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 â—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
sufficeth thee that God guideth and protecteth thee The Infidels have demaâ—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 hiâ— brother Aaron to assist him and said unto them Goe boâ—h of you pâ—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 Tâ—mod and those that dwelt nigh unto the well a long time afâ—er them we spake to them in parables and destroyed them Oh ye wicked consider the misery of tâ—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 dâ—â—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 faâ—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 henâ— fit nor hurt them and assist the Devil their master to tempt the world We sent thee only to prâ—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 wâ—s sâ—id to the Infidels worship the merciful God they sâ—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 Oâ—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 câ—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 Aaâ—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 Mâ—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
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 ignâ—miniâ—us in this world and they shall feel in the other tormenâ—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 wiâ—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 wheÌ„ 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 offâ—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 sâ—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
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 â—ollow it but none shall follow it if it please his divine Majesty he knoweth all and â—s most wise he giveth his â—race to whom he pleaseth and hath prepared grievous â—â—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 beâ— 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 â—dgement shall be a day of joy and sorrow When the Angel shall sound the Trumpet all the world shall come â—troups to universall Judgement Heaven shall open its â—â—es the Mountains shall walk and hell is the place â—epared for
is with such as are patienâ—â— Say not that those that are slain for the defence of thâ— Law are dead contrariwise they are alive but you knâ—â— it not I will try you and afflict you through the losse â— your goods and disease of your persons Paradise shall â— for them that shall be patient and shall say in their afâ—â—ction We are given up unto God and shall returne befâ—â—â— him to be judged his Grace shall be upon them and thâ— shall not erre * Safa and Meâ—oa are mountains neer Mecca Safa and Moroa are tokens of his poweâ— He that shall goe on Pilgrimage to Mecca shall not doâ—â— misse to visit those two places he that obeyeth shall 〈◊〉 well God rewardeth them that doe good works and knâ—â—eth all things I will lay my curse upon such as concealeâ— Commandements they shall be accursed above whateâ— is in this world except them that shall be converted tâ— shall doe good works and bring to light what they conâ—â—â—led I will give them my Grace I am gracious and merciâ— The wicked that died in their impiety shall be eternâ—â— accursed of God of Angels and of all the World â—â— shall never be eased in their torments and shall be wâ—â—â—out end deprived of protection Your God is one â— God there is none other God but God gracious and â—â—â—cifull The Creation of the Heavens and the Earth difference of the day and the night the Ship that saiâ— 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 â—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 misâ—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 foâ— the right way and punishment for pardon shall burn â—â— the fire of Hell for that God hath sent the most true Booâ— that containeth his Commandements they that impugnâ— what is contained in that Book are in an exceeding greaâ— error far from the truth It is not justification to turn the face making your prayers towards the East or West hâ— shall be justified that shall believe in God the day oâ— judgement the Angels the Scriptures and the Prophets and that in charity shall impart some part of his goods teâ— his parents to orphans to the poore to pilgrims and tâ— slaves Such as believe in God and have his feare beforâ— their eyes persevere in their prayers pay Tithes they satisfie their promises and are patient in their adversities Oâ— ye that believe the Talio is coâ—manded you in murther the free for the free the slave for the slave the woman foâ— the woman But if any one pardon the blood of his brother he shall prosecute the malefactor according to whaâ— he shall see â—ost advantagious through damages and interests It is a facility whâ—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 wâ—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 youâ— Father and Mother your neer Kâ—nâ—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 feâ—reth that there is an error in the Testament that opposeth Reason he shall doe well to reconcile the parties wâ—th affection God is gracious and bountifull O ye that belâ—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 â—â—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 preâ—epts of Divine Right and distinguish good from evill all â—hose that live to this month ought to Fast. He that is â—ick or in a voyage shall accomplish the days that he faâ—ted not another time at his conveniency God willeth â—hat his Law should be light unto you and not a burthen â—is will is that you observe the dayes of fasting and that â—ou returne him thanks for that he hath guided you in the â—ight way perhaps you will give him thanks I will be near â—nto my servants when they shall enquire of thee concerning the mysteries of my Law I will heare
rest in the other world where they shall be severely chastâ—sed I increase the wealth of Infidels to augment their pain they shall in the â—nd feele grievous torments God will not leave the faithfull in the state that you are in he will one day separate â—he good from the evill he doth not teach you what is to â—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 â—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 exâ—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 belieâ— in many gods they offend God through their blasphemie if you have patience and fear God you shall make a verâ— 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 coâ—ceal them neverthelesse they have contemned them aâ— changed them for profit of little value and have gainâ— nothing but misery think not that such as rejoyce of thâ— evill they have done and affect to be commended 〈◊〉 what they have not done have escaped the punishmeâ— of their crimes they shall certainly suffer great torment The kingdome of heaven and of earth is Gods he is Oâ—nipotent the Creation of heaven and earth the diffâ—rence of day and night are evident signs of his Omnipâ—tencie to such as have judgement Such as have remember God standing sitting or lying down and considerâ— the creation of Heaven and Earth have said Lord the hast not created these things in vain blessed be thâ— Name deliver us from the torments of hell fire thou wâ— render miserable him that thou shalt thither precipitatâ— and the wicked shall be deprived of protection at the daâ— of Iudgement Lord we have heard them that say believe in your Lord we believe in thy unity pardon oâ— faults blot out our sins and give us grace to die in thâ— number of the just bestow on us what thou hast proâ—â—sed by the Prophets and suffer us not to be miserable aâ— the day of Iudgement thou dost not contradict whâ— thou dost promâ—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 thaâ— went out of Mecca to separate themselves from the wiâ—ked I will cover the offenses of them that forsook theiâ— houses that assembled to fight for the Faith and weâ— 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 whoâ— thou shalt see posiesse a little wealth in the earth hell is prepared to be their habitation and such as fear Goâ— 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
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 â—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 wâ—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 crâ—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 â—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 pâ—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 pâ—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 pâ—ople worshâ—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 prohibitâ—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 sufâ—er it to feed and doe it no harme The Turks believe that Salhe changed a rock into a Caâ—ell lest you be suddenly chastised They thâ—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 disadvantageâ— Our Messengers that came to Abrahams house declared to him the birth of Isaac Jacob and their posterity they mutualy saluted when they enâ—â—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 blâ—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 praâ—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
