved of God powerfull with his divine Majesty ye
earth that openeth it self and receiveth it to produce its fruits that the Alcoran distinguisheth good from evill and that it was not sent in vain The unbelievers conspire against the Prophet but God shall turn their conspiracie against them and they shal not know it Be thou patient and a while endure the Infidels CHAP. LXXXVII The Chapter of the High and Mighty containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Exalt the name of thy Lord high and mighty who hath proportioned all that he hath created he ordaineth what he listeth and guideth into the right way then that are pleasing to him he causeth herbs to spring out of the earth createth them green rendreth them dry and altereth them as to him seems good I will read to thee the Alcoran forget nothing of what thou shalt read but that which God shall will thee to forget he knoweth whatsoever is kept secret in the world and whatsoever is made manifest I will instruct thee in his Law preach the Alcoran it shall be profitable to him that shall have the feare of God before his eye such as shall despise it shall be miserable they shall be precipitated into the fire of hell where they shall not be able either to live or die and he that shall embrace the Law of God and shall be mindfull of his name shall be blessed Pray to God at the time appointed Certainly the righteous shall be heirs of the good things of the earth and those of heaven that are exceeding great and eternall this is written in the antient books of Abraham and Moses CHAP. LXXXVIII Chapter of the Covering containing twenty six Verses written at Mecca Gelaldin intituleth this the Chapter of Judgement because that day the damned shall be covered with fire and fear See Exteri IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Hast thou heard mention of the covering That day shal the countenance of the wicked be covered with affliction they shall enter into fire that is extremely hot they shall drink of boiling water they shall eat nothing but bryers and thorns they shall be extremely lean and famine shall not deliver them from an infinite number of other miseries That day shall the good be filled with content they shall be recompensed for their labours in Paradise they shall hear nothing spoken that may displease them they shall see fountains flow lying upon high beds they shal drink in fair glasses fixed on diamonds upon pillows well disposed and upon pallets well adorned will not the wicked consider the miracle of the she Camell how it was created how heaven was elevated how the mountains were disposed how the earth was extended Preach to the wicked the pains of hell thou art sent to preach to them and not to constrain them God will chastise with his great chastisement him that shall abandon his Law and traduce the Alcoran All men shall be one day assembled before his divine Majesty to give accompt of their actions CHAP. LXXXIX The Chapter of the Morning containing thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God See Kitabel tenoir Ye shall there see the exposition of this passage gracious and mercifull I swear by the Morning by the tenth night of the moneth by even and odd and by the coming of night that the wicked shall be chastised Is there any thing in consideration of this oath that can move men to fly uncleannesse Considerest thou not how God entreated Aad the Son of Arem that dwelt in pavillions supported by columns so big that there were none like to them in his Countrey Knowest thou not how he used Temod who hewed stones and rocks to inhabit the Valley Knowest thou not how he entreated Pharaoh who pierced with pins the feet and hands of such as he gave up to punishment Knowest thou not how he entreated them that heretofore erred from the right way in their own Countreys and that increased their pollution he poured upon them divers torments he observeth all that men do he giveth store of goods to them that he doth not try and taketh them away from such as he proveth The wicked will not give honour to Orphans they will not abstain from eating the bread of the poor they shall give an accompt they too much affect riches when the earth shall tremble and shall overthrow all the buildings when the Angels shall descend in order by the command of thy Lord then shall hell be open to the wicked they shall call to mind what was preached to them in the world and say why did not I observe the Commandements of God during my life they shall be punished more then ever any hath been and shall be more straitly bound then ever any hath been bound It shall be said to the blessed O thou soul that haft observed with courage and without fear the Commandements of God return to thy Lord with content enter into the so●●ry of the blessed enter into Paradise CHAP. XC The Chapter of the City containing twenty Verses written at Mecca Many have entituled this the Chapter of Night IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Mecca I swear by that City which is permitted thee to conquer I swear by the father and the child that we created man in misery thinketh he that there is none stronger then he He saith that he hath expended great wealth doth he think that none hath seen what he hath done He declaims against Corets See Gelaldin Have we not given him two eyes a tongue two lips Have we not given him to see the way of good and of evill he shall be severely chastised but I will not tell thee with what kind of chastisement Wherefore doth he not deliver slaves Wherefore doth he not give to eat to them that are hungry to Orphans and his kindred that are in necessity and to the poor patience and charity are recommended among true-believers they shall be seated at the right hand and such as impugn the Mysteries of our Law shall be at the left hand they shall be shut up in the fire of hell CHAP. XCI The Chapter of the Sun containing fifteen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the Sun and his light by the Moon and her splendour by the fire and its elevation by the night and its obscurity by Heaven and the Starres thereof by the earth and its plaines by the creation of the soul by the knowledge of vertue and vice that he that shall be purified from his sins shall be most happy and that he who defileth himself with vice shall be most miserable The people of Temod traduced their Prophet because of their obstinacy but certainly they were chastised The Apostle and Prophet of God said unto them Behold the Camell of God suffer it to drink they derided him and slew that Camel God severely punished them he spared not his chastisement against them CHAP.
Medina Folio 344 Chapter 60. The Chapter of Tryal containing Eighteen Verses written at Mecca Folio 346 Chapter 61. The Chapter of Array containing Fourteen Verses written at Mecca Folio 348 Chapter 62. The Chapter of the Assembly containing Eleven Verses written at Medina Folio 349 Chapter 63. The Chapter of the Wicked containing twelve Verses written at Medina Folio 350 Chapter 64. The Chapter of Deceipt containing Eighteen Verses written at Mecca Folio 351 Chapter 65. The Chapter of Divorce containing Eighteen Verses written at Mecca Folio 353 Chapter 66. The Chapter of Prohibition containing Twelve Verses written at Medina Folio 354 Chapter 67. The Chapter of Empire containing Thirty Verses written at Mecca Folio 356 Chapter 68. The Chapter of the Pen containing Fifty and two Verses written at Mecca Folio 358 Chapter 69. The Chapter of Verification containing fifty and two Verses written at Mecca Folio 360 Chapter 70. The Chapter of the Ascent containing Fourty and foure Verses written at Mecca Folio 361 Chapter 71. The Chapter of Noah containing twenty and eight Verses written at Mecca Folio 363 Chapter 72. The Chapter of Divels containing Twenty eight Verses written at Mecca Folio 364 Chapter 73. The Chapter of the Fearfull containing twenty Verses written at Mecca Folio 366 Chapter 74. The Chapter of the Wrapped containing Fifty and seven Verses written at Mecca Folio 367 Chapter 75. The Chapter of the Resurrection containing Fourty Verses written at Mecca Folio 368 Chapter 37. The Chapter of Man containing Thirty Verses written at Mecca Folio 369 Chapter 77. The Chapter of them that are sent containing Fifty Verses written at Mecca Folio 371 Chapter 78. The Chapter of News containing Fourty Verses written at Mecca Folio 372 Chapter 79. The chapter of them that take away containing Fourty and six Verses written at Mecca Folio 374 Chapter 80. The Chapter of the Blinde containing Fourty and two Verses written at Mecca Folio 375 Chapter 81. The Chapter of Roundness containing Twenty and nine Verses written at Mecca Folio 376 Chapter 82. The Chapter of the opening of Heaven containing Seventeen Verses written at Mecca Folio 377 Chapter 83. The Chapter of them that weigh with false weights containing Thirty and six Verses written at Mecca ibid. Chapter 84. The Chapter of the Cleft containing Twenty and five Verses written at Mecca Folio 378 Chapter 85. The Chapter of the Signe Celestial containing Twenty Verses written at Mecca Folio 379 Chapter 86. The Chapter of Star or of the North Star containing Seventeen Verses written at Mecca Folio 380 Chapter 87. The Chapter of the High and Mighty containing Seventeen Verses written at Mecca Folio 380 Chapter 88. The Chapter of the Covering containing Twenty and six Verses written at Mecca Folio 381 Chapter 89. The Chapter of the Morning containing Thirty Verses written at Mecca Folio 382 Chapter 90. The Chapter of the City containing Twenty Verses written at Mecca Folio 383 Chapter 91. The Chapter of the Sun containing Fifteen Verses written at Mecca Folio 384 Chapter 92. The Chapter of Night containing Twenty Verses written at Mecca ibid. Chapter 93. The Chapter of the Sun rising containing Ten Verses written at Mecca Folio 385 Chapter 94. The Chapter of Joy containing Eight Verses written at Mecca ibid. Chapter 95. The Chapter of the Fig containing Eight Verses written at Mecca Folio 386 Chapter 96. Th● Chapter of Blood congealed containing Seventeen Verses written at Mecca ibid. Chapter 97. T●e Chapte● of ●lory or Power containing Five Verses written at Mecca Folio 387 Chapter 98. The Chap●er of Instruction containing Eight Verses written at Medina ibid. Chapter 99. The Chap●er of the Ear●hquake containing Eight Verses written at Medina Folio 388 Chapter 100. The Chap●e● of Horses containing Eleven Verses w●itten at Mecca and Medina ib●d Chapter 101. The Chapter of Aff●iction containing Eleven Verses writ●en at Mecca Folio 389 Chapter 102. The Chapter of Abundance containing Eight Verses written at M●cca ibid. Chapter 103. The Chapter of the Evening 390 Chapter 104. The Chapter of Persecution containing seven Verses w●i●ten at Mecca ibid. Chapter 105. The Chapter of Elephanes containing Five Verses written at Mecca ibid. Chapter 106. The Chapter o● Coreis containing Four Verses writ●e● at Mecca Folio 391 Chapter 107. The Chapter of the Law containing Seven Verses written a● Mecca ibid. Chapter 108. The Chapter of Affluence containing Three Verses written at Mecca ibid. Chapter 109. The Chapter of Infidels containing Six Verses written at Mecca Folio 392 Chapter 110. The Chapter of Protection containing Four Verses written at Mecca ibid. Chapter 111. The Chapter of the Co●d of Palm containing Eleven Verses written at Mecca ibid. Chapter 112. The Chapter of Salva●ion containing Four Verses Written at Mecca Folio 393 Chapter 113. The Chap●er of Separation containing Five Verses written at Mecca ibid. Chapter 114. The Chapter of the People containing Six Verses written at Mecca ibid. The Life and Death of Mahomet A needful Caveat or Admonition to the Reader THE ALCORAN OF MAHOMET CHAP. I. The Chapter of the Preface containing seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praised be God gracious and merciful King of the Day of Judgement It is thee whom we adore it is from thee we require help Gu●de us in the right way in the way of them that thou hast gratified against whom thou hast not been displeased and we shall not be mis-led CHAP. II. The Chapter of the Cow con●aining ●wo hundred fou●scor● and seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful See Erpennius his Grammar I am the most wise God There is no Error in th●s Book it guideth into the right w●y those that-are r●ghteous who believe what they see not who make their P●ayers with affection and dispence in Alms a part of the Goods that we have given them Such as believe the things that are inspired into thee in those that have been Preached before thee and at the end of the world are not ignorant they are guided by their Lord and shall be blessed Misery is upon unbelievers Whether thou reprove them or do not reprove them they will not be converted God hath shut up their heart their ears and eyes and they shall suffer great torments See the Explication of Gelaldin Many men say we believe in God and the Day of Judgement and do not believe they think to deceive God and them that believe in God certainly they deceive themselves and know it not God will augment the infirmity which they have in their heart and they shall undergo the rigors of an infinite pain by reason of their lying When it was said to them Pollute not the earth they said We are true observers of the Law of God notwithstanding they were they that polluted the earth but they knew it not When it was said to them Belieue ye as the world believeth They said Shall we believe as fools believe See Gelaldin they themselves are fools
and know it not When they met with such as believe in God they said we believe as you do And when they returned towards the devils their companions they said We believe as you and mock at those men Certainly God mocketh them and continueth them in their Errors to their confusion They that have purchased Error for the right way have gained nothing in their commerce and are not well directed they are like to such as kindled fire and when it hath enlightened what is about them God hath deprived them of light and left them in darkness deaf dumb blind and they shall never be converted or as a cloud of Heaven full of darkness thunder and lightning they stopt their ears with their fingers by reason of the noise and for fear of death but God seeth the unbelievers he caused lightning to approach that ravished from them their sight they have followed what appeared to them and are detained in darkness But if God had pleased he had deprived them both of hearing and sight for he is omnipotent O People worship your Lord who created you and all that were before you it may be That you will fear him that hath extended the Earth that raised the Heaven and caused Rain to descend that caused the production of Fruits to enrich you Say not that God hath a companion equal to him because you know the conttary If you doubt that I have sent my servant come and bring some Chapters like to the Alcoran and call to witness the Idols that you adore if you are good men if you have not done it or cannot perform it Fear the fire of Hell prepared for Infid●ls and Idolaters and declare to true believers who do good works That they shall enjoy the immense pleasures of Paradise wherein flow many Rivers they shall there finde all sorts of faire and savory Fruits which God hath prepared for them they shall consider if they be like to such as they had before in the world They shall there have wives fair and delicate and shal dwel in eternall felicity God is not ashamed to compare a little * The Puny is a stinking worm frequently growing in Beds in hot Countries Puny to an extream Greatness Now so it is that true believers know that it proceedeth from their Lord. The wicked demand what God doth mean by that comparison He by this means mis-leadeth and directeth many men but mis-leadeth none but the disobedient Such as pervert his Testament and his Promises such as retrench his Commandements and defile the Earth are damned Why will you be impious seeing that God hath given you life after death He will cause you to dye he will raise you again and you shall all return before him to be judged He it is that created whatever is upon Earth and ascended to Heaven hath ordained seven Heavens knowing all things Remember to instruct men See Kitab el tenoir that thy Lord said to his Angels I would create a Vicar upon Earth and when they answered Wilt thou there place him that shall defile it and shed blood while we exalt thy Glory and sanctifie thee I know said he what you know not He taught Ad●● the names of all things who discovered them to the Angels to whom God said Declare to me the names of all things that I have created if you know them they replyed Praise is due to thy Divine Majesty we know nothing but what thou hast taught us thou alone art knowing and wise He said to Adam Declare to them the names of all things that I have created After he had taught them God said Did I not tell you that I knew what is not neither in Earth nor Heaven and that I understand whatever you make manifest and whatever you keep most secret Remember thou that we said to the Angels Humble your selves before Adam they all humbled themselves except the Devil He was already proud and in the number of the wicked We said unto Adam Dwell thou and thy wife in Paradise and eat there what thou likest but approach not that Tree lest thou be in the number of the unjust The Devil made them to sin and depart from the Grace in which they were then we said to them Descend you enemies one to another you shall have a dwelling upon Earth and goods wherewith to live for a time Adam begged pardon for his fault of his Lord he pardoned him because he is gracious and mercifull and said Descend and go all of you out of Paradise there shall hereafter come to you a guide from me Such as shall follow him shall be delivered from fear and affl●ction at the day of Judgement such as shall be impious and conceal my Commandements The Alcoran in the old and new Testament shall burn eternally in the fire of Hell O children of Is●a●l remember the Grace I have done you I will satisfie my Promises perform yours fear me and believe in what I have sent from Heaven confirming what was before taught you be not the first impious and forsake not my Law at any rate fear me and cover not the Truth with a lye neither willingly conceal it Make your prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and worship your Lord with them that adore him Will you command people that have no care of their souls to do good Will you meditate upon Scripture without observing it Entreat for succor with patience and with prayers they abound not but in them th●t are obedient that believe they shall one day behold their Lord and shall return before him to be judged O children of ●sra●l call to mind my favours I have preferred you to all the world fear the day wherein one Soul shall not be chastised for another when prayer shall not be heard neither ransom succors nor prot●ct●on to be found for the wicked Remember that we delivered you from the hands of Phar●oh who affl●cted you through the violence of torments who murthered your children abused your wives and that your Lord encreased your miseries because of the enormity of your crimes Remember that we divided the Seas to save you and that we drowned Pharaohs men in your view neverthelesse you worshipped the Calf when we detained Moses with us forty nights in which you were extreamly too blame after this we pardoned you it may be that you will give me thanks We gave unto Moses the Book that distinguisheth good from evill perhaps you will be converted Remember that Moses said to his people Gelaldin saith the innocent slay the wicked You were too blame for having adored the Calf repent and be converted to your Creator Slay one another that wil be a thing acceptable to God he will pardon your crime he is gracious and mercifull You said O Moses we will not believe thee for that we see not God then you were smitten with thunder We have pardoned you See Gelaldin you saw your misery with your own eyes
nevethelesse we raised you after your death perhaps you will give me thanks We covered you with the shadow of clouds we caused Manna and Quails to fall upon you and said Eat the good things we have given you They did us no harm when they murmured they afflicted themselves We said Enter into that City Gelaldin saith it is Jerusalem See Kitab el tenoir and eat therein what shall content you enter in at the gate with humility and say Remove our sins from us I will pardon your offences and encrease the Graces of those that are righteous then the wicked altered their words that were taught them but I sent my indignation from Heaven upon them according to their demerits When Moses demanded drink for his people we said Smite the Rock with thy Rod incontinently there sprung forth twelve Fountains and every man knew his place where to drink Eat and drink the good things of God and defile not the Earth any more You said unto Moses we are not satisfied with one sort of meat entreat thy Lord that he give us what the Earth produceth Beets Cucumbers Garlick Lentils and Onions he said Desire you to change good for evil Go down into Egypt you will there find what you require They were beaten with disgrace and poverty and returned into the wrath of God for that they disobeyed his Commandements and unjustly slew his Prophets for which they were greatly to blame All those that shall believe Christians Jews or Samaritans such as shall believe in God at the day of Judgement and doe good work●s shall be recompensed by their Lord See Gelaldin and be free from feare and affl●ction at the day of the Resurrection When we received your promise to believe in the Old T●stament we ra●sed a mountaine over you to over-shadow you and sa●d Comprehend with affection what we teach you and remember perhaps you will feare the fire of Hell and disobedience neverthelesse you have gone astray without the mercy of your Lord you shall be in the number of the damned You know what befell those that observed not the Sabboth we said unto them Be ye abhorred and despised as Apes See Kitab el tenoir We left this punishment as an advertisement to their temporaries and posterity and particularly to be for an example to the true beleevers Remember thou that Moses said unto the people God commandeth you to sacrifice a Cow They answered doest thou mock us He replied God defend me from being in the number of the ignorant they said Call upon thy Lord that he instruct us what Cow that ought to be he said it must be a Cow of a middle age neither young nor old and doe what is commanded you They said pray unto thy Lord that he shew us of what colour it ought to be It must said he be of a bright yellow colour that it may delight the eyes of the beholders They said Invoke thy Lord that he instruct us what it ought to resemble and we shall if it please him be obedient to his Commandements He said God answereth you that it must be a Cow that never bare the yoke to till the earth neither water the fields round and that hath never laboured neither hath spot upon her body They said thou hast now spoken truth they then sacrificed her and it wanted not much but they had not done it When you have slaine any one you are then full of wrath and become proud God bringeth to light whatever you conceale We ●aid smite that dead body with a piece of that Cow so God raiseth againe the dead * The Turks believe that a man shall rise again being smitten with the tongue of that Cow and manifesteth to you his miracles it may be you will comprehend them yet your hearts are hardned more obdurate then Rocks for Rivers flow from Rocks when they cleave and appeare or when they fall and overturne by the permission of his divine Majesty God is not ignorant of your actions Do you desire the Jews should beleeve you because many among them write the word of God and alter it at pleasure after they have comprized it When they meet with true beleevers they say we beleeve in God and being assembled they say among themselves See Bedaci have you entertained those true beleevers for that God hath instructed you that they may find no excuse against you at the day of Judgement before his divine Majesty See Gelaldin Understand you not that they would excuse themselves upon what you have said to them Know they not that God knoweth whatever they conceale and what they bring to light There be some that know neither to read nor write that understand nothing of Scripture but what they have learned from the lies of their Doctors yet they thinke to be knowing men Miseries is upon them that conceale the Scripture in their hands that alter it and say that what they read proceedeth from God to profit any thing thereby Misery is upon them because of what their hands have written misery is upon them and upon what they have gained in blaspheming against God They have said we shall continue in Fire but a certaine number of dayes Say unto them have you capitulated with God He will not act against his promises Will you speak of God what you know not Such as have gained ought and were entangled in the sinne of their gaine shall for ever remaine in the flames of Hell and they that have faith in God and doe good works shall eternally enjoy the delights of Paradise Remember thou that we taught the Commandements of the Law and how we said to the children of Israel worship one only God doe good unto your father and mother to your allies orphans and the poore speak mildely unto the people make your prayers at the time appointed and pay your Tithes ●●verthelesse they were disobedient except some ver● few am●●g them When we received the Commandment of God and that we said shed not your blood neither fo●sake your houses you approved it your selves are w●tne●ses Neverthelesse you slew many and constrained a grea● number to desert their habitation you assisted each othe● in injustice and impiety If slaves have recourse to you you shall redeeme them their deliverance is appointe● you Do you beleeve one part of the Scripture to abjun● the other The reward of any of you that shal do this thin● is ignominie in this world and to be precipitated into th● most grievous torments of H●ll at the day of judgement God is not ignorant of your actions Such as purchase th● life of the world to quit Paradise shal not be eased in thei● miseries and be utterly deprived of succours Certainly we gave the Law to Moses after him sent many Prophets We inspired knowledg into Jesus the son of M●r● strengthned him by the Holy Ghost but you arose against the Prophets that came contrary to your affections you
is with such as are patien●● Say not that those that are slain for the defence of th● Law are dead contrariwise they are alive but you kn●● it not I will try you and afflict you through the losse ● your goods and disease of your persons Paradise shall ● for them that shall be patient and shall say in their af●●ction We are given up unto God and shall returne bef●●● him to be judged his Grace shall be upon them and th● shall not erre * Safa and Me●oa are mountains neer Mecca Safa and Moroa are tokens of his powe● He that shall goe on Pilgrimage to Mecca shall not do●● misse to visit those two places he that obeyeth shall 〈◊〉 well God rewardeth them that doe good works and kn●●eth all things I will lay my curse upon such as conceale● Commandements they shall be accursed above whate● is in this world except them that shall be converted t● shall doe good works and bring to light what they con●●●led I will give them my Grace I am gracious and merci● The wicked that died in their impiety shall be etern●● accursed of God of Angels and of all the World ●● shall never be eased in their torments and shall be w●●●out end deprived of protection Your God is one ● God there is none other God but God gracious and ●●●cifull The Creation of the Heavens and the Earth difference of the day and the night the Ship that sai● on the Sea for the advantage of commerce the Rain that falleth from Heaven to give life to the Earth after its death the diversity of Winds and the Clouds that move between Heaven and Earth are signes of the unity of God to those that can understand it There be that adore Idols and love them The True-believers love but one sole God When thou shalt see the wicked know they shall one day see the punishment of other crimes All strength and vertue proceedeth from God most severe in his chastisements When that a part of them that had embraced the true Law separated themselves from the company of True believers and that any mischief befell them they could not reunite themselves Then they said in their affliction If we another time meet our companions we will separate our selves from them as they have separated themselves from us Thus shall God give them to understand their error See Kitab ●l tenoir with exceeding sorrow and they shall be eternally confined in the fire of Hell O ye people eat what is good and savory in the Earth and follow not the steps of the Divell he is your open enemy he will command you that which is evill and filthy and to speak of God what you know not When it was said to the Infidels obey the Commandements of God they said We will follow the steps of our Fathers we will observe what they observed surely their Fathers were unwise and mis●led they are like to him that cryeth and understandeth nothing of what is spoken but the voyce they are deaf dumb blind and without judgement O ye that believe in God eat the good things that hee hath given you and give him thanks if it bee him that you worship Hee forbiddeth you to eate Carrion Blood Swines flesh and whatever is not killed in pronouncing the name of his Divine Majesty except it bee in extreame necessity and in this case it shall not bee reputed disobedience nor sin God is benigne and mercifull what they eata that conceale the Word of God for any profit or advantage shall be nothing but matter of fire in their bowels God shall not speak to them at the day of judgement but with fury he will not purifie them and they shall suffer rigorous torments They that have purchased error fo● the right way and punishment for pardon shall burn ●● the fire of Hell for that God hath sent the most true Boo● that containeth his Commandements they that impugn● what is contained in that Book are in an exceeding grea● error far from the truth It is not justification to turn the face making your prayers towards the East or West h● shall be justified that shall believe in God the day o● judgement the Angels the Scriptures and the Prophets and that in charity shall impart some part of his goods te● his parents to orphans to the poore to pilgrims and t● slaves Such as believe in God and have his feare befor● their eyes persevere in their prayers pay Tithes they satisfie their promises and are patient in their adversities O● ye that believe the Talio is co●manded you in murther the free for the free the slave for the slave the woman fo● the woman But if any one pardon the blood of his brother he shall prosecute the malefactor according to wha● he shall see ●ost advantagious through damages and interests It is a facility wh●ch God hath given you through his mercy He that shall doe injury to the malefactor having received satisfaction of him shall suffer grievous torments at the day of judgement you shall find life in the Talio The Talio is a pain equall to the offence O you that are w●se it may be you will feare God He commandeth you to make your Testament when you approach unto death give legacies of your substance to you● Father and Mother your neer K●n●ed and bestow Alms on the poore If any man alter your Testament the sin shall be upon him and upon all them that shall alter it God understandeth and knoweth all things If any one fe●reth that there is an error in the Testament that opposeth Reason he shall doe well to reconcile the parties w●th affection God is gracious and bountifull O ye that bel●eve Fasting is commanded you as it was them that were before you you shall feare God and Fast particularly a certaine number of days but if any one among you is sick or in travell at the time of Fasting he shall count the days that he fasted not and shall fulfill them at another time Such as are not of strength to Fast shall ●●tisfie for Fasting through Alms he that shall obey shall doe well If you Fast you shall doe well Fast the month of * Ramazan is their Faster which continueth 30 daies during which the Fast. Ramazan in which the Alcoran descended from Heaven to guide men into the right way it containeth pre●epts of Divine Right and distinguish good from evill all ●hose that live to this month ought to Fast. He that is ●ick or in a voyage shall accomplish the days that he fa●ted not another time at his conveniency God willeth ●hat his Law should be light unto you and not a burthen ●is will is that you observe the dayes of fasting and that ●ou returne him thanks for that he hath guided you in the ●ight way perhaps you will give him thanks I will be near ●nto my servants when they shall enquire of thee concerning the mysteries of my Law I will heare
appointed by the Law and enter not the bonds of marriage untill the time set downe in writing be accomplished God knoweth whatever is in your hearts take heed unto your selves he is gentle and gracious to them that feare him It is no sin to repudiate your wives before you have touched them you shall give them some presents and doe good unto them according to the proportion of your wealth or poverty and civilly intreat them as is the custome of honest men If you repudiate them before you have touched them and have bestowed on them any presents of garments moveables and other things they shall have the moity if they release it not to you or if the husband remitting with his owne hand the tie of marriage doth not leave to them the whole of courtesie it is requisite to gratifie them and to forget nothing of the benefits betweene you God beholdeth all your actions stand upon your guard when you make your prayers especially that at noone and be obedient unto God If you feare your enemies and cannot place your selves on your knees neither performe the Ceremonies that are appointed you omit not to say you● prayers on foote or on horseback and being freed fro● feare remember God and how he hath taught you what you know not Such as die shall be good to their wives by their Testament they shall bestow on them wherewit● to live during the time they must tarry before they marry again drive them not from your houses If they willingly depart the sin of what they shall do in their own persons shall not be upon you God is omnipotent and just you shall likewise do good to your wives that you have divorced according to your power it is a thing reasonable among such as feare God Thus God teacheth you his Commandements perhaps you will learne them See you not them that departed their houses for the fear they had of death they are thousands in number God hath said to them die after this he raised them again God is the Benefactor of the people but the greatest part return him no thanks for his Favours Fight for his Law and know that he understandeth and knoweth all things Who is he that will afford him a good turne He will augment him with multiplicity of increase he giveth good and taketh it away from whom it pleaseth him you shall all returne before him to bee judged Knowest thou not that a company of the children of Israel after the death of Moses said to their Prophet send us a King we with him will fight for the Law of God He answereth them have you disobeyed the Commandements of God If they enjoyne you to fight you will not doe it They said wee have no greater desire then to fight for the glory of his divine Majestie wee for this Cause have abandoned our houses and those of our parents neverthelesse when they were commanded to fight they all except some few of them retired but God knoweth them that sin against him Their Prophet said to them God hath sent Saul to be your King they answered why shall he be our King we rather deserve the royalty then hee hee is not rich enough he replied God hath chosen him to command you he hat encreased his knowledge and stature he giveth royalty to whom he listeth he is liberall and prudent in all his actions Their Prophet said to them the signe of his reigne shall be that the Arke shall appeare to you from God to confirme your hearts wherein shall be contained the remainder of what the people of Moses and Aaron let● and it shall be borne by Angels this shall bee to you the signe of his reigne if you believe in God When Saul went forth with his troops to fight his enemies he said God shall trie you by a river he that shall drink of that river shall not be mine unlesse he drink with his hand they all except some few of them drank at their pleasure and having past that river with the true believers they said wee have ●ot this day strength sufficient to resist Goliah and his troops but such as believed in God and feared his divine Majestie said how often through the permission of God ●ath a small troop defeated a great armie He is with them that are patient when they saw Goliah with his troops appeare they said Lord give us patience confirme our steps ●nd give us victory over the Infidels They through the permission of God vanquished their enemies See Gelaldin David slew Goliah and God gave him the Royalty and knowledge of ●ture things Had not God raised the people one against ●he other the whole earth had been ful of disorders such are ●he miracles of God as I declare to thee with truth thou ●t indeed one of the Prophets of his divine Majestie We ●ave conferred our graces on the Prophets on some more ●hen on others many have spoken to their Lord and some ●ave been more elevated then others We gave knowledge ●o Iesus the Son of Mary and fortified him through the holy Spirit Had it pleased God the Prophets that came ●eretofore had not been slaine after they had taught his Commandements Men were of different opinions some believed in God others were impious had it pleased God ●hey had not been slaine but he doth what pleaseth him O ye that are true believers dispense in alms some part ●f your wealth that we have given you before the day arrive wherein you shall find no ransome alms protection nor prayers that can succour you Certainly Infidels are greatly too blame God! There is but one only God living and eternall thinke not that he slumbreth or sleepeth ●hat ever is in heaven or in earth is his who shall intercede for thee with his divine Majestie unlesse by his permissio● He knoweth all the actions of m●n and whatever they ha● done they know nothing but what it hath pleased hi● teach them The largenesse of his Throne containeth h●ven and earth and the conservation of both is not trou●some to him hee is Omnipotent and glorious The ● ought not to be abjured it manifesteth the difference faith and impiety He that believeth not in Tagot or devill and hath faith in God layeth hold on the stron● knot that cannot be dissolved broken or cut a sunder ● understandeth and knoweth all things he aideth and sisteth them that believe in his unitie he will cause the● come out of darkenesse and will guide them into light wicked shall have Tagot and the devill for their protect● he shall cause them to forsake the light and shall lead t● into darkenesse such men shall remaine eternally in ● fire of hell Con●ider you not his action to whom God 〈◊〉 given the royalty That is Nebrot When he disputed concerning God 〈◊〉 Abraham Abraham said to him My Lord is he that giv● life See Gelaldin and death He said I even I give life and death 〈◊〉 my subject when
causest life to come out of death and death out of life thou enrichest without measure whom thou seest good The believers shall not obey the unbelievers to the exclusion of true believers he that doth this thing ●bserveth not the Law of God but if you feare your enemies God willeth that you feare him also he is the assured refuge of the righteous say to them whether you conceale what is in your heart or whether you manifest it God knoweth all things he knoweth all that is either in Heaven or Earth he is Omnipotent Think on the day wherein every one shall find the good and the evill that he hath done then shall you desire to be cleansed from your sinnes See Gelaldin and that the number of your good works exceed that of your evill God willeth that you feare him he is gracious to them that worship him Say to them If you love God follow me God shall give you life and pardon your sinnes he is gracious and mercifull Say to them obey God and his Prophet If they returne in their sinne God will very severely punish them he loveth not Infidels God elected Adam and Noah the lineage of Abraham and the lineage of Joachim the one proceedeth from the other God knoweth and understandeth all things Remember thou how the wife of Joachim said Lord I vow unto thee the fruit that is in my wombe free See Kitab el tenoir and exempt from all affaires to serve thee in thy Temple Accept him from me who offer him to thee with affection thou understandest and knowest all things When shee was delivered shee said Lord I am delivered of a Daughter thou knowest thou hast given her to me I have named her Mary I will preserve through thine assistance her and her posterity from the malice of the Devill accept her Lord with a pleasing acceptation and cause her to produce good fruits Zachary had the care of the education of this daughter and whensoever hee went into his Oratorie he there found a thousand sorts of different fruits of divers seasons He said one day oh Mary whence doe these good things proceed she answered they proceed from God who enricheth without measure whom he pleaseth Then Zachary prayed to the Lord and said Lord give me a progenie that may bee pleasing to thee and that may observe thy Commandements Lord heare my prayers The Angels called him and said to him I declare to thee from God that thou shalt have a sonne called John See Gelaldin he shall affirme the Messias to be the word of God that he shall be a great person chaste a Prophet and one of the just Lord answered Zachary how shall I have a sonne I am old and my wife is barren The Angell said to him so God doth as pleaseth him Lord said Zachary give me some signe of the conception of my wife The signe that I will give thee answered the Angell shall be that thou shalt not speake in three dayes but by signes Remember thou thy Lord often praise him evening and morning Remember thou how the Angels said Oh Mary God hath chosen and purified thee above all women of the world oh Mary obey thy Lord praise him and worship him with them that worship him I relate to thee how the matter past thou wert not with the Ministers of the Temple when they cast in their pens to draw lots and to see which of them should have the care of the education o● Mary Oh Mahomet neither when they entred upon this difficulty Remember thou how the Angels said oh Mary God declareth unto thee a word from which shall proceed the Messias named Iesus the sonne of Mary full of honour in this world and that shall be in the other of the number o● Intercessors with his divine Majestie hee shall speak● in the cradle as a man betwixt thirty and fifty years and shall be in the number of the just She said Lord how shall I have a child without the touch of a man he answered so God doth as pleaseth him when he createt● any thing he saith be thou and it is I will teach him the Scriptures the Mysteries of the Law the Old Testament and the Gospell and he shall be a Prophet sent to the children of Israel Iesus said to the children of Israel I come to you with evident signs of my mission from your Lord I will make unto you of the slime of the earth the figure of a Bird I will blow upon it incontinently it shall be a Bird and by the permission of God shal fly I wil heal them that are borne blind and the leprous I will raise again the dead I wil teach you what you shal eat and what you ought not to eate this shall serve you for instruction if you believe in God I am come to confirme the old Testament and what hath been taught you heretofore Certainly it is lawfull for you to eat things that have been heretofore forbidden I am come to you with signs of my mission that testifie that I am truly sent from your Lord ●●are God and obey me God is my Lord and your Lord ●orship him this is the right way When Iesus knew ●heir impiety he said who shall sustaine the Law of God 〈◊〉 my absence The Apostles answered him we will sustain ●●e Law of God we believe in his unity be thou a wit●esse before God that we resign our selves wholly to the ●leasure of his divine Majestie Lord we believe in what ●hou hast commanded and we have followed the Pro●het thy Apostle write us in the number of them that ●rofesse thy Law The Iews conspired against Iesus and God caused their conspiracie to turne against them hee ●noweth the designs of Conspirators Remember thou ●ow the Lord said O Iesus I will cause thee to die I ●ill elevate thee to my self and remove thee farre from ●nfidels and preferre those that have obeyed thee to Infidels at the day of Iudgement That day shall assemble you all before me I will judge the differences between you and will punish the impious in this world and in the other none among them shall be of power to protect them I will reward them that shall have believed in my Law and have done good works God loveth not the unjust I relate to thee these mysteries and teach thee the Alcoran Iesus is with God as is Adam God created him of the Earth he said be thou and he was this truth proceedeth from thy Lord be not thou of the number of them that doubt If any one dispute with thee concerning thy Doctrine say to them Come call together your children and ours your wives and ours let us assemble and addresse our prayers to God I will lay the curse of his divine Majesty upon lyars This discourse is most true there is no God but God alone the omnipotent and wise If they depart from his Commandements he shall well observe the unbelievers say
to them * Th● Iew● and Christians Oh ye that know Scripture come with words alike true betweene you and us Doe I worship other then God I doe not associate him with any one and acknowledge none other Lord but him but if they turne aside from the way of faith God knoweth them that shall pollute the Earth Say to them bee yee witnesses that we believe in God Oh ye that understand Scripture dispute not the Law 〈◊〉 Abraham to wit if he observed the Old Testament 〈◊〉 the Gospell they were taught after him perhaps you w● acknowledge your errour Oh yee that have disput● wh●t you knew not Abraham was no Jew nor Christia● he professed the unity of God he was a true believer a●● not of the number of Infidels The people and partic●larly those that followed him of his time as also the Pr●phet Mahomet and all true believers have knowne t● truth of his Law Part of them to whom heretofore w● given the knowledge of Scripture desired seduced y● from the right way but they themselves erred and th●● knew it not Oh yee that know the Scripture doe n● maliciously conceale the Commandements of God co● not the Truth with a lye neither willingly hide it M●ny of them that know the written Law said from t● break of day believe in what hath been taught them th● believe in the Law of God Neverthelesse at evenin● they were themselves of the number of Infidels pera●venture they will be converted Believe not but such 〈◊〉 follow your own Law Say to them The true guide the guide of God The knowledge that was given to you was not given to ●ny other but to you If the Infide● shall dispute against you before your Lord at the day 〈◊〉 judgement say to them Grace proceedeth from th● hand of God He is bountifull and omniscient he p●●doneth whom he pleaseth and is altogether mercifull 〈◊〉 thou intrustest thy wealth to the hands of many of the● that know the written Law they will faithfully resto●● it to thee There be also many of them that will n●● restore it if thou take not heed because they have said They have no beliefe in the Arabians they blaspheme against God and know their blasphemies He that sha● satisfie what he hath promised and shall feare God shal● be beloved of God he loveth such as have fear of him before their eyes such as pervert his Commandements fo● any profit shall have no part in Paradise he will not protect them neither regard or pardon them at the day 〈◊〉 judgement and they shall be rigorously punished There ●e of them that alter the Scripture in reading it and will make believe that what they read is in the Scripture al●hough it be not they blaspheme and know it well God ●●ve not to man the Scripture knowledge and prophesies to say to the people Worship me insteed of God ●ut indeed to say Observe exactly what you have learned 〈◊〉 Scripture and what you reade God doth not command ●ou to adore Angels nor Prophets Will he command you ●●piety having instructed you in his Law Remember ●hat he received the Promise of the Prophets to preach ●is Commandements without fear and that he hath taught ●ou Scripture and knowledge and that after this See Kitab el tenoir came a Prophet that confirm'd the doctrine that was taught you ●hat you might believe his words Have you not approved 〈◊〉 Have you not received what was promised unto you We have received it be therefore witnesses against your selves and against them that have followed you and I will be a witnesse against you and against them Such as ●oe astray from the right way shall be wicked Desire they ●o observe any other Law then that of God Whatever is in Heaven or Earth obeyeth him either willingly or by force And you shall all one day appeare before him to be judged Say to them We beleeve in God in what he hath inspired into us in what he inspired into Abraham Ismael Isaac Jacob and the Tribes in what was ordained by Moses by Jesus and generally all the Prophets from God and we are wholly resigned to his pleasure The Sacrifices of them that desire to follow other Law then the Law of Salvation shall not be accepted they shall be in the other world in the number of the damned God guided not those that followed impiety after they had professed his Law and having seene and testified that the Prophet is true by signes cleare and evident that appeared to them God guideth not the unjust they shall be for ever cursed of his divine Majestie of Angels and of all the world they shall find no relaxation of their torments and at the day of judgment be deprived of protection except such as shal be converted do good works God shall bee to them gracious and mercifull See Kitab el tenoir Such shall be impious towards Iesus having believed the Boy of Moses and shall augment their impiety against Mohomet shall never be converted they shall erre etern●●●ly All the treasures of the Earth shall not be able to sa● the wicked that die in their impiety great punishmen● are prepared for them and none of them shall be able 〈◊〉 protect them You shall not be justified untill you ha● dispensed in pious works part of the goods you posse●● God will take notice of the alms you bestow All me● were permitted the children of Israel except what Is● forbad to himself See Kitab el tenoir before the old Testament Say to the Come and bring the old Testament and consider it will appeare if you speak the Truth These that shall ●●terwards blaspheme against God shall be exceedin● too blame Say God hath spoken Truth follow ye 〈◊〉 Law of Abraham that is pleasing to him He profe● the unity of his Divine Majesty he was not of them t● believed in many Gods The Temple of Mecca is the 〈◊〉 that God established on Earth to be therein adored blessed it and men shall there find the instructions of 〈◊〉 right way with clear and evident signes of his omni●●tency to wit * Abrahams place say the Turks is a Stone kept in the Oratory of Mecca upon which Abraham ascended when hee raised the foundations of the Temple of that City the marks of his feet are upon the Stone to this day Abrahams place He that shall enter to this Temple shall be in a place of safety and pri●●ledge God hath commanded that Pilgrimages be m●● thither by such as shall be able He that is impious 〈◊〉 know that God hath not to doe with him O ye that h●● knowledge of the written Law doe not willingly co●ceale the Commandements of God he knoweth all yo● actions Say to them O ye that have the knowledge 〈◊〉 Scriptures divert not from the way of Salvation th● that believe in the Law of God you desire to alter 〈◊〉 pervert it but God is not ignorant of what you doe
〈◊〉 ye that believe if you obey many of them that have 〈◊〉 knowledge of the written Law they will mis●lead you i● the number of the wicked How can you bee of the i●pious since you are taught the Commandements of G●● and that his Prophet and his Apostle is among yo● Hee that resigneth himselfe to God is in the rig● 〈◊〉 O ye that fear God die in the profession of his V●y imbrace his Law and remember the favor he hath ●wed you you were all enemies of each other he hath ●ed your hearts and through his speciall Grace you ●●tinued united to each other as good brethren you ●e upon the brink of a pit of fire from which he with●● you Thus God manifesteth to you his mercies per●● you will follow the right way Some there be among 〈◊〉 that exhort the people to do good they command to ●hat which is honest and abstain from what is unreaso●●●le these men shall be happy Be not like them that ●e abandoned the Truth and followed lies notwith●●nding the Truth was known to them they shall suffer ●at torment in the day wherein the visage of the good ●ll be white and that of the wicked shall be black It ●ll be said to them that have black visages Have you ●owed impiety after you made profession of the Faith ●ste this day the torment due to your sin Such as shall ●e white visages shall be in the favor of God in which ●y shall eternally continue See there the Mysteries of 〈◊〉 Law of God which instructeth thee with Truth God ●leth that no injustice be done to his people whatever ●n Heaven or in Earth appertaineth to him he dispo●th all things There hath appeared no Nation on the ●●rth that hath followed a better way then you forbid 〈◊〉 to do that which is not reasonable and believe in one ●ely God The Iews If those that heretofore had knowledge of ●e written Law had believed in God they had done ve●● well there be among them that believe what is verita●●e but the greatest part are impious They shall not hurt ●●u but with their tongue and shall finde no protection ●gainst you if they fight you they shall turn their ●cks they were beaten with shame and ignominy where ●hey made a stand except when they embraced the Law ●f God and observed the precepts that were taught the ●aithfull When they returned in the wrath of God they were beaten with poverty because they believed not the word of his Divine Majesty but slew his Prophets without reason and disobeyed his Commandements They that heretofore had knowledge of the written Law not all alike there be among them that persevere obedience and in the night meditate on the miracle God worship him and believe in his Divine Maj● and the day of Iudgement preach honesty prohibit do things dishonest and apply themselves to good wo● certainly they are good men Hide not the good w● which you perform God knoweth such as have his 〈◊〉 before their eyes Riches and children shall be unp●table to Infidels with God they shall eternally dwe● the fire of Hell The Alms that they give in this w● are like to a wind exceedingly hot or extreamly 〈◊〉 that fell upon the tillage of them that did injurie to 〈◊〉 own souls and wholly destroyed it God did no inju● to them they were mischievous to themselves thr● their sins O ye that believe in God esteem no ma● be elected of God that is not of your Religion 〈◊〉 wicked endeavoured to bring you into their disor● malice appeared in their mouth and that which 〈◊〉 heart cherisheth is yet greater We have taught you Commandements of God if you observe them shall protect your selves from the malice of Infidels 〈◊〉 ye you love them and they love not you you bel● generally in the Scriptures and they believe not 〈◊〉 you believe When they met you they said We beli● in God and when they were gone from you they bit● anger their fingers ends Say to them Die with y●● choller Benou Selimeth God knoweth what is in your hearts If g● happen to you they are displeased and when evil be●leth you Benou Ayirteth they rejoyce If you have patience and 〈◊〉 God their malice shall not hurt you God knoweth their actions Beder is a place be-between Mecca and Medina where Mahomet gained a battell Remember the morning when some of 〈◊〉 people deserted the true-believers in the field of batte● and when two of thy Companions forsooke the fig● God was their protector All True-believers ought trust in him He protected you at Beder where you were few men ill armed perhaps you will fear him and give h● thanks for that favor Say to the True-believers Suffice● it not that God succoreth you with three thousand of 〈◊〉 Angels Truly if you have patience and fear God he will ●e to succor you at need and your Lord will assist you ●h five thousand of his Angels sent from Heaven he 〈◊〉 not send you this assistance but to declare to you his ●otection and to confirm your hearts Victory proceed● from his Divine Majesty He is omnipotent and pru●t in all his works he will extirpate in this world one ●t of the wicked or will so sharply reprehend them ●t they shall become desperate Thou hast nothing to 〈◊〉 whether he shall pardon or chastise them because ●y are wicked Whatever is in the Earth and in Hea● is his he pardoneth as he seeth good he is gracious 〈◊〉 mercifull to the righteous O ye that believe be not ●urers and fear God peradventure you will obey his ●●mmandements Fear the fire of Hell prepared for In●●els Obey God and the Prophets his Apostles your 〈◊〉 shall be forgiven you beg pardon speedily of your ●rd The extent of Paradise containeth Heaven and ●rth it is prepared for the good God loveth them that ●e Alms in joy and in affliction that subdue their pas●n and forgive such as offend them he loveth them that 〈◊〉 good and that after the commission of any sin remem●r his divine Majesty and implore his pardon Who but ●od forgiveth sins Such as persist not in their errors and knowledge their sins shall be recompenced with the ●ercy of God and enjoy his favor in Paradise There were ●●retofore Laws and Means to conduct men into the right ●y but consider what hath bin the end of Infidels The ●lcoran was sent to instruct the world to guide men in the ●●ght way and to preach to the good Dishearten not nei●●er afflict your selves in fighting you shall be victorious you believe in God if you have been wounded the like ●●rts have befallen the impious God so diversifieth days ●mong men to the end he may know them that are truly ●ealous in his Law and that among you witnesses be taken ●gainst the malice of Infidels God loveth not the unjust ●e forgiveth sins to those that believe and extirpate Infi●els Do you believe to enter Paradise
rest in the other world where they shall be severely chast●sed I increase the wealth of Infidels to augment their pain they shall in the ●nd feele grievous torments God will not leave the faithfull in the state that you are in he will one day separate ●he good from the evill he doth not teach you what is to ●ome he for that effect chuseth among the Prophets whom he seeth good Believe therefore in God and his Prophets if you believe in God fear to offend him you shall be rewarded Believe that such as are too sparing ●nd avaritious of the wealth that God hath given them do well on the contrary they do very ill what they spare without reason shall strangle them at the day of Iudgement The inheritance of heaven and earth is Gods he knoweth all things Certainly God heard the speech of them that said God is poor and we are rich hee hath said I will write what they have spoken and keep an ex●ct account of the murther they have unjustly committed on the persons of the Prophets I will say to them at the day of Iudgement taste of the torments of hell fire which you have deserved God doth not lead into darknesse them that worship him There be that say God hath commanded us not to believe the Prophets untill their sacrifice be consumed by fire say to them there came to you Prophets heretofore with miracles that you demanded you had not slain them had you been righteous if they bely thee know they belyed the Prophets that were before thee that came with miracles the Psalter and the book of light Every man shall taste of death and your reward shall be payed at the day of Iudgement he that shall depart from the fire of hell and enter into Paradise shal be happy The wealth of this world is but matter of Pride that you may be tried in your riches and persons Hearken not to the Iews and Christians that have known the written Law before you neither to them that belie● in many gods they offend God through their blasphemie if you have patience and fear God you shall make a ver● good resolution God hath accepted the speech of the that know his written Law when they promised him 〈◊〉 preach to the people his Commandements and not co●ceal them neverthelesse they have contemned them a● changed them for profit of little value and have gain● nothing but misery think not that such as rejoyce of th● evill they have done and affect to be commended 〈◊〉 what they have not done have escaped the punishme● of their crimes they shall certainly suffer great torment The kingdome of heaven and of earth is Gods he is O●nipotent the Creation of heaven and earth the diff●rence of day and night are evident signs of his Omnip●tencie to such as have judgement Such as have remember God standing sitting or lying down and consider● the creation of Heaven and Earth have said Lord the hast not created these things in vain blessed be th● Name deliver us from the torments of hell fire thou w● render miserable him that thou shalt thither precipitat● and the wicked shall be deprived of protection at the da● of Iudgement Lord we have heard them that say believe in your Lord we believe in thy unity pardon o● faults blot out our sins and give us grace to die in th● number of the just bestow on us what thou hast pro●●sed by the Prophets and suffer us not to be miserable a● the day of Iudgement thou dost not contradict wh● thou dost prom●se The Lord heard them and said 〈◊〉 them I will not suffer your works to be lost as well 〈◊〉 men as of women I will blot out the sins of them tha● went out of Mecca to separate themselves from the wi●ked I will cover the offenses of them that forsook thei● houses that assembled to fight for the Faith and we● flain I will open to them the gate of Paradise wherein flow many rivers to recompence their good woorks There is with God great reward envie not the Infidels who● thou shalt see posiesse a little wealth in the earth hell is prepared to be their habitation and such as fear Go● shall dwell eternally in gardens wherein run many rivers with all manner of content God is a great rewarder of the iust Among them that know the written Law there be that believe in God in what was afore time taught you and in what was preached to them surely they obey God and forsake not his Law They shall receive a great reward from God he is exact in his account O ye that are true believers be patient in your adversities persevere to doe well fight for the Faith feare God and you shall be happy CHAP. IV. The chapter of women containing one hundred and seventy Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Kitab el tenoir O ye people feare your Lord that created you of one sole person and created his wife of his rib of whom issued many men and women Feare God by whom you sweare and say the belly * The ancient Arabians swore by by the name of God and the belly of their wives because they feared their sterility of your wives God exactly observeth your actions Give unto orphans what appertaineth to them and render not evill for good devoure not their substance it is a very great sin If you feare to doe injury to Orphans feare also to doe wrong to women marry those that please you two three or foure if you apprehend you shall not be able to entertaine them equally marry but one or the slaves that you shall have acquired this is most necessary to the end you offend not God Give to women their dowry with a good will if they give to you any thing that is pleasing to you receive it with affection and civility Bestow not on fools the wealth that God hath given you for subsistance assist Orphans give to them the garments that shall be necessary for them and entertaine them honestly instruct them untill they have attained to years of discretion and are capable of marriage if you believe they demeane themselves wisely restore to them their faculties and devoure them not unjustly before they be of age He that shall be rich shall abstain from their goods and he that is poore shall take with honesty according to the pains he shall undergoe for them when you make to them restitution of their goods take witnesse of your action God loveth good accounts The children shall have a good part of what their father and mother and parents left after their decease of little or of much there appertaineth to them a portion prefixed and limitted When they divide their goods the kindred shall have care of the poore and Orphans doe good to them and honestly entertaine them Such as feare to leave after them a weak progeny of little children ought to feare to wrong Orphans they
them that shall be slain fighting for the Faith Wherefore fight you not for the Law of God for the liberty of women and children This place is Mecca weak and afflicted that cry Lord deliver us out of this place the people thereof are uniust give us a protector give us an assured refuge They that believe in God fight for his Law and Infidels fight for the Divell Fight against them that serve the Devill his policies are weake Consider those to whom it was said C●ase to imbr●w your hands in the blood of Infidels persevere in your prayers and pay tithes When they were commanded to fight part of them were afraid of the multitude as of God yea more afraid of the multitude then of God and said Lord thou hast not enioyned us to fight unlesse thou hast differed us to a neare end Say to t●●m The wealt● of the earth is but a small thing there 〈◊〉 great riches in the other world for him that shall have ●e feare of God before his eyes No iniustice shall bee ●ne to you wheresoever you are death will meet you ●●twithstanding you may be in strong Citadels If good ●●ppen to the Infidels they say it proceedeth from God ●evill befall them they say that cometh from thee Say 〈◊〉 them All proceedeth from God what then is the will ●f those men they cannot comprehend this discourse ●he good that happeneth to you cometh from God and ●he evill that befalleth you is of your selves We have ●ent thee to the people to teach them the mysteries of my Law it is sufficient that I am witnesse He that obeyeth the Prophet the Apostle of God obeyeth God if they be disobedient thou art not sent to be their tutor They say They will obey thee and when they are gone from thee many of them ponder in their heart other things then they have spoken but God shall write their thoughts and abandon them Resigne thy selfe to God and bee content that he is thy protector Will they not meditate on the Alcoran Were it sent from any but from God there would be therein many contradictions When they had any assurance of victory or feared to be overcome they published it although they had referred all to the Prophet to the most knowing among them and to them that obeyed the Prophet who knew what ought to be published and what to be kept secret If the grace of God had not bin with you and his mercy you had followed the Devill Fight for the Law of God employ but thy person and be not troubled if the true believers be without armes See Kitab el tenoir the misery of the wicked shall never end God shall augment their calamity and encrease the punishment of their crimes he that doth well shall find well This is the ●attell of Beder the enemies of Mahomet made two battels and who doth evill shall find evill God regardeth all When you are saluted returne the salute with honour and affection God putteth all in accompt God! there is but one only God he shall assemble you all at the day of Iudgement of that there is no doubt Who is more true in his words then God What have you to doe with those wicked ones divided into two Troops God ruined and destroyed them because of their sins will you direct into the right 〈◊〉 him See Kitab el tenoir whom God hath made to erre He whom he s●● cause to erre shall not find the right way They de●● that you may be Infidels as they are obey them not ●lesse they shall returne to the Law of God See Gelaldin if they fors●● it kill them where you find them contract no friends●● with them except with such as shall come to enter leag● with you with sorrow for what is past to fight agai● Infidels with you Had it pleased God he had given th● advantage over you and they had beaten you if they ●●part from you and follow your Religion God perm●teth not you to doe them iniury You shall find some th●● shall incline to believe you and their companions th●● will turne all to confusion and fall into it themselves ● they separate themselves from you if they desire not pea●● of you and desist not to doe you mischiefe take and k●● them where you find them we have given you absolu●● power over them One true believer ought not to slay another true believer unlesse it be through ignorance H● that shall slay a true believer through ignorance shal● redeeme from slavery a true believer or shall pay damages and interests to the kindred and Heirs of the dead if they through curtesie discharge him not of them If he be of your enemies and a true believer he shall ransome from captivity a true believer If he be of your confederates he shall pay damages and interests to the kindred and heires of the dead and redeeme from captivity a true believer If hee shall bee destitute of means to performe this he shall fast two months together for a penance appointed of God God knoweth all things and is prudent in what he commandeth He that shall kill a true believer of deliberate purpose shall be chastised in the fire of Hell the wrath of God and his curse shall be upon him eternally Oh ye who are true believers when you fight against Infidels for the Law of God cause your selves to be known and say not to them that salute you thou art not a true believer If you desire the good things of the world God possesseth riches innumerable you were before like to them but God hath given you grace and ●●eth all your actions The faithfull that continue in ●●eir houses without sicknesse are not equall in merits 〈◊〉 such as employ their persons and faculties for the Law 〈◊〉 God he preferreth by many degrees them that fight ●r his Law and employ their wealth and persons for ●is service to those that remaine idle in their houses he ●s their protector and hath prepared for them a sure re●uge in Paradise he gratifieth by many degrees of fa●our them that fight for his Law above those that live ●t ease in their houses he is gracious and mercifull The Angels said to the Infidels that they put to death where were you with your Religion they answered we were weak and impotent in the Citie of Mecca they said was not the Earth large enough for you to depart from the wicked Hell shall be their habitation except the women and children that were weak and impotent peradven●ure God will pardon them he is gracious and mercifull he that shall depart from the wicked to follow his Law shall find many places favourable to him assuredly hee will recompense him that shall quit his house that shall be slaine for his glory and to follow his Prophet he is gracious and mercifull When you shall be in a journey you shall not offend God to abridge your prayers that the Infidels may
from the Truth God pardoneth not them that have embraced his Law and then have forsaken it having believed in his divine Majestie and are returned again to their impietie declare to such men they shall feel heavie torments Such as obey Infidels to be great in this world extreamly delude themselves greatness proceedeth from God It is written in the Book that was sent to you that the Infidels shall mock you when they shall hear the word of God and you shall obey his Commandements Tarry not in their company if they change not their discourse otherwise you will be like to them God will assemble into the fire of Hell all Infidels and wicked persons Some of them that observe your actions said they were of your partie when any felicitie hapned to you and when the Infidels had advantage over you they said they were with them and that they fought against you God at the day of judgement shall judge the difference that is between you and will not give advantage to Infidels over them that observe his Law The wicked thinke to deceive God but God deceiveth them they are negligent to make their prayers they are hypocrites before the world and remember not his divine Majestie except very few of them uncertain whether they should follow the faithfull or the Infidels hee whom God shall cause to goe astray shall not find the right way Oh ye that believe obey not Infidels to the exclusion of true believers will you give God manifest occasion to chastise you for your sinnes The wicked shall be in the lowest place of Hell and shall find no relief except such as shall repent that shall do good works resigne themselves to God and obey his Commandements they shall be with the true believers and receive from God a very great reward He will not send you miserie if you give him thanks for his favours and obey him he accepteth the acknowledgement of his benefits and knoweth all things He willeth not that what evill is committed be published he that publisheth the evill he doth is very much to blame if you manifest the good you do or if you conceale it and abstain from doing evill he will be mercifull to you he is omnipotent Such as blaspheme against God and his Prophets his Apostles such as would make a distinction between the Commandements of his divine Majestie and the precepts of his Prophets such as affirme they believe in some of the Prophets and believe not in all and take a middle way betweene faith and impietie are indeed impious we have prepared for them ignominious torments but they who believe in God and generally in all his Prophets and Apostles shall be recompenced of God gracious and mercifull They that know the written Law will require thee to cause to d●scend from Heaven a Book and written Tables They demanded of Moses greater things and said The Iews Cause us to behold God with our eyes then thunder surprized them by reason of their impiety They adored the Calfe after having had the knowledge of our Commandements neverthelesse we pardoned them and gave to Moses an absolute dominion over them We raised the Mountain over them following our promises anh said to them Enter the gate of the Temple with adoration and humility and no longer transgress the observation of the day of Rest We for this matter received from them a strong promise but they swarved from what they had promised and we cursed them because of their impietie by reason of the murther they committed-without reason on the persons of the Prophets and of the words they uttered viz. Our heart is hardned Contrariwise God imprinted infidelitie in their hearts they shall never believe in his Law except very few of them because of their malice and the blasphemies they vomited against Mary they said The Christians We have slain the Messiah Jesus the Son of Mary the Prophet and Apostle of God Certainly they flew him not neither crucified him they crucified one among them that resembled him such as doubt it are in a manifest error and speak not but through opinion Certainly they flew him not on the contrary God took him up to himself he is Omnipotent and prudent in all his actions Such as have the knowledge of Scripture ought to believe in Jesus before his death he shall be a witnesse against them of their actions at the day of Judgement We have prohibited them that Judaize by reason of their sin things that were permitted them We have prepared for them great torment because they mislead the world from the right way because they take Use that is forbidden them and unjustly eat the substance of their neighbour Such of them as are profound in Learning and all the faithfull believe in the Scriptures both ancient and modern I will give great rewards to them that shall make their prayers at the time appointed that shall pay Tithes and believe in the day of Judgement We have sent thee our inspirations as we sent them to Noah and the Prophets after him as we heretofore sent them to Abraham Ismael Isaac Iacob the Tribes to Jesus Iob Ionas Aaron and to Solomon and gave the Psalter to David We have told thee who were the Prophets that preceded thee but we have not spoken to thee concerning the merits of all them Moses spake to God as his Prophet and Apostle all declared his mercy and preached the torments of Hell to the end men might have no cause of excuse God is Omnipotent and prudent in all his actions He shall be witnesse that the Alcoran was sent to thee with his Commandements the Angels likewise testifie it but it ought to suffice thee that God is witness The Infidels that hindred the people to follow the Law of God were exceedingly erroneous God will not pardon them he will lead them into the path of Hell where they shall remain eternally it is a thing easie to his divine Majestie Oh people A Prophet is come to you who preacheth to you the Truth from the Lord believe him you shall do well if you believe him not know that whatever is in Earth and in Heaven is Gods and that God knoweth whatsoever you do Oh ye that understand the written Law Obey the Commandements of God and speak not of his divine Majestie but with truth the Messiah Jesus the Son of Mary is a Prophet and an Apostle of God his Word and his Spirit which he sent to Mary believe therefore in God and in his Prophets and say not there be three Gods put an end to that discourse you shall do well For there is but one God praysed be God he hath no Son what-ever is in Heaven and in Earth obeyeth him it is sufficient that he is witnesse The Messiah esteemeth it no dishonour to be the servant of God neither the Angel nor the Cherubins He that holdeth it a dishonour to be at his service is too proud he shall assemble all the
and drink Consider how I manifiest my unitie to Infidels how they blaspheme and depart from the Truth say to them Will you worship in stead of God what can neither benefit nor hurt you God understandeth and knoweth all things O ye that have knowledge of the written Law speak of your Religion with reverence and follow not the appetites of such as go astray and walk in an evill way The Infidels were accursed by the tongue of David and of Messiah the Son of Mary because of their disobedience they abstain not from things that are not approved they do them and through obstinacy will continue them Thou shalt see many of the Inhabitants of Mecca adhere to them by reason of the sin they conceale in their hearts God assuredly will be incensed against them and they shall be confined eternally in the torments of Hell If they had believed in God in his Prophet and the Scriptures they had not obeyed Infidels but many of them are impious Thou shalt finde the Jews and Inhabitants of Mecca who believe in many Gods to be very great enemies to the faithfull and the Christians to have a great inclination and amity towards the True-believers for that they have Priests and Religious that are humble who have eyes full of tears when they hear mention of the Doctrine which God hath inspired into thee because of their knowledge of the Truth and say Lord We believe in thy Law write us in the number of them that profess thy Unity who hindreth us to believe in God and the Truth wherein we have been instructed We desire with passion O Lord to be in the number of the jest God shall hearken to their prayer and pardon them he shall open to them the gate of Paradise wherein is the reward of the righteous and the Infidels shall inhabit the abyss of Hell Oh ye who are True-believers inh●bit not the eating of what God hath permitted offend not God hee abhorreth them that offend him eat of the meats that are lawfull for you and have his fear before your eyes he will not chastise you for what you have spoken at randome contrary to your faith without design of offending him but he shall punish you for your oaths if you observe them not the satisfaction of an oath not accomplished is to give food to ten poore of your Religion and to cloath them or to enfranchise a slave that is a True-believer he that is destitute of means to perform this shall fast three dayes immediately succeeding such is the satisfaction of a not-accomplished oath keep exactly your faith so doth God teach you his Commandements you will peradventure give him thanks Oh ye that believe in God! Wine Games of hazard Idols Lots and divinations are abominations and filthy practises of the Devill depart from him perhaps you will be righteous The Devill desireth to fow among you dissention and horrour through wine and games of hazard to choak your remembrance of God and of praying to him abandon wine and games of hazard be obedient to God and the Prophet his Apostle and take heed to your selves If you disobey God know that the Prophet is obliged only to preach publiquely the word of his divine Majesty the True-believers and the righteous have not provoked God in drinking wine and playing at games of hazard before they were prohibited they will abstaine for the future and performe good works God loveth them that do good Oh ye that believe God proveth you by one thing to wit by hunting whether you take the game with your hands or coursing on horse-back to discerne them among you that fear him and believe in his Law whosoever shall offend him shall be severely punished Oh ye that believe kill not your game during the time of your pilgrimage to Mecca whosoever shall kill of deliberate purpose shall be judged as if he had slain his Neighbours beast he shall be judged by one among you and be condemned to offer a present at the Temple of Mecca or to give food to the poore or to fast or performe somewhat of like nature for the expiation of his errour if he have repentance in his mind God will pardon what is past if he returne in his sin God will be avenged on him he is omnipotent and avengfull It is permitted that you fish and eat of fish during your Pilgrimage but hunting by land is absolutely forbidden in this voyage feare God you shall all one day be assembled before him to be judged he hath appointed the month of Pilgrimage he hath established the Temple of Mecca for the devotion of the people and hath forbidden to give impediment to such as bring thither oblations and those that assume * The ancient Arabians put upon their necks the leaves of trees in devotion when they arrived at Mecca Collers to the end you may learne to understand that he knoweth all things both in Heaven and Earth and that he is Omnipotent Know ye that he is grievous in his chastisements and gracious and mercifull The Prophet is obliged but to preach his Commandements he knoweth all that you conceale in your hearts and whatever you make manifest Evill must not be equall to good notwithstanding it be pleasing to you Oh ye that are wise have the feare of God before your eyes peradventure you shall be happy Oh ye believers desire not the knowledge of all things you will afflict your selves be not curious to know at what time the Alcoran was sent from Heaven God pardoneth your former curiosity See Kitab el tenoir your Predecessours were alike curious and in the number of unbelievers God hath commanded nothing touching * These are the Ceremonies of the ancient Arabians which Mahomet renounceth the she Camell whose eare is slit neither that which is at liberty in the field neither concerning the Ewe that hath brought forth seven Lambs neither the Camell of whom have issued ten Camels but the wicked invent blasphemies against his divine Majestie and are unwise When it was said to them come and observe what God hath taught his Prophet they replyed it sufficed them to follow what their fathers had observed notwithstanding their fathers were ignorant and erroneous Oh ye believers See Kitab el tenoir be carefull of your selves such as be in errour shall not hurt you if you follow the right way all of you shall one day be assembled before God who shall discover all your works and reward you according to your merits Oh ye believers make your Testament when your death approacheth and take two witnesses of your own Religion that are honest men If you are in a journey and sicknesse surprize you you shall take two witnesses such as you shall meet with to serve your testament and having prayed shall deliver to them your will If you doubt their integrity cause them sweare to be faithfull in their testimonies and not give themselves to be corrupted by your kindred
in the Book of Light He it is that causeth you to die in the night and knoweth the good and evill that you have committed by day he shall cause you to rise againe at the day nominated you all shall appeare before him he shall give you knowledge of your sins and shall chastise you after your demerits he is alwayes victorious and omnipotent He shall send to observe your actions and when you shall arrive at the hour of death he shall dispatch his messengers who shall not faile to execute his commands the people shall repaire to him as to their Lord he is extreamly exact to keep account Say unto them he shall deliver you from the darknesse of the sea and of the earth when you shall in secret or publikely invoke him if he deliver me I will returne him thanks for his grace Say unto them God can deliver you from darkenesse and all other afflictions yet say you he hath a companion associate with him Say unto them we can send punishments from above and from below he is able to disunite and cause you to tast a thousand miseries which you shall bring upon each other Consider how I shew them the effects of my Omnipotency they will peradventure comprehend my sayings Those of thy Nations have rejected them notwithstanding they are most true say unto them I am not your Tutor every thing hath its time you shall hereafter understand the truth Depart from them that speake of our Law with contempt untill he speak otherwise the devill would induce thee to forget my Commandements and cause thee to sit down with the unjust the true believers shall not regard their discourse neither cease to ●dmonish them peradventure they will be converted Depart thou from such as sport and mock at their Religion the wealth of this world rendreth them haughty declare they shall be severely punished none is able to protect or hear them but God no ransome is able to deliver them they shall find the good and ●vill that they have committed shall drink a liquor extreamly cold and endure grievous torments because of their impiety say unto them shall we worship instead of God what can neither benefit nor hurt us Shall we return on our steps to our sins having been guided by his divine Majesty like unto him whom the devill hath seduced He left him dismaid and astonished in the midst of his voyage having forsaken his companions that shewed him the right way God guideth men to the way of Salvation I will wholly resigne my self to the pleasure of his divine Majesty Make your prayers at the time appointed and pay tithes you all shall appear before God at the day of Judgement to give account of your actions He it is that created heaven and earth Remember thou the day wherein he said Be thou and every thing was he shall reign and at that day command an Angell to sound the Trumpet to call to universall Judgement the living and the dead He knoweth the future present and past is most ●ise and nothing is hidden from him Remember thou that Abraham said to his father * The Arabian● say Az●r 〈◊〉 Abrahams ●urna ●e and ●hat his fath●r was called Terec Azer Azer wherefore doe you worship Idols instead of God I perceive your family to be in manifest error God shewed to Abraham the Kingdome of heaven and of earth and he was in the number of the blessed Abraham seeing by night a most cleare Star asked in himselfe if it were his God no replyed he to himself my God doth not rise and set seeing the Moone to arise he demanded if that were his God no said he to himself certainly God will not guide me to be of them that are erronious when he beheld the Sun rising he likewise asked if that were his God and when he saw it set he said to his people I am innocent of the sin which you commit in adoring many gods I wholly commend my self to his Will who created heaven and earth and professe his Unity His people would dispute against him he said to them will you dispute against me concerning the Unity of God who hath instructed me in the right way I feare not your Idols my God doth what pleaseth him and knoweth all things will you not consider it How shall I feare your Idols since you are not afraid to affirme that God hath companions equall to him which you have no reason to adore If you understand the truth who is more true you or I Such as believe in God and shall not cover the truth with a lie shall be delivered from the torments of hell and conducted into the way of salvation We instructed Abraham with reasons to dispute against his people I give knowledge to whom I see go●d and exalt whom I please Thy Lord O Abraham seeth and knoweth all things we gave to Abraham Isaac and J●c●b his sons we before instructed Noah and his lineage in the right way we taught it David Salomon Job Joseph Moses Aaron Zachary St. John Jesus the Sonne of Ma●y Eliah Ismael Joshua Jonas and Lot we gratified them above the residue of the world we elected their Fathers Brothers and Progenie and guided them in the right way Thus God guideth whom he seeth good Men before adored Idols and believed there were many gods neverthelesse he blotted out their past errors when they were converted If they slander them that have knowledge of the Scriptures and of Prophesies will give power over their persons to men that shall mislead them with the Infidels Those whom God guideth believe in the Unity of his divine Majesty Say unto them I require no reward for having preached to you the Alcoran he teacheth to all the world the Commandements of God The Jewes have not honoured him as was their duty they understood not his graces when they said he hath instructed the people in nothing that is profitable Say unto them who gave the Tables unto Moses who instructed him in the Scripture which they have written in Vellam to guide and illuminate the people They have published what pleaseth them and have concealed much they shall learn in the Alcoran what they know not and what their fathers understood not Say to them God after that left them obstinate and amazed in their errors We have sent from heaven that Book full of blessedness it confirmeth the Scriptures that were sent before it to the end thou maist instruct the people of Mecca them that inhabit about that City and the rest of the world Such as shall believe in the day of Judgement believe in what is written in this Book and shall pray to God to deliver them from the torments of hell Who is more unjust then he that blasphemeth against God that saith God hath inspired into him what he uttereth notwithstanding he hath received no inspiration from his Divine Majestie Who more unjust then he that saith he will cause to discend from heaven
us to believe in the miracles that wee see neither to obey the Commandements of his divine Majesty Lord give us patience and to dye in the number of True-believers Then said Pharaoh's Doctors dismisse Moses and his people that they may goe whither they see good to pollute the Earth that they may leave thee in quiet with thy Gods He said I will cause their Childeren to be slain their wives to be abused and I will inflict upon them a thousand torments Moses said to his people Implore succors of God with patience and prayers the whole Earth is Gods he giveth it to inherit to whom he seeth good the other world is for the righteous They said Oh Moses We before thy coming desired the death of our enemies he replyed God will not destroy your enemies to leave you alone upon the Earth he shall behold your actions We afflicted Pharaoh and his Subjects with famine perhaps unbelievers will consider it When any happinesse befell them they said they well deserved it and when they fell into misery they affirmed Moses and his people to be the cause of it It is God that punished them but of this most of them were ignorant They said unto Moses cease to shew us thy miracles to inchant us we will not obey thee We sent upon them a Deluge Grasse-hoppers Lice Frogs and Bloud one after another neverthelesse they were proud and in the number of the wicked When our wrath fell upon them they said oh Moses call upon thy Lord that hee give us what to thee he promised remove his displeasure from us we will believe thee and will dismisse with thee the Children of Israel When we delivered them from affliction they sharpened their tongues murmured and violated their promises we avenged our selves upon them and drowned them in the Sea for that they contemned our miracles and we gave the West and East to the Children of Israel who were humble before us we gave them our blessing our word was accomplished upon them because of their perseverance and we destroyed the Armies of Pharoah The Children of Israel having past the Sea met with men that adored Idols and said oh Moses make unto us Gods like to the Gods of this people he answered ye are ignorant these men are wretched what they doe is but ignorance and vanity shall I desire that you worship other Gods then God that preferred you to all the world We have delivered you from Pharoah's people who caused you to endure great torments they murther'd your children abused your wives and you suffered heavy afflictions for the punishment of your sins We detained Moses on the Mountaine thirty nights and ten other nights which is in all forty nights when he went up he said to his brother Aaron be thou my Lieutenant command this people in mine absence and follow not the path of the wicked When Moses at the time appointed arrived at the top of the Mountaine and that his Lord spake to him he said Lord permit me to see thee he said thou shalt not see me behold this Mountaine if it continue firme in this place thou shalt be able to see me when the Lord appeared upon the Mountaine with his light it was reduced to ashes and Moses amazed fell on the ground as dead When he rose againe he said blessed be the name of God I desire to obey him and believe that no man living is able to behold him He said to Moses I have chosen and preferred thee to all the world I have made thee a Prophet thou hast talked with me receive the grace which I have bestowed on thee and be not ingratefull We gave to him the Tables whereon was written what was necessary for the salvation of men and we said to him receive with affection what I give thee and command thy people to observe the contents of those Tables I will precipitate into Hell such as transgresse my Commandements I will deprive the proud of my graces they will not believe in my Law although they see all the miracles in the world if they see the right way they will not follow it they see the way of error and pursue it because they have abjured my Commandements and rejected my grace the good works of them that disobey me and that believe not in the Resurrection are unprofitable they shall be chastised after their demerits The people of Moses after his departure adored the Calfe a bellowing God saw they not that it spake not to them neither could conduct them into the right way Neverthelesse they adored it for which they were greatly too blame When this Calfe fell to the ground and they found their errour they said if God have not pity on us we shall be miserable When Moses returned he said to them whom did ye obey after my departure You were too hasty to worship that Idol he in displeasure cast against the ground the Tables that God had given him took his brother by the head and dragging him to him said Son of my mother how hast thou governed this people I wanted power replyed he and could not divert them from their evill It wanted little but they had slain me do me no harme rejoyce not my enemies with my misery and account me not with those that adored Idols Moses said Lord pardon me and my brother give us thy mercy thou art the mercifull of the mercifull The wrath of God and the infamy of the world shall fall upon them that worshiped the Calf and blasphemed against God he will be pitifull to such as shall repent and believe in his divine Majesty The displeasure of Moses being allayed he againe tooke the Tables whereon was written the way of salvation for such as have the feare of their Lord before their eyes he caused to be separated from his people at a time appointed threescore and ten persons who were surprized with an earth-quake and with thunder and said Lord thou couldst have destroyed them before they adored the Calf wilt thou destroy us all because of the sin of the ignorant that are amongst us Thou hast desired to prove this people thou guidest and causest to erre whom thou pleasest thou art our Protector pardon our sins for thou art altogether mercifull give us thy grace in this world and guide us to the day of Judgement neer to thy divine Majestie He said I will punish as I see good my mercy embraceth the whole world it is for such as have my feare before their eyes that pay Tithes obey my Commandements follow the right way believe in the Prophet * This is Mahomet who can neither write nor read and what is written in the Old Testament and the Gospell See Kitab el tenoir he shall command them things honest he shall prohibit things uncivill he shall teach them what meats are clean and forbid them to eat what is unclean he shall deliver them from Ceremonies weighty and trublesome and from the
chains that strictly bind them Such as shall believe in him that shall honour him that shall defend him from his enemies and follow the light that we shall send him shall be happy Say unto the people I am indeed a messenger sent from God to whom appertaineth the kingdome of the Heavens The Turks believe that Mahomet could neither write nor read and of Earth there is but one God alone he giveth life and death as seemeth good to him Believe in God and in his Prophet who can neither read nor write Such as shall believe in God in his Word and follow the Prophet shall not erre they shall follow a very good way There are some of the children of Israel that knew the truth and judge with equity We divided them into twelve Tribes when Moses required drink for his people we inspired him to strike the rock with his rod whence flowed twelve fountains and every one knew the place where he should drink we covered them with the shaddow of clouds we caused Manna and Quailes to descend upon them and commanded them to eat of the good things which we gave them They did not hurt us when they murmured but afflicted themselves This is the holy land It was said to them Dwell in this City and eat therein what shall please you enter at the gate with adoration See Gelaldin and beg pardon of your sinnes I will pardon you and will augment the graces of the righteous nevertheless the wicked that were among them altered the words that were spoken to them and perverted them and we sent upon them our indignation from Heaven because of their impiety Ask of them concerning a village that was upon the shore of the Sea whose inhabitants observed not the Sabbath and fished on the day of rest they saw in that day Serpents appear upon the water and other dayes they saw none Thus are tryed them because of their disobedience A party of them said Fish not O people it is lost labor God shall destroy and chastise them with grievous torments then their Doctors said They shall implore pardon of the Lord perhaps they will fear to offend him another time When they rejected what we taught them we saved such among them as abstain from evil-doing and grievously afflicted the wicked because of their disobedience when they gloried in their sin we said to them Be ye contemned and abhorred as Apes thy Lord shall send to them at the day of Judgement persons to torment them he is exact in punishing the wicked and mercifull to the righteous We sent upon them good and evill to prove them peradventure they will be converted Their posterity left a progeny heirs of their doctrine nevertheless they returned to their sins and say the Lord shall pardon them they beg pardon of him and return daily to their sin See Gelaldin Shall not account be required from them of what is ordained in the Scripture To wit not to speak of God but with truth They have read the Truth but have not comprehended it Paradise is onely for the righteous I will not deprive them of recompense who make their prayers at the time appointed and observe what is contained in the Scriptures Remember thou how we raised a mountain over them to shelter them and how they believed it would fall upon their heads wee said to them Learne with affection what we teach you and remember perhaps you will feare disobedience Thy Lord caused to come out of Adams reins all his posteritie and asked them saying Am not I your Lord they answered yes thou art our Lord we know it well They cannot therefore say at the day of Judgement That they knew not his unitie they shall say for excuse Our fathers adored many gods before us we are their posterity wilt thou destroy us because of their iniquity Thus doe I discover my mysteries to men it may be they will be converted Relate to them the history of him that saw our miracles he was dispoiled of his understanding the Devill followed it and he was in the number of the wretched Had we so pleased we had exalted him through the knowledge of our wonders among the Doctors but he crouched to the ground and followed his owne appetite like to a chafed dog if thou chase him with choller he putteth forth his tongue if thou leave him at rest he will still put forth his tongue like to the Infidels that contemn our instructions if thou recount to them our miracles or do not recount perhaps they will be converted perhaps they will not be converted and shall be like such as have abjured our Commandements and injured their own souls He whom God guideth is well guided and he whom God mis-leadeth is in the number of the miserable We have created Hell to punish Devils and men they have hearts and comprehend no● the truth they have eyes and see it not ears have they and heare it not they are like to beasts and worse then beasts they are altogether ignorant The most beautifull names of the world appertaine to God Beseech him by the beauty of his name and depart from them that depart from the truth through the names that they impose on their Idols they shall be chastised after their demerits Some there be that follow the truth and judge with equity I will by degrees punish them that shall reject our Commandements when they shall think thereon I will defer their punishment some time because my wrath is violent Remember they not that they said Mahomet is possest of the Devill On the contrary he declareth the joyes of Paradise and preacheth the torments of Hell Consider they not the Kingdome of Heaven and of Earth which God hath created of nothing The fear of death shall arrive before they have acknowledged their sins in what will they believe if they have not faith in the Alcoran He whom God shall mis-lead shall find none to guide him he shall leave Infidels confounded in their disobedience They shall enquire of thee concerning the hour and day of Judgement Say unto them No man knoweth it but God but the greatest part of the world believe it not I have not power to do either good or evill of my self if God do not permit it If I knew the future I should provide wealth to preserve me from poverty I am sent only to declare the joyes of Paradise and preach the torments of Hell to them that believe in God he it is that created you of one sole person and created his spouse of his rib to dwell with her When she doubted of being with child she ceased not to travell as she was wont but when her conception rendred her heavy they both besought God their Lord and said Lord give an happy progeny to the end we may be in the number of them that return thee thanks for thy favours When God gave them a son a r●ghteous man they associated him in what
attend the issue we will attend it with you whatsoever is in heaven and in earth appertains to God all men shall be assembled before him worship him resign your selves to his Will he knoweth whatsoever the people doth CHAP. XII The Chapter of Joseph containing an hundred and thirteene Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull I am the mercifull God These signes are the signes of the Booke which distinguisheth good from evill We have caused to discend from heaven the Alcoran written in the Arabique tongue peradventure yee will learne it I deliver unto thee in the Alcoran one of the best things that I have inspired into thee Thou were before the comming thereof in the number of the ignorant Remember thou that Joseph said to his father My father I saw in a dreame eleven Stars the Sunne and the Moone I saw them adoring me My sonne said his father discover not thy dreame to thy brothers they will conspire against thee the devill is an open enemy to men thou shalt be elected of the Lord in this world he shall teach thee the explication of Dreams he shall accomplish his grace upon thee and upon the lineage of Jacob as he did accomplish it upon thy fathers Abraham and Isaac the Lord knoweth all things and is most wise The History of Ioseph shall serve for example to posterity remember thou how his brothers said our father loveth our brother Ioseph more then all us together he is in an exceeding great error let us kill Ioseph and cast him into some secret place remote from us his absence will render the face of our father more gentle towards us after his death we will be converted One of them said you shall not doe well to kill him but cast him into the well some passengers will take him and carry him into an unknowne Countrie They said to their Father Father wherefore doest thou not send Ioseph into the Fields with us Wee will bee very car●full hee shall sport and recreate himselfe I feare said hee that yee will neglect to p●eserve him dost thou feare said they that a wolf should devoure him in our presence and that we want strength to defend him In the morning they led him with them and cast him into a Well We inspired him to prophesie to them what should befall them for the mischief they acted but they wanted knowledge to comprehend it they in the evening returned to their fathers house with eyes full of dissembled teares and said unto him father we sported and ran who should run the best Ioseph remained with our baggage a wolf came that devoured him thou wilt not believe us although we speak the truth then they shewed him his shirt which they had sprinkled with blood it is you that hath done it said he you shall answer it before God he is my protector and was patient without lamenting There past that day * The Levantins well a Caravan a number of persons travelling together a Caravan near to that Well who desiring to draw water to drink let downe a bucket on which Ioseph took hold to get out they gave him cloathes led him away secretly and sold him at a good rate for ready money they would not kill him in which they were honest men He that bought him in Egypt commanded his wife to have care of him that he might one day be usefull for their service and be to them instead of a son Thus did we establish Ioseph in the country of Egypt and taught him the exposition of dreams thy Lord is Omnipotent but few men know him when Ioseph came to the age of manhood we gave him knowledge and prudence thus doe we reward the righteous His Masters wife became amorous of his beauty she one day shut him into her chamber and solicited him with love God defend me said he to betray my Master and be unchaste he was in the number of the righteous and fled to the door his Mistrisse ran after him and to stay him tore his shirt through the back she met her husband behind the door to whom she said what other thing doth he merit who would dishonour thine house then to be imprisoned and severely chastised Lord said Ioseph she sollicited me that infant which is in the cradle and of thy parentage shall be witnesse Then the infant in the cradle said if Iosephs shirt be torne before she hath spoken truth and Ioseph is a lyar if the shirt be rent behind Iosep● hath delivered the truth and she a lye then her husband b●held Iosephs shirt torne behind and knew that it was extreame malice and said to Ioseph take heed to thy self and beware this act be not divulged doe thou speaking to his wife implore pardon for thy fault thou art truly guilty The women of the City said among themselves that the rich mans wife was amorous of his Slave and that she had sollicited his love and had erred from the right way which she understanding made them an exceeding fair feast and caused Ioseph to enter the Parlour where they sate while they carved their meat they were so surprised and entangled with Iosephs beauty that they instead of carving their meat cut their fingers O God! said they this is not a man but an Angel then said she unto them behold him whom I loved with so much passion she another time importuned him to satisfie her desire and perceiving that he would not condescend to her will menaced him with the prison and to make him miserable O God! said Ioseph I had rather be a prisoner then do what she desireth deliver me from her malice defend me from inclining to her lubricity and from being in the number of the wicked his Lord heard his prayer he understandeth and knoweth all things This woman seeing Iosephs resolution judged it requisite to imprison him for some time he was put prisoner with two men one of which told him that he had dreamed that he prest grapes to make wine the other said that he dream'd that he caried bread upon his head which the birds did eat they demanded of him the interpretation of their dreams because he seemed to them to be a good man he said to them before ye break fast I wil interpret your dreams I wil first tell you what God hath taught me and how I quit abandon the law of Infidels embrace the Law of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob we ought not worship many gods such as believe in the unity of God are endued with his grace but few men give him thanks O Prisoners who hath more power Idols or one sole God who is omnipotent The gods which ye adore are but Idols whom ye and your fathers call by such a name as seemeth good to you ye have no reason to worship them God doth not enjoyn you th●s he commandeth you to worship him alone this is the right way but the greatest part of the world
of this are ignorant O prisoners the one of you shall give wine to drink to his Master the other shall be hanged the birds shall feed on his head the interpretation that ye have required shall be accomplished He besought him that should be saved to remember him when he should be neer to his Master but the devill caused him to lose the remembrance of Ioseph who remained prisoner the space of nine years At that time the King of Egypt saw in a dream seven fat kine which seven lean kine devoured and seven green eares of corn with seven drie eares of which he required the interpretation of his Doctors they answered that the dream was very obscure and that they knew not the interpretation the prisoner that had been set at liberty said that he would forthwith give the interpretation of the dream remembred Ioseph and calling him unto him said O righteous man explain unto us what is the signification of seven fat kine devoured by seven leane and seven green eares of corn and as many dry peradventure I shall return to the King and his people and they shall understand the interpretation of this dream Ioseph said to him yee shall sow the earth seven years following which shall abound in fruits preserve your Harvest in the ears and take only what shall be necessary for life after this there shall come seven years barren and unfruitfull in which the people shall suffer much The King of Egypt having learned the interpretation of this dream commanded to call Ioseph the Messenger said unto him O Ioseph return to thy Master and require of him the meaning of the women who did cut their fingers he hath knowledge of their malice hath caused them to assemble and demanded of them what was their designe when they solicited thee with love they answered they knew no sinne in thee and his wife confessed the truth saying she had importuned thee but that thou art a very just man Ioseph answered by this it appears that I am no traitor to my Master in his absence God guideth not traitors I will not say I am a man without sin the spirit of man inclineth to evill except such to whom God hath given his particular grace he is gracious and mercifull to whom seemeth good to him The King having talked with Joseph entred him into the number of his domesticks and made him superintendent of his * All the revenues of the Crown revenews because he knew him to be a man of spirit faithfull and thrifty We by our speciall grace establish Joseph in the Country of Egypt where he did what seemeth good to him I deprive not the righteous of their reward on earth the recompence of the other world is yet greater for them that believe in my Law and have my fear before their eyes The brethren of Joseph returned to buy corn he said to them when ye shall come again bring with you your yong brother by the father you shall find I will make you good measure and lodge well my guests if you bring him not there shall be no corn for you approach not this kingdom without him They answered Lord his father loveth him exceedingly nevertheless we shall endeavour to perform what thou enjoynest us he commanded his servants to put their money for corn in the bottoms of his brethrens sacks perhaps said he they will return or acknowledge this favour when they shall come into their Country When they arrived at their father they said Father there is no more corn for us if our young brother go not with us if he go thither we shall have good measure and we will be carefull of him You will be carefull said he as you were heretofore of your brother Joseph God wil defend him better then you he the merciful of the mercifull When they poured forth their corn they found their money at the bottomes of their sacks and said our father what shall we desire more our money is restored to us and we have bread for our family permit that our brother go with us we shall have better measure that is a small thing to the King of Egypt I will not send him with you unlesse ye all sweare before God to bring him back again if there be no great impediment They swore to fulfill his will then said he I take God to be witness of your oath O my sons enter not all together into the City but go in at severall gates to the end the people may not be jealous of you God commandeth what to him ●eemeth good I rely on him all true believers ought to ●esign themselves to his divine will they entred the Ci●y as their father enjoyned them to content him be●ng arrived before Joseph he took his little brother by the hand and said to him trouble not thy self for what shall become of thy brethren having filled their sacks he causad a Cup adorned with precious stones to be put into the sack of his little brother caused it to be given out that they of the Caravan had stolne the Kings Cup and sent men after them to search those strangers protested they saw it not and that they came not into Egypt to steal that they were sureties for each other and that he who had stolne it deserved punishment The Cup was found in the sack of his young brother he caused him to be apprehended and accused them all of theft Lord said they his father is old he will be extreamly afflicted for his absence take one of us in his place thou shalt in the end find us to be honest men God forbid said he that I should detain other then him who was found guilty of theft that would be injustice finding themselves out of hope to free their brother they saved themselves in a secret place remote from the City where the eldest said to his brethren you know the oath we took at our departure and how heretofore we intreated Joseph I will not go out of Egypt without my fathers permission God is most just he shall dispose of me and my brother as shall please him return to your father and say unto him thy son was taken in theft we saw him and endeavoured to our power to deliver him they of the Caravan shall be witnesses Jacob said at their return they were the cause of that accident that did not displease you and he took patience saying God perhaps will favour my sons to return in health he knoweth in what condition I am he is most prudent in what he ordaineth He retired from among his sons extreamly afflicted and bewayled the losse of his son Joseph had his eyes continually covered with tears and he bore in his heart great sorrow His sons said unto him Do● thou yet remember Ioseph to adde to thy grief and hasten thine end I am said he extreamly desolate I leave all to the will of God he hath taught me what ye know not My sonnes return into
Egypt and inquire t●dings of your two brethren dispair not of the Spirit of God none dispaire of Gods Spirit but the wicked When they came unto Ioseph they said unto him The famine that is in our Country hath extreamly afflicted us it hath often constrained us to come to buy Corn thou of thy favour hast made us good measure thou hast caused our money to be restored for alms God will reward thee he recompenceth such as are Alms-givers He said unto them Ye remember what ye did unto your brother Ioseph They replyed Certainly thou art not Ioseph I am Ioseph said he and behold my brother Benjamin God hath given us his grace he rewardeth him that hath his fear before his eyes and is patient in his afflictions he depriveth not the righteous of recompence God said they hath poured his favours upon us in saving thee whom we have exceedingly offended Be not said he ashamed God this day pardoneth you that sinne he is gracious and mercifull return to your Father and bear to him this shirt cast it upon his face hee shall recover sight and return hither with him and with your whole family The Caravan was then halfe way upon return when Iacob said to them that attended him I smell the odor of my sonne Ioseph you deride me but what I speak is most true They told him that he was still in his old error some dayes following one of his sonnes arrived with tidings of Ioseph and cast the shirt that he had given him upon him and incontinently he recovered his sight and said Did I not alwayes tell you that I knew what ye knew not they said Our Father pardon us and ask the forgiveness of God for us who have exceedingly offended him He answered I will beg pardon of God for you he is gracious and mercifull When they arrived before Ioseph he took his Father by the hand saying Enter without feare into Egypt caused him to fit down and his brethren fell prostrate before him My Fa●●er said he behold there the interpretation of mine ●d dream God hath rendred it true hee hath favoured ●e in delivering me from prison and conducting you ●ther he hath put an end to the jealousie which the de●ll had procured between me and my brethren The word is liberall to whom seemeth good to him he know●h what is necessary for his people and is most prudent ●n what he ordaineth Lord thou hast given me wealth ●nd knowledge to interpret dreams Creator of Heaven ●nd Earth thou at my protector give me the grace to die in thy Law and place me in the number of the righteous This History of Joseph He speake●h to Mahomet is an ancient History which I relate to thee Thou wert not with his brethren when they conspired against him nevertheless the greatest part of the people are incredulous Demand no reward of them for having preached the Alcoran it instructeth onely the wise How many signes be there in Heaven and Earth of the unity of God yet the people believe not therein and most of them adore Idols assuredly God shall punish them at an unexpected houre and in a time which they know not Say unto them Behold the right way I call to the way of Salvation and Light such as follow me I return thanks to God for that I am not in the number of unbelievers We sent aforetime none but men to instruct the people will not men consider what hath been the end of the wicked that were before them Paradise is for them that are righteous will yee not be converted They caused the Prophets to lose all hopes of their Conversion and believed them to be lyars but we protected them and delivered from their malice such as seemed good to us nothing shall exempt the wicked from the punishment of their pains they shall serve for example to men of spirit The Alcoran containeth no blasphemies it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and reacheth True-believers the way of Salvation CHAP. XIII The Chapter of Thunder See Gelaldin and Bedaoi containing fourty three Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am the most wise and mercifull God These precepts are the precepts of the Book sent to thee from the Lord it is a thing most true but few men incline to believe it It is sent from God who raised Heaven without a prop and with a column that appeareth and sitteth on his throne disposing all things He causeth the Sunne and Moon to move until the day appointed he disposeth all things at his will and manifesteth to men the signes of his omnipotency Peradventure you will believe in the Resurrection of the flesh He it is that hath extendeth the Earth raised the Mountains caused the Rivers to flow who created of all sorts of Fruits the Male and Female and covereth the day with the obscurity of the night These things are signes of his unity to such as consider them He hath created many fields of divers sorts and Gardens filled with Grapes and many different Fruits he created Datetroes thick as Groves and Forrests and others that are scattered through the fields some are moystened with waters and others have a more pleasing taste These things are signes of his unity to such as consider them Thou art amazed at the lies of Infidels be astonished at their discourses when they deny the Resurrection and say What shall God yet once again create us of the dust of the Earth when we shall be earth shall we be a new people They are impious they shall have yoaks upon their necks and shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell they precipitate themselves into eternall pains and contemn the mercy of God so did their predecessors but God is gracious to such as convert Chastise severely the obstinate Infidels They have said We will not believe in the Prophet unless we see some miracle to appear Say unto them I am not sent but to preach the word of God He hath sent persons to every Nation to teach them the right way nothing is hid from him in the world he knoweth what women bear in their womb he knoweth the time and period of every thing the present past and future hee is great and omnipotent He understandeth what you keep secret and what ye make manifest hee knoweth where they be who cove● themselves with the obscurity of night and them that travell in the clearness of day every one hath his guardian by his commandement who observeth what he doth and depriveth none of grace that hath not offended his divine Majesty and none can hinder him to punish whom it seemeth good to him He it is who giveth you to see the lightning which terrifieth men and nourisheth his Creatures by the rain which he causeth to fall he created the clouds charged with moysture causeth thunder to make a noise ●ar●eth the Thunder-bolt and striketh whom it pleaseth him the Angels tremble in his presence yet do
in parables Certainly they conspire but God knoweth their conspiracy their policie is to tempt the Prophet to see if he will make the Mountains to move Think not that God will violate what hee hath promised to the Prophets hee is omnipotent and avengefull Consider the day wherein the Earth and Heavens shall change their face and all people shall rise again that day shall one sole God omnipotent command men to come out of their Monuments Thou shalt that day see the wicked bound in their chaines their garments shall be full of pitch and guitran their faces shall be covered with fire that day shall he recompense and chastise every one according to his works he is exact to keep account This Book was sent to instruct the people and teach them that there is but one God the wise will remember CHAP. XV. The Chapter of Hegir containing seventy and seven Verses written at Mecca Hegir is a Valley neer Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am the mercifull God The signes are the signes of the Alcoran which distinguisheth good from evill How may the Infidels hope what the True-believers hope for depart from them See Kitab el tenoir let them eat the substance of the poore let them become rich and content themselves in their hopes they shall see one day what their end shall be We have destroyed no City untill the time destined to its ruine was expired there is no Nation that can advance or retard its destiny The wicked have said oh man who believest that the Alcoran was sent to thee we will affirme that thou art a Sorcerer untill the Angels do assure us that thou are true The Angels shall not descend to the earth unlesse to chastise them and they shall not be able to retard the time of their punishment we certainly have sent the Alco●an upon earth and will preserve it without alteration we heretofore sent prophets one after another the wicked scorned and contemned them thus I imprint impiety in the hearts of the wicked they shall not believe in the Prophet and shall incur the punishment of their predecessors should we open the entrance of heaven and should they behold the Angels go in and goe out at the shadow of the gate they would yet say their eyes were inchanted and that they were bewitched we created signes in heaven and adorned them with Starres to cont●nt the mindes of them that consider them wee sheltered them from the assaults of the devill but the Butterflie followeth every thing that shineth and believeth it to be a Starre we extended the earth and raised the mountains with proportion we have made it to produce all sorts of fruits to sustain and enrich you we have reserved in our pow●r the keyes of the treasures thereof to distribute to them by measure what shall be necessary we caused a fresh winde to arise and sent rain to water them it is not you that caused the fruits thereof to spring forth it is we who give life and death and d●spose of all things in the world Wee know who they were that did procede you and who they shall be that shall succeed you I will assemble all at the end of the world to be judged we created man of the slime of the earth and before him the devill of fire without smoak Remember thou that God said to his Angels I will create man of the slime of the earth I will breathe upon him to give him life prostrate your selves before him the Angels adored him except the devill God said unto him wherefore dost thou not adore man He replied I will not adore him thou hast created me of fire and him of the mire of the earth He said get thee out of Paradise thou shalt be banished and accursed untill the day of Judgement Lord said the devill lay not thy curse upon me untill the day of Judgement he said thou shalt be accursed untill the day nominated Lord said the devill I will tempt all the creatures because thou hast tempted me I will cause them to disobey thy Commandements except such as shall trust in thee and recommend themselves to thy divine Will God said this is the right way thou hast no power over the righteous who follow my Law but only over the Infidels for whom hell is prepared Hell hath seven gates and every gate hath its particular work the righteous shall dwell in gardens adorned with fair fountains we will free them from all rancour they shall repose upon beds like brethren with respect and affection and shall be in eternall felicity Declare to them that worsh●p me that I am gracious and ●●●ciful and my chast●sements are s●v●re and rigorous Preach unto them the H●story of the guest of Abraham they sa●●ted him when they e●●red his house Abra●●m was ●●●●ified at their comming they said to him fear not us we are the Messengers of God we declare to thee that thou shalt have a son who shall be a great personage Do you tell me said he that I shall have a son in mine old age why speak ye in that manner We tell thee the truth despair● not of the grace of God none but the wicked despaire O Messengers of God! said Abraham what doe ye require We are sent to destroy the Infidels and to preserve the whole family of Lot except his wife she shall remain w●th them that shall be punished When these Messengers came to Lots house he told them he knew them not they said to him we are come to thee to cleare this people of their doubt of Gods Omnipotencie what we speak unto thee is most true cause thy family this night to go out of the City and follow their steps that none among you look behind him and go whither you shall be commanded the wicked shall in the morning be destroyed The Inhabitants of the City came to Lots house to see those strangers Lot said unto them I beseech you defile not your selves with my Guest fear God and dishonour not your selves behold my daughters take them They said we do not hinder thee to lodge thy guests and remained confounded in their drunkenness In the morning thunder surprised them we overthrew the City upside down and caused it to rain stones with fire that utterly destroyed it This shal serve for example to passengers that shal see those ruines and for a mark of the Omnipotency of God to them that shall believe in his divine Majesty They that inhabited the wood neer to Medina were impious but we avenged us on them they served for example to posterity as did the people of the City of Lot They that dwell in the Valley of He●ir have defamed the Prophets we gave them to see our Miracles and taught them our Commandements they contemned them but they reposed in the morning in their houses built upon the mountains and in their fortesses when thunder suprised them their treasures did not save them
and they were all destroy●d We created the heavens and the earth to be signes of the Truth and of our Unity The hour of Judgment approacheth absent thy self from thy self from thy people with mildnesse That is the Preface of the Alcoran containing seven vers●s thy Lord who created all things knoweth all We taught thee seven signs and the most precious Alco●an Tarry not to consider the divers sorts of riches which the wicked possess● affl●ct not thy self if they persist in their impiety Say unto them I preach none other thing but the word of God and the pains of hell We will chastise the wick●d as we chastised them that divided the Alcoran who approved one part and rejected the other I am thy Lord I will require of them an account of their actions preach what hath been commanded thee and depart from Infidels we will preserve thee from them that shall scorn thee as likewise from such as adore Idols I know that thou wilt be grieved at their discourse but praise and adore the Lord untill death CHAP. XVI The Chapter of the Bee containing an hundred and eight Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull See Gelaldin The chastisement of God is not far remote desire it not before its time praised be God he hath no companion he causeth the Angels to descend and sendeth his inspirations to whom it pleaseth him preach his power and the pains of Hell to unbelievers there is no God but he fear him he created the earth and the heavens he is more powerfull then your Idols and created man of the mire of the earth neverthelesse he is obstinate in his pride he created cleane beasts for your use you draw from them great emolument and advantage to cloth and nourish your selves yee see their beauty when they feed and and when they lead them to pasture they beare the burthen and whatsoever ye will send into Cities what ye cannot carry without them but with exceeding great travell God is gracious and mercifull towards you he created horses and mules and asses to beare you he created many glorious things of which you have not knowledge He teacheth them the right way who observe his Commandements had it pleased him he had guided all into the way of his Law He s●ndeth you water from Heaven to take away thirst and causeth plants to bring forth and trees that nourish your flocks he maketh the Olive trees to produce the Date trees Vines and all sorts of fruits These things are arguments of his Unity to such as consider them he created the night the day the Sun the Moone and the Stars that move at his pleasure these things are signs of his Omnipotency to them that are wise He created whatsoever is on Earth of divers colours kind and species he created the sea which affordeth you fish pearles and other precious stones to adorne you thou seest how the ships saile upon the waters and divide the waves for the advantage of commerce peradventure you will give God thanks for his favours He raised the mountaines to make firm the Earth and to hinder it to move he created the rivers and established way●s to guide you he made the Stars to conduct you by night upon the sea and the mountains to direct you in your way by day who but he could have creat●d what he hath made will you never consider it It is not in your power to keep account of his mercies he is altogether gracious and mercifull and knoweth the secret of your souls the Idolls that ye adore can create nothing but are things dead without motion and know not in what time the world shall rise again your God is one sole God such as believe not the end of the world such as deny his Unity and boast of their false beliefe are abhorred of his divine Majesty when they are interrogated concerning what God hath inspired into Mahomet they answered that he preacheth Fables of antiquity but they shall bear their burthen at the day of Judgement who have seduced them from the right way and have not known it They that were before them were deceivers God overthrew their habitations the ruines fell upon them and he chastised them when they least thought of it he sh●ll make them ashamed at the day of Judgement and shall demand of them where be the Idols for which they disputed against true-believers Such as have knowledge of Gods Commandements assure that shame shall be upon the foreheads of Infidels and that the Angels shall cause them to die because of the enormity of their sins They will say at the houre of death that they believe in God and are penitent for their faults God knoweth what they have done he shall command them to enter into hell where is the abode of the proud He shall command them who have his feare before their eyes to enter the house of Eternity and the gardens Eden wherein flow many rivers there shall they dwell eternally with the height of their desire Shall the wicked continue in their sin untill the Angels cause them to die or untill the day of Judgement Thus did their predecessors God was not unjust towards them they drew mischief on themselves through their iniquity they were chastised and felt the punishment which they had despised they have said had it so pleased God our fathers and we had adored him alone so spake their predecessors The Prophets are not obliged but to preach and instruct the people We sent a Prophet to every Nation to instruct it and to command the worship of one sole God and to quit the adoration of Tagot and of Idols God guided some into the right way and others were seduced consider what is the end of the wicked if thou indeavourest to put them into the right path thou shalt lose thy time God guideth not them that desire to erre they shall be deprived of protection at the day of Judgement they have sworne by their faith that God will not make the dead to rise againe but he shall cause them to rise againe to chastise them according to his promises but the greatest part of men doe not know it did they know it they would acknowledge their errors and the impious would acknowledge their blasphemies When we willed any thing we said be thou and it was They that depart from the wicked for the love of their Lord and shall convert themselves shall be rewarded in this world and yet more in the other had they knowledge to understand it Such as patiently endure the injuries of unbelievers and trust in their Lord shall be recompensed when they least think of it We heretofore sent but men to preach our Law ask of them that have knowledge of the written Law The Jewes and Christians if it be not true We have sent to them the Alcoran to the end thou maist instruct men in our Commandements peradventure they will consider it
The earth shall produce nothing to them that shall conspire against the Prophet they shall be chastised when they least think of it God shall afflict them in their commerce they shall not escape his punishment and their substance shall diminish by little and little before their eyes God is gracious and mercifull to them only that honour him See they not the shadow of that which God hath created sometimes at the right hand sometimes at the left to adore his divine Majesty they certainly are contemptible whatsoever is on the earth and in the heavens beast and Angels worship God with humility feare their Lord and obey his Commandements God hath commanded them to worship and to feare one God alone to whom obedience is due eternally whom will ye feare but God who but God shall protect you when evill befalleth you you have recourse to his divine goodnesse being delivered some of you give him thanks and yet believe not in his Law You seek only the riches of the earth but you shall see what shall be your end they say that their wealth proceedeth from their Idols by God! an account of their blasphemies shall be required of them they affirme that God hath daughters assuredly they deceive themselves and are not well satisfied when it is said to them that a daughter is born to them they fly such as declare to them the punishment of their sins God shall leave them in igmony and they shall be contemned as the earth which they trample under their feet because they believe not in the day of Judgement misery shall perpetually pursue them God shall command for ever and be eternally powerfull and victorious Should God chastise men when they offend he should leave no living creature upon the earth he deferreth their punishment untill the time appointed they can neither advance nor retard it they affirm God to have that which themselves are not satisfied to have they lye when they say that paradise is for them doubtlesse they are erroneous and shall be precipitated into the fire of hell By God! we have sent heretofore Prophets to the people the devill seduced men and was master of the wicked in this world but in the other they shall rescent great torments We have sent thee the Alcoran to cleare to men the doubts touching Religion and to guide true believers into the right way God sendeth raine from heaven to refresh the earth this is an evident signe of his omnipotency to them that heare his word ye have yet a token of his omnipotency in the beasts that give you milk to nourish you and another marke in the fruits of the earth in the fruits of Date trees and the Vines from which you extract wine and receive profit These things are signes of his omnipotency to such as comprehend them The Lord inspired the Bee to dwell in the fields to lodge in trees in Hives and to eat of all sorts of fruits it produceth honey of divers colours that serveth for a remedy to the diseases of men these things are signes of Gods omnipotency to them that consider them God hath created you and shall cause you to dye There be persons among you that shall be full of ignominy in their life to the end they may understand that God is omnipotent conferreth benefits on some more then on others Slaves have no part in the faculties of their Masters neither are they associate with them neverthelesse they associate to God another God equall to him and blaspheme against his grace God hath created you men and women hath given you Children and Children to your Children he hath enriched you with the riches of the earth Will you after this grace believe in your Idols which are things inanimate vaine and unprofitable Will yee bee ingratefull for the benefits of God Will yee Worship what can neither benefit not hurt you Believe not that there is another God companion and associate with God Hee knoweth what yee know not hee teacheth you a Parable A Slave that is poore cannot give Almes and he who is rich giveth almes secretly and publiquely as he seeth good are they both alike Ought they to be put in paralell Praise be to God Certainly the greatest part of men know not his graces he teacheth you a parable Behold two men the one was borne deaf and dumb and given in charge to his Guardian he knoweth not how to imploy him he is capable neither of doing nor speaking well is he like to him that speaketh that understandeth teacheth men Justice and followeth the right way Whatsoever is in Heaven or on Earth appertaineth to God when he commandeth any thing it is performed in the twinkling of an eye yea sooner he is omnipotent He it is that causeth you to come out of the wombe of your mother that giveth you hearing sight and sense perhaps ye will return him thanks See ye not the birds that flye in the Aire who sustaineth them but God It is an evident signe of his omnipotency for the True-believers he hath given you houses to inhabit and the skins and furres of beasts to cover you he hath given you their haire and wooll to furnish your houses and enrich you he created trees and clouds to overshadow you made the Mountaines and Caves to cover you from rain created garments to defend you from the heat of the Sun and the rigour of cold he hath accomplished his grace upon you peradventure you will resigne your selves to the will of his divine Majesty and professe his Unity If the unbelievers depart from the way of the Law thou art obliged only to preach to them intelligibly they know the grace of God and contemne it for that the greatest part of them are impious preach unto them the day wherein I will raise againe all the Nations of the world and the Prophets and Apostles who have preached to them my Commandements there shall be no excuse for Infidels neither shall they find protection or relaxation of their miseries When they shall behold their Idols they shall confesse that they were mislead they shall understand the unity of thy Lord and that their Idols are not able to intercede for them God hath added to the punishment of Infidels hath sent them evill upon evill because they hinder the world to follow his Law Preach unto them the day wherein I will cause to rise again all the Nations of the world with the Prophet who preached to them to be witness of their actions I will be witness against them of thy Nation I have sent thee the Book that unfoldeth the mysteries of my Law to guid the people into the right way and to declare the joyes of paradise to such as professe my unity God commandeth you to do only that which is reasonable he commandeth you to give almes and do good to your parents he forbiddeth whordom disobedience and injustice enjoyneth you to do good perhaps you will consider it Perform what ye have
promised to God break not promised faith ye call God to be witness of your promises hee knoweth all your actions Do not like the woman who spun a thred foulded it and afterwards entangled it and spoyled it believe not that there is deceit and error in your Law If the unbelievers be more in numbers then you God permitteth it to prove you he shall clear to you at the day of Judgement the doubts that be among you had it so pleased him you all had observed one and the same Law he guideth misleadeth whom it pleaseth him and will exactly require of you an accompt of your actions Believe not that there is deceipt in your Law take heed of stumbling having once confirmed your steps ye shall be severely chastised ●f ye seduce the people from the right way do not violate what ye have promised to God for any price his grace is of more advantage to you then the wealth of the earth had ye knowledge to understand it your wealth is perishable and the riches of heaven are eternall he shall recompence them that persevere in wel-doing and whosoever shall doe good works shall be blessed in this world and in the other When thou shalt read the Alcoran implore God to deliver thee from the malice of the Divell abominable to all the Creatures he hath no power over them that trust in his divine Majestie his power extendeth over such as go astray who obey not him and adore many Gods When we alter any precepts God well knoweth what he orda●neth they say thou art a lyar but the greatest part of them are ignorant Say unto them that assuredly the Holy Ghost hath taught it from thy Lord to confirme believers in their faith and to guide into the right way them that professe his unity and to anounce to them the joyes of Paradise I know that they will say that a man hath taught him the Alcoran He whom they presume to have taught him is a Persian by Nation and speaketh the Language of the Persians and the Alcoran is in the Arabique tongue full of instruction and eloquence They who will not believe in God shall suffer great torments such as renounce his Commandements blaspheme against his divine Majesty those that reject his Law after having professed it shall feel the effect of his wrath and be punished for preferring the wealth of the earth to the riches of Heaven God guideth not unbelievers They in whose hearts he hath imprinted disobedience those whom he hath deprived of hearing and sight are ignorant they doubtlesse shall be at the end of the world in the number of the damned he is mercifull to them that convert and repent to have mislead the people from the right way and persevere in obedience to his Commandements Be thou mindfull of the day wherein man shall dispute against himself and every one shall be rewarded according to his works without injustice God teacheth you a Parable Behold a free and Priviledged City on the which God poureth his graces on all sides with abundance and is ingratefull for his benefits but he sent upon it misery famine and feare because of its ingratitude God hath sent to the Inhabitants thereof a Prophet of their Nation they have slandered him and were chastised because of their sinne Eate of what God hath given you and give him thanks for his grace if it be he whom ye worship he forbiddeth you to eat of Carrion of Bloud and Swines-flesh and whatsoever is not slaine in pronouncing the name of God he will be gracious and mercifull to them who shall eat through necessity without designe to offend him Lye not in saying Behold that which is permitted to be eaten blaspheme not against God such as blaspheme against him shall not prosper in this world and in the ot●er shall suffer grievous torments We did heretofore prohibit the Jews to eat of what we have recounted to thee we did to them no injustice they drew mischief on themselves through their sinne thy Lord is gracious and mercifull to them that ignorantly offend him who convert and doe good works Abraham was obedient to God and professed his unity he adored not Idols and gave thanks to God for his mercies God elected and guided him into the right way he gave him wealth in this world and placed him in the other in the number of the blessed We have inspired thee to follow the Law of Abraham he professed the unity of God and adored not Idols he established the Sabbath among the Jews of which they dispute God shall judge their d●fference at the day of Judgement Call the people to the Law of God with prudence and preachings and dispute against them with good arguments God knoweth them that depart from the right way if they evilly intreat you intreat them as they shall intreat you if ye be patient patience is advantagious to them that take it willingly have patience for the love of God and afflict not your selves with the deportments and malice of the wicked God is with the righteous who have his feare before their eyes CHAP. XVII The Chapter of the Voyage by night containing an hundred and eleven verses written at Mecca Reader The Turks believe that this night of the Voyage Mahomet ascended into Heaven with the Angel Gabriel he was mounted on a white Burac which is a beast partly Mule partly Asse and partly Horse He saw all the Prophets that preceded him all the wonders of Paradise and saw God who sate on his Throne See Kitab el tenoir Tesfiir anf Giauhoir and the exposition of Gelaldin The Bedaoi intituleth this Chapter the Chapter of the Children of Israel IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull Praise be to him that caused his servant to goe in one night from the Temple of Mecca to the Temple of Jerusalem wee have blessed that Temple and whatsoever is about it in token of our omnipotency We gave to Moses the Old Testament to instruct the Children of Israel and to deterr them from the worship of any other God but of me to forbid them to adore the lineage of Noah or the lineage of them that we preserved in his Ark. To quit their saith and return to it of●en Noah is my creature and my servant acknowledging my benefits wee prohibited in Scripture the children of Israel to defile twice the Earth left they kindled too great a fire when that befell you See Kitab el tenoir we stirred up our servants against you and they entered by force into the midst of your houses this was as soon executed as promised In the end we gave you advantage over your enemies we gave you wealth and children to succor you and ye were more numerous then the Infidels the good and the evill that you shall doe shall be for your souls We stirred up the wicked against you because of your sins to afflict you through the murther and bondage of your persons and they destroyed
the Temple of Jerusalem as they had ruined it the first time Your Lord shall pardon you if you convert we have established Hell for a perpetuall prison of Infidels The Alcoran guideth the righteous into the right way it declareth to them a great reward preacheth to the wicked the torments of Hell and exhorteth men to wel-doing although they are inclining to evill and prompt to sin We created the day and the night they are two signes of our omnipotency we caused the night to passe away and the day to appeare for labor and to the end ye might know number of ages of months and of yeares wee explained our mysteries without obscurity and have enjoyned every one to beare the burden of his iniquities at the day of judgement that day will we make men to see the accompt of their sins they shall be recompen●ed and chastised according to the good and evill that they shall have committed and none shall beare burden of his neighbor we sent to the people Prophets and Apostles to preach to them our Commandements before they were chastised before the destruction of a City we advert●sed the principall inhabitants thereof when they disobeyed us we chastised them according to our word and destroyed them How many Cities have we ruined since Noahs flood The sins of the people and knowne to their Lord he giveth the riches of this world to them that desire them to cause them to fall head-long into Hell where they shall repent of their iniquities and be deprived of mercy He who shall labor to acquire the riches of Heaven shall be protected of thy Lord in this world and enriched with the Treasures of Heaven in the other Consider how we prefer our Creatures one to another the reward of Heaven is much greater then that of the Earth Believe not that there be two Gods otherwise you shall repent of it and be deprived of protection at the day of judgement Thy Lord hath ordained to worship him alone and to honour your father and mother especially in their old age and say nothing to them that may afflict them neither vex them speak to them with respect doe not contemne them pray to God to compassionate them as they pittied when they brought you up in your infancy God knoweth whatsoever is in your souls he will be mercifull to you if ye obey him Give to your parents what appertaineth to them doe good to the poore and to pilgrims be not prodigall the prodigall are brethren of the Devill ingratefull for the favors of their Lord. Contemne not the poore if ye desire to obtain the mercy of God speak to them with mildnesse and endeavour to content them doe not entirely shut your hands neither altogether extend them if yee doe otherwise yee shall offend Thy Lord giveth and taketh away his graces as seemeth good to him hee knoweth his people and understandeth all their actions Slay not your children for feare of necessity I will give whatsoever shall be necessary for them the murther of children is an exceeding great sin flie whoredom it is a thing uncleane kill no man without reason we have commanded to pursue him that shal have slain his neighbour but let not the heir sin maliciously prosecuting the innocent for the guilty The innocent is in Gods protection take not the goods of Orphans and be carefull of them untill they be in yeers of discretion satifie your promises an accompt shall be required of you measure with good measure and weigh with just weights Busie your selves not with that which you ought not to know There shall be required of you an accompt of the sins ye have committed in seeing hearing and thinking Be not proud ye shall never be so long as the Earth neither so high as the Mountains such sins are exceeding great before thy Lord It is one part of what he hath inspired into thee to preach to his people Say not there be two Gods left thou be confined to the fire of Hell Your Lord hath elected you with all those men and women that obey his Commandements for his sons and daughters as the Angels yet say not that God hath children We made mention in the Alcoran of whatsoever is necessary to be preached to the people say unto them If there be a God with God as ye affirme invok him that hath his Throne in Heaven praised be God he hath no Companion he is most high and great The seven Heavens praise him and all that is in Earth glorifie him but ye comprehend it not he is gracious and mercifull We will separate thee from the wicked we will harden their hearts and stop their ears When thou shalt read the Alcoran and say There is but one God they will turne the back and deride thee I know what they desire to heare they would have the people to hearken to the words of the unjust who say That thou art a Sorcerer and a Magician consider to whom they compare thee they certainly are in error and are not able to find the right way What! we are say they bones and flesh shall we rise againe and become new Creatures who shall cause us to rise again Say unto them Although ye be stone iron bones and flesh he who first created you shall raise you againe They shall shake the head at thee and ask of thee In what time they shall rise againe say unto them Peradventure it shall be suddenly When ye shall be called out of the graves by the Commandement of God ye will believe that ye have remained but very little time in the world then shall the Infidels confesse that the Devill hath deceived them and that he is their open enemy Your Lord knoweth you all he will pardon or chastise you as seemeth good to him We have not sent thee to be their guardian thy Lord knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth Certainly we gave graces to some Prophets which we gave not to others and we gave the Psalter to David Say unto the Infidels invoke the Idols which you adore and see if they are of power to deliver you from affliction They that implore God desire to be nigh unto him who are they that shall neerest approach his divine Majesty they who hope in his mercy or such as feare his punishment Certainly his punishment ought most to be feared We will destroy all the Cities of the world before the day of Judgement and chastise the wicked with rigorous torments this is written upon the Tables kept in heaven nothing hath hindred us to manifest the miracles which the inhabitants of Mecca desire to see but the contempt shewed by their predecessors Tenod saw the miracles of the Camell and contemned it I will no more shew miracles but to make the people to apprehend the torments of hell Remember thou that we have said to thee that thy Lord knoweth all that the world doth that which we gave thee to see in the voyage by
and powerfull then he and entred into his gardens being an Infidell and an Idolater and said I doe not think these shall ever have an end they shall endure a long time without withering His companion said to him If thou dost not ackowledge this to proceed from God and if thou be ingratefull towards him that created thee of dust and made thee a man thou shalt soon finde thy gardens ruined this commeth from God my Lord who hath no companion all strength and truth proceedeth from his divine Magesty If I have lesse of substance then thou God can give me fruits more faire then those of thy gardens or send thunder that shall destroy them he shall fill them with water of rain that shall encompasse them and hinder thee to approach them In the morning this Infidell found his gardens destroyed to the very roots he was extreamly perplexed by reason of the expence he had made to plant them eavenly and he said would to God I had not adored Idols He shall find none that is able to protect him at the day of Judgement but God all protection and grace issueth from his divine bounty and the end of the righteous shall be happy Speak unto them this parable the life of the world is like unto rain fallen from Heaven that refreshed and revived the herbs of the Earth and in the morning were drie as chaste carried away by the winde God is omnipotent Riches and children are the ornaments of this life but good works are eternall they are acceptable to God and give us hope of his grace Be thou mindfull of the day when the mountains shall walk and thou shalt see the Earth to be plain that day we assemble the good and the wicked and will not faile of my word to any person that day shall the Infidels beseech the Lord to save them he shall say unto them you came unto us naked as when we at first created you and ye believed on Earth that there was no resurrection Then shall he give to every one the Book wherein shall be written the accompt of their sinnes Thou shalt see the wicked trembling with fear saying behold here our destruction What is there in this Book It containeth their veniall and mortall sinnes and detecteth their offences they shall find the number of their crimes before their eyes Thy Lord is unjust to none Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to prostrate themselves before Adam and that they humbled themselves except the Devill who was in the number of Angels he disobeyed his Lord neverthelesse Adam and his posterity have obeyed him although he is their open enemy and particularly of the Infidels Consider ye not that God created Heaven and Earth that he made you and hath no need to be aided of you Be thou mindfull of the day when it shall be said to Idolaters call upon your Idols that ye have worshipped for remission of your sinnes they shall implore them but none shall hear their prayers we have ruined them the wicked shall behold the fire into which they shall fall and finde none to save them We taught men in the Alcoran many parables yet do the wicked abound in questions and dispute too much What hindreth men to believe since there is come to them a guide to conduct them into the right way If they beg not pardon of God what hapned to their predecessors and at Beder shall befall them they shall be visibly punished I send Prophets only to anounce the joyes of Paradise and to preach the torments of Hell the unbelievers dispute vainly to obscure the truth they deride my Commandements and the fire of Hell who is more unjust then hee who knoweth the Commandements of his Lord and disobeyeth him and forgetteth his past sinnes We have hardned their hearts they shall not understand the Scripture we have stopped their eares they shall heare nothing if thou callest them to the right way they shall not follow thee thy Lord is gracious and mercifull should he chastise them after their demerits he should forthwith destroy them he tarrieth untill the time that he hath promised to punish them and they shall finde none of power to protect them Wee have destroyed Cities when their Inhabitants have offended and we prefixed the day of their ruine Remember thou that Moses said to his servant I will travell incessantly untill I see a place where two seas meet although I travell an Age. When he came to that place hee and his servant forgot their fish he had taken his way through the Sea Having continued their voyage some time Moses was an hungry and demanded somewhat to eat of his servant who said to him Sawest thou what hapned at the Rock I have forgotten our fish the Devill made me to forget it he miraculously took his way through the Sea that Rock is the place which we seek they both returned on their stops discoursing together untill they came to that Rock where they found one of our servants on whom we had conferred our graces and inspired knowledge Moses said unto him permit me to follow thee that thou maist teach me knowledge and instruct me He replyed thou wilt not be able to abide patiently with me how wilt thou patiently endure to hear a thing which none in the world eve● knew Moses said thou shalt find me exceeding patient and I will not disobey thee He answered if thou follow me enquire nothing of me and hear only what I shall say to thee They went together and they being in a boat he brake a planck Moses said to him thou hast broken this vessell to drown us it is a strange thing He answered Did not I tell thee that thou wilt not be able patiently to abide with me Moses replied excuse me and afflict me not I had forgotten what thou didst enjoyne me They went on together untill they met with a child whom he slew Moses said to him thou hast slain an innocent that hath not slain any one thou hast done a thing without reason and that ought not to be approved He answered did I not say thou wilt not be able patiently to abide with me Moses said to him excuse me this time also if I demand ought else of thee abandon me They coninued their way unto a Village where the Inhabitants refused them bread at that time they found a wall ruined which he raised again Moses said unto him thou shouldst have been payed for repairing this wall if thou wouldest He answered now behold the place of our separation nevertheless I will explain to thee what thou we●t impatient to learn That boat belongeth to two poor men who labour on the sea to gain their subsistance I would have pierced it to preserve it to those poor men because there was an Infidell Prince who by force seized on the good vessels for his service That infant which I flew was an Idolater the son of a true believer a righteous man we
feared he might cause his father to sin and seduce him into his error and infidelity the Lord through his goodness would have him to be destroyed to deliver his father from his malice The wall appertaineth to two infant Orphans of this City there is under it a treasure that belongeth to them their father was a righteous man God through his goodness willeth that the treasure be preserved for them untill they attain to years of discretion he likewise willed me to do what I have done behold the exposition of what thou wert impatient to learn If any one enquire of thee concerning Alexander the great relate to them his History we gave him on earth what he desired he went as far as the West where he found a fountain guarded by a man who said to him O Alexander chastise men through the murther of their persons bondage and ransome he answered I will put to death unbelievers in this world and the Lord shall punish them in hell and the righteous shall enjoy the glory of Paradise I will tell the wicked that God hath given us what we have desired After this he continued his way untill he came to a place where the Sun riseth he found that it riseth in a countrey where they have nothing to shelter them from its heat the thing is so we taught Alexander how to shelter himself he followed his way untill he arrived between two mountains inhabited of a Nation that spake a Language which he could hardly understand they said to him O Alexander Jagog and Magog defile the earth canst thou put between them and us an obstacle to hinder that they may not come to us God said Alexander hath not given me means to do it but assist me with your power I will put between them and you a strong separation give me iron that can cut stones that I may build betwixt the two mountains and that I may fortifie the way that devideth them blow when the iron striketh the stones to ●indle fire and poure on m●lten brass to joyn the stones and iron together if they come they cannot pierce through the mountains neither find a way to come to you this is a favour which God conferreth on you his promises are infallible when the hour arriveth he is true in what hee promiseth we will permit them to mixe each with other we will assemble all of them when the Trumpet shall sound then will we open Hell to the wicked and to such as would neither see nor hear the Alcoran Do they imagine them that worship me to be their gods we have prepared hell to punish them Say unto them shall I relate unto thee what shall befall the damned their works shall be unprofitable in this world although they think to do well good works are unprofitable to them that contemn the Commandements of their Lord and believe not in the Resurrection they shall not want ballance at the day of Judgement hell shall be their habitation because they deride our Commandements and our Apostles and Prophets The righteous shall enjoy eternally the delight of Paradise without discontinuation If the sea were inke to write the wondrous works of my Lord it will sooner have an end then his miracles Say unto the Infidels I am a man like you God hath taught me that there is but one God he that believeth in the Resurrection studieth to do good works worship but one God who is without a companion CHAP. XIX The Chapter of Mary containing fourscore and eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God is the rewarder conductor of the righteous liberall wise true Zachery the servant of thy Lord remembred his grace when he in secret prayed to his Lord and said Lord my bones are become feeble and mine head is white with old age Lord I was never rejected in my prayers hear my petition give me a son to succeed me that may be mine heir heir of the lineage of Jacob and be pleasing to thee O Zachary I declare unto thee that thou shalt have a son named John no man hath yet been called by that name he said Lord how shall I have a son my wife is barren and I am too old It was answered him the thing shall be as I have said unto thee it is easie to thy Lord who created thee he said Lord give me some signe of the conception of my wife he said to him thou shalt not speak for three nights Then went he out of his Oratory and made signes to the people to make their prayers evening and morning Oh John See Kitab el tenoir learn the Scripture with affection We from his infancie gave him knowledge clemency charity piety affection towards his father and mother and not violence and disobedience We blessed the day of his nativity the day that he shall dye and the day that he shall rise again Remember thou what is written of Mary she retired towards the East into a place farre remote from her kindred and took a vaile to cover her we sent her our Spirit in forme of a man she was afraid and said God will preserve me from thee if thou have his fear before thine eyes hee said oh Mary I am the Messenger of God thy Lord who shall give thee a Sonne active and prudent She answered how shall I have a sonne without the touch of man I desire not to be unchaste he said The thing shall be as I have told thee it is facile to thy Lord thy sonne shall be a token of the omnipotency of God and of his speciall grace towards such as shall believe in his divine Majesty She became with child and retired some time into a place remote from people where she sustained the colours of Child-birth at the foot of a Date-tree and said why am I not dead wherefore am I not in the number of persons forgotten The Angell said to her afflict not thy selfe God hath placed a brook under thee shake the foot of this Palme and the Dates shall fall gather them up eat and drink and wash thine eyes say unto them that thou shalt meet that thou fastest and hast made a vow not to speak to any one untill thy fast be accomplished Her parents met her while she bare her Infant and said unto her oh Mary behold a strange thing oh sister of A●ron thy father did not command thee to doe evill neither was thy mother unchaste She made signes to her infant to answer them they said how shall the infant in the Cradle speak Then her infant spake and said I am the servant of God hee hath taught me the Scripture hath made me a Prophet blessed me in all places and commanded me to pray unto him hoe hath recommended to me purity through the whole course of my life and to honour my father and mother hee hath not made me either violent or malicious praysed shall be the day of my birth the day
continuance doe not unbelievers tremble when they consider how many men upon Earth we have destroyed in past Ages Their misery shall serve for example to them that are wise Had not thy Lord said that he will deferre the punishment of the wicked untill the time appointed he had already destroyed them Be patient and endure their discourse praise thy Lord before the Sunne arise before it setteth an hour before night and at the end of day thou shalt doe a thing acceptable to him The life of the world is sweet to tempt you but the riches of thy Lord are better and eternall Command the people to make their prayers at the time appointed and be not impatient towards them I require no riches of thee I will enrich thee and in the end Paradise shall be for the righteous The unbelievers have said if Mahomet sheweth not some racle from God and knoweth not the exposition of the books of our predecessors we will not believe in him We before his comming destroyed many wicked persons who said Lord hadst thou sent us a Prophet we had observed thy Commandements before we became infamous and laden with ignominie Say unto them every one expecteth his end expect ye and ye shall one day know them that follow the right way and have not erred CHAP. XXI The Chapter of the Prophets containing an hundred and twelve Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull The day approacheth wherein the people shall render an accompt of their actions but they consider it not and depart from the Commandements of God if they heare them they laugh they understand them not and keep secret their evill intention Is not Mahomet a man like to you Will ye say that he is a Magician you see the contrary God heareth whatsoever is spoken both in Heaven and Earth and knoweth all things They say certainly Mahomet hath dreamed what he speaketh he hath invented it and is a Poet we will not believe him unless he shew some miracle as did the Prophets that were before him We have layed waste many Cities because their inhabitants were incredulous we sent before thee but men who were inspired of us Enquire of them to whom heretofore was given the knowledge of the written Law if ye know it not they were men that did eat and drink and were mortal● we effected what we promised to them we preserved them with such as believed and destroyed the incredulous We have sent you a Book to instruct you will ye understand it How many Infidel Cities have wee made desolate How many new people have we established in their place When they felt our punishment they fled fly not and return to what hath delighted you return into your houses peradventure ye will yet cover the riches of the Earth They said misery is upon us we are too blame Thus did they talke untill they were destroyed We have not created Heaven and Earth and whatsoever is between them to sport with had it been our will that they should have scoffed on Earth they should scoffe likewise in Heaven On the contrary I oppose the truth to falsehood to confound it and in effect it doth confound it Misery shall be upon you because of your blasphemies whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods the Angels are not ashamed to worship him they prayse him day and night and exalt his glory without blasphemie The Infidels worship Gods made of Earth Have they power to create any thing Were there in Heaven and on Earth another God they would not accord praised be God Lord of the Universe what the Infidels relate is untrue Hee asketh no counsell when he will doe any thing as do men will they worship any other God but him Say unto them produce your arguments behold what we have to speak unto you behold our reasons and those of our predecessors Certainly the greatest part of them are ignorant of the truth and goe astray We inspired into all the Prophets which we sent that there was but one God that ought to be worshipped They said believe ye that the Angels are the sonnes of God Praysed be God on the contrary they are his creatures he loveth them they speak not but after him and obey what he commandeth them he knoweth all their actions past and future they pray for no man but through his permission and feare to displease him Who among them will say I am God instead of God he shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell thus doe I intreat unbelievers Know they not that the Heavens and the Earth were shut up We opened them and gave life to every thing through the raine which we made to descend will they not believe in my unity We created the Mountains to hinder the Earth to move we made therein wayes large and spacious for our Creatures we covered it with the Heaven and have exempted it from falling neverthelesse they despise our Commandement It is the Lord who created day and night the Moone and the Sunne all things praise and exalt him in Heaven we created no person to dwell for over on Earth all men shall taste of death I will prove you with good and evill and ye shall appeare before me to give accompt of your actions The Infidels scoffe at you when they see you and say behold them that deride our Gods They obey not the Commandements of God he created man of dust and shall shew you the effects of his omnipotency be not impatient to see the punishment of the wicked who say when shall be the day of judgement did they know it they would remove the fire from their backs and visages that day shall surprize them it shall astonish them when they thinke least of it they cannot retard it and shall be deprived of protection Certainly they scorned the Prophets that were sent before thee but they were punished after their demerits Say unto them who but the mercifull God preserveth you day and night neverthelesse yee reject his Commandements Have they any other God but me that is able to save them Their Gods cannot defend themselves I will not protect them yet will I enrich them as I enriched their fathers and will prolong their life to punish them on Earth Know they not that their estates diminish on all sides through thy Conquests Is it so that they are victorious Say unto them I preach to you what God hath inspired into me but the deafe heare not when they are exhorted When they are a little touched with the chastisements of God they say oh misery We are too blame and are unjust I will weigh their workes at the day of Judgement that I may doe injustice to no person of the weight of a grain of mustard-seed and will most exactly accompt We gave to Moses and Aaron the Book that distinguisheth good from evill and commanded them to preach our Commandements to them that had our feare before their eyes
That Booke is blessed and was sent from us neverthelesse unbelievers reject and condemne it We heretofore instructed Abraham in the right way and knew that he was a righteous man Remember thou that he said to his father and his people what Idols doe ye adore They said wee find that our Fathers adore● them he said unto them your fathers and you were exceedingly erroneous they said dost thou speak the truth or dost thou jeast He said Certainely your Lord is the Lord of Heaven and Earth I sweare to you that he created them Having convinced those Idola●er● he said by God I will make Warne upon your Idol● he broke them with an hatchet in their absence except the gr●atest Idoll on which he hung his hatchet and said peradventure they will accuse him to have broken the other Seeing at their returne their Idols broken they said who hath in this mannner handled our Gods He is impious we heard it is a young man named Abraham who derideth them bring him before the eyes of the people perhaps they shall find witnesses of his Action They said unto him oh Abraham it is thou that hast so abused our Gods he said on the contrary it is that great Idol They enquired of each other if those Idols spake and if they had motion afterwards they returned to themselves and said to the people ye are too blame to adore those Idols he threw them headlong against the ground and they said oh Abram thou well knewest that they spake not at all he answered why therefore doe ye worship what can neither benefit nor hurt you You defile your selves in adoring them instead of God doe ye not know him Then they said burne Abraham and let us defend our Gods if ye are righteous men but we commanded the fire to lose its heat to preserve Abraham They would have tormented him and we destroyed them we saved him as we preserved Lot we conducted him into the Land of blessing gave him Isaac and Jacob and the Children of their Children righteous men and True-believers to instruct the people in the way of Salvation wee inspired them to doe good workes to pray at the time appointed to pay Tithes and to worship us Wee gave to Lot prudence and knowledge and delivered him from the Inhabitants of the City who were the most vicious upon Earth we were gracious to him because he was righteous Remember Noah and that hee heretofore invoked us wee heard his prayer and delivered him from great danger and all that were with him in the Arke we delivered him from the hand of the wicked whom wee drowned Remember David and Salomon who rendred Justice in the field whereinto the flocks of the village entred by night without Shepheards wee are witnesse of their Judgements wee instructed Salomon in Justice we gave his prudence and knowledge the Mountaines adored us with David and with him the Birds praised us we were with them when they praised us We taught you the manner of sowing seed to preserve you from necessity peradventure ye will be thankfull to me We commanded the winds to obey Solomon and know all that he did The devils obeyed him they dived into the sea to fis●i for Gems for him and travelled also in other matters and we hindered them to act mischief against men Remember Job who prayed to his Lord and said I am in exceeding great affliction thou art the merciful of the merciful we heard him delivered him from his affliction gave to him our grace to his family to them that were with him who had patience and trusted in me Remember Ismael Enoch * Delcafel is Ely Delcafel Zachary they persevered in wel doing we gave them our grace because they were righteous Remember Jonas See the book composed by Abdel●a●y who forsooke his people in displeasure he beleived I could doe nothing against him but he cryed in the dark and said There is no God besides thee praised be thy name I am too blame for having offended thee We heard him and delivered him from his disaster Thus do I protect true-beleivers when they invoke me Remember Zachary who made his prayer● and said Lord I know there is no better heir in the world then thy self yet let me not dy without issue We heard his request gave him a son named Jon and rendred his wife fruitfull All these Prophets went on with alacrity to do well and invoked us with humility with desire to obtain our grace with fear of the torments of hel Remember Mary whose womb I blessed we inspired into her our Spirit gave her a Son a miracle in the world Your law is on onely law and I am one only God worship me be not impious ye all shal appear before me to be judged I will protect the true believers that shall have done good works wil write what they shall do for their reward M●sery is upon the Cities that we have ruined their inhabitants shall not return into the world untill the passage be opened to Jagog and Magog and they come running from the eminent places of the earth then shall the day of Iudgment approach the promised Truth shall not be far off it shall trouble the sight of the wicked Who shall say O misery We are miserable we did not foresee this disaster we have been excedingly too blame for having offended God It shall be said unto them ye worshipped instead of God the firebrands of Hell into which ye shall be cast headlong Had your Idols been Gods as ye beleived they should not have entred Hell they and those that have adored them shal be eternally damned they shall groan complain and shal not be heard Such as shall be in paradise shall be far remote from them they shall not hear their howlings and shall enjoy eternally what they shall desire the cryes of the damned shall not afflict them the Angels shall meet them when they come out of their graves and shall say Behold now the day that was foretold you in the world a day wherein wee will open the heavens and the book of the accompt of all men as we promised to your predecessors We exactly perform what we promise we have written in the Old Testament and afterwards in the Alcoran That the righteous shall inherit the Earth This Book shall teach the way to Paradise to them that shall worship mee We had not sent thee but in favour of men say unto them God hath alwayes inspired into me that your God is one God will ye not obey him If they go astray I have taught you how they must be intreated Say unto them I know not whether the punishment denounced to you shall be speedy or tardy God knoweth what is known and unknowne in the world I know not whether he will try you or defer his punishment untill the time appointed He is a most just judg and most mercifull he is not such as ye speak him
CHAP. XXII The Chapter of Pilgrimage containing seventy and seven Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull O ye people fear God The Earthquake that shall happen at the day of Judgment shall be wonderfull ye shall that day see mothers forget their children and every one shall bear his own burden ye shall see men drunk not with Wine but amazed and astonished at the great j●dgments of God There be who dispute of the Deity with ignorance and follow the will of the Devill voluntary and obstinate It is written he shall seduce them that obey him and shall conduct them into Hell O ye people if ye doubt of the Resurrection consider how we created you of the dust of the Earth with a little water sprinkled upon the dust with congeaied blood and a little flesh intirely and not intirely formed I form in the Wombs of Women what seemeth good to me at the time appointed I cause you to come forth children then I give you life and make you to arrive to the age of virility some die young and others live to extremity of age to the end they may learn to live well Consider the Earth dry dead and barren when we shall cause rain to fall it shall change the face shall produce and nourish its fruits of all sorts ●air and pleasing Because God is truth it selfe he raiseth again the deed and is Omnipotent There is no doubt but the day of Iudgement approacheth and that God will cause the dead to rise again There be men that dispute of God without knowledge without reason without authority and go astray from the way of his Law they shall be ful of ignominy and shame in this world and shall feel in the other the pains of Hel. God doth no injustice to his people There be who adore him with scruple if good befall them they persevere to adore him if evill they returne to their impiety and l●se the riches of Earth and the riches of Heaven These tw● losses are exce●ding great they invok Idols instead of God they invoke what can neither benefit nor hurt them Such prayers are by-ways far remote from the Commandements of God they worshi● that which doth rather mischief nor advantage them Certainly God shall make the True-believers that do good works to ●nter into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers he doth w●at seemeth good to him He that is angry that God giveth succour and protection to Mahomet in this world See KITA BEL tenior and in the other let him tye a cord to a beam of his house and hang himselfe he shall see if his choller will be allayed God hath sent the Alcoran as heretofore he sent the other Scriptures it containeth his Commandements clear and intel●igible it guideth into the right way whom it pleaseth him He at the day of Judgement shall judge the differences that are betweene the faithful Infidels between the Samaritans the Christians and Idolaters he is omniscient Seest thou not that all that is in Heaven and on Earth the Sun the Moon the Stars the Mountains Trees and Beasts adore him Many worship him with zeal but many likewise merit to be punished None shall esteem him whom God shall despise he doth as seemeth good to him These two contrary parti●● the Believers and the Infidels have disputed of the Deity but the Infidels shall be encompassed with flames of Hell they shall have shirts of fire boyling water shall flow in upon their heads the fire shall burn what is in their bellies shall roast their skin they shall be beaten with clubs of Iron when they think to go out of this fire they shall enter further into it and be eternally tormented God shal cause the True-believers that have don good wo●ks to go into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers they shall be adorned with bracelets of Gold and Pearls they shall be clothed with Silk and enjoy eternall felic●ty because they have professed his Unity and the Infidels shall suffer great torments for that they have hindred the people to imbrace t●e Faith and visit the Temple of Mecca which God hath establis●ed to be therein adored of all the world He that sha●l be solicited to visit it and shall enter it with ●●●●gn to return to his impiety shall be severely punished Remember that we shewed to Abraham the place to build the Temple of Mecca that we commanded him to adore me alone and to purge my Temple from Idols for the satisfaction of them that should there make processions Men shall come thither to visit thee from all parts on foot and on horse-back they shall receive profit they shall there make there prayers at the times appointed and the days nominated they shall thank the Lord for his benefits towards them and the riches which he hath giv●n them and shall make likewise processions at the old Temple He that shall reverence it shall do exceeding well and shall be recompenced of his Lord. It is lawfull for you to eat of all clean Beasts except of such as have been heretofore prohibited Depart from the pollution of Idols beware of bearing false witnesse and be obedient to God He that saith God hath a Companion is like to him that fell head-long from Heaven whom the Birds devoured and the wind cast into a remote place full of miseries He that shall reverence the signes of the power of God will not doubt of his Law and shall be rewarded for his good works at the time appointed If he visit the old Temple of Mecca We have given to all Nations of the world a Law to offer their Sacrifices and to return thanks to their Lord for having given them advantage above all sorts of Beasts Your God is one God obey his Commandements proclaim a great reward to them that are obedient to him to them that tremble ●ith fear when they hear mention of his name that are patient in their adversity that pray at the time appointed and dispence in alms some part of the wealth that we have given them We have created the female Camel for a sign of our unity she shall be profitable to you in this world Remember to pronounce the name of God when ye shal sacrifice her standing on her feet when she shall fall dead on the ground eat of her flesh if it like you give to eat to such as shall require it We have made her subject to you The Pilgrims Sacrifice a Cammel at MECCA pera●venture ye wil be thankful to me for this grace God promoteth before him neither the flesh of this Beast nor the blood but only the good works that ye perform He hath thus subjected it That ye may exalt it and give him thanks for having guided you into the right way Proclaim to the righteous That God will remove far from them the malice of the wicked he abhorreth Traytors and the ingratefull Declare to such as fight against Infidels to repair the injury
wicked will depart from the obedience which he oweth to God Make your prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and obey the Prophet God shall give you his mercy Beleive not that the Infidels are more powerfull on Earth than We they shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell O ye that are True-beleivers your slaves and servants of Free-condition shall require leave of you to enter where ye shall be thrice viz. Before the prayer at break of day after noon and after supper they shall not offend in entring without leave where ye shall be at another time they enter there to serve you In this manner doth God teach you his Commandments he knoweth the humor of his Creatures and is most prudent in all that h● ordaineth It is ordained to your children when they shall be at age of discretion to demand of you permission to do what they shall desire as did your pred●cesso●s Thus doth God teach you his Commandments he is gracious and mercifull The old and d●cr●pit women shall not offend God to quit their vails and discover their faces provided it be without vanity and design to shew their ornaments If they abstain they shall do well God hea●eth whatsoever ye say and knoweth all that is in your he●rts The blinde the lame the sick See Kitab el tenior and you also shall not sin to eat in the house of your children at the house of your Father and Mother brothers sisters Vncles Aunts Friends and in the house of your servants ye shall not offend God if ye eat together or apart When ye shall enter into any house salute each other from God with blessing and affection Thus doth God teach you his Commandments peradventure you will learn them When those that believed in God and his Prophet repaired to the Prophet they retired not without his permission Such as required leave to depart believe in God and his Prophet if they require leave of thee for any businesse licence whom shall seem good to thee and p●ay to God for them See Kitab el tenoir he is gracious and mercifull Call not the Prophet as ye call one anothe● among you God knoweth such as shame ully depart out of the Temple and the French Such as disobey his Commandments ought to take he●d least some mischiefe befal them and that they suffer not great tormen●s Whatsoever is in the Heavens or on Earth is Gods he knoweth if ye are zealous in your faith See Gelaldin or be hyp●crites ●e knoweth the day wherein a●l th● wor●● shall be assembled bef●re him to be j●dged ●n th●● d●y shall men see what what they have done he knoweth all things CHAP. XXV The Chapter of the Alcoran containing seventy and seven Verses wrinten at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful praised be he that sent the Alcoran to his servant to instruct the world he is King of the Heavens and Earth he hath no Son nor Companion in his rign he created and ordained every thing The Infidels worship Gods that can create nothing and are things created they can neither do them good nor evil they can give neither life nor death neither cause them to rise again They say that the Alcoran is but a fable of thine invention invented with the assistance of some other person but they lye and blaspheme They say that it is but an old Song and a fable of the Ancients that thou writ●st and that thou studiest morning and evening Say unto them it was sent by him that knoweth all ●hings in Heaven and Earth alt●gether gracious and mercifull They said wh● is this Prophet He eateth bread and meat and walketh th●ough the streets we will not beleive him unlesse an Angell descend from heaven to preach to us with him unles that Angel enrich him and that he have a Garden full of good and savory fruits he is but a wizard or one possesed of the Devil Consider to what they compare thee certainly they are in error and cannot find the right way Praise and bless him that is able to bestow on thee a greater good when it shall seem good to thee to wit Gardens wherein flow many Rivers and houses of pleasure They have denyed the certainty o● Universall Judgment and we have prepared the fire of Hell to punish them wrath shall carry them away with terrible cryes when they shall behold the place of the assembly of judgment when they shall there appear they shall be desperate and shall cry O misery Cry not O misery cry O mis●ries in the Plu●al ask of them which is better and more advantagious that or paradise which is prepared for the recompence of the righteous where they shall dwell e●ern●lly with al manner of felicity this is it that God hath prōised that which was impetrated of his divine Majesty for them that have his fear be●or their e●es I wil one day ass●mble I dolate●s with their i●●ls God shall say unto them you are they who have seduc●d my creatures from the right way They shall say praised be thy name we ought to have worshipped non● but thy divine Majesty but the weal●h that thou gav●st to our Magistrates and their life which thou did prolong caus●d them to fo●get thy Commandment● they were pernicious men in that they a●jured thy Law they cannot this day be exempt from the punishment of our crim●s neither protect us against thy wrath The Idolaters shall be rigorously punished The Prophets that we sent bef●re thee did eat bread and meat and walked through the streets we prove them one after another Persevere God beholdeth them that are patient Those that beleive not in the R●sur●ect●on have s●id The Angels are n●t ●escended from Heaven we have not seene G●d they are become proud and are fallen into an exceeding great error but the wicked shal one day be without comf●rt when they see the Angel they shal cry help help We will set before their eyes all the sins that they have commi●ted the good works which they shal think to hav● do● shall be like to dust which the Winde carryeth away and the blessed shall enjoy a most certain good they shall hear of nothing but what contenteth them When the Heaven and the aire shall divide themselves and the Angels shall descend then shall the truth appear and the mercifull shall raigne that day shall be tedious to Infidels they shall bite their fingers and sa● would to God I had f●llowed the Prophet and his Apostle Oh misery would to God I had not contracted amity with such an Infidell he seduced me from the right way he hind●ed me to beleive in the A●coran which God sent certainly the Devill hath tempted men Then shall the Prophet say Lo●d such as have followed me have obe●ed what is written in the Alcoran and the Infidells have rejected it we have appointed an enemy among the wicked to every Prophet of them that were before thee but it
sufficeth thee that God guideth and protecteth thee The Infidels have dema●ded it the Alcoran was sent all at once I have so done to confirme the truth in thy heart I have sent it piece by piece they shall not shew thee any thing like unto it I have instructed thee in the truth clear and intelligible the incredulous shall be confined in the fire of Hell and be most miserable Certainly We gave to Moses the book of the Law we sent with him hi● brother Aaron to assist him and said unto them Goe bo●h of you p●each unto Infidells we will destroy them unless they be converted When the people of Noah despised our Commandment we drowned them and made them sure for example to posterity and prepared great torments for the impious Remember Aad T●mod and those that dwelt nigh unto the well a long time af●er them we spake to them in parables and destroyed them Oh ye wicked consider the misery of t●e City upon which fell that mischievous rain that destroyed them because the Inhabitants believed not in the Resurrection When the Infidels saw thee appear they d●●ided thee and said This Prophet would seduce us and make us to abandon our God We had patience and deferred our punishment they shall know at the day of Judgement them that have bin seduced Hast thou considered the action of him that spake of his God after his fantasie Wert thou his Tutor to hinder him to speak Dost thou believe that the greatest part of the wicked heare and understand what thou speakest to them They are like beasts and worse Seest thou how thy Lord sheddeth the Rose were it his will it should be permanent the Sun hath caused it to melt and attracteth it gently to himself He it is that created the night for repose and the day for labour He it is that sendeth the winds by his special grace he maketh rain to descend from Heaven to refresh the Earth to give it life to water the beasts and for the contentment of men we have divided it among them that they may be mindful of our grace nevertheless the greatest part of them are ungratefull Had we so pleased we had sent to every City a Preacher to preach unto the Inhabitants the torments of hell obey not Infidels preach to them frequently what is written in the Alcoran It is God that hath sweetned the water of Euphrates that joyned the two Seas that made them fa●t and put between them a separation to hinder them to mix He created man and woman of a little water to increase multiply together thy Lord can do whatsoever him pleaseth yet do the Infidels adore what can neither hen● fit nor hurt them and assist the Devil their master to tempt the world We sent thee only to pr●ach the torments of hel to proclaime the joyes of Paradise Say unto them I require not of you a reward for my preaching he that shall be acceptable to God will follow the way of his Law Praise and exalt thy Lord trust in him he knoweth all the sins of men he created the heavens and the earth in six days and sitteth on his Throne learn this of him that knoweth it When it w●s s●id to the Infidels worship the merciful God they s●id what merciful shal we worshipp what ye appoint us and they added to their impiety Blessed be he that created the signs of heaven that created the Sun and the Moon ful of brightnesse light and hath made the days to succeed each other to returne him thanks for his graces The servants of the mercifull that walk with humility that salute the ignorant when they speak to them Such as pray to worship God day and night such as say Lord deliver us from the torment of hell those that fear God that are not prodigall nor covetous that folow the middle way betwixt prodigality and avarice those that worship one God that kill no man but with reason and following the Commandments of God and that are not luxurious shall injoy eternally the grace of God such as do the contrary shal be chastised their punishment shall be augmented at the day of Iudgment and they shall be damned for ever except him that shal be converted and shall have don good works God shal give him pardon of his sins he is gratious and mercifull They who do good works and repent who make no false O●th who are humble and are not wilfully deaf dumbe when they heare the Alcoran read and say Lord give us and our posterity children that may be the light of our eyes and be obedient to thee work in us a fear to disobey thy Commandements such persons shall enjoy eternally the delights of Paradise for reward of their perseverance they shal there find salutations and benedictions with immense graces Say unto the wicked God will not enlighten you neither hearken to your prayers because yee have traduced his Prophet the time of the punishment of your c●imes shall suddenly arrive CHAP. XXVI The Chapter of Poets containing an hundred and twenty seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull God is most pure he understandeth all things he is most wise These signs are the signs of the book that distinguisheth truth from falshood wilt thou destroy thy self because men are impious If I will I can cause my judgments to discend upon them that shall humble them they dispise my Commandments they scoffe but shall be rigorusly punished see they not how many fruits we have made to spring out of the earth It is a token of our omnipotencie nevertheless the greatest part of them believe not that thy Lord is the omnipotent the merciful Instruct them how thy Lord said unto Moses thou shalt be my Messenger to the Infidels and the people of Pharoah that they may have my fear before their eyes Moses slew an Egyptian Moses said Lord I fear they may traduce me and that my tongue cannot be loosed send with me my brother Aa●on they know the fault I have committed and will put me to death The Lord said to him they shall not put thee to death go both whither I command you I wil be with you will hear what they say say to Pharoah that ye are the M●ssengers of the Lord of the world and let him dismiss with you the children of Israel Pharaoh said unto Moses have I not seen thee within this house a little childe Didst thou not dwell with us many years Didst thou not kill a man thou art impious Moses said I did what I did I was in the number of the seduced I fled when I feared you since that time God hath given me knowledg and placed me in the number of his Prophets and Apostles he hath sent me his grace to set before thee the evill that thou dost commit in causing thy selfe to be adored of the children of Israel Pharoah said unto him who is that God of the
world he answered it i● the Lord of Heaven and Earth and of whatsoever is between them Pharoah said to them that were about him Hear ye not what he saith Moses continued his speech and said my Lord is your God the God of your Fathers and of your predecessors Pharoah said this Prophet that is sent to you is a fool Moses said I am indeed the Mess●●ger of the Lord of the West and East if ye had understanding to know him Pharoah said if thou worship any other God but me I will cause thee to be put unto the bottom of a pit Moses said to him wilt thou do it seeing I am come to thee with reasons so strong and arguments so infallible Pharoah said unto him bring thy reasons if thou art true Then he cast his staffe on the ground and it was changed into a Serpent he drew hi● hand out of his bosom it appeared white and shining to the eyes of the spectators Then said Pharoah to them that were about him certainly behold here a skilfull Magician he would drive you from your Countrey through his magick What say ye They answered he with his brother must be terrified and men must be sent into all thy Cities to assemble the most knowing Magicians of all thy Dominions when they came together at the day appointed it was demanded of them if they were called to follow the magick of Moses and of Aaron They said what shall be our reward if we be victorious Pharaoh said unto them yes ye shall be rewarded and be among them that approach my person Moses said unto them wil you cast your staves on the ground or shal I first cast mine They cast th●ir cords ●heir staves first saying with the assistance of Pha●aoh we shall be victorious then Moses cast his rod on the ground w●h devoured their cords staves when they beheld this miracle they fel prostra and said we beleive in the Lord of the world God of Moses and Aaron Pharoah said to them if ye beleive in Moses without my permission ye shall see what shall befall you he is your Master he understandeth Magick better than you I will cause your right feet and left hands or your right hands and left feet to be cut off and cause you all to be hanged they said this shall do us none harm we shal return before God our Lord we hope that he wil remit our sin● because we shal be the first converts We said unto Moses goe with Israel my servants and fear not the people of Pharoah that shall follow thee Pharoah sent his Commissioners through his Dominions to assemble the people and said speaking of the children of Israell those men are few in number they have displeased me but I will wel awake them We moved Pharoah and his people to depart out of Egypt to pursue the children of Israel we caused them to quit their gardens fountaines and houses of pleasure and made the children of Israel heirs of their trea●ure they surprized them at the rising of the Sun when the children of Israel beheld them they said we are ov●taken Moses answered no my Lord is with me he shall guide me then we inspired Moses to strike the sea with his Rod incontinently it divided it self on both sides like two mountains we saved him and all that were with him and drowned the men of Pharoah which shall serve for an example to the incredulous and obstinate the Lord is omnipotent and mercifull Relate to unbeleivers the History of Abraham when he said to his father and his people whom do ye adore they answered we adore our Idols he said unto them do they hear you when ye invoke them do they do good unto you when ye worship them or mischeif when ye neglect them they answered we find that our fathers worshipped them as we do Abraham said unto them you and your fathers worship vain things ye adore only Idols mine enemies I will not worship them I will worshipp the Lord of the world who created guideth and nourisheth me who giveth me health when I am sick who maketh me to live and will cause me do dye and from whom I hope for pardon of my sins at the day of Judgement Lord give me the knowledg of thy will grant that my tongue and words may be credited as true by posterity put me into the number of the heirs of Paradise pardon my Father who hath bin in the number of the Erroneous and make me not ashamed at the day of the Resurrection at the day when riches and children shall be u●profitable except to such as shall have an heart estranged from impiety God shall make the righteous to approach to Paradise and the wicked to see hell they shall say can the Idols that ye adore save you can they save themselves They shall be with you their adherents and the devils thrown headlong into the fire of hell The Idolaters shall despute in hell with them whom they have worshipped and shall say by God we were abu●ed when we adored you the wicked seduced us we have none this day to intercede for us neither friend to protect us could we return into the world we would believe in the Law of God this discourse shall be for example to the wicked that believe not that thy Lord is the Omnipotent and mercifull The people of Noahs time slandered the Apostles and Prophets that were sent to them N●ah th●ir brother said unto them fear God I am his Messenger sent to preach unto you fear God and obey him I ●equi●e no recompence for my Instructions God the sole Lord of the world shall reward my labours fear and obey him They said shall we believe in thee and thy followers who are infamous He said I know not what they do my Lord k●epeth accompt of their actions if ye knew ●he right way ye would not worship Idolls I drive not true believers from my society I am sent only to preach the torments of Hell They said O Noah if thou quit not this discourse thou shalt be stoned Noah said Lord this people is impious judge our difference deliver me from their malice and all true believers that are with me We preserved him and those that were with him in the A●k and destroyed them that remained on the Earth This is an Evidence of our Omnipotency yet the greatest part of Infidels believe not that God is omnipotent and mercifull The people of Aads time traduced the Apostles and Prophets that were sent unto them Hod his brother said unto them fear God I am his Messenger sent to preach unto you with fidelity Fear God and obey him I require of you no recompense of my preaching the Lord of the Universe shall abundantly reward me Will ye build Towers and lofty Pallaces as if ye should dwel eternaly in the world Will ye be cruel without compassion on your selvs fear God and obey him fear him who giveth you his grace
is in this fire and whatsoever is about it is blessed praise is due to God Lord of the Vniverse I am God omnipotent and eternall Cast thy staffe on the ground When Moses beheld his staffe to move as it had been alive He went back very sorrowfull and returned no more Feare not that staffe my messenger and my Prophets have no fear in my presence he that shall be converted shall finde me gracious and mercifull Put thine hand into thy pocket it shal come forth white without harm it shal be one of the nine marks of my omnipotency Pharoah and his Ministers were altogether erroneous when they saw my Miracles they said that th●y were but sorcery they disposed them and increased their impiety Consider what is the end of the wicked and how they have been destroyed we gave knowledg to David to Solomon they said God who hath gratifyed us above many of his servants that have beleivd in his omnipotency Solomon was Davids heire and said to the people we understand the Language of birds we know whatsoever can be known it is an exceeding great grace Solomons Army being one day assembled before him composed of men Devils and birds he lead them to the valley of Pismires a Pismire their Queen cryed out oh Pismires enter into your houses least Solomon and his troups trample you under foot without knowledge of it Solomon hearing these words remained sometime without speaking and in the end began to laugh saying Lord assist me that I may give thee thanks for the benefits and graces which thou didst conferr upon my Father If I do well thou wilt accept it place me through thy mercy in the number of them that exalt thy glory He called for the † A Bird so called Whoope and said wherefore see I not the Whoope is she in the number of the absent I will punish and put her to death if she have not a l●●●●ll excuse not long after she humbled her selfe before Solomon who asked her whence she came she answered I come from seeing what thou seest not I come from the Kingdom of Saba whence I bring certain tidings I have found a woman their Queen who hath whatsoever is necessary for a King she hath a great and magnificent Thron I have found that she with her Subjects adore the Sun the Devill caused them to delight in this their Action he hath seduced them from the right way and they shall be in Error untill they worship one God who sendeth rain from Heaven maketh the earth to produce plants and fruits who knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men and what they utter God! There is but one God Lord of the Vniverse Solomon said I shall soon see if thou speak truth or whither thou be in the number of the lyars goe bear to her this letter and obs●rve what she and her people shall answer At her arivall the Queen said to her Ministers Oh ye that are raised to dignity in my dominions a Letter is given me from Solomon of this tenour In the name of God gracious and mercifull rise not up against me and obey me Give me counsell what I ought to do I will do nothing without your advice and what you see not with your eyes They answered Our welfare and misery depend on thee command whatsoever shall seem good to thee and we will obey thee She said When Kings enter a City they introduce many disorders they abase and humble the chiefe of the Inhabitants and the most eminent if Solomon his people come hither they will use us in the like maner I think it requisit to send to him an Ambassador with some presents perhaps he will take a resolution to return When the Ambassador arrived in Solomons presence he said unto him Do ye bring me presents God hath bestowed on me more riches then on you presents rejoyce you because ye love them Return to them that sent you I will go visit them with forces so great that they shall not be able to resist I will drive them out of their dominions and they shall be miserable if they obey me not Then he said to his people Sits who will bring to me the Royall Seat of that woman before she and her subjects obey me One of the Devils said unto him I I will bring it before thou arise from thy place I am strong enough to bear it I will carry it carefully One of them that attended S●lomon Gelaldin saith he knew the name of God who knew the Scriptures said I will bring it to thee in the twinkling of an eye When Solomon beheld this Throne before him he said Behold here a favor of God to try if ● would acknowledg his benefits He that returne●h thanks to God for his graces performeth his duty he rejecteth him that is ingratful I will try if she followeth the right way or whether she be in the number of the seduced They changed something in her Royall seat to try if she would know it when she arrived in Solomons presence At her arrival they shewed it her and asked if it resembled her own she replyed It resembleth it This Quee was called Balkis as if it were the same She had knowledge of the right way but that which the people and she adored instead of God had seduced them from the obedience of his divine Majesty They spake to her to enter into a gallery See Gelaldin when she beheld the pavement she believed it to be water and in lifting up her robe fearing to wet it discovered her Legg Solomon told her that the pavemen● was of pollished glass and exhorted her to embrace the Law of God Then she said Lord I am too blame in having offended thee I am obedient with Solomon to the Commandments of the God of the Universe We sent Salhe to Temod his people to exhort them to worship one God he said unto them O people flye to the mercy of God if ye implore pardon of him ye shal be pardoned They said wouldst thou draw us into thine error into the erro● of them that are with the● He said God shall chastise you ye are seditious They were nine persons in the City that def●led the earth and did no good they said among them Let us this night kill the Prophet and his adherents we will say to them that seeke him That we saw him not neither them that slew him and will swear that we speak truth They were cunning but we were more subtle then they and they knew it not Consider what was the Issue of their stratagems we destroyed them with their followers and their houses are become desart because of their impiety This shall serve for example to them that have knowledge of Our omnipotency We served the Proph●t and all the True-beleivers that were with him Remember then the History of Lot who said to his Citizens Will ye alway defile your selvs in uncleannesse in
had before prohibited Moses to suck the milk of any other nurse then that of his mother his sister said to Pharoahs servant wil ye that I provide you a nurse and people that shall carefully nourish him We caused him to be restored to his mother to nurse him she ceased from her sadness when she knew and saw that God was sincere in what he had promised but the greatest part of the people know it not When Moses was aged about thirty three years we gave him knowledge and wisdom thus do I reward the righteous Moses entring one day into the City met two men that fought the one was of the Children of Israel and the other was an Egyptian and of his enemies whom he assaulted and slew after this he said the Devil tempted me he is the open enemy of men Lord I have offended thee pardon me he pardoned him he is gracious and mercifull Lord since thou hast bin so gracious to me I will never give aid or succour to Infidels He continued in the City with fear and kept himself upon his guard on the mor●ow he again met him whom the day before he had defended who sought likewise ●ith another Egyptian required his assistance Moses said unto him thou art seditious he replyed oh Moses wilt thou slay me as thou didst slay him yesterday Wilt thou be a murtherer of all men or a just man Not long after a man came in hast to him from the utmost part of the City who said unto him oh Moses the Officers of Pharoah have conspired against thee they desire to put thee to death save thy self and follow my councell He departed from the City with fear keeping himself upon his guard beseeching his Lord to deliver him from the hands of Infidels he went towards M●adian and said Lord suffer me not to folow an evil way he met a great number of persons that made their flocks to drink he with them found 2 maids that could not water their Cattel he said unto them what do ye two here VVe have not strength to draw water to give our beasts to drink we tarry for the Shepheard our father is too old to draw it He drew water out of the well to water their Cattell and withdrew to a shade because of the heat of the Sunne saying Lord I am deprived of all the graces which heretofore then didst confer on me I ●m now poor and nec●ss●●●us One of those maidens came to seek him bashfully said unto him my father calleth thee to recompence thee for the pains thou hast taken in watering our catle when he was in the old mans presence he related what had befaln him The old man said fear nothing I wil deliver thee from the hands of the wicked one of his daughters said to her sister give to this man to eat reward his pains he assisted us with affection their father said unto him I wil marry thee to one of my two daughters on condition that thou wilt have a care of my flocks the space of eight years ten years if it please thee said Moses I will not forsake thee thou shalt find me an honest man I wil serve thee the two terms either 8. or 10. yeares as shall seem good to thee God is witnesse of what I say After the term expired Moses forsook the house of his father in law withdrawing with his wife he beheld affar off a great fire on the side of the mountain and said to his Wife tarry here I see the fire of the omnipotent I will speedily return I will bring you a spark peradventure you shall be warmed when he drew near to this fire they cryed unto him from the right side of the valley from an eminent place and from a bush O Moses I am God Lord of the Universe cast thy staffe on the ground when he beheld his staffe to move as it had bin alive he fled for fear and returned no more O Moses draw near and fear not thou art in a place of safety put t●ine hand into thy pocket it shall come out white shining without harm draw back thine arm into thy sleeve it shall return to its former condition thy staffe and thine hand shall be two signs of my Omnipotency to Pharoah and his Ministers who disobey my Commandments Moses said Lord I have s●ain an Egyptian I am afraid they will take away my life command Aaron who is eloquent to go with me to aid me to confirm what I shal say I f●ar they wil traduce me I wil give thee thy Brother for thy assistant I wil give to you both strength to defend your selvs from their malice go do what is commanded you ye shall be victorious and all those that shal follow you when Moses came to Pharoah he made him to see my miracles preached my Commandments to his Ministers they said this is bu● magick and witchcraft we have not heard these things to have bin spoken to our predecessors Moses said the Lord knoweth him that teacheth the right way and him that ought to have part in Paradise Infidels shall be most miserable Pharoah said to his Ministers do ye know any other God but me O Haman let me offer sacrifices and build a Temple shal I deceive myself with the God of Moses I believe him to be in the number of lyars He b●came proud on earth with his Ministers they b●lieved that they should never be assembled before me to be judged we surprized him with his people and caused him to perish in the Sea consider what is the end of unbelievers we abandoned them and they are in the number of the condemned to the fire of hell They shall finde none to protect them ●t the day of Judgment we cursed them on earth and at the day of the Resurrection they shall be abominable to all the world We taught Moses our Commandments after the destruct●on of many Infidels before his coming We gave him the Book to be a light to the people to conduct them into the right way and acquire our grace peradventure they will remember Thou wert not with Moses when we spake to him we created another age after him thou didst not at that time dwell with the Inhabitants of Madian neither didst thou ●each them our Commandments it is we that have instructed thee in the History of past ages thou wert not on the mountain when when spake to Moses we sent thee through our special grace to preach to men the torments of Hell they have not yet had a preacher like unto thee perhaps they will consider it when they felt any punishment for their sins they said Lord hadst thou sēt us an Apostl to instruct us we should have obeyed thy commandments have believed in thy Law when on our part they were instructed in the truth they said doth Mahome● work miracles like Moses do they not traduce what Moses did when they say that Moses
fear God thou concealest in thy mind a design whi●● God shal discover thou fearest the people but it is thy 〈◊〉 to fear God alone When Zeid did repudiat his wife we ●●ryed thee to her to the end their might remain no error ●mong the True-belelevers when they shall repudiate th● wives they shal observe in repudiating them what God ha● ordained The Prophet sins not in doing what God ha● permitted the law of God was in this maner observed by 〈◊〉 predecessors the command of his divine Maj. is execu●●● without delay Such as preach the word of God his Apost●● and Prophets fear none but his Divine Majesty it suffice them that they are in his protection Mahomet is not yo● father He is not the father of Zeid to espouse the wife which he put away he is the Apostle of God and the last of all the Pr●phets God knoweth all things there shall not come an●ther Prophet after him Oh ye that beleive in Go● thi● frequently on his divine Majesty praise him morning an● evening he shall give you his mercy the Angels implo● pardon that he may deliver from darkness he is mercif●● to true beleivers the Angels shall salute them on his beha●● at the day of Judgment See Tefsianf Jo●hir he hath prepared for them an exceeding great reward Oh Prophet we have sent thee to be witnesse of th● deportments of the People and as a light to conduct them into the right way proclaim to the True-beleivers tha● they shall receive of thy Lord an exceeding great grace obey not Infidels nor the wicked fear not their malice and trust in God thou oughtest to be satisfyed that God protecteth thee O ye that beleive it is not lawfull for you to abuse your Wives if you repudiate them before ye have ●nown them deal well with them and dismisse them with ●ildnesse and civility O Prophet we permit thee to know ●he women to whom thou hast given dowry the women-●laves which God hath given thee the daughters of thine Vncles and of thine Aunts that have abandoned with ●hee the company of the wicked and the true beleiving wife that shall be given thee if thou wilt marry her that she be not the wife of a true-beleiver We know what w● have commanded true beleivers touching their wives and their slaves we have instructed thee therein to the end thou offend not God he is gracious and merciful to such as obey him Thou shalt retain whom of thy wives thou shalt desire to retain and shalt repudiate such as thou shalt desire to repudiate and shalt lye with them that shall please thee it is better that thou repudiate without offending God then to see them male contented and sad they shall be contented with the good that thou shalt do to them in divorcing them God knoweth what is in your hearts he is Omniscient and most merciful Mahomet had nine wives It is not lawfull for thee to know other women then thine own it is not lawful for thee to exchange them although the beaty of others please thee except thy slaves See Gelaldin God regardeth all O y●●hat beleive I enter not into the houses of the prophet withou● permission except at the hour of repast that by chance without design if ye are invited enter with freedome when ye shall have taken your repast depart out of the house and tarry not to discourse one with another this molesteth the Prophet he is ashamed to bid you be gone but God is not ashamed to tell you the truth The wives of the prophet shal have the face coverd when ye speak shall unto them this better resented of purity both in them and in you You ought not to importune the Prophet of God neither to know his wives this would be a most enormous sin if ye conceal any design or discover it know that God knoweth all They shall not offend God in suffering themselvs to be seen of their fathers their children their brethren their nephews their maid servants their she-slaves they shall fear God he seeth all God and the angels * Bless th● Prophet pray for the Prophet O ye that beleive See Gelaldin pray for the Prophet and obey him He that shall disple● God and his Prophet shall be accursed in this world an● shall feel rigorous pains in the other such as do injur● without reason to those men and women that believe i● God commit an exceeding great sin O Prophet spea● to thy wives and thy daughters and the wives of true-believers that they cover themselves with vailes they sha●● be more honored and shall receive no displeasure God i● gracious and mercifull If the wicked the whoremongers and those of Medina that are weak in their faith quit no● their impiety I will give th●e absolute power over them few among them will respect thee but take thou them and slay them wheresoever thou shalt meet them God so commanded those that were before thee thou shalt finde no alteration in the Law of God The people will enquire of thee when shall be the day of Iudgment Say unto them that God alone knoweth it and that thou knowest not if it shall b● very speedily but that God hath prepared for Infidells an exceeding great fire wherein they shall burn eternally hey shall finde no protection they shall be cast headlong into the fire and shall say would to God we had obeyed his divine Majesty and the Prophet his Apostle they shall say Lord we obeyed our Masters and Superiors they seduced us from the right way Lord chastise them doubly and give them thy curse O ye that believe be not like them that displeased Moses he was innocent of the crimes that they laid upon him he was inspired of God fear God and speak with civility your works shall be acceptable to him and he shall pardon your sins He that shall obey God and his Apostle shall be happy fidelity and obedience are pleasing to him in heaven and in earth and upon the mountains Such as depart far from him as did Adam do injury to themselves and are ignorant he shall chastise those men and women that shall be disobedient and impious he will give his grace to those men and women that shall believe in his Law he is gracious and mercifull to them that obey him CHAP. XXXIV The Chapter of * Saba is a Province of Liemen Saba containing fifty four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful See Gelaldin Praised be God whatsoever is in heaven in the earth appertaineth to him praise is due unto him he is most wise and Omniscient he knoweth whatsoever entreth into the earth and cometh out of it whatsoever ascendeth to heaven descendeth he is gracious and mercifull to his creatures the wicked demand if they shall see the day of judgment Say unto them yes and that thy Lord knoweth the time he knoweth what
is past present and future and all that is in heaven and in the earth even to the weight of an Atome what is yet lesse and what is yet greater then an Atome is written in a book that discovereth every thing he shall reward the true-beleivers that have don good works he shall give them his mercy and enrich them with precious treasures such as have endeavoured to suppresse his Law shall feel the effects of his indignation They that understand the Scripture know that God hath taught thee the very truth to guide the people into the right way into the path of honour and vertue but the wicked said among them will ye beleive a man who affirmeth that after your death ye shall rise again and be new creatures he lyeth impudently he is possessed of the devill Certainly they that beleive not in the Resurrection are in an exceeding great error and shall suffer most greivous pains see they not what is above and what is below them Consider they not the heaven and the earth If I will I can render it barren and cause a peice of the heaven to fall upon them for a signe of my Omnipotency We gave our grace to David and spake to the mountains birds and mettals with him to praise me we commanded him to make cuirasses Iron was soft in his hand as wax O lineage of David I be not ingrateful I see whatsoever ye do we made the winds subject to Solomon he commanded them evening morning from the East to the West we gave him a fountain and brook of dissolved brass the devils through our permission wrought it to his minde and we punished in the fire o● hell such as refused to obey him They built for him lost palaces and * Depein pi●d spacious houses they formed basons fo● water chanels and pools we said unto him O lineage o● David be not ingrateful for my graces for that few persons do acknowledg them When he dyed through ou● Commandment nothing discovered his death to the devils bu● the wormes that had eaten the end of his staff● whereon he leaned when the devils saw him fall they perceived that had they known the future and what was h● from them they should not have laboured so long a tim● in his service The Inhabitants of Saba have a mark of m● Omnipotency in their Countrey viz. two gardens the one on the North side and the other towards the South i● was said unto them eat of the good things that your Lord hath given you and return him thanks their Country is delicious God hath been merciful towards them neverthelesse they are ingrateful and impious we sent the river o● Arem that overflowed their gardens we changed them into two gardens of thorns of Cyprus and a little * An Judian Date Tamarinde thus did we punish them because of their impiety We established a way with many cities for facility of commerce among them See Gelaldin and the City which we blessed and spake unto the people to follow that way night and day with safety and without fear They said God destroyeth us through the length of this way they returned to their impiety and we dispersed them upon the earth to serve for example to posterity and instruction to such as persevere in my Law and acknowledg my graces The devill caused them to believe his opinion they followed him except some of the true believers that were among them he had no power over them but to know them that believed in the Resurrection and such as doubt Thy Lord observeth and regardeth all Say unto them invoke your Idols they have not power of the bigness of an Atome neither in heaven nor earth God hath no companion they shall find none to protect them at the day of Iudgment none shall intercede for them without the permission of his divine Majesty if they receive any relaxation in their fear they enquire of each other what God spake answer that he spake the truth that he is most high and most mighty Say unto them who enricheth you with the good things of heaven and earth they will say that it is God Say unto them who of you or of us followeth the right way Or who of you or of us is seduced Enquire not after our sins we are not curious to know what ye do God shall assemble us at the day of Judgment and shall judge our differences with equity he i● an exceeding great Judge say unto them let us see the Idols that ye have worshiped certainly there is but one God omnipotent and wise We have not sent thee but to declare to men the joyes of Paradise and to preach to them the pains of hell but the greatest part knoweth it not they aske in what time they shall see the punishment that is preached to them and if thou speakest the truth say unto them when the time thereof is come ye shall not be able to retard or advance an hour they have said that they will not beleive in the Alcoran but thou shalt see them one day assembled in the presence of thy Lord thou shalt see that they shall accuse one another the poor● shall say unto ●he rich you have hindred us to obey the Commandments of God they shall answer have we seduced you from the way that was taught you On the contrary you were wicked and malicious they shall say on the contrary you employed night and day your Artifices to render us ingratfull for the graces of God and to induce us to believe that he hath companions equal to him they shall repent of their sins when they shall see their punishment we will lay chains upon their necks and they shall be chastised after their demerits The chief Inhabitants of the Cities said to the Prophets that we sent to them to preach the torments of hell that they believe not their words We have said they more riches and more children then those that believe in their discourse we shall not be damned as they affirm Say unto them my Lord giveth and taketh away riches as seemeth good to him but the greatest part of the people know it not your wealth and your children shall not give you accesse to God such as shall performe good works shall be rewarded and shall live eternally in the delights of Paradise they that s●all endeavour to suppress our Law shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell Say unto them my Lord giveth and taketh away wealth as to him seemeth good he maketh vain the alms which ye shall give if ye observe not his Law he is the rich of the rich Be thou mindfull of the day when I shall assemble the Idolaters and shall say to the Angels behold them who have adored you they shall say praised be God thou alone art our Master and protector they adored not us they worshipped the devill the greatest part of them beleived in his word this day they are
not able to benefit or hurt one another they will say to the unjust taste the torments of hell fire which ye would not beleive They said when thou didst preach unto them our Commandments this man would hinder us to worship the gods of our fathers he is a blasphemer They have said that the Alcoran is but Sorcery and Magick and reade not the books that we have sent unto them Their Predecessors did like them they traduced our Apostles hindred them to preach the tenth part of what we had inspired into th●m they traducd them but how were they chastised say unto them I preach to you to pray to God two by two or alone or in company ye shall know one day that your freind Mahomet is not possessed of the Devil and that he preacheth to you the pains of hell I require no reward of you for mine exhortations God shall reward me he seeth all Say unto them God teacheth his Prophets the truth and what is to come the truth appeared falshood was discovered and the lyars were deprived of his mercy if I wilfully go astray or if I act what God hath enjoyned me this shall be for my soul God heareth and is present at all things Thou shalt see the Infidels filled with fear affrighted when they shall come out of their sepulchre they shall not escape the punishment of their incredulity they shall then say that they beleive in the Alcoran but I will shew to them from farre the law which they have despised in the world they shall be precipitated with their ignorance into a place remote from mercy and pardon they shal be seperated from the true-believers because they have doubted the Commandments of the Law of God CHAP. XXXV The Chapter of the Creator containing fourty and five Verses written at Mecca This Chapter it intituled the Chapter of Angels in the Book Tefsir and Ioahir which treateth of the exposition of the Alcoran in Turkish IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise be to God Creator of Heaven and Earth who created the Angels the Messengers of his Commandments they have wings two three and foure he maketh of his Creature what seemeth good to him he is omnipotent none can comprehend the grace that he hath given to his people it is incomprehensible he is omnipotent and most wise Oh people Remember the grace of God is there a Creator beside him he enricheth you with the riches of Heaven and Earth there is no God beside him How can the wicked blaspheme against his divine Majesty If they traduce thee certainly they traduced the Prophets that were sent before thee they shall be one day assembled before God to be judged Oh ye people what God hath promised is infallible glory not in the wealth of the Earth beware least the Devill seduce you and render you proud because that God doth a while defer the punishment of your crimes The Devill is your enemy be ye his enemies he leadeth them that follow him into the fire of Hell where they shall suffer the rigors of infinite paines their sinnes shall be remitted that believe in God and do good works Oftentimes he that delighted in what he doth believeth he doth well God misleadeth and guideth whom it pleaseth him be not unwilling to depart from the wicked God knoweth all their actions He sendeth the winds that drive the clouds unto barren and dry places to refresh the Earth and cause it to revive after its death in like manner will he raise again the dead He that affecteth greatness shall finde in God all manner of greatnesse good speeches ascend even to his divine Majesty and our good works are acceptable to him Such as conspire against the Prophet shall endure great torments and their conspiracy become vain and unprofitable God hath created you of dust and mire be created you men and women the woman neither conceiveth not bringeth forth but through his permission no man can either prolong or shorten his life but following what is written in the book kept in heaven these things are easie to God Those two Seas are not like to Eaphrates whose water is sweet and pleasant to drinke the water of the Sea is cold and salt neverthelesse ye eat of the fish of the one and the other Ye fish out of the Sea gemmes to adorne you you see the Ship to run upon the waters and cleave the waves for the advantage of your commerce peradventure you will return thanks to God for his graces He causeth the night to enter into the day and the day into the night he created the Sunne and the Moon that run in the Heaven till the day appointed That God who created these things is your Lord the empire of the world is his the Idols that ye worship have no more power then the skin of an Almand if ye invoke them they shall not hear you they shall deny you at the day of Iudgment and are not of power to let you know either the joyes of Paradise or the torments of Hell Oh ye people ye are poor and necessitous ye have need of Gods assistance and God hath no want of you prayse is due to him in every place he will destroy you if it seeme good to him and create another new people in your place none shall bear the burthen of another be it never so light or heavy no not when they are neer of Kin. Preach thou the torments of Hell to such as feare their Lord without seeing him and make their prayers at the time appointed He that taketh heed of offending him laboureth for himself all the world shall be one day assembled before him to be judged The blind are not like to such as see clear darkness is not like to light the shade and coolnesse are not like to the heat of the Sun the living are not like the dead God causeth himself to be understood of whom he pleaseth thou canst not make the Commandments of God to be understood by them that are in their Sepulchers we have sent only to preach the pains of Hell and the joyes of Paradise there is no place in the world where they have not been preached If the Jnfidels traduce thee their predecessors likewise traduced them whom we sent heretofore to preach to them the mysteries of faith and the scriptures they were surprizd in their sins were rigorously chastised Seest thou not how thy Lord caused rain to fall from Heaven to make the Earth produce many fruits of sundry sorts and to nourish in the Mountains the Goats the Stags and Hinds to nourish the Crowes and Ravens the men and beasts of divers kinds and forme God gratifieth his creatures that acknowledge his benifits he is omnipotent and mercifull They who d●voutly read the book of God who make their prayers at the time appointed and bestow in pious works secretly or publiquely part of the wealth that we have given them have hope of a recompence
that shall never perish God shall recompense and augment his Graces upon them he is mercifull towards the good and accepteth the acknowledgment of his graces The Book that we have sent thee containeth the truth it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures GOD knoweth and seeth all things We have given the understanding of the Alcora● to such as We have chosen among our creature there be some who have ill discharged what we taught them some have performed what was enjoyned them and others have taught it with affection and diligence through Gods permission This is a great grace they shall enter into the garden of Eden where they shall remain eternaly they shall be adorned with collars of gold enrichede with precious stones the● shall be cloathed with fine silk shall say praised be God who hath delivered us from affliction he is most merciful and accepteth the thanks of his creatures such as through his speciall grace shall enjoy the house of eternity shall be free from all pain and the Infidels shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell They shall not dye in those torments and their torture shall neve be asswaged thus shall the wicked be chastised they shall in vain implore succor of God and say Lord deliver us from these paines we will do better then we have done heretofore I will no more prolong your life on Earth I have sent you my prophets and Apostles They preached unto you my Commandments you would not hear them taste now the pains of Hell which ye have merited the wicked shall this day be deprived of protection Certainly God knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth he knoweth all that is in the hearts of men He it is that hath made you to multiply on earth impiety shall rise against the impious it shall render them abominable before God and put them into the number of the damned Say unto them have ye well considered the Idols that ye have worshipped Tell me what have they created on Earth Were they Gods companions in the Creation of the Heavens Hath God sent to them a Book and reasons to authorize their impiety Certainly the wicked instruct one another only in pride and arrogancy God sustaineth the Heavens and the Earth he alone is able to sustain them he is gracious and merciful The wicked swore to fight for the encrease of the faith if there should come to them a Preacher to instruct them and when he came they augmented their wickednes became proud in the earth conspired against the True-deleivers their conspiracy fell upon themselves and they can expect none other things then what was ordained against their predecessors the law of God admitteth none alteration Consider they not what was the end of their Predecessors who were more wealthy powerfull then they Nothing is impossible to God he knoweth all things and 〈◊〉 omnipotent Should God punish the people when they ●●nd him he should leave no living creature on the earth deferreth the chastisement of the wicked untill the time appointed when their time shall be come he will punish them according to their demerits he seeth all CHAP. XXXVI The Chapter intituled O Man containing foure score and eight verses written at Mecca Reader the Mahometans have entituled this Chapter with two letters of the Arabique Alphabet i s. The Bedaoi saith that i signifieth ia that is to say ô particul● vocativa and s is an abreviation that signifieth insan i e Man and that the Angel speaking to Mahomet began this Chapter in this manner O man I swear by the Alcoran c. See Tefsir Kitab el tenoir IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Oh man I swear by the Alcoran ful of Doctrine that thou art a prophet sent to teach the People the right way This book was sent by the Omnipotent and mercifull that thou mayst instruct men in that which was not taught their predecessors Certainly what was said is true viz. That the greatest part of them is incredulous we will put a chain upon their neck and bind their hands to the very chin they shall lift up the head to complain but we will place before behind them great obstacle we will cover their sight with darknes they shall not see a jot Misery is upon them whether thou dost reprove or not reprove them they shall not be converted If thou preachest to them that belive in the Alcoran and to such as beleive in what they have seen proclaim to them a generall pardon of their sinnes and a very great reward I make the dead to arise again and write exactly in a book the good the evil that men commi● Relate to them th● Parable of those of the City whither thy Lord sen● his Prophets we sent into them two Prophets they slandered both of them we succored them by a third they all three said to the Inhabitants of this City we are sent from God to preach to you his Commandments They answered ye are but men like us God hath not sent us a sign to make you known ye are lyars They said certainly God knoweth that he sent us to you we are obliged only to preach to you his Commandments They answered would ye make us Infidels like your selves If ye end not this discourse we will stone you and make you to suffer heavy torments They said be your evill with you who hath heretofore so ill instructed you Certainly you are wick●d Then a man came running from the utmost part of the City who said unto them oh people obey the Apostles of God obey them that require no reward from you for the pains which they take in teaching you and who are in the right way Wherefore shall not I worship him that created me and before whom ye all shall be assembled to be judged Will ye worship another beside him If it be his will to chastise me your Idols cannot save me I should be extremely erroneous should I believe in your God hear and understnnd what I say unto you Neverthelesse they sl●w h●m and said unto him go enter into Paradice He said in dying would to God this people knew the graces that his divine Majesty hath conferred on me he placed me in the number of the blessed After his death we did not send Angels from Heaven to chastise the wicked I will send them but once to destroy them they shall one day be dumb for shame that they have not followed the True believers and of being mocked by them that I sent to preach unto them my Commandments Will they not consider how much people we have destroyed in times past who are not returned and that shall be one day assembled before me to be judged The Earth drie dead and barren as a sign of my omnipotency for the wicked we made it revive and became green again and to bring forth fruits with wh●ch they were satiate we there created Gardens Date-trees and Vines we cau●ed Fountains to
alone without children have ye any reason or authority to speak in this maner bring your arguments produce your reason if ye are true The Infidels have said that the Angels were of the lineage of God but the Angels well know that the Infidells shall be damned because of their blasphemies Praised be God he hath neither son nor daughter other then the righteous that worship him and obey his Commandments You with your Idols cannot escape the punishment of your sins ye shall be condemned to the fire of hell There is none among the angels that knoweth not his place and his order in Paradise to praise and worship his divine Majesty If the Infidels say we observe the Religion of our predecessors we are in the right way Say unto them that If they belive not in the Alcoran they shall in fine know their incredulity We have promised protection to beleivers and Prophets they shall be protected and victorious depart for a time from the wicked consider how God punisheth them they shall feel the punishment of their impiety wil they cast themselvs headlong into the torments of hell assuredly they will be astonished when the shall feel them depart from their company and consider that they shall not be able to escape the punishment of their crimes Praise thy Lord the Lord of power and greatness above the wicked salvation be to the Prophets and eternall praise to the God of the Vniverse CHAP. XXXVIII The Chapter of Truth containing fourscore and eight Verses written at Mecca Reader Mahomet intituled this Chapter with the Letter named in the Arabique Alphabet Ssad which signifieth in this place Ssidk that is to say Truth See the Gloss of Geladin Kitab el tenoir They have intituled it the Chapter of Truth IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the Alcoran that this Book teacheth the way of Salvation neverthelesse the Infidels resist the Faith and are among themselves of a different opinion How many have we destroyed in times past that were like unto them They cryed and required succors but they were no longer to be succored The Infidels wonder that a man like themselves should be sent to instruct them they say That he is a Magician and a lyar to preach one sole God It is a strange thing Their Doctors forsook their Assemblies they went to preach through the City and said Persist to adore your Gods we abjure the beliefe of the vnity of God the last Sect did not preach it it is an evident lie Was Mahomet chosen among us to receive alone the Alcoran descended from Heaven Certainly they doubt the Alcoran they shall know the truth when they shall be in the fire of Hell Have they in their power the Treasures of the mercy of thy Lord omnipotent and bountifull Possesse they the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth and whatsoever is betwixt them If it be so let them ascend into Heaven with their forces assuredly they shall be shamefully beaten in all places The wicked heretofore defamed Noah A●d Pharoah the maker of Charmes and Temod the Inhabitants of the City of Lot those that dwelt in the Forest and their companions traduced the Prophets were punished after their demerits neverthelesse the Infidels consider not that they shall be chastised when the trumpet shall sound at the day of Judgment and that they shall no more return on earth to be converted They say in scorn Lord give us to see the Book of the Accompt of our sins before the day of Judgment Persevere and be patient be not troubled at their discourse and call to mind our servant David stout and zealous in my Law the Mountains and the Birds praised me with him they assembled in his presence obeyed him we gave force to his reign and endued him with knowled and eloquence Hast thou learnt Davids quarrel when they hindred him to enter into the Temple and how he feared his Enemies When they entred towards him they said unto him Be not afraid we have a dispute among us judge our difference with equity and teach us the right way This man is my Brother he hath fourscore and nineteen sheep I had but one which he hath ravished from me because he was stronger than I. David said He hath done thee wrong art thou troubled for one Ew The greatest part of men arose against their neighbor except such as believe in the Law of God and observe his Commandments which are few in number Then David knew that we had tryed him he implored pardon of his sin he humbled himselfe worshiped us and was converted We gave him pardon of his fault we drew him near unto us and lodged him in a place of content I said unto him O David we have established thee on Earth to determine the differences that shall arise among the people follow not thine own appetite it will seduce thee from the way of Salvation such as shall erre from my Law shall suffer grievous pains at the day of Iudgment We have not in vain created the Heaven and the Earth as the wicked affirm misery shall bef●l them they shall be cast headlong and burnt in the fire of Hell Shall I alike entreat the believers and unbelievers the righteous and the wicked This Book We have sent it to thee blessed it to the end the people may meditate the mysteries thereof the wise reap advantage for their salvation We gave Solomon to our servant David he was extreamly zealous in our service Remember that horses ready and vigorous were presented to him about evening that he forgot to make his prayer at the houre of Vespers and said What Have I preferred the love of the wealth of the Earth to the remembrance of God even untill the Sun set He caused them to be led back againe and sacrificed some of them for expiation of his fault He caused their legs and neck to be cut off We tryed Solomon we caused a suppositious person to fit on his throne and afterwards restored him to his dominions He said Lord give me thy mercy give me so happy a reigne that the like hath not been seen thou art liberall towards thy creatures We made subject to him the winds which blowed at his command where it pleased him We made the devills subject to him some built his Palaces others dived into the Seas to bring him Pearls and others were bound and chained to attend his commands he retained and dismissed whom he listed with rendring an accompt We drew him neer unto us and lodged him in a place of content Remember our servant Job that he prayed to his Lord and sayd That the Divell had heaped misery and affliction upon him It was said unto him Strike the earth with thy foot thou shalt see water spring forth to wash thee and to drink We restored to him his children his riches through our special grace to be an example to posterity It was said unto him when his
wife would have made him to murmur Take rods in thy hand strike thy wife and swerve not from what thou hast promised We found him patient and zealous in obedience to our Commandments Remember our servant Abraham Isaac Jacob affectionate and zealous in our Law we saved and chose them among the righteous Such as have my fear before their eyes shall enjoy the delights of the Garden of Eden where they shall repose upon most glorious beds they shall there have all sorts of fruits and delicious drinke and their wives shall not look on any but on them Behold what is promised to them at the day of judgement and these pleasures shall never end The wic●ed and Infidels shall be precipitate ● into the fire of Hell they shall drink boiling water in abundance and water extreamly full of all manner of noysom smells they shall be precipitated into the flames and shall say to them that have obeyed them upon Earth May ye be perpetually tormented you have seduced and mis-led u● On the contrary may your selves be tormented you have been the cause of our misery Shall we not be able to see them whom we believed on Earth to be Infidels and whom we de●ided cannot our eyes see Thus shall the damned quarrel Say to the people I am sent only to preach unto you the Vnity of God the Omnipotent Creator of Heaven earth and of all that is between them Behold the best Sermon that I can make unto you neverthelesse you despise it I know not what happened in Heaven when the Angels quarrelled God hath inspi●ed it into me and I am ●ent but to instruct you a●d to preach publikly the paines of Hell Remember thou that God said to his Angels I will create man of the mire of the Earth when I have formed him I will breath against him and inspire my S●irit into his body prostrate your selves before him with humili●y The Angels there prostrated themselves except the Devil he was proud and already in the number of the wicked Thy Lord said unto him wherefore dost thou not humble thy self before the work of my hands Thou art in the number of the proud he replied I am better then man thou hast made me of fire and hast created him of the dust of the Earth Then thy Lord said unto him Get thee hence thou shalt be chastised on all sides my curse be upon thee untill the day of Iudgment He answered Lord defer my punishment untill the day of the Resurrection he said I will defer it untill the day appointed He replied through thy permission I will tempt all the world except such as shall be zealous in thy Law and shall obey thy Commandments He said I tell thee true I tell thee true I will fill Hell with thee and those that shall follow thee Say unto the people I require of you to recompence for my instructions I am not importunate Certainly this Book is sent only to instruct men you shal one day know the truth of what it containeth CHAP. XXXIX The Chapter of Troups containing seventy five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious merciful This book was sent by God the Omnipotent and wise We sent it to thee the contents thereof are most true worship one God alone and obey his Commandments faith proceedeth from him alone Such as worship any other but him worship Idols They have said we would not invoke our Idolls had they not power to draw us neer to God Certainly God shall judge one day the difference that is between the beleivers and unbeleivers he guidet● not him that is a lyar and impious If he would have a son he would make choise of one of his creatures that should be pleasing to him praised be God there is but one God alwayes victorious he created the heavens and the earth with proportion he maketh the night to enter into the day the day into the night he created the Sun and the Moon which performe their course in heaven untill the day appointed he is omnipotent and merciful He hath created all of you of one sole man of whom he created his wife he hath given you clean beasts male and female he formed you in the wombs of your mothers form upon from he brought you out of three * The obscurity of the mothers belly her womb and the skin that infol● you in the womb obscurities he alone is your God and your Lord the kingdom of the world appertaineth to him there is no God but he How can the Infidel depart from his service If ye will not worship him he hath nothing to do with you he desireth not that his creatures should be impious his Will is that they praise him this is his pleasure and none shall bear the burthen of his neighbour ye al shall be assembled before him he wil shew ye what you have done he knoweth what is in the hearts of men When man is touched with any affliction See Gelaldin he invoketh God and turneth and when he is in prosperity he forgetteth his vows he hath said that God hath a companion equall to him and erreth from the way of his law Say unto him thou shalt be a while tollerated in the end thou shalt be cast headlong into the fire of hell and he that shall pray to God day and night erect prostrate or on the knee with fear of the torments of hell shall enjoy the mercy of his divine Majesty Are such as labour to be compared to them that are idle They that have judgment will understand this discourse Say unto them oh ye people that beleive in your Lord have his fear before your eyes Such as shall do good works in this world shall enjoy abundantly the riches of the earth God will innumerably reward them that persevere in obedience to his Commandments Say unto them I am commanded to worship one God to professe his Vnity to be obedient to him Say unto them I apprehend the day of Iudgment if I disobey God my Lord. Say unto them I will worship but one God worship ye others whom ye will Such as shall despise the Law of God shal lose their souls families at the day of Iudgment These are two great losses most certain they be involved in eternal fire Thus God preacheth to true beleivers O my creatures speak unto them that have my fear before their eyes that they adore not idols and that if they turn to their Lord they shall enjoy the delights of Paradise Proclaim to them that hear my Word and obey my Commandments that they are in the right way and well advised canst thou deliver from the fire of hell him that shall be condemned Certainly such as obey God shal enjoy the pleasures of Paradise wherein flow many rivers there shal they dwel eternaly This is the promise of God he swerveth not from that which he promiseth Seest thou not that God sendeth
raine from heaven and maketh the rivers to run upon the earth he causeth plants to spring forth and herbs of divers colours thou seest them become yellow and then altogether drie this is a sign of his omnipotency Hath not he to whom GOD hath given the light of Faith received a great grace from his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that have a heart hardned forget his law they are manifestly seduced he hath sent an excellent book for the instruction of men his precepts are alike in purity and without contradiction They that fear God tremble when they hear mention of this book and finde their rest in the word of his divine Majesty This book is the guide of the righteous God by it guideth whom pleaseth him He whom God shall seduce shall finde none to guid him he shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell at the day of Judgement it shall be said that day to the wicked tast the torments that ye have merited their predecessors defamed the Prophets and were punished when they least thought of it God rendred them ign●mini●us in this world and they shall feel in the other tormen●s much more greivous and they know it not We have taught in this book what is necessary for the salvation of the people peradventure they will learn it it is in the Arabique tongue without falshod and contradiction perhaps the people will fly from impiety God teacheth you a parable Two men are associates in their traffique the one is wicked the other an honest man are they alike Praise is due to one sole God the greatest part of the Infidels understand it not Thou shalt die all men shall die and ye shall be assembled at the day of Iudgement when ye shall dispute together Who is more unjust then he that blasphemeth against God and against the known truth Shall not the wicked be damned Such as shall believe the Prophet and fly impiety shall obtaine from God what they desire such is the recompence of the righteous God shall pardon their sins and reward them for their good works doth not he protect his servant They will terrifie thee wi●h the Idols which they adore but he whom God shall mislead shall finde none able to guide him and none shall be able to seduce him whom he shall guide is not he the omnipotent and revenging If thou ask of the Infidels who created heaven and earth they will say it is God Say unto them have ye therefore considered the Idols which ye adore can they exempt you from the wrath of God when it shall be his pleasure to chastise you Shall they be able to hinder his grace when it shall be his will to pardon you Say unto them my refuge is God I am resigned to his Will the wise trust in his divine Majesty Say unto them oh people do as you understand him I will do as I understand him ye shall know in the end that whosoever shall be condemned shall be ashamed and be precipitated into eternall torments We have sent unto thee the most true book to instruct the people He that shal follow the right way shal meet with nothing but good and he that shall go astray shall meet with nothing but evill thou art not the guardian of the wicked God causeth men to dye when the hour of their death is arrived he deferreth the death of many during their sleep remitteth that of others to the time appointed this is a sign of his omnipotency to such as consider it Will ye worship any but God Say unto them how shall your Idols be able to intercede for you since they want power know you not this Say unto them we ought to invoke one God alone King of the heaven and earth you all shall one day assemble before him to be judged The Infidels tremble with fear whē they hear mention of one sole God rejoyce when they hear speak of their Idols Say unto them God is Creator of the heavens and the earth he knoweth the past present and future Lord thou shalt one day judge the differences of thy creatures Should the Infidels possess al the riches of the earth and yet as much more they would not be able to escape the fire of Hel at the day of Iudgment they shall be punished more greivously then they imagine their sins shall be set before them and they shall feel the rigors of the torments which they despise man calleth upon us when he is in affliction and we give him our grace he saith he meriteth it on the contrary this is to prove him but most of them are ignorant of it their predecessors spake as they the good that they have done hath profitted them nothing and the misery that they have merited is faln upon them they shall not escape the punishment of their crimes Know they not that God giveth and taketh away wealth from whom pleaseth him This is a signs of his omnipotency for the righteous Say unto them oh people they who have off●nded God ought not to despair of his grace he is gracious and mercifull be ye Converted and recommend your selves to his will before ye be condemned otherwise ye shall remain without protection follow the instruction that God hath sent to you before ye be chastised the punishment of your crimes shall surprise you ye know not the time the wicked shall be afflicted for that they have not obeyed Gods Commandments they shall know their damnation and the sin that they have committed in scorning the trve-believers They shall say had God guided me into the right-way I had had his fear before my eyes When they shall see hell they shal say could I return into the world I would be in the number of the righteous on the contrary my Commandments were taught you but ye became proud and dispised them Thou shalt s●e that day how the visages of Infidels shall be blackned Is there not a place in hell prepared for the proud God loveth and putteth into a place of felicity them that fear him they shall not be touched either with displeasure or affliction God hath created all things and disposeth all at his pleasure he hath in his power the keyes of heaven and earth such as disobey him are damned Say unto them oh ignorant men will ye enjoyn me to worship another god besides God It hath been preached to you and your predecessors that all your good works shall be unprofitable if ye adore many gods and that you shall be in the number of the damned there is but one God worship him and be mindfull of his graces The Infidels have not praised God as he ought to be praised they have no knowledge of his power he shall make earth to tremble and gather together the heavens by the strength of his right hand at the day of Iudgment praised be God he hath no companion When the Trumpet shall sound the first time he shal cause to dis whom
all into the right way He of his Domestiques that secretly professed the true Law said oh people I fear lest ye be chastise as have been your predecessors as were the people of No●● Aad Temod and those that were after them God will 〈◊〉 do injustice to men I fear for you the day of judgment a da● when ye shall rise again with terror to render accompt ● your actions he whom God shal seduce shall find none 〈◊〉 guide him Certainly Joseph came hertofore with instructions clear and intelligible nevertheless ye doubted even untill his death and said that after him God shall not send● Prophet like unto him thus doth GOD seduce the wicked that doubt of his Law he hateth such as dispute without reason they are abhorred of them that believe in his divine Majesty Thus God hardneth the heart of the proud and tyrants Pharoah sayd to * Haman was Pharoahs Leiutenant General Haman build me an high Palace peradventure I shal arrive at the Heavens and as high as the God of Moses I beleive him to be a lyar Thus Pharaoh delighted in his wicked actions he erred from the right way and his conspiracy was but his destruction He of his family that was a True-beleiver said oh people follow me See Gelaldin I will guide you into the right way the riches of the earth pass away lightly and the riches of Heaven are eternall he that doth evill shall finde evill who doth good man or woman beleiving in God shall enter into Paradise where he shall be enriched innumerably with all manner of riches Wherefore invite you me to precipitate my self into the fire of Hell since I exhort you to salvation Ye invite me to be wicked and to beleive that God hath companions and I know it is not so I call you to the omnipotent and mercifull God doubtlesse I will not worship your Idols they cannot hear you either in this world or in the other we all shall be one day assembled before God who will condemn Infidels to the fire of Hell consider hereafter what to you I have preached I am resined to the will of God he beholdeth all the actions of his creatures he shall chastise them for the evill that they shall commit and for their wicked designes He sent his punishment upon the Lineage of PHAROAH they deserved to be precipitated into the fire of Hell they shall burn evening and morning It shall be said to ●hem at the day of Iudgment oh people of Pharoah goe enter into the fire of Hell The Infidels shal quarrell in Hell the poor shall say unto the rich We followed you are you able this day to deliver us from eternal flames they shall answer we all are damned with you God is a most just Iudge The damned shall say to the Ministers of Hell Pray to your Lord that he may asswage these torments for one day they shall answer had ye not on earth the Prophets and Apostles of God to instruct you They shall say yes pray therefore to God your selves the wicked love nothing but impiety I will protect on earth my Prophets and them that observe my Law and particularly at the day of judgment that day the wicked shall have no excuse that shal advantage them my curse shall fall upon them and they all shall be damned We taught Moses the way of Salvation and made the Children of Israel heirs of his instructions to instruct them that shal understand them Persevere and be patient the promise of God is infallible implore pardon of thy sinnes and exalt the praise of thy Lord evening and morning They that dispute against the Commandments of God are without reason and have nought in their souls but pride and ignorace Implore succor of God he understandeth and seeth all things the Creation of the Heavens and of the Earth is greater then the Creation of men but the greatest part of men know it not the blind is not like to him that seeth clearly he that doth good is not like to him that doth evill neither is obscurity such as the light but few men consider it Doubtlesse the day of Iudgment shall come neverthelesse the greatest part of men will not believe it Your Lord hath said call upon me I will heare you Such as shall resist my Law shall go into Hell and be eternally seduced God hath created the night for repose and the day for travell he is bountiful towards his Creatures bvt the greatest part of the peopple are ingratefull GOD is your LORD Creator of all things there is no GOD but he How can the wicked blaspheme So do they blaspheme that are ingrateful for the graces of GOD he hath established you on Earth he hath covered you with the Heavens he hath formed you enriched you he your God your Lord blessed be God Lord of the V●● verse he it is that giveth and depriveth you of life there no God but he be obedient to him and observe his La● Praised be God Lord of the Vniverse who hath create● you of mire Say unto the Infidels I am forbidden to wo●ship the Idols that ye adore God hath taught me his ●nity I have received command to worship none but the Lord of the Vniverse he created you of dust mire and co●gealed blood he causeth you to be born little Infants h● maketh you to arrive to the age of discretion to virility old age many dye before that age and all attaine to the time of their destiny peradventure ye shall understand his unity he it is that maketh you to live and to dye and when he willeth any thing he saith be thou and it is See ye no● that they that dispute against his Commandments depar● from his Law Such as reject our Commandments and what we enjoyed our Prophets to preach to men shall find their errors when they shall see chaines on their necks and fetters on their feet they shall be dragged and burned in Hell then shall it be said unto them where are those Idols that yee adored upon Earth they shall answer they are departed from us certainly they are without power thus God seduceth Infidels to their confusion It shall be said unto them these paines befall you for that ye were proud and insolent without reason enter within the gates of Hell which is the habitation of the proud ye shall dwell there eternally Be patient and persevere the word of God is infallible I will make thee to see a part of what I have promised to men I will cause thee to dye and thou shalt behold them all assembled to be judged Certa●nly we sent Prophets before thee we have spoken to thee of one part of our Apostles and the rest are concealed from thee neither Prophets nor Apostle can preach any thing without Gods permission he chastiseth the wicked when he pleaseth he shall judge the differences that are between them and the Prophets and shall destroy the unbelievers God hath created
the beasts for your use Some ye eat and others serve you to ride on from them ye reap profit they bear the burden as likewise do the ships for the advantage of your commerce God manifesteth to you his graces And what graces Will ye despise them Do not unbelievers consider the end of those that were before them who were more powerfull and rich then they their treasures did not save them they derided the Peophets and Apostles that preached to them and in the end felt the paines that they had despised When they shall fear the torments of hel they shall say We believe in one God alone and renounce Ido●s This profession of Faith shal be unprofitable to them in Hell they shall incur the rigour of the Law of God that was observed against their predecessors and all unbeleivers shall be damned CHAP. XLI The Chapter of Exposition containing fifty and foure Verses written at Mecca Reader Gelaldin intituleth this Chapter Of Adoration IN the name of God gracious and merciful The Alcoran was sent by the gracious and merciful God It explaineth divine Mysteries in the Arabique tongue to them that have knowledge to understand them it proclaimeth to the good the delights of Paradise and preacheth to the wicked the torments of Hel neverthelesse the greatest part of the world pepart from the Faith and hear not thy words They say We have obdurate hearts we cannot comprehend what thou preachest our ears are stopped we are too remote to heare what thou sayest Observe thy Law we will live after our own Say unto them I am a man like you your God is one sole God be obedient to him and begge pardon of him for your sins Misery is upon unbelievers that pay not Tiths believe not in the day of judgment The believers that shall do good works shall enjoy an infinite reward Say unto them How wil● ye be wicked towards him that created the Earth in tw● days Munday Tuesday how can you say that he hath a Companion equa● to him He is sole Lord of the Vniverse he raised the Mountains blessed the Earth and gave to every Regio● the particulars thereof in four days for them that shall have need See Gelaldin After this he ascended into Heaven that was like unto smoke and said unto Heaven and Earth Ye shall obe● me either through force or affection They answered Lord we will be obedient to thy Commandments He created seven Heavens in two days Thursday Friday and disposed every Heaven after his own will he adorned them with Stars and preserveth them from the malice of the Devil See Gelaldin This is a● effect of his Omnipotency he is omnipotent and knoweth all things If the unbelievers depart from the Faith say unto them I have threatned you as heretofore thunde● did the people of Aad and Temod when the Prophets taugh● them the Law of the ancient True believers to wit To worship but one God They said Were it Gods pleasure to alter our Law he would have sent us Angels to preach unto us we will not believe in thy mission The people of Aad waxed proud on the Earth without reason and said Who is more powerfull then we will they not consider that he that created them is more powerful and wealthy then they Neverthelesse they despised our Commadments We sent against them a cold and impetuous wind in an unhappy time that made them to suffer on Earth shame and ignominy because of their crimes He shall cause them to feel the pains of Hell that are much greater then those of the Earth and they shall be eternally deprived of protection We instructed the men of Temod in the right way they preferred blindnesse to light and impiety to Salvation they were surprized by thunder and suffered great afflictions because of their sins We saved none of them but the believers who had our fears before their eyes Be thou mindfull of the day that the Enemies of God shall be assembled in Hell they shall defend their cause before the Judge until testimony be brought against them their ears their eyes and their skin shall be witnesses of their iniquities They shall say Wherefore do ye witnesse against us They shall answer He that made us to speak giveth speech to every thing he it is that created you and ye are this day assembled before him to be judged Ye did not well conceal your selves when ye offended him your ears your eyes your skin are witnesses against you ye beleived that God should not see your sins this was your opinion Certainly he shall chastise you and you all shall be in the number of the damne● Persevere and be thou patient the fire of Hell shall be the●r habitation they shall not be able to please God in the flames We have given them the Devils for their Companio●s who caused them to delight in sin The word of God shal be accomplished against them as it was accomplished against their predecessors as well men as Devils that are condemned The unbelievers have said Heare not that Alcoran it is full of error peradventure ye shall be seduced I will cause them to suffer grievous pains and will chastise them after their demerits such is the reward of Gods enemies They shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell because they despise his Commandments The wicked shall say at the day of Judgement Lord let us see the Devils and the men that seduced us we will trample them un●er our feet and precipitate them to the bottom of h●l Such as shall have professed the Law of God as shall have obeyed his Commandments shall be visite● by the Angels and shall that day be free from fear and affliction They shall say unto them Rejoyce ye in Paradice that is prepared for you ye shall there find all the contentments that ye shall desire they have been prepared for you by the gracious and mercifull There is nothing better then to pray to God then to do good works and to professe his unity Good and evill are not a like Ex●ell evill with thy good works There is an exceeding great antipathy between Faith and Jmpiety Faith is given to such as persevere to do well and to them that are indued with the grace of God The Devil will tempt thee but implo●e assistance from God he heareth and knoweth all things The night and the day the Sun and the Moon are signs of his Omnipotency Adore neither the Sun nor the Moon worship God that created them If the Infidels res●st the Faith the Angels that are in Paradise defist not notwithstanding to exalt the glory of his divine Majesty day and night without intermission It is a signe of his Omnipotency to see the barren and dry Earth to change the face and become green when it is watered with rain He that maketh the plants to revive is he that maketh every thing to live and dye he is Omnipotent Such as depa●t
from our Commandments cannot hide themselves from us Shall he that shall be precipitated into Hell be better lodged then he that shall be saved at the day of Iudgment Do what shall please you your Lord beholdeth all your actions I will chastise them thot traduce the Alcoran it is a precious Book it is approved by the ancient and modern Scriptures it is sent from the glorious and mercifull None other thing shall be spoken to thee then what hath been spoken to the Prophets that preceeded thee thy Lord is mercifull and just Had we sent the Alcoran in the Persian tongue to a Prophet an Arabian by Nation the wicked would have said That the divine mysteries are not well explained Say unto them It is the guide of Believers and a remedy to their ignorance Infidels have deaf ears they are blind and hear not a● those that are called too far off Certainly we gave the Book and the Law to Moses Vnbelievers doubt but if thy Lord had not said That he would defer their punishment untill the day of Iudgement he had already chastised them in this world because they doubt of the truth Whosoever shall doe good shall find good and the evill that a man committeth shall be against him Thy Lord doth no injustice to his Creatures None but he knoweth the day of Iudgement no fruit nor flower springeth out of the Earth and woman neither conceiveth nor bringeth forth but by his permission Be thou mindful of the day that the lord shal cal Idolaters demand of them where be their Idols They shall say Lord we acknowledg thy Vnity None of us will hereafter adore those false gods They that worshipped one God departed from Idolaters they know that the punishment of their sin is infallible Man never ceaseth to require riches and is troubled when evill befalleth him if we give him good after his affliction he saith that he foresaw it and hath no thought of the comming of the day of Judgement if he be converted thy Lord openeth to him the gate of Paradise I will make the wicked to know their wickednesse and will most severely punish them when we bestow wealth on man he followeth his Idolatry and his sin and when he is touched in affliction he aboundeth in prayer Say unto them know ye not that the Alcoran proceedeth from God neverthelesse ye have renounced it who is more impious then he that impugneth the known truth I will cause them to see my miracles even to the utmost parts of heaven and earth and in their own persons to the end they may know the truth of the Alcoran Sufficeth it not them that thy Lord seeth all things neverthelesse they are in doubt of the Resurrection and of being assembled before him to be judged certainly God is omniscient CHAP. XLII The Chapter of Counsell containing fifty and three Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent wise majestique he understandeth all things and is omnipotent God hath sent thee the same inspirations that he sent to them that did precede thee he is omnipotent and wise whatsoever is in heaven and in earth appertaineth to him he is omnipotent and knoweth all things the heavens open at his command the Angels exalt his glory and implore his pardon for them that are on earth he is mercifull he beholdeth them that invoke Idols and knoweth them all but thou art not their Tutor We have inspired into thee the Alcoran in the Arabique tongue to preach to the Inhabitanta of Mecca and such as dwell about that City we have sent thee to preach unto them the day of Judgement there is no doubt that one part of men shall be saved and the other shall be damned had it pleased God he had created them of one the same Religion he giveth his grace to whom he listeth and Infidels shall be deprived of succour because they have required the protection of Idoles but God is the true protector of the world he reviveth the dead and is omnipotent he shall one day judge all the difficulties resolve all your doubts in your Religion he is my Lord I recommend my self to his divine Will he created your wife of your selvs he created all beasts male and female and caused you to multiply there is not any thing like unto him he keepeth the keyes of the Treasures of heaven and earth and taketh away and giveth wealth as pleaseth him The Law that I gave to Noah Abraham Moses and Jesus is that which I commanded thee to observe viz. to believe in one God The infidells are angry when thou preachest to them the unity of God he teacheth it whom he pleaseth and guideth into the right way them that obey him the wicked approve some points of his law and reject the rest although they have knowledge of his Vnity and that through the envy that is risen among them if thy Lord had not heretofore said that he would defer their punishment untill the day of Iudgment he had already destroyed them many of those who after them shall have knowledg of the Scriptures shall doubt of his Law but follow thou the way that is appointed thee and follow not their appetites Say unto them I believe in the Book that God hath sent I have received commandment to preach unto you that God is your and our Lord ye shall answer for your actions and we shall answer for ours it is not necessary to dispute against us God will one day assemble us in his presence to judge our differences he is our refuge such as dispute against the faith after knowledge of the truth are without reason their arguments shall be vaine with God they shall be the object of his wrath and shall suffer exceeding great pains God hath sent the Alcoran with truth ballance he will not instruct thee when the day of judgment shal be Such as have no faith in him ask when it shal come and they that believe him fear the coming thereof and know it to be infallible such as doubt are erroneous from the right way God is merciful to his people enricheth whom he pleaseth he is strong omnipotent he encreaseth the graces of him that desireth the riches of Heaven he giveth the wealth of the earth to them that effect it and depriveth them of the riches of Heaven Are there wicked ones among men that teach them a false Religion prohibited of God God hath not revealed it to thē had he not deferred their punishment until the day of Iudgmment he had already destroyed them they shall in the end feel grevious tormens ye shal see thē fear their own deportments ye shall see them chastised after their demerits and the believers that do good works shall enjoy the delights of Paradise where they shall finde whatsoever they shall desire this is the great grace of God this is that which he hath proclaimed to the faithfull that believed
have done good works say unto them I require none other recompense for the pains that I take in preaching to you then to love my kindred he that shall do any good work shall be rewarded God is mercifull and good works are pleasing to him Will they say that thou hast blasphemed against God If it please God he shall hinder thee to hear this discourse or will imprint patience in thine heart he abolisheth lies and confirmeth the truth through his words he knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men he accepteth the conversion of his creatures he pardoneth their sins and knoweth all their actions he heareth the prayers of the faithfull that do good works and augmenteth his grace upon them but Infidels shall undergo the rigours of eternall pains Had God equally enriched all his creatures they had bin in confusion upon Earth he enricheth whom he pleaseth he seeth and knoweth all he sendeth rain when men despair of his grace he is the protector of believers and praise is due to him eternally the creation of the Heavens and of the earth and of all that moveth betweene them is a sign of thine omnipotency If evil befal you believe that ye have deserved it neverthelesse he pardoneth you many things ye cannot escape his punishment on earth none is able to protect you against him The Ves●el that runneth upon the water big as a mountain is a token of his omnipotency to them that persevere in his Law and acknowledg his graces He shall reprove the wicked for their sins and shall pardon many They that dispute against his Commandments cannot escape their punishent the riches that ye possesse are the riches of the earth the riches that God bestoweth on them that trust in him are eternal They that depart from mortall sins that repent to have committed them that beg of God to be heard and persevere in their supplications they that take councel and consult among them what they ought to do that employ in good works part of the wealth that God hath given them that implore his help in their afflictions such as do good and such as commit evil shall be recompensed and punished according to their works God abhorreth Infidels ye have no power over them that implore his assistance in their affliction and repent your power extendeth over them that doin justice to the people and d●sobey on earth the Commandments of his divine Majesty they shall suffer great torments Such as persevere in well-d●i●g and pardon their Neighbour do what God hath Commanded He whom God shall m●sl●ad shall finde none to guide him Thou shalt see that the Infidels shall ask if they may return into the world when they shall behold the fire of H●l thou shalt see them flie with ex●ream fear of eternal ignominy they shall look awry upon hell and the believers shall see that the wicked that have lost he●r Souls that have misled their family and all the impious shall be eternally damned none shall be able to save them and he that God shall mislead shall not finde the right way Say unto them beg pardon of God before the ●ay come that ye shall finde no way to return into the world nor excuse for your sins If they disobey thee we have not sent thee to be their Tutor thou art sent only to preach unto them When we give to man any p●osperity be rejoyceth and when affliction befalleth him ●e is ingrat●ful for the grace of his Lord King of the heavens and earth God giveth children sons and daughters ●o whom he pleaseth he knoweth all things and is omnipotent he speaketh not to man but by inspiration and parable without being seen he sendeth his Prophets and Apostles into whom he inspireth what pleaseth him he knoweth all things and is omnipotent Thus have we sent thee our spirit to teach thee our Commandments thou knowest not before what was written in the Alcoran neither the misteries of faith we have sent it to thee to be a Light to the world I will guide into the way of Salvation whom I please I wil giude him into the way of the Lord to whom belongeth all that is in Heaven and Earth and who disposeth of all things CHAP. XLIII The Chapter of Ornament containing eighty and nine Verses written at Mecca Exteri intituled This Chapter the Chapter of Gold IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent and wise I swear by the book that teacheth to do well that we have sent it in the Arabique tongue peradventure ye shall understand the Alcoran it is written in in our originall Booke majestique and mysterious Shall I conceal from you the book of Salvation if ye be wicked How many Prophets and Apostles have we sent in past Ages whom unbeleivers have despised We destroyed the most powerful among them and all have incurred the pain of their predecessors If thou ask of them who created Heaven and Earth they will say that it is the omnipoten who knoweth all things Who hath extendeth the earth under you Who established the wayes to guide you It is God he causeth the rain to descend from Heaven in your necessity he maketh the dead drie and barren fields to revive in like manner shall the dead come out of their Sepulchers He it is that created whatsoever is in the world of divers kinds and Species and created the SHIPS and BEAST to carry you Remember the grace of your Lord say praised be he that created ●or us these things we had not the power to create them They all shall return before the Lord to be judged The Infidels have divided God into many parts Certainly he that saith that there are many Gods is impious hath he appointed you to say that the Angels which he hath created are his daughters seeing that he giveth you sonnes When it is declared to some Infidels that a Daughter is born to him he is not satisfied he desireth to have a son will they say that God adorneth himselfe and taketh ornaments to beautifie him like their Idols It is a manifest error they say that the Angels that worship God are the daughters of his divine Majesty I will write what they say and will r●quire of them a● accompt of their discourse at the day of Iudgement They have said had it pleased God we had not adored the Angels They know not what they say and ignorantly blaspheme do they observe any Scripture that hath been taught them heretofore On the contrary they say that their fathers lived in like manner and that they follow their steps they have said as much to all the Prophets that were sent unto them When thou spakest to them to observe ●hat is contained in the Alcoran and to abandon the Idols which their fathers worshipped they answered that they believed neither in thee nor in thy mission but we avenged our selves upon them Consider what is the end of blaspheme●s Remember thou that Abraham said to his
be intreated like the godly in their life and death and that they shall not be judged God hath created heaven and earth for a mark of his power he shall judg every one according to their works and shall do injustice to none Consider how they worship what cometh into their fancy God hath seduced them from his certain knowledge he hath rendred them deaf hath hardned their heart blinded them who shal guide if God seduce them Do they not consider it They say our resurrection shal be like the life of this world some dy others are born length of years cause us to die they know not what they say and speak but by opinion When they are preached unto they have no other ' discourse to utter but make our fathers to revive if what we say be true Say unto them God causeth you to live dy shal assemble you at the day of Iudgment there is no doubt in this but the greatest part of the people know it not God is the King of the heavens earth of the day of judgment that day shall he assemble the Infidels thou shalt see all Sects and all Religions assembled before him upon their knees every sect shall see their sins written in a particular book shal be al chastised after their demerits It shall be said unto them behold the book that speaketh against you we have exactly written what you have don God shal give his mercy to the righteous that is supream felicity It shal be said to the wicked have not the Commandments of God bin preached to you Ye became proud and were incredilous when it was told you that the promises of God and the day of Judgment were indubitable ye said that i● was but an opinion and that ye believe it not in the end ye shall acknowledge your offence and shall suffer the pain● that ye despised God shall say unto them at the day of Iudgement I have this day forgotten you as ye forgot th● coming of this day the fi●e of hell shall be your habitation none shall deliver you because ye derided my Law and waxed proud with the riches of the earth They shall never get out of this Fire neither be able to repent Praise be to God Lord of the heavens and earth glory is due to him in all places he is omnipotent and wise CHAP. XLVI The Chapter of Hecaf containing thirty five Verses written at Mecca Hecaf is a Valley in the Country of Licmen upon the frontiers of Ar●bi● See Gelaldin and the Book intituled Kitab el Tenoir IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is most prudent and wise This Book was sent by the Omnipotent and wise We created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a sign of our Omnipotency and Vnity and appointed to every thing a prefixed and limited time If the Infidels depart from that which hath been preached to them Say unto them have ye considered the Idols that ye adore shew me what they have created on earth are they Gods companions in the creation of the heavens bring me a Book sent from heaven before the Alcoran that containeth like it what remained of the doctrine of our Predecess●rs we shall see if ye be true who is more seduced then he that worshipeth things that can neither hear his prayers nor protect him at the day of judgment That day shall the Infidels be enemies to each other and the Idols shall not acknowledge them that have worshipped them When they heard the Alcoran read they affirmed it to contain the truth and when they were commanded to observe it they said that it is but magick Will they say that thou hast invented it Say unto them if I have invented it ye cannot deliver me from the punishment of God he knoweth all that is in this book it is sufficient that he is witnesse between you and me he is gracious and mercifull Say unto them I am not the first Prophet nor the first Apostle that God hath sent I know not what God shall determine of you and me I do but what he hath inspired into me and am sent to preach the torments of hel have ye considered in what condition ye shall be if the Alcoran be sent from God Ye have renounced it but one of the children of Israel is witnesse that it is sent from God and hath believed in his divine Majesty neverthelesse ye are become proud God guideth not the proud The Infidels say to the believers if the Alcoran were any good thing you should not exceed us in observing it it guideth not into the way of salvation it is but an old Fable The book of Moses that came before it teacheth the right way and the Will of God Say unto them the Alcoran confirmeth the Scriptures sent heretofore to them that precedeed us it is in the Arabique tongue he preacheth the pains of hell to unbelievers and declareth the joyes of Paradise to the righteous Such as shall believe that God is their Lord and shall obey him ought to fear nothing they shall suffer none affliction at the day of Judgment they shall enjoy Pardadise for the reward of their good works We have recommended to man to honor father and mother and to do good to them his mother beareth him with pain she bringeth forth with dolour she giveth him suck and weaneth him at the end of thirty moneths she hath care of him until he be in a condition to govern himself hath attained to age of discretion Then he saith Lord inspire me to be grateful for the grace that thou hast given to my father mother if I do well thou wilt accept it take care of my posterity I trust in thee desire to obey thy Commandments Their prayer shall be heard their sins shall be pardoned they shall enjoy the joyes of Paradise prepared for the righteous He that shall ●peak to his father and mother in civility shall say unto them in derision will ye bring me yet once more into the world after my death wil ye revive me from my grave many are dead heretofore that are not returned he shall be punished of God his father and mother shall require help of his divine Majesty and shall say unto him my son misery is with thee believe in God and in the Resurrection the word o● God is insallible if he reply that it is an old Fable he shall feel the punishment of God the word of his divine Majesty shall be accomplished against him as it hath been accomplished against them that did prece●e him in impiety as well devills as men they shal be damned they shall be in ●undry degrees of payns he shall chastise them after their demerits and no injustice shall be don to them It shall be said to the wicked that would depart out of hel fire ye expelled your felicity when ye lived in the world your punishment was deferred until
this present ye shall this day be punished in this fire because of your prid● crimes Remember thou the brother of Aad who preached the torments of HELL in the Valley of HECAF his words was heard in his time and are come to pop●sterity viz. worship ●ut one God alone i● you do otherwise I apprehend for you the day of Judgment they answered him art thou come to hinder us to adore our gods let us ●ee the torments that thou preachest to us if thou art true he laid God knoweth in what time he will chastise you I preach to you what hath been appo●nted me to preach but I see that ye are obstinate When they beheld a black c●oud appear which approached the place of their habitation they said behold a cloud that shall give us rain on the contrary it is the punis●ment that ye have demaned it is full of an in p●●●ous wind that shall destroy you though the Commandment of God in the Morning their houses were found empty of inhabitants Thus God chastiseth the wicked ye dwell in the places which they inhabited they had hearts eyes and cares but their hearts eyes ears were to them unpre●ntab●e the evill which they despised befell them when they neglected to observe the commandments of God We have destroyed whatsoever is round about Mecca and have made the effects of our omnipotency to appear paradventure the inhabitants thereof will be converted The Idols that they worshiped and those to whom they sacrificed did not save them on the contrary they forsook them because of their blasphemies-Remember thou that we sent to thee devils that desired to hear a Lecture of the Alcoran when they heard thee they said Hark he begins and when thou madest an end they returned with exceeding great fear and said to their companions we have heard a Lecture of a Booke sent from heaven after the book of Moses it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures teacheth the truth and guideth the people into the way of salvation O people hear him that calleth you to the Law of God and to the observance of his Commandments believe him God shall pardon your sins and deliver you from the pains of hell such as shall not hearken to him shall not escape the punishment of their crimes and shall be deprived of protection at the day of Judgment such men are seduced from the way of salvation Consid●r they not that God who created heaven and earth did not labour in creating them that he is able to give life and death and is omniponent Be thou mindfull of the day that the Infidels shall desire to get out of the fire of hell it shall be said unto them are not the pains that were preached to you true they shall say yes Lord it shall be said to them taste then the torments which ye have merited through your impiety Persevere thou as the Prophets thy pedecessors persevered Be not impatient till thou see the punishment of Infidels they shall see it when they shall rise againe and shall believe that they have been but an hour in their sepulchres This is that which God hath commanded to preach he shall destroy those only that disobey his Commandments CHAP. XLVII The Chapter of the Combat containing fourscore and eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious merciful Good works are vain unprofitable to the wicked and to them that hinder their neighbour to follow the Law of God he pardoneth their sins who beleive in what Mahomet hath preached it is the very truth that proceedeth from his divine Majesty but the Infidels have followed vanity and the believers have embraced the truth sent from their Lord Thus God speaketh to the people in parables When ye shall meet the Infidels in time of warre cut their necks pursue them untill ye take them prisoners then bind them after this ye shal either give them liberty or put them to ransom untill their party shall lay down arms If God pleased he could give you victory without fighting but his will is to prove you he guideth into Paradise them that are slain for the defence of his Law and giveth them his grace Oh ye that believe in God! If ye protect the Law of God God will protect you he wil confirm your steps and destroy the Infidels because they have contemned his commandments and their good works shall be to them unprofitable consider they not what hath been the end of the impious that were before them and that God hath destroyed them Hee shall destroy them in like manner because he protecteth the Believers and Infidels are deprived of his protection he maketh the righteous to enter into Paradise into gardens wh●reof flow many rivers The punishment of the wicked is sometimes deferred in this world they live like beasts but the fire of Hell is prepared for their punishment How many cities Mecca stronger more opulent then that which they caused thee to abandon have we destroyed They found no prot●ction Are such as embrace the Law of God like to them that follow their own appetites God hath promise● Paradise to them that have his fear before their eyes there be in Paradise rivers of water that receiveth no alteration there be rivers of milk that never corrupteth rivers of wine savory and delicioius to the taste rivers of honey pure and clean fruits of all sorts and the grace of God for them that shall obey his Commandments the wicked shal remain eternally in the fire of Hell where they shall drink a boyling liquor that shall burn their entrails There be persons among the Infidels that hear what thou dost preach when they are gone from thee their Doctors demand of them what thou hast said concerning the day of Iudgment God hath hardned the hearts of such men and they shall never follow but their own passions God encreaseth the graces of them that obey his Commandments and fortifyeth them in their perseverance Shall the Infidells tarry untill the day of Iudgement surprizeth them The signes of that day hath already appeared that day shall repentance be in vain There is no God but God implore from him pardon of thy sin and for these men and Women that believe in his Law he knoweth what they doe day and night If the Chapter of the place where Justice is rendred had not been sent had not made mention of Combats thou hadst not seen them that doubt of the Law look upon thee with eyes troubled because of their fears of dying Teach them obedience and speak to them with civility Had they believed and obeyed when they were appointed to fight they had performed a good work Have ye disobeyed Have ye abandoned the Law of God to defile the earth and to deprive your s●lves of his mercy God rendreth them whom he curseth who comprehend not the truth of the Alcoran deaf and blind Have they a firm heart Such as have returned to their impiery after
having known the right way were tempted of the Devil particularly when they told the Infidels that they would obey them in any thing God knowetth all their secrets what wi●l become of them when the Angels shall cause them to dye they shall beat them before and behied be●ause they have in●urred the wrath of God and desp●sed his Commandmen●s their good works shall be unprof●●able think they tha● God will never make manifest their malice If thou wilt I wil make it appear thou shalt know them by their countenance thou shalt discover them by their voyce and speech Say unto them God knoweth all your actions he shall prove you to discover the believers and the unbelievers The wicked who hinder the people to follow the way of salvation that contradict the Prophet after they have had knowledg of the Law of God hurt not his divine Majesty their actions are vain unprofirable Oh ye that believe obey God and his Prophet and render not your good works ineffectuall through disobedience he pardoneth not the wicked who seduce the people from the way of Salvation and dye in their impiety Be not fainted-hearted and slothfull ye shall be victorious God is with you He will not deprive you of reward the life of this world is but foolish pastime and delusion if yee believe in God and have his fear before your eyes he will recompense for your good works he requireth not an accompt of your riches if he do require it of you it is to hinder you to be avaricious and to banish usury from among them that believe in his Law Oh people ye are commanded to make some expence for the love of God he that shall be a niggard and avaricious in this occurrence shall be avaricious and a niggard to himself God is rich and ye are poor If ye despise his Law he will create in your place other persons that shall not do like you CHAP. XLVIII The Chapter of Conquest containing twenty nine Verses written at Mecca This is the Chapter Of the taking of the City of Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull We have given thee a manifest victory God pardoneth the sinne that thou didst commit when thou wert too prompt and when thou wert too tardy to fight for his Law he shall accomplish his grace upon thee he shall guide thee into the right way and shall powerfully protect thee he hath delivered the hearts of the believers from fear to augment their faith he disposeth the forces of the Heavens and Earth he knoweth all and is most prudent He shall make them that shall obey his Commandments to dwell in Gardens wherein flow many rivers and shall remit to them their offences this is supream felicity The Infidels the wicked the disobedient and unjust that have evill thoughts of God shall be accursed of his divine Majesty misery shal alwayes pursue them his wrath be eternally upon them he hath prepared for them the pains of Hell God disposeth the powers of the Heavens and Earth he is omnipotent and wise We have sent thee to be witnesse of the deportments of those of the Nation to proclaime to them the joyes of Paradise and to preach to them the pains of hell to the end they may believe in God and in his Prophet that they may praise him honour him and exalt his glory evening and morning Such as shall obey thee obey God the hand of God is stronger then the hand of men he that shall sin shall offend against his own soul and he that performed what he hath promised to God shall have an exceeding great reward Such of the Ara●ians as have no inclination to ●ollo● thee say thou imployest our WEALTH and PERSONS to goe with thee implore therefore pardon of God for us but they speake not with the mouth what they have in the heart Say unto them who but God is able to do ought for you if it be his will to bring good or evil upon you he is omnipotent and knoweth all that you do Ye believed that the Prophet and True-believers should be slain when they fought for the Law of God ye believed that they should never return to their houses This opinion rejoyced your heart but you were deceived and were your selves destroyed with them that believed not in God nor his Prophets God hath prepared the fire of hell for Infidels the Kingdome of the heavens and earth appertaineth to him he punisheth and chastiseth whom he listeth he is gracious mercifull When ye shall go to the spoil such as refused before to follow you to the sight will say permit us to go with you they would pervert the Word of God Say unto them ye shall not follow us in this occasion God hath not heretofore ordained it they will reply certainly ye are envious against us on the contrary they understand not the Law of God except very few among them Say to the Arabians that refused to follow thee ye shall be called to fight against miserable men yee shall fight them neverthel●sse they shall still be obedient to God if yee obey and fight for the Faith he will largely reward you if ye desert his service as heretofore ye have done he shall severely chastise you The blinde the lame and the sick are not obliged to go to the war He that shall obey God and his Prophet shall dwell eternally in gardens wherein flow many rivers and he that shall disobey Gods Commandments shall be punished for his disobedience God accepted their action that repaired to thee under the tree he knew what they had in their hearts their confirmed he steps gave them victory he is omnipotent and wise God had promised you great spoil he gave it you and delivered you from the hands of the people this shall serve for a sign of his omnipotency to the true-lievers he will conduct you in to the right way none but you could have atchieved that conquest he well knew that that was for none other he is omnipotent if the wicked fight you they shall fly they shall turn the back and finde none to protect them Observe the Law of God against them do as was heretofore commanded you the Law of God admits no alteration God hath delivered you from their hands and delivered them into yours in the midst of Mecca having given you victory over them he beholdeth all their actions they have despised the Commandments of his divine Majesty and hindred you heretofore to go to the Temple of Mecca they are at present prisoners without the assistance of the true-believers that were within the City with you ye had not known them ye had trampled them under our foot without distinction and had offended God without knowledg of your sin God bestoweth his mercy on whom he pleaseth had ye been separated from the unbelievers we had severely punished them When they were succoured of the ignorant and had some advantage God put his Prophet and all
of Moses and Abraham to wit that none shall bear the burden of another man shal have but what he shal have gained he shal in the end see his labour be rewarded after his works and all shall appear in the presence of thy Lord. H● it is that causeth to laugh and mourn to live and to dye he created the male and female of every thing he giveth and taketh away mans soul when he listeth he is most rich and hath no want of any person He is the Lord of the Planet which men adored He destroyed A●● and Temod drowned the people of Noah who were most erroneous and unjust overthrew the City of Lot and covered it with burning stone In whom will they believe if they believe not in thy Lord This Prophet is sent to preach to you the pains of hel as did the other Prophets that were before you The day of Judgment approacheth and none but God knoweth when it will come wonder ye at this discourse Ye scoffe and lament not when ye are spoken to but ye shal be surprized in your sin if ye humble not your selves before God neither worship him CHAP. XLVII The Chapter of the Moon containing fifty five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The day of Iudgment approacheth the Moon was divided into two parts nevertheless Infidels believe not miracles when they see them they say that this is Magick they lie and follow but their passion but as is written The history of past ages full of salutery counsels was preached to them neverthelesse Preachers were to them unprofitable Depart thou far from them when they shall be called to the universall Judgement which they will not believe that day shall their eyes be troubled with feare they shall come out of the Earth dispersed like frighted GRASSEHOPPERS they shall flock to him that shal summon thē Judgment and shall say behold here a day unhappy for the wicked The people heretofore belyed Noah and said that he was possessed of the Devill Noah exhorted them and invoked his Lord in the end he said that his strength was gon and that he was overcome through the malice of men then was he powerfully succored we opened the gate of the Heavens and caused an extraordinary raine to fall wee caused FOVNTAINES to issue ●orth from under the Earth the water of Heaven and Earth were gathered together and overwhelmed the Infidels because of their sins We saved Noah in the Arke well pinned and chaulked it floated upon the water trough our p●●mission to serve for a token of our omnipotency will any of the vn●elievers of this time consider this will they consider the punishment of their crimes and the pains of Hell We have made the Alcoran easie to be understood will there be any that study it The wicked that traduced Aad were chastised but with what chastisement We sent against them an impetuous wind in a day to them unfortunate that caused men to fall like palms rooted up consider what was their puishment We have rendred the Alcoran intelligible will there be any one that will study it Temod and his people traduced the Prophets and contemned their exhortations they said there is a man among us who would seduce us from the right way if ye follow him he will lead you into Hel● was he alone elected among us to receive the inspirations of God No he is an Imposter but in the end they knew them that were wicked and lyars We sent the Camell to prove the Infidels their Prophet observed what they did and was patient the water was divided for them and for the Camel and each at his day found to drinke neverthelesse they called their Companions and slew the Camell of Salhe but in what manner were they chastised I darted thunder against them which made them drie as chaffe We have made the Alcoran easie to be understood will there be any to study it Lots Citizens traduced him and despised his instructions We sent against them an hot winde with burning stones that destroyed them and we in the morning saved Lot with his family throught our speciall grace thus do I recompense them that ackowledge my benefits Lot had preached to them the pains of hel we surprized them when they disputed against his exhortations they saw his guests to enter into the city in the figure of men we blinded their sight and said Tast oh ye wicked the punishment of your crimes In the morning they wery chastised with a perpetuall chastisement because they despised the words of Lot We have made the Alcoran intelligible will there be any that will study it Certainly the men of Pharo●h were preached un●o they would not obey my Law and despised my miracles but we surprized them in their sinnes Are the Infidels that are among you of more value then those that preceded them Finde ye any Salvation for them in the SCRIPTVRE Will they say they shall obtain victory over the believers On the contrary they are vanquished and turn the back Certainly the hour of their punishment shall speedily come their time approacheth and their pain in Hell shall be greater then that of the Earth they are wholly seduced from the way of Salvation and shall be dragged and cast headlong into eternal flames We have created all things by our sole power we spake but one word and in the twinckling of an eye the thing wa● we heretofore destroyed a great number of Infidels like unto them will there be any that considereth it All the good and the evill that they have done is exactly written The righteous shall dwell in pleasant gardens they shall drink in eternall rivers they shall not speak a lye in their assemblies and shall dwell eternally near to the most majestique and omnipotent God CHAP. LV. The Chapter of the Mercifull containing eighteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The mercifull hath taught the Alcoran he hath created man and given him the use of reason he created the Sun and the Moon to count seasons the Stars and Trees adore him he hath elevated the Heavens established Justice commanded to weigh with good weights he hath created the Earth for the habitation of men with all sorts of fruits g●ain and leaves he created the winds and tempests Oh men and Devils what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord He created man of Earth like a pot and the Devils of the flame of fire what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord He is the Lord of both the Wests and both the Easts what Lord do you blasphem but your own Lord He maketh the fresh water to mingle with the salt and the one easily mingleth with the other what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord be bring●●● Pearls and Corrall out of the Sea what Lord do ye blaspeme but your own Lord he created the Ships that float upon the Sea big as mountains what Lord
do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Al things shall have end and the majestique and glorious face of thy Lord shal be permanent what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth imploreth his grace he is ever himself what Lord do ye blasphem●e but your own Lord Oh ye men and Devils I will require an account of your actions what Lord will ye blaspheme but your own Lord Oh ye men and Devills passe the extremities of Heaven and Earth go beyond them if ye can ye have not the power what Lord do ye blaspheme but your owne Lord If he send against you flames without smoak and smoake without fire ye cannot defend your selves what Lord do ye blaspheme but your owne Lord When the heaven openeth it resembleth a rose or a crimson coloured skin what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord The time will come when ●n accompt shall be required from men and Devils of their sinnes what Lord do ye blaspheme but your Lord The wicked shall be known by their countenance an accompt shall be required of their readinesse and negligence what Lord do ye plaspheme but your own Lord Behold hell which the wicked would not believe they shall turn round about and round about in boyling water of which they sha●● drink what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Such as have had the fear of God before their eyes shal enter inro Gardens where the trees are covered with branches and leaves adorned with Rivers and Fountains with abundance of all sorts of fruits what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall repose upon fair beds lined with Crimson what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall gather th● fruits of this garden to their contentment what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall there have wives who shall not cast a look but upon them and whom no person man or Angel shall touch before them what Lord do ye blaspheme but your Lord They shall resemble Corrall and Rubies what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord good deedes are recompensed with good deeds what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord There be yet other gardens wherein are herbs exceeding green Rivers Dates Pomegranets and all sorts of fruits what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord There be in these gardens women who have eyes exceeding black and bodies exceeding white they are covered with pavillions none either men or angels shall touch them before their husbands what Lord do ye blaspeme but your own Lord They shal repose upon green Carpets near rivolets bordered with flowers what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Praised be the name of God thy Lord honour and glory are due to him eternally CHAP. LVI The Chapter of Judgment containing fourscore and nineteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful The day of Iudgment will come none can deny it That day shall many be afflicted and humbled and many shal be elated rejoyced the Earth shall tremble the Mountain open and be dispersed like dust carryed away by the wind ye shal be present at that day in a threefold manner * These are the Blessed Some shall have in their right hand the book wherein shall be written all their actions * These are the Damned Others shall have it in their left hand and * The prop●e●s such as preceeded them in wel-doing shal be the nearest to his divine Majesty and the higher in Paradise there shal be a great number of the first ages and few of the latter they shall repose upon beds adorned with gold and precious stones they shall look upon each other young boyes shall go about them with vessels Cups and Goblets full of delicious drink that shall not offend ●he head neither intoxicate them they shall have all the fruits that they can covet and such vy●nds as they shall desire they sha● have w●m●n with black eyes and who shall be white as polished pearls for recompense of their good works they shall not hear an evill word spoken they shall not sin and shall hear perpetually the voyce of them that bless them They that shall hold their book in their right hand shall be near an Apple-tree fresh and without throne and near the tree of * Muse is a fruit common in Egypt Muse under a pleasant shaddow by flowing water with store of fruits of all seasons they shall use them with freedom lying on delicious beds We have created the daughters of Paradise Virgins and affectionate to their husbands for the content of them that shall have in their right hands the book of the accompt of their actions of many of those that were in the first Ages and of many of such as shall be in the latter Those that shall have their book of accompt in the left hand shall be tormented with an exceeding hot winde they shall drink boyling water they shall be in a black hot and salt smoak for that they were Luxurious in the world for that they were negligent to observe the Commandments of God and continued in the enormity of their sins The Infidels say what after death we shall be earth and dust and shall we rise again with our fathers and predecessors Say unto them you your Predecessors and posterity shall all be assembled before God to be judged Then oh wicked Imposters shall ye eat of the fruit of the Tree * Zacon is the tree of Hel. Zacon ye shall fill your belly ye shall drink boyling water and be daily altered behold your condition at the day of Iudgment We created all of you if ye believe it not See Gelaldin consider the wealth ye possesse did you your selves create it We have appointed that ye shall dye we can if we please put other creatures like unto you in your place and metamorphize you into another forme which ye know not we caused the soule to enter into the body if ye consider not this think upon your tillage do ye make the earth to bring forth fruits or do I cause them to spring forth If I will I can render your fields drie as straw without grain neverthelesse are ye proud Ye say what shall cut grain that we have sown be lost No we will preserve it Consider the water that ye drink have ye made it to fal from the clouds or did we cause it to descend if we please we can render it so salt that ye shall not be able to drink it if ye acknowledg not this grace consider the fire that ye kindle did ye create the wood that burneth Wee created it to put you in mind of the fire of hell and for the profit of the people Exalt the name of God most mighty I swear by him that maketh the Stars to fall this is a great oath if ye understand it that the Alcoran is
a book worthy of praise all therein is written in good order no person shal handle it that is not clean and purifyed it is sent from God Lord of the Vniverse if ye renounce what is written in this book ye shall be in the number of Infidels and shall know the truth when the soul shall forsake your body I know this better then you but ye do not consider it if ye believe not to rise again cause your soul to return into your body when it shall be upon your lipps when a righteous man dyeth he shall finde rest and all manner of concentment in the delights of Paradise if he be of them that hold the book of the accompt of their work in the right hand and shall be free from eternall pains If he be in the number of Infidels and seduced he shall be precipitated into hell this is is a most certain truth Exalt the name of thy Lord omnipotent CHAP LVII The Chapter of Iron containing twenty nine verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful All that is in the Heavens and Earth exalteth the glory of God he is omnipotent and wise the Kingdom of the Heavens and earth is his he giveth life and death to whom he pleaseth he is without beginning without end he knoweth al that mē make manifest whatsoever they keep secret he knoweth all things He it is that created the earth the heavens in 6 days fitteth on his throne he knoweth whatsoever ●reth into the earth and all that cometh out he knoweth ●●atsoever descendeth from heaven and whatsoever ascen●h he is with you in whatsoever place ye are and seeth 〈◊〉 your actions the Kingdom of the heavens and earth ● his and all things obey him He maketh the night to ●ter the day and knoweth what is in the heart of men ●elieve in God and his Prophet expend in pious works ●●me part of the wealth that he hath given you he shal ●ive you more Do good abundantly to them that believe 〈◊〉 his Law wherefore will ye not believe in God and his Apostle who teacheth you the Commandments of your word Ye have promised him to embrace his Law he hath ●nspired his Commandments into his servant to bring ●ou out of darknesse and guide you into light he is graci●us and mercifull Who hindreth you to make any ex●ence for his glory The inheritance of the heavens and earth is his Such as for his service have expended any thing before the taking of Mecca are not equall in merit to them that fought to conquer that City they are far above them that fought not and shall be protected of his divine Majesty he promiseth Paradise to the righteous ●●oweth all your actions Who is he that shall lend to him any alms he shall encrease his substance and give a great reward Be thou mindfull of the day when thou ●halt see those men and women that have obeyed my Commandments with a light that shall goe before them it shall be said to them this day it is declared to you that you ●hall enter into and dwell eternally in Gardens wherein ●●ow many Rivers and where ye shall finde supreme felicity Be thou mindful of the day that the wicked shall say to the True-believers Behold us cast your eye to our side that we may partake a little of your light They shall say unto ●hem return upon your steps to demand light There is a place betwixt them that hath a secret gate full of grace and repose for the righteous and without environed with misery for the wicked they shall call upon the righteous and say were not we of your RELIGION they shall reply yes but ye betrayed your soules through disobedience ye d●ubt●d of the LAW Law of God your blasphemie rendred you insolent 〈◊〉 the hour of your death the Devill made you proud moved you to rise against the Commandments of his div●●● Majesty this day there is neither ransome nor favour f●● you the fire of Hell is the habitation of the wicked O● what an habitation Such as believe in God think it no trouble to humble their hearts at the remembrance of the Alcoran and the truth that it containeth they are not like them that heretofore ha● the knowledg of the written Law they have been a long time without Prophets their hearts are hardned and the greatest part of them have been impious Know that God restoreth life to the Earth after the death thereof we have taught you the misteries of faith peradventure ye will comprehend them God shall multiply the benefits that the righteous shall lend to him and shall return them a great reward Such as believe in God and his Prophet are righteous Martyrs shall be recompensed of God they shall be covered with light and the wicked that disobey his Commandments shall be damned eternally the life of this world is but vanity sport and delusion it is but pride the abundance of wealth and children is like to the rain the wicked wonder at the plants that it produceth in the end they wither become yellow and then are altogether drie The impious shall suffer great torments and the good shall enjoy the mercy of God the life of this world is but matter of pride implore pardon of God Paradise large as heaven and Earth is prepared for them that shall believe in his divine Majesty and his Prophet th●s is an immense grace which he conferreth on whom he pleaseth All the evill that ye suffer on earth in your goods and persons is written in a Book before i● befall you it is an easie thing to God to the end th●t ye affl●ct no● your selves extraordinar●ly in your dis●leasures that ye rejoyce not overmuch in your contentme●ts God loveth not the proud he hath not to do with the covetous who recommend avarice to the peopl who neglect their duty Praise is due to him praise is due to him in all places Certainly we sent our Messengers with our Commandments we sent with them their Scriptures and ●lance that the people might weigh with good weights 〈◊〉 gave iron to men it causeth great evils and great good 〈◊〉 the world God knowath them that fight with zeal for 〈◊〉 Law and his Prophet without seeing him he is strong 〈◊〉 omnipotent We sent Noah and Abraham to instruct 〈◊〉 people we instructed their progeny in the Scripture 〈◊〉 followed the right way and many disobeyed our com●●ndments We sent after them our Prophets and Apostls 〈◊〉 sent Iesus the son of Mary we taught him the G●spel 〈◊〉 put civility clemency and chastity into the hearts of ●●m that followed him we did not command them to ●p virginity they kept it of their own accord because of ●is desire they had to please God they have not obser●ed their Law as they ought many have been disobedient ●we have rewarded those among them that believed O 〈◊〉 that believe in Iesus fear God and believe
in his pro●●● ye shall have double ●he reward of Gods mercy he shal ●●don your sins he is gracious and mercifull I teach you ●●se things to the end that such as have heretofore receved ●●e written Law may know that they have no power over 〈◊〉 grace of God he giveth it to whom he lifteth certainly ● is immense CHAP. LVIII ●he Chapter of the Dispute containing twenty two Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God hath heard the speech of her that disputed with thee concerning the action of her husband she exhibited to him ●er complaints he heareth all your discourses he heareth and ●eeth all No person among you shall swear never to ●●uch his Wife no more then his Mother your wives ●●e not your mothers your Mothers are those that conceived and brought you forth they that speake 〈◊〉 that maner speak uncivilly but God is gracious and merciful He that shall have sworn to touch no mo●● his wife and shall desire afterwards to know her sha● give liberty to a slave for satisfaction of his oath befor● he touch her this is commanded you God knoweth 〈◊〉 your actions if he have not the power to free a slave he shal fast two moneths together before touching her if he cannot fast he shal give to fifty poor Thus ought ye to do if ye believe in God and his Prophet God so appointed it and hath prepared great torments for them t●●● transgresse his Commandments They that shall disobey him and the Prophet shall be cove●ed with shame and ignominy as were their predecessors in impiety God hath sent his Commandments on earth those who shal reject them shall be severely tormented at the day that he shall revive them he shal declare to them all that they have don he hath kept accompt and they have forgotten it he seeth all Seest thou not that all that is in the heaven and earth is Gods If ye be three secretly met together he is the four●h if ye be five he is the sixth if ye be more or less he is alwayes with you whresoever you are He shal relate to men at the day of judgment all that they have don he knoweth al things Seest thou not the actions of them to whom private meetings were prohibited they return to their sin and do what was forbidden them they assemble secretly with malice to conspire against thee and to di●obey thee and when they come towards thee they say that thou hast spoken things that God hath not inspired thee to utter they know in their soules that God will chastise them for their discourse and that they all shal go into hel where their Rendezvous is Oh ye that believe make no private meetings to offend God to conspire against his prophet to disobey him assemble ye to perform acts of vertue and to serve God hare his fear before your eyes ye shal one day appear before his divine Majesty to be judged Private assemblies proceed from the Devil for the affliction of the righteous he bringeth no evil upon them but through Gods permission and all believers ought to resign themselves to his divine Will O ye that believe when ye shall be assembled with your prophet and are entreated to inlarge your selves in●arge ye your selves God shal inlarge to you his grace When ye are bid to rise rise Go● shal raise up all the true-b●lievers that are among you and p●ace the learned some degrees above others he knoweth your actions O ye that believe when ye shall be disposed to deliver any secret to the Prophet speak to him with truth good shall ●efall you and he shall purifie you if ye fear to impart to him ●our secret God will not give you his grac● Make your prayers at the time appointed ●●●tribute tithes ob●y God and his Prophet God knoweth what ye do Seest thou not them that have abandoned his law the wrath of his divine Majesty is faln upon them they are of different opinion in their lye and know not that they lye but he hath prepared for them a great punishment because of their blasphemies they have concealed their falth and are ●educed Certainly he hath prepared for them grievous pains their wealth and their children shall not be able to deliver them from his indignation they shall be precipitated into the fire of hell where they shall abide eternally B● thou mindful of the day when he will cause them to revive they shall swear as they swear before thee that they believed in his Law they affirm they do good and are lyars the devill hath prepossessed them and hath made them forget the word of God such as follow him are damned They that transgresse the wil of God and that of his Prophet are overcome of the devil God hath said in the Scriptures thou shalt not obtain victory over me neither over my Prophet he is omnipotent alway victorious thou shalt find none of them that believe in his Law and the day of judgment that doth not ex●ctly observe the Commandments of his divine Majesty and those of his Prophet although their fathers their Children their brethren and companions oppose them God hath imprinted faith in their hearts he hath strengthned them through his Spirit and shall cause them to enter into ga●dens wherein flow many rivers where they shall abide eternally he shall be satisfyed with their obedience they shall be content with his grace Such as shall obey his Commandments shall be happy CHAP-LIX The Chapter of Exile containeng twenty foure Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Whatsoever is in the heavens and earth exalteth the glory of God he is omnipotent and wise he it is that hath exiled the wicked from among them that have knowledg of the written Law when he the first time exiled them ye believed not that they should depart from their houses ye believed that their cittadels would defend them from his punishment but he surprized them and did cast terrour into their hearts and they destroyed their dwelling places with their own hands to assist the true-believers O ye that are wise consider their end If God had not appointed them to quit their Country he had chastised them in some other maner they in the end shall suff●r the pains of hell fire because they have disobeyed his Commandments and his Prophet he that shall disobey him shall be severely chastised ye cut not Palm trees and leave none standing but through Gods permission he covereth with shame and infamy them that disobey him See Kitab el tenior He commandeth you to give to the Poophet a part of the spoyl that ye shall gaine from your enemies as well of Horses and Camels as of other spoils he endueth him with power and authority over whom he pleaseth he is omnipotent He enjoyneth you to give to the Prophet a part of what ye shall conquer over them of the City of Mecca he
commandeth what pleaseth him Give a share to God to the Prophet his Parents Orphans the poor and pilgrims that no disorder may arise among you that are rich perform what the Prophet shall command you abstain from what he shall prohibit you and fear God he is severe in his chastisements do good to the poor that have forsaken their faculties and ho●ses and separated themselves from the wicked for the service of God and to defend his Law and his Prophet The● that before them forsooke their Houses for the service of GOD affect those that have followed them they beare them no malice for the wealth they possesse although they themselves are necessitous They that are not avaritious shall be happy such as shall suceed them shall pray for them and say Lord pardon our sins and our brethren that were our predecessors in the observance of thy Commandements infuse no malice into our hearts against them that follow thy Law thou art gracious and mercifull Seest thou not that the wicked say to their brethren wicked as themselves had ye not so soon left Medina we had gone out with you and had never obeyed him whom ye have obeyed had ye fought we had defended you God seeth that they are impious had they delayed to goe forth they should not have gone forth with them had they fought they would not have succoured them they had turned the back and had found no protection they feare men more then God because they are ignorant The Jews shall not fight against you together unlesse in their fortresses and behind walls the War among them is cruell but think not that they may assemble and unite themselves their hearts are divided because they are ignorant they are like their predecessors who were chastised and slain and shall suffer great torments at the day of Judgement they are like to him whom the devill had seduced and said to him I am innocent of thine impiety I feare God Lord of the Universe the end of both is to be cast headlong into the fire of hell where they shall abide eternally such is the reward of the wicked O ye that believe feare ●od and consider what ye shall do at the day of Judgement feare God he knoweth whatsoever ye doe be not like to those that forget his Commandements he forgetteth them and they continue in the number of the damned they shall be most miserable and such as shall go into Paradise shall be blessed If w● should make the Alcoran to descend upon a mountain it will open it self with the feare it will have of the Word of God Thus doe I speak in parables to the people peradventure they will be converted There is but one only God who knoweth what is present future past he is gracious merciful there is but one God King of all things He is holy the deliverer true the punisher strong powerfull glorious Praised be God he hath no companion he is God the Creator who hath formed whatsoever is in the world all glorious attributes are due to him whatsoever is in heaven and earth exalt his glory he is omnipotent and wise CHAP. LX. The Chapter of Triall containing eighteene Verses written at Mecca Some Mahometan Doctors have intituled this the Chapter of Vocation because it entreateth of women that forsooke their husbands to follow the Law of Mahomet who appointed to try their hearts intention and to know their Vocation IN the name of God gracious and mercifull O ye that believe obey not mine nor your enemies ye shew kindnesse to them when ye meet them neverthelesse they reject the truth that hath been sent unto them and chase away the Prophet and you also and that because ye believe in God your Lord Seek not their friendship when ye fight against them for my Law I know what ye ought to feare and ye know it not he that shall doe what is here above prohibited followeth an evill way if they have advantage over you they will be your enemies they will stretch forth their hands and tongues against you they will revile you and desire that ye may renounce your faith if ye doe it ye shall have no content in your wives or children at the day of judgement ye shall be separated from them and God shall behold all your actions ye have a fair example in Abraham and them that were with him when they said to the people we are innocent of the sin that ye commit in worshipping any other God but God Abraham said to his father I will ●ot implore pardon of God for thee I am not able to deliver thee from his punishment if thou art an Idolater Lord all our confidence is in thee our refuge is in thy mercy protect not unbelievers against us pardon our sins thou art mercifull and wise ye have in them a faire example for them that feare God and apprehend the day of Judgement God hath not to doe with them that obey Infidels neither hath he need of any person and praise is due to him in all places peradventure he will establish for the future great amity between you and them that ye hate he is omnipotent gracious and mercifull he doth prohibite you the conversation of them that fight not against you for his faith and that expel you not from your houses he doth not forbid you to do them justice he loveth the just He forbiddeth you to converse with them that fight against your faith that drive you from your houses and aide to expell you he prohibiteth you to obey them and to contract amity with them such as obey them shall be exceedingly too blame O ye that beleeve in God! when the wives of your enemies shall throw themselves into your party trie their conscience if ye know them to be faithfull and to believe in the Law of God restore them not to the incredulous Infidels it is not lawfull for them to know them neither for the women to teach them give them subsistance ye shall not sin in espousing them marry them not after the laws of unbelievers demand of them what dowry they require they shall demand of you what ye are willing to bestow on them continue in accord God so commandeth he shall be your Judge at the day of Judgement he knoweth all your actions and is most wise If your wives revolt to the party of unbelievers and ye suffer any damage ye shall repaire that damage to him that suffereth out of the booty that ye shall conquer feare God and believe in the Law of his divine Majesty O Prophet when women shall desire to embrace thy Religion with firm purpose to believe in one only God not to steal neither to commit adultery neither to murther their children to lye blaspheme or be disobedient receive them implore pardon of God for them he is gracious and mercifull O ye that believe obey not them against whom God is angry they despaire of their salvation as the wicked dispaired
that died heretofore in their impiety CHAP. LXI The Chapter of Array containing fourteen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise God all that is in heaven and earth he is omnipotent and wise O ye that believe say not that ye doe that which ye doe not God abhorreth them that say they doe what they doe not and loveth them that fight in rank and file for his Law like to a strong wall Remember thou that Moses said to his people ye shall doe me no harme ye shall know in the end that I am the Messenger of God but God seduced them from the right way when they departed from obedience to his Commandements he guideth not the wicked Remember thou that Jesus the son of Mary said to the children of Israel I am the Messenger of God he hath sent me to confirm the old Testament and to declare to you that there shall come a Prophet after me whose name shall be Mahomet When he came with miracles reasons most intelligible and arguments infallible they said that he was a Magician who is more impious then he that blasphemeth against God The Infidels would extinguish with their mouth the light of faith but God shall make it manifest against their will he hath sent his Prophet to guide the people into the way of salvation to teach them the truth of his Law and make it more evident then all other Laws of the world against the will of Infidels O ye that believe Will ye that I teach you one thing that shall deliver you from the pains of hell Believe in God and in his Prophet imploy your wealth and persons in fighting for his Law ye shall do exceeding well if ye have knowledge to understand it God shall pardon your offences he shall cause you to en●er into gardens wherein flow many rivers he shall cause you to goe into the beautifull Palaces of Eden where is supreme felicity he shall confer upon you yet another grace which ye desire viz victory over your enemies O ye that believe maintain the Law of God Jesus the Son of Mary said to his Apostles who will maintain the Law of God with me he shall be supported and protected of God The Apostles answered we will maintain it One part of the Children of Israel believed in Jesus and another rejected his Law we gave succor to them that believed against their enemies and they were victorious CHAP. LXII The Chapter of the Assembly containing eleven Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise God all that is in heaven and earth praise the King holy majestique and omnipotent who hath sent his Prophet an Arabian by Nation to preach his Commandements to the Arabians to purifie them to teach them the Scriptures and mysteries of faith they were before seduced from the right way They that shall come after them shall not see a Prophet equall to him this is a speciall grace of God the omnipotent and wise he conferreth it on whom he listeth and his graces are immense They that preach the old Testament and performe not what it enjoyneth are like to an Asse charged with books Such are they that disobey the Commandements of God he guideth not the impious Oh ye Jews believe not your selves to be the beloved of God expect death ye shall understand your error they believe not that they shall be chastised for their sins but God beholdeth all the unjust Say unto them ye shall find one day the death that ye flie ye be sent back before God who knoweth what is present past and to come he shall set before you all that ye have done to be judged Oh ye that believe when yee are called to the assembly of Friday to make your prayers pray and quit your trade this shall be a good act it ye understand it when you shal have finished your prayers separate your selves goe whither you please and b●g of God his grace call frequently to mind his divine Majesty and ye shall be happy When the Infidels saw any thing of profit or any divertisement they forsook thee and went out from the Sermon Say unto them how great riches and delights are there with God he is the Rich of the rich CHAP. LXIII The Chapter of the wicked containing twelve Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull When the wicked shall come to visit thee they will say that they are witnesses that thou art a Prophet sent from God He well knoweth that thou art his Prophet he seeth that they dissemble and fell their faith to enjoy wealth in the world wherein they commit evill they say with the mouth we believe in the Law of God and are impious in their fouls impiety is imprinted in their hearts and they will not learne the mysteries of faith The beauty of their bodies shall not displease thee when thou shalt see them they erect themselves when they speak and resemble a piece of wood set up against a wall they feare all rumors that flie abroad and are your enemies Beware of them doubtlesse God will destroy them how can they blaspheme against his Law When it was said to them Come to the Prophet he shall beg pardon of God for your sins they shook the head and withdrew with pride misery is upon them whether thou implore pardon for them or dost not implore it God will not pardon them he abhorreth the wicked They say doe no good to them that follow that Prophet of God untill they abandon him the treasures of heaven and earth are Gods but they comprehend it not They say if we returne to the City of Medina we will drive thence shame and infamie and will there establish greatnesse and honour on the contrary greatnesse power and victory proceed from God his Prophet and them that believe in his Law but Infidels understand it not Oh ye that believe in God! your riches and your children ought not to seduce you from his service such as shall forsake it shall be in the number of the damned give alms of the wealth that he hath given you before the houre of your death arrive Then shall the wicked say Lord if thou hadst not so soon caused me to die I had embraced thy Law God retardeth not the day of any one when the hour is come he knoweth all that ye do CHAP. LXIV The Chapter of Deceipt containing eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise God whatsoever is in heaven and earth he is King of all things praise is due to him he is omnipotent He it is that hath created you Some observe his Commandements and others are unbelievers he beholdeth all your actions He created the heavens and the earth he formed you and ye shall be one day assembled before him to be judged he knoweth all that is in heaven and earth he understandeth your secrets and what ye publish
he is not ignorant of what is in the hearts of men Have ye not heard what did heretofore befall the wicked They were punished they dyed in their misery and in the end shall suffer grievous torments because God hath sent them Prophets to instruct them and they said what shall a man like our selves teach us the right way They despised them and forsook the Law of God he hath not to doe with them neither hath he need of the world praise is due to him in all places doe the wicked believe that they shall not rise againe Contrariwise God shall make them to revive and shall declare to them all that they have done this thing is easie to his divine Majesty Believe in God his Prophet and the light that he hath sent you he knoweth all your actions Remember thou the day when he shall summon all to Judgement this shall be the day of D●ceipt they shall be known that have deceived themselves and those that have deluded their neighbours See Kitab el tenoir That day their sins shall be pardoned that shall have believed in his unity and have done good works they shall dwell eternally in Gardens wherein flow many Rivers the Infidels that despise his Commandements shall be precipitated into hell where they shall burn eternally No evill befalleth you but through Gods permission he giveth patience to him that believeth in his divine Majesty and knoweth all Obey God and his Prophet if ye obey him not know that the Prophet of God is obliged only to preach the truth of faith there is but one God all True-believers resigne themselves to his divine will Oh ye that believe ye have children and wives that are your enemies beware of their malice if ye pardon them if ye depart from them God shall be to you gracious and mercifull Wealth and children do often hinder you to obey God but know that he rewardeth abundantly the righteous feare him with all your power hearken to his Commandements obey him give alms he that is not avaricious shall be blessed if ye lend any thing to God he shall cause it to multiply he shall pardon your sins he accepteth the acknowledgement of his benefits and is most mercifull he knoweth what is present past and future is omnipotent and wise CHAP. LXV The Chapter of Divorce containing eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful O Prophet when ye repudiate your wives repudiate them following the Ordinances and Laws and reckon the time that they ought to tarry before they marry again Fear God your Lord cause them not to depart their houses neither expell them before the time appointed if they be not taken in adultery Such are the Ordinances of God he that shall transgress them shall do injury to himself peradventure God will enjoyn something concerning them of which ye are ignorant When the time that they ought to tarrie shall be finished retain or dismisse them with civility ye shall take persons of your Religion honest men that shall be witnesses of your actions depose with truth what ye have seen it is so appointed to them that believe in God and the day of Judgement God shall deliver from affliction him that shall have his fear before his eyes and shall enrich him when he least thinks of it He that shall trust in him shall not be deceived he doth what he pleaseth and hath appointed a prefixed time to every thing If the women hope no more to have their moneths and doubt that they are misreckoned they shall tarrie three moneths before they marry again if they be not Nurses if they be with child ye shall abstain till their delivery whosoever feareth God rejoyceth in the observance of his Commandements What is above is ordained of God he shall pardon their sins that have his fear before their eyes and give them an exceeding great reward Cause them that ye repudiate to dwell in your houses or neer to you abuse them not If they bee with ch●lde allow them what shall be necessary for them untill they shall be delivered if they desire to nurse their children ye shall give them an honest salarie and entreat them with civility and curtesie if ye like not this ye shall cause them to be nursed by another whose pains ye shall reward If ye be not wealthy you shall allow according to your power God doth not enjoyn any one to expend more then his ability permitteth he shall give you good after evill how many have been the Cities that have heretofore disobeyed the Commandements of God and of his Prophets We have kept an exact accompt of their sins their Inhabitants have been chastised and shall be in the end in the number of the damned God hath prepared for them grievous torments Oh ye that are wise fear God he hath sent you the Alcoran he hath sent you a Prophet to teach you the mysteries of his Law to lead you out of darkness and to guide into light them that shall believe in him and do good works he shall open to them the Gate of Paradise wherein flow many Rivers where they shall dwell eternally with all manner of content God! He it is that created the seven heavens and as much of earth and ordaineth among them what pleaseth him to the end ye may know that he is omnipotent and knoweth all things CHAP. LXVI The Chapter of Prohibition containing twelve Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull Oh Prophet prohibit not for the contentment of thy wives to do that which God hath permitted thee he is gracious and mercifull he hath appointed to do what is permitted by your Law he is your Lord is omniscient and most wise When the Prophet went to visit one of his wives God revealed to him what she desired to say to him he approved one part and rejected the other when he told his wife what was in her will to speak to him she demanded of him who had revealed it to him He that knoweth all things hath revealed it to me that ye may be converted your hearts are inclined to do what is forbidden if ye act any thing against the Prophet know that God is his protector the Angel Gabriel and all the believers will defend him the Angels shall protect him against you If it be his will to repudiate you God shall give him for the future other wives in your place that shall be obedient True believers humble faithfull devout contented milde clean virgins and not virgins Oh ye that believe in God! strenthen your selves you and your families in obedience to his Commandements the Idolaters shall burn in the fire of hell with their Idols the Angels deputed to torment them disobey not God they execute whatsoever is commanded them Oh ye that are Infidels there is no excuse for you ye shall be chastised after your demerits Oh ye that believe turn to God with affection he shall pardon
your sins and make you to enter into Gardens wherein flow many rivers the light of faith shall goe before the Prophet and them that have followed him When God shall recompense them they shall say Lord give us thy light pardon our sins thou art omnipotent Oh Prophet fight against the Infidels and the wicked fortifie thy self against them hell shall be their habitation God teacheth unbelievers a parable and saith the wives of Noah and the wives of Lot were under the power of my two servants righteous men they betrayed them but did not escape the punishment of their sin It was said unto them enter into the fire of hell with them that goe into it God teacheth them a parable that follow his Law Take example by the wife of Pharoah she prayed to God and said Lord build me an house in Paradise deliver me from Pharoah from his works and unjust men Mary the daughter of Josaphat preserved her virginity we inspired into her our Spirit she believed the words of her Lord and the Scriptures shee was in the number of them that obey CHAP. LXVII The Chapter of Empire containing thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praised be he to whom belongeth the Empire of the world who is omnipotent and hath created life and death to let you know which is the better he is omnipotent and mercifull He hath created seven heavens one upon another thou seest nothing of what he hath created that is not proportioned raise yet thy sight to heaven thou shalt not there see any thing defective behold it twice or more often thou shalt not perceive therein any thing vain or imperfect We have adorned the heaven and the world with Stars we expelled thence the Devils we prepared for them a great fire and the torments of hell for unbelievers They shall hear horrible and terrible voyces that proceed from despair and wrath when they shall be cast thither headlong when they shall enter into hell by troups the Overseer of the torments shall say unto them had you none on earth that preached to you the pains of hell yes shall they reply they were preached to us but we traduced our preachers we said that God did not command to do what they declared that they were lyars and seduced from the right way Had we heard them and had we been wise we should not this day have been in the number of the damned they shall confess their sins in the bottome of hell Such as fear God without seeing him shall receive pardon of their offences and an exceeding great reward Speak secretly or publiquely God knoweth whatsoever ye have in your hearts since the time of your creation he is blessed and omniscient He hath established wayes upon the earth goe on all sides and live of his good things ye all shall revive and be one day assembled before him to be judged Believe ye that he who is in heaven cannot render the earth drie and barren and cause it to tremble Believe ye that hee who is in heaven is not able to send against you an impetuous winde to destroy you Ye shall hereafter feel what are the torments of hell Your predecessors would not believe them and were chastised for their incredulity Consider ye not the birds that flie over your heads how they extend and shut their wings nothing supporteth them but that mercy that beholdeth all things Who but God shall protect you in your miseries The Infidels are proud Who shall enrich you if God restraineth his grace neverthelesse ye persevere in your sinnes and flie the truth Is he that creepeth on his face like to him that goeth on his feet in the right way Say unto them God hath created you hee hath given you sight hearing and sense but few among you return him thanks for his graces Say unto them he created you of earth and ye shall one day be assembled before him to render accompt of your actions The wicked dmaned when the day of Judgement shall be Say unto them God knowes I am sent only to preach to you the pains of hell Their visages shall become black when they shall see the punishment of their sinnes approach It shall be said to them behold that which ye have demanded with so much impatience Say unto them did you see that God destroyed me and them that were with me No he gave us his grace Who shall deliver the Infidels from the torments of hell Say unto them God is mercifull we believe in him and we are resigned to the will of his divine Majesty ye shall know hereafter them that shall be seduced If the water that watereth your flocks enter under the earth who shall give you other water or another Fountain to supply you CHAP. LXVIII The Chapter of the Pen containing fifty two Verses written at Mecca Bedaoi entituleth this the Chapter of the Letter Noun n and saith that it is as much as to say whale or great Fish Some other Doctors say that Noun n is the name of the Ink or Table on which the Angels write the Commandements of God Others affirm it to signifie the Ink-horn but many of the Mahometan Doctors intitle this the Chapter of the Pen. IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the Pen and by all that is written that thou art not possessed of the Devill through the grace of thy Lord thou shalt have an infinite reward God hath created thee with a creation high and most illustrious Thou shalt hereafter know and the Infidels likewise shall know one day them among you that are ignorant Certainly thy Lord knoweth them that are seduced and them that follow the right way Obey not the wicked they desire thee to be more indulgent towards them and themselves more milde towards thee Obey not those infamous lyars those bablers sinners seducers and wicked persons full of treasures and children When the Mysteries of faith are related to them they say that they are but fables of antiquitie we will put upon their noses a mark of shame and ignominy we have tryed them as Gardeners when they have resolved in the evening to cut off the morning following some fruits of their garden for their refection and have not said if it please God By night which they slept God sent fier into their gardens that consumed them in the morning they called each other and said come to put order to your garden if ye desire to gather the fruits they believed the poore would enter they ran to drive them away and found their fruits black and their gardens blasted Then they said we are seduced we are sinners one of them said that it was requisite to praise God Then they said praised be God we are great sinners they approached each other and complained among themselves They said misery is upon us we were in a great error peradventure God will give us hereafter more then the value of what
we have lost we must beg his grace thus God chastiseth on earth whom he pleaseth but the torments of the other world are much more grievous They that have his fear before their eyes shall dwell in gardens full of delights Shall I intreat the good like the wicked How can ye judge it have ye a book wherein you reade what pleaseth you have we promised to you any content at the day of Judgement Shall you have that day what ye have promised to your selves Ask of them who will be surety for their belief will their Idols and companions be their surety Let them cause them to come if they be true Be thou mindfull of the day when sins shall be detected and the wicked shall be commanded to worship God but they shall not be able to behold him their eyes shall be troubled with fear and their sight covered with shame They are enjoyned in the world to worship his divine Majesty but they refuse to perform it I will punish them by little and little when they shall least think of it I will defer the punishment of their crimes because my wrath is strong Dost thou demand of men any recompence for thy preaching are they charged with any expence Have they in their power the book wherein is the future to write therein what they affirm Attend the Judgement of thy Lord and be not like him that was swallowed of the Whale He invoked his Lord in his affliction if his Lord had not sent him his grace he should never have come upon earth when he repented of his sin his Lord pardoned and placed him in the number of the righteous The unbelievers labour to shake thee through their looks and that through envie they affirm that thou art possessed of the Devill when they hear thee read the Alcoran It was not sent but to instruct the world CHAP. LXIX The Chapter of Verification containing fifty two Verses written at Mecca Ekteri intituleth this the Chapter of Judgement because that day all shall be verified IN the name of God gracious and merciful Verification approacheth Verification approacheth God hath not told thee in what time shall be the day of Verification Temod and Aad would not believe in him that preached to them the day of affliction and sorrow but Temod was destroyed by an extraordinary noise and Aad by an impetuous winde that God sent against them seven nights and eight dayes together they were overthrown str●tched out like palms faln upon the earth did any one among them save himself Pharoah and his predecessors with the Inhabitants of the Cities that were overthrown because of their sins disobeyed the Prophets and Apostles of God and were rudely chastised We preserved you in Noahs Ark when the waters swelled to serve for example of our omnipotency to them that saw it and to such as shall hear it mentioned Be thou mindfull of the day when the Angell shall sound the Trumpet when the earth shall lift it selfe up and the mountains tremble then what must come to passe shall come to passe heaven with weakness shall open and the Angel that shall bear the throne of God shall be upon the border of the heaven Then shall eight Angels present the books wherein shall be written the sinnes of men and nothing shall be concealed Such as shall take in the right hand the book of the accompt of their actions shall say wee finde what we believed to be true we know with certain knowledge the comming of this day and the felicity of life is in Paradise It shall be said to them eat and drink of the good things of Paradise at your pleasure They that shall take the book of accompt of their actions in their left hand shall say would to God that this book had been lost I know not what is this accompt would to God that I had been eternally buried in the earth the riches authority and treasures of the world are to me unprofitable It shall be said to the devils take them binde them and throw them headlong into hell put chains seventy cubits long upon their arms and cast them into fire they would not believe in the Unity of God the Omnipotent they have eaten the bread of the poor they are this day without protection and want bread and shall find nothing but the pains of hell prepared for the wicked I swear although ye see and although ye do not see the Alcoran it is the word of the Prophet the Apostle of God it is not the word of a Poet but few persons will believe it It is not the word of one that is wicked but few men remember it it is sent from God Lord of the Universe The Infidels say oh Prophet if thou speak we will not hear thee thy speech shall not enter into our hearts Say unto them there is none among you able to deliver you from the punishment of your crimes the Alcoran instructeth in the way of salvation them that believe in his divine Majesty I know that there are lyars among you whom God shall put into the number of Infidels the Alcoran is truth it self Praised be the name of God Omnipotent and Majestique CHAP. LXX The Chapter of the Ascent containing forty four Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Some persons have demanded when shal the day of Judgement be and in what time the wicked shall be chastised none but God is able to deliver men from the torments of hell he is Lord of the way that ascendeth to heaven the Angels and Spirits shall ascend towards him at the day of Judgement that day shall seem to the wicked to endure fifty thousand years expect with patience the wicked imagine they are far from that day but thou shalt see it speedily that day shall the heaven resemble dissolved mettall the mountains shall be like to carded wooll which bendeth downwards none shall ask his neighbour who he is and they shall look one upon another the unbelievers shall desire to redeem themselves from these pains through the loss of their children their wives their brethren their companions their neighbours and the loss of all that is on earth The flame of fire shall rise upon them and shall burn the skin of their head they shall call upon those that are behinde them that have like themselves abandoned the Law of God and the covetous that shall have heaped up treasures Man was created timerous he is afraid when evill befalleth him and is arrogant when good hapneth to him except the believers who are stable in their faith that persevere in their prayers that give alms to the poor that beg and those that are bashfull that believe in the day of Judgement feare the punishment of God and know none other women but their own and their slaves they shall be exempt from affliction at the day of Judgement those that shall act the contrary shall be in the number of the unjust They
who effect what they have promised and preserve faithfully what to them hath been entrusted who speak the truth in testimony and who make their prayers at the time appointed shall be honoured in Paradise Wherefore is it that the Infidels who are about thee cast their eyes to the right hand and to the left with pride do they require to enter into Paradise and be saved We have created them as other men I swear by the Lord of the East and West that we are able to change them into a people better then they and that it is a thing easie for us to perform leave them in their errors untill they be come to the day when they are promised to be chastised and that they shall come out of their sepulchres to repaire to universall Judgement they shall repair thither terrified and their sight shall be covered with shame this is the day that hath been heretofore preached to them CHAP. LXXI The Chapter of Noah containing twenty eight Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull Before men were chastised we sent Noah to preach to them the pains of hell he said unto them O ye people I preach to you the pains of hell worship one only God and fear him obey me he shall pardon your sins hee deferreth your punishment untill the day appointed and shall not retard it when his hour shall be come did ye know it ye would be converted Afterward he said Lord I have exhorted this people night and day but mine exhortations have been very much in vain they have strengthned themselves in their impiety and when I preached to them they put their fingers into their ears and covered their heads with their garments that they might not hear they continue in their impiety and become proud I have preached to them publikely I lifted up my voyce I have expounded to them the mysteries of thy Law I said unto them implore pardon of God he is most merciful he shall send you abundance of rain to water the earth he shall give you store of wealth and many children he shall give you gardens embellished with fountains and rivers who h●ndreth you to honour God He it is that hath created you in the condition wherein you are consider ye not that he hath created seven heavens the one upon the other that he created the Moon with her brightness and the Sun with his light he hath caused the earth to bring forth all sorts of plants he will cause you all to return to earth and to revive he hath extended it to the end ye may walk in the wayes thereof large and spacious Lord said Noah this people hath disobeyed me they have followed that which can give them neither prosperity nor profit but rather a most certain damage they have conspired against me and said among themselves forsake not your gods forsake not O●●●●oa Igout Joac and Nesar they erre from the right way Lord adde to their confusion Then were they drowned because of their sins they shall be cast headlong into the fire whence none but God is able to deliver them Noah said Lord leave not a wicked man upon the earth they will seduce thy creatures from the right way they will leave children lyars and impious like themselves pardon my sins pardon the sins of my father my lineage and those that shall believe in thy Law and destroy the unjust CHAP. LXXII The Chapter of Devils containing twenty eight Verses written at Mecca Some Mahometans intitle this the Chapter of Spirits IN the name of God gracious and merciful Say to the people I have received an inspiration which some devils heard of me when I read the Alcoran and that they said we have heard the miraculous Alcoran read it teacheth the right way we believe in what it contains we believe not that God hath companions we believe there is but one God we believe not that he hath wives or children our ignorant persons blaspheme against his divine Majesty nevertheless we imagin that they could not do it There are who require aid of the devils and augment their confusion because they say that God will not cause any to rise again some devils have said we have been as high as heaven and found it furnished with guards and stars we staied in a place a little distant to hear there is one star that watcheth them that hearken and drives them away we know not if God hateth the men that are upon earth or if he will teach them the right way but we are now in the number of them that believe in the unity of his divine Majesty they sayd oh ye people we were before in the way of error we heretofore believed that God did not operate on earth but no person in whatsoever place he be can avoid obeying his Will we heard the book read that teacheth the right way we believe in what it contains he that believeth in God will not fear any misery or injustice there be of us that are good and that trust in God others there are who are wicked and impious such as obey the Commandements of God follow the right way and the wicked shall be precipitated into the fire of hell Had the Infidels followed the right way we had sent them from heaven abundance of rain and given them our grace I will try them and such as shall despise the Alcoran shall be punished The Temples belong to God invoke one sole God in the Temples when his servant riseth he worshippeth his divine Majesty it wanted not much but these d●vils had published the plurality of Deities Say unto the people worship God my Lord I believe in one God who hath no companion I can neither guide nor seduce you but through his permission If I d●sobey him none shall be able to save me and I shall want protection at the day of Judgement I can do no more for you then to preach to you his Law this is the subject of my Embassie He who shall disobey God and his Prophet shall be damned and shall remain eternally in the fire of hell The wicked shal know such as shall be deprived of succour and protection when they shall behold the pains prepared for them Say unto them I know not whether what is promised to you shall incontinently happen or whether God will defer it some time none knoweth what is to come but God and those whom he hath elected to be Prophets and Messengers of his Will he inspireth into them his Commandments to preach to men he upholdeth all the actions of men and keepeth an exact accompt of every thing CHAP. LXXIII The Chapter of the Fearfull containing twenty Verses written at Mecca The Arabians have intituled this the Chapter of the Fearfull when the Angel Gabriel brought this Chapter to Mahomet he was afra●d of the splendor of his light and covered himself with his garments which gave occasion to the Angel to call him and say oh
ought to obey him he is a faithfull observer of what is commanded him he is not possessed of the Devill as ye have imagined he hath seen the Angel clearly and without riddle and is not perplexed for what is to come the words of the Alcoran are not the words of the Devill on whatsoever side ye turne you it is only for the instruction of men and such among you as will follow the right way but ye shall have no inclination to follow it if it please God the Lord of the Universe CHAP. LXXXII The Chapter of the opening of Heaven containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The souls shall know the good and the evill that they have pone when the heavens shall open the starrs fall the seas be gathered together and the sepulchres be opened O man what maketh thee so proud as to rise against God who hath created thee who hath formed and proportioned thee after what manner he pleased O ye wicked ye will not believe the day of Judgement there are Angells that observe your actions and are obedient to God The just shall go into Paradise and the unjust be precipitated into the fire of hell whence they shall never return I will not tell when the day of Judgement shall be that day none shall be able to succour his neighbour and God alone shall command CHAP. LXXXIII The Chapter of t●e● that weigh with false weights containing thirty t●ree Verses written at Mecca In the name of God gracious and merciful They that weigh with false weigh●s and measure with false measures believe not to ris● again at the day when all the world shall appear before God to be judged Certainly the book wherein the sins of the wicked are written is kept in hell Misery shall be upon In●●●●lls at the day of Judgement none doubteth the coming of this day but the wicked when they hear the Commandments of God preached they say that it is but an old fabl● impiety retaineth them in this error and induceth them to abandon the Law of his divine Majesty but they shall be cast headlong into the flames of hell It shall be said unto them behold the punishment which ye would not believe The book wherein the good works of the righteous are written is reserved in heaven the Angells are witnesses how the just shall enjoy the delights of Paradise they shall see the immense graces of God reposed on delicious beds their countenance shall be covered with joy and content they shall drink of purified wine most savoury that shall have the odour of Musk preserved in bottells that none but themselves shall open and it shall be mixt with the water of the fountain of Paradise where the Cherubins do drink The Infidells deride the true believers that would instruct them neverthelesse when they return to their companions they admire their doctrine and say when they see them behold the seduced but they are not sent to be their tutors The Infidells that shall be converted and believe in the day of Judgement shall go into Paradise they shall enjoy the grace of God they shall behold the grievous torments of the damned that shall be punished after their demerits and shall find in the other world what they have done on earth CHAP. LXXXIV The Chapter of the Cleft containing twenty five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The day of Judgment shall appear when the heaven shall cleave asunder and the earth cast men out of their sepulchres by the Commandement of God O man thou goest daily towards death and shalt find in the end the good and evill that thou shalt have done he to whom shall be given the book of accompt of his actions in the right hand shall be blessed he shal go with his companions into Paradise where he shall enjoy eternall felicity He to whom shall be given the accompt of his actions in the left hand shal be damned he shall be cast headlong into the fire of hell because of the unlawfull pleasures that he hath taken in the world and for that he believed not in the Resurrection God beholdeth all that he doth and keepeth accompt I swear by the rednesse that appeareth in the Air when the Sun setteth by the obscurity of the night and the brightnesse of the Moon that you all shall change being and posture and shall revive after your death Wherefore is it that the wicked believe not in God why do they not humble themselves when they hear the Alcoran read they blaspheme against God but he knows all their actions declare to them that they shall be chastised and that such as believe in his Unity and do good works shall receive infinite reward CHAP. LXXXV The Chapter of Signs Celestiall containing twenty Verses written at Mecca Many Mahometane Doctors intitle this the Chapter of Castles IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by heaven adorned with signs and by the day of Judgement by the Angels and men that they who have made pits filled with fire to burn the true-believers shall be witnesse of their own malice and shall avouch that the fire burned themselves to make them know the unity of God and the truth of his Law God is Omnipotent and always victorious he is the King of the heavens and earth he beholdeth all They that torment true-believers and shall not repent shall be damned they shall burn eternally in the fire of hell and such as shall believe in God and do good works shall dwell in pleasant gardens wherein flow many rivers where they shall for ever enjoy supream felicity The wrath of God is strong he maketh his creatures to die and rise again when he pleaseth he is mercifull towards them that repent of their sins and loveth them that serve him He hath created his throne to which praise is due eternally he raiseth up whom he listeth and nothing is to him impossible Hast thou heard the history of the people of Pharaoh and Temod God shall chastise in like manner them that shall not believe in his Law he knoweth them all Certainly the precious Alcoran is written in the book that is reserved in heaven CHAP. LXXXVI The Chapter of the Starr or of the North Star containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by Heaven and the Star that teacheth men the way I will not tell thee by what star by the starr full of brightnesse that every person hath a guardian which observeth the good and the evill that it acteth Doth not man consider of what he is created he is made of a little sprinkled water that issueth out of the body of man and woman God shall make him to rise again at the day of Judgment and none shall be able to protect or defend him from the wrath of his divine Majesty I swear by heaven that returneth the rain by the
XCII The Chapter of Night containing twenty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the obscurity of Night by the brightnesse of Day by the creation of man and woman that your actions are very different He that shall yeild to God the obedience that is due to him and believeth in his Unity shall go into Paradise and whosoever shall not praise his divine Majesty and will not be converted shall go into hell his riches shall not save him and he shall be cast headlong into eternall flames It is we that guide the people we dispose the beginning and end of every thing I preach to you the torments of hell none shall enter there but the wretches that have blasphemed and departed far from the way of salvation he that hath the fear of God before his eyes and giveth almes shall be delivered from the fire of hell every one shall be recompensed for what he hath done for the love of God he shall be satisfied and contented CHAP. XCIII The Chapter of the Sun rising containing ten Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I sweare by the brightnesse of the rising of the Sun and by the darknesse of night that thy Lord hath not forsaken thee He doth not hate thee his delay shall be to thee advantage and in the end thou shalt be content Did he not well lodge thee when thou wert an Orphan Did he not well guide thee when thou wert seduced Did not he inrich thee when thou wert poore Do no injury to Orphans devoure not the poor and recount the graces that God hath conferred on thee CHAP. XCIV The Chapter of Joy containing eight Verses written at Mecca Mahomet complains to the Angel Gabriel because he so long had refrained to visit him IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Have not I rejoyced thine heart have not we delivered thee from the burden that was heavy on thy shoulders we have raised thy name and reputation affliction is followed of content when thou shalt have finished thy prayers labour and love thy Lord. CHAP. XCV The Chapter of the Figge containing eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the Figs and Olives by Mount Sinai and by the safety and freedome that is in this City of Mecca that we created man with proportion afterwards we rendred him contemptible except the true believers that do good works they shall receive an infinite reward After this ô wicked man what maketh thee to blaspheme against the Faith is not God the Judge of Judges CHAP. XCVI The Chapter of Blood congealed containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca Beddaoi and Gelaldin call this the Chapter of Reading IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Read the Alcoran and begin through the name of God who created all who made man of a little congealed blood Read the Alcoran and exalt the glory of thy Lord who hath instructed man in the Scriptures who taught him what he knew not neverthelesse he is in a great error he will not consider that he shall returne before God Hast thou considered him that would have hindred one of the servants of God to make his prayers hast thou understood if he were in the way of salvation hast thou seen if he blasphemed if he hath abandoned the faith knoweth he not that God forsaketh him If he desist not he shall be dragged by the hair into the fire of hell with the wicked he shall quit the place where they assemble to dispute against the faith and the devills shall cast them head-long into flames eternall Disobey not the commandements of God persevere in thy prayers worship God alwaies obedience to his commandements shall draw thee neer to his divine Majesty CHAP. XCVII The Chapter of Glory or Power containing five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull We sent the Alcoran in the night of Glory and Power I have not taught thee the graces of this night of glory and vertue the prayers and good works that are done that night have more of merit and efficacy then those that have been performed in a thousand months The Angels descended that night to the earth thorow the permission of their Lord and salute the true believers untill the dawning of the day CHAP. XCVIII The Chapter of Instruction containing eight Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull They that understand the Scripture and believe in many gods will not relinquish their Idolatry untill they have heard the instruction of the Prophet of God he shal read unto them a book clean and pure wherein are written the Precepts of the right way They that know the Scripture are not divided untill they have learned this instruction It commandeth to worship one only God to make their prayers at the time appointed and to pay tirbes this is the right way The unbelievers that know the Scriptures and adore many gods shall remain eternally in the fire of hell and shal be most miserable They that believe in one God and perform good works shal be most happy they shall be recompensed of their Lord in the garden of Eden wherein flow many rivers where they shall dwell eternally God shall be satisfied with their obedience and shall give them his blessing prepared for them that feare him CHAP. XCIX The Chapter of the Earth-quake containing eight Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull When the earth shall tremble and shall cast bodies out of their sepulchres man shall demand what it will do they shall tell him news to wit that God hath commanded it to do so That day shall men come out of sepulchres from divers places and shall see the good and the evill that they have done he that hath committed evill of the weight of an atome shall be chastised and he that shall have done good of the weight of an atome shall be rewarded CHAP. C. The Chapter of Horses containing eleven Verses written at Mecca and Medina Some Arabians have called this the Chapter of Return or of them that return IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I sweare by the Horses and the noise they make with their feet when they return to war and by the fire which they make to arise when they strike their feet against stones that run lightly through jealousie and raise the dust in the midst of enemies that man is ingratefull for the graces of his Lord he himself is witnesse of his ingratitude and too much affecteth the riches of the earth knoweth he not ●●●t God will make all the world to revive that he will ●●ing to light whatsoever is most secret in the hearts of ●en and that he knoweth all that they have done CHAP. CI. The Chapter of affliction containing eleven Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull When the extreme
ten pair of wings came to him by night as he was in bed with his wife Aijssa told him God had sent for him he going down with this Angell found at his door an Heterogeneous beast called Elborach halfe Asse halfe Mule but much swifter then either for it would go as far at one step as the most quick-sighted could see this Beast or believer of the Alcoran would not let Mahomet mount him unlesse he would first promise to pray for him which the charitable Prophet did and was in the twinkling of an eye brought by him to Jerusalem where the Angel Gabriel tyed the Beast with his girdle to a rock and taking Mahomet on his shoulders carried him to heaven-gate They knocked and the Porter understanding Mahomet to be there instantly opened and bade him welcome In this first Heaven he saw Angels of divers and monstrous shapes some composed of fire and snow others of fire alone every of them diversly shaped among the rest one with the head of a Cock whose feet touched one Heaven and head another each Heaven being distant from the other a voyage of five hundred years and when he crowes which is his language he moves the Cocks of the earth to crow This Angell recommended him to another he to a third and so one to another until he came to the Heaven where God kept his residence God curteously received him asked him how his people did how they entertained his Law and familiarly laid his hand upon his shoulder which was so cold that it pierced to the marrow of his back-bone God had soon done with him only telling him how often his people should make their prayers which were so many that as he was returning in the fourth Heaven Moses advised him to go back to God and entreat him that fewer prayers might serve his turne for his people were not able to make so many which he did and after many returnes brought the number to five This done he went back to his Elborach which in a moment brought him to his house in Mecca where he went to bed again to his wife she not once dreaming her husband would leave heaven for her company or thinking he had been there all this he performed in the tenth part of a night The Turks at this day fondly believe this as a truth but the Arabians of his time requiring him to do as much in their view he unwilling to take again so long a journey replyed Praised be God I am man and an Apostle He had other slights which in sight of the people by Art or Sorcery he performed and they stupidly believed and entertained as miracles as a Pigeon being by him taught to come and pick a pease out of his eare he told them it was the holy Ghost that came to tell him what God would have him do so an Oxe brought him a Chapter of the Alcoran upon his hornes in a full assembly He likewise perswaded them that being at dinner at the house of one that pretended to be his friend who had an intent to poison him or he at least was so informed a shoulder of mutton served in to the table fore-warned him that he should not eat of it and though many were present none but he heard or understood the language of the mutton and yet he permitted one of his deerest friends to eat of it and die impoisoned Such and many of the like nature were his miracles As the bowing of trees shaken by some sudden gust of wind the howling of Wolves and braying of Asses which is their language desiring Mahomet to pray for them and he Prophetically understanding as religiously performed His custome was often to inculcate into the ears of his Auditors that God gave him commission to fulfill his own desires in all things and to that purpose introduceth God speaking to him To thee O Prophet It is permitted to lie with all women that are given thee or thou dost purchase thy Aunts and kindred and all good women that freely desire thy company and this is lawfull for thee alone His issue was one only Son called Casfim who died before him and many daughters Fatione the eldest in high esteem at this day among the Arabians and honoured as the royall root of Aben Alabecy was wife to Haly. Zeineb the second was married to Osmen after son to Mahuvias and perhaps to both successively for they both succeeded in the Empire of Arabia to her is attributed the originall of the other family of Aben Humeia Imiaultim and Naphisse are diversly mentioned by the most faithful Historians some delivering them as his daughters others as his neer kindred On the Seal which he used were ingraven these words Mahomet Messenger of God Heaven ordained him to be a scourge for the punishment of Christians who in multitudes at that time had forsaken the truth to follow the Sects and Heresies of the Arrians Donatists Nestorians and others The day of his death was no lesse prodigious then the course of his life a Comet resembling a sword appearing at high noon pointing from South to North when it was behold the space of thirty daies which that age interpreted to portend the fatall rising and spendor of the Arabian Empire FINIS A needfull Caveat or Admonition for them who desire to know what use may be made of or if there be danger in reading the Alcoran By Alexander Ross. GOod Reader the great Arabian Imposter now at last after a thousand years is by the way of France arrived in England and his Alcoran or Gallimaufry of Errors a brat as deformed as the Parent and as full of heresies as his scald-head was of scurffe hath learned to speak English I suppose this piece is exposed by the Translator to the publike view no otherwise then some Monster brought out of Africa for people to gaze not to dote upon and as the sight of a Monster or mishapen creature should induce the beholder to praise God who hath not made him such so should the reading of this Alcoran excite us both to blesse Gods goodnesse towards us in this land who injoy the glorious light of the Gospell and behold the truth in the beauty of holinesse as also to admire Gods judgements who suffers so many Countreyes to be blinded and inslaved with this mishapen issue of Mahomets braine being brought forth by the help of no other midwifry then of a Jew and a Nestorian making use of a tame Pigeon which he had taught to pick corn out of his ears instead of the Holy Ghost and causing silly people to believe that in his falling sicknesse to which he was much subject he had conference with the Angell Gabriel I know the publishing of the Alcoran may be to some dangerous and scandalous dangerous to the reader scandalous to the higher powers who notwithstanding have cleared themselves by disliking the publishing and questioning the publishers thereof but for the danger I will deliver in these ensuing
world at the day of Judgement and every one shall receive the recompence that he shall have merited he shall augment his favours upon them that shall have believed in his divine Majestie and have done good works he shall chastise them that shall have held it a dishonour to be his servants and have been proud upon the Earth they shall find no safe refuge but in his mercy Oh people God hath sent you a Protector a most strong argument and a most cleare light they that shall trust in God shall enjoy his grace and he shall guide them into the right way They will enquire of thee concerning successions say to them God teacheth you touching successions as followeth If a man decease without issue and hath a sister she shall have the moity of what he shall leave and shall inherit it if she have no children If they be two sisters they shall have two thirds of what the deceased left if they be many brothers and many sisters the Sonne shall have as much as two daughters God teacheth you his Commandemements depart not from the right way he is Omniscient CHAP. V. The Chapter of the Table containing an hundred and twenty verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull O ye that believe in God! Satisfie what you have promised it is permitted you to eat of the beasts that be in the world except of what shall be hereafter declared Hunting is forbidden you during the time that you shall goe on Pilgrimage to Mecca God ordaineth what he will O ye that believe say not That it is permitted to doe what God hath prohibited performe what is commanded you during the month of Pilgrimage give no impediment to such as carry presents to Mecca n●ither to them that assume * The old Arabians in devotion p●t the leaves and b●a●●●es of Trees upon their necks like collers as the Peasa●ts in many places in France do the herbs of S● John Collers neither hinder Pilgrims to repaire thither to demand the Grace of God and his mercies It is lawfull for you to hunt when you shall have finished your pilgrimage beware lest some pesons cause you to sin and hinder your going to Mecca to oblige you to punish them repose your confidence in the justice and feare of God and not in the sin and malice of your neighbour Feare God who is severe in his chastisements It is forbidden you to eat Carrion See Kitab el tenoir Blood Swines flesh and whatsoever is not killed in pronounc●ng the name of God you are prohibited to eat Animals strangled choakt knockt down precipitated that are slain striking each other and such as beasts shall have slain if you find them not alive to let out their blood in pronouncing the name of God You shall not eat of beasts sacrificed to Idols Consult not with Southsayers or Lots it is a great sin The day shall come when they that have abandoned your Law See Gelaldin shall be desperate feare not them and feare me The day will come when I shall accomplish your Law and my grace shall be abundantly upon you The Law of Salvation is the Law that I desire to give you If any one be in necessity and eateth of what is prohibited without a will to sin God shall be to him gracious and mercifull They will demand of thee what is permitted them to eat Say to them it is lawfull to eat all sorts of beasts that are not uncleane and whatever hath been taught you from God touching beasts that hath been wounded by Lions or Dogs eat the beast you shall take and remember God in blooding them feare God he is exact to take account This day it is lawfull that you eat what is not uncleane and the meats of them that know the written Law The Jewes and Christians their meats are lawfull for you and yours for them You are permitted to espouse maidens and women of free condition that are of your Religion and maidens and women of free condition that know the written Law giving them their dowry with civility commit neither Concubinage nor Adultery with them neither secretly or publiquely the good works of him that shall renounce your Law shall be unprofitable he shall be at the day of Judgment in the number of the damned O ye that believe in God when you would make your prayers wash your faces your hands to the elbow and passe your hand over your head and over your feet to the ancles If you be polluted purifie your selves if sick or in a journey or about to discharge your belly or have knowne women and find no water to wash you lay hand on the sand passe it over your visage and wipe therewith your hands God enjoyneth you nothing irksome but willeth you be cleane and desireth to accomplish his grace upon you peradventure you will give him thanks O yee that believe in God! call to mind his grace and promise he made to you when you said We heard and obeyed feare him he knoweth all that is in your hearts O ye that believe in God! obey his Commandements and be true in your Testimonies take heed that no man move you to offend God in divert●ng you from what is just render justice to all his feare inviteth you to it have it before your eyes hee knoweth all your actions hath promised his grace and great recompenses to the True believers that shall doe good works in this world and hath prepared Hell to punish Infidels O ye that believe in God! remember his favour towards you when some persons would have extended their hands upon you and how he delivered you from their malice Corcis Enemie to Mahomet Feare him all true believers ought to resigne themselves to his will God received the promise of the Children of Israel to observe his Commandemements he established among them twelve Captains and said to them I will be with you when you shall make prayers pay your Tithes believe in the Prophets defend them and shall lend to me any almes I will cover your sinnes and cause you enter Paradise wherein flow many rivers and he among you that shall be an Infidell shall bee entirely erroneous from the right path When they swarved from what they had promised we gave them our curse and hardned their heart they have altered the words of the Scripture and abjured what they had approved Thou shalt not know them that shall bee Traitors except very few of them forgive and depart from them God loveth them that doe good We likewise received the promise of those who call themselves Christians but they have forgotten what they promised they have altered what was taught them and we have cast among them enmitie and hatred even untill the day of Judgement That day God shal cause them to know what ever they had done for their punishment O yee that know the written Law our * Mahom●t Prophet is come to bring