undeâ—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 â—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
Egypt and inquire tâ—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 Faâ—â—er said he behold there the interpretation of mine â—d dream God hath rendred it true hee hath favoured â—e in delivering me from prison and conducting you â—ther he hath put an end to the jealousie which the deâ—ll had procured between me and my brethren The word is liberall to whom seemeth good to him he knowâ—h what is necessary for his people and is most prudent â—n what he ordaineth Lord thou hast given me wealth â—nd knowledge to interpret dreams Creator of Heaven â—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 speakeâ—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 coveâ— 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 â—arâ—eth the Thunder-bolt and striketh whom it pleaseth him the Angels tremble in his presence yet do
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 â—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 fâ—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 afflâ—ctâ—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 afflâ—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 wâ—thout the permission of God and the end of every thing is written in his Book he bloâ—â—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 accâ—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 fâ—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
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 Alcoâ—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 contâ—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 powâ—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 dâ—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 worshâ—p me that I am gracious and â—â—â—ciful and my chastâ—sements are sâ—vâ—re and rigorous Preach unto them the Hâ—story of the guest of Abraham they saâ—â—ted him when they eâ—â—red his house Abraâ—â—m was â—â—â—â—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 despairâ— 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 wâ—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 Heâ—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
that I shall dye and the day of my resurrection Thus spake Jesus the sonne of Mâ—â—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 gâ—â—â— 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 â— 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 forbidâ—â—â— 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 lâ—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 unbelievâ—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 prâ—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 thiâ—ty Verses
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 mortalâ— 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
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 Infidâ—ls traduce thee their predecessors traduced Noah Aâ—d Chiab Abraham and Lot they also slandred Mosâ—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 impiâ—us Cities been deferred that in the end were destrâ—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 Alchâ—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
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 shâ—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 nephewâ— 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 Predeâ—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 â—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 plâ—in they seem to be water when afar off and being appreacheâ— 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 demâ—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 shaâ—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 placâ—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 hiâ— 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 sâ—â— We have heard obeyyed they are not ignorant Thâ—se that shall obey God and his Prophet shall be blessâ—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 prefâ—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 eâ—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
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 prophetâ— 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 yoâ— 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 â—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 tâ—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 thoâ— 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 tâ—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 Earâ—hquake and remâ—ined dead in their houses as câ—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 Idâ—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 iâ—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 salvatioÌ„ 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 knowetâ— all things If thou ask of the Iâ—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 enâ—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 oâ— this world is but sport and vanity life is in Paradise haâ— 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 takeâ— 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 câ—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 woâ—ld are ignorant of it Feare God make your praâ—ers at the time appâ—inted be not like to them tâ—at say God hath a companion
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 â—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 Dâ—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 precipitaâ—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 daâ— 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
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 Alcoraâ— 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 theâ— 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 â—â—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 particulâ— 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 commiâ— Relate to them thâ— Parable of those of the City whither thy Lord senâ— 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 wickâ—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 slâ—w hâ—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 whâ—ch they were satiate we there created Gardens Date-trees and Vines we cauâ—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 Aâ—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 befâ—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 wicâ—ed and Infidels shall be precipitate â— 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 uâ— 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 deâ—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 inspiâ—ed it into me and I am â—ent but to instruct you aâ—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 Sâ—irit into his body prostrate your selves before him with humiliâ—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 guidetâ— 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 infolâ— 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
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 â—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 Earâ—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
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 Noâ—â— Aad Temod and those that were after them God will 〈◊〉 do injustice to men I fear for you the day of judgment a daâ— when ye shall rise again with terror to render accompt â— 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 sendâ— 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 â—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 Vâ—â— verse he it is that giveth and depriveth you of life there no God but he be obedient to him and observe his Laâ— Praised be God Lord of the Vniverse who hath createâ— you of mire Say unto the Infidels I am forbidden to woâ—ship the Idols that ye adore God hath taught me his â—nity I have received command to worship none but the Lord of the Vniverse he created you of dust mire and coâ—gealed blood he causeth you to be born little Infants hâ— 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 noâ— that they that dispute against his Commandments deparâ— 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 Certaâ—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 Idoâ—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 wilâ— ye be wicked towards him that created the Earth in twâ— days Munday Tuesday how can you say that he hath a Companion equaâ— to him He is sole Lord of the Vniverse he raised the Mountains blessed the Earth and gave to every Regioâ— 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 obeâ— 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 aâ— 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 thundeâ— did the people of Aad and Temod when the Prophets taughâ— 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 damneâ— Persevere and be thou patient the fire of Hell shall be theâ—r habitation they shall not be able to please God in the flames We have given them the Devils for their Companioâ—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 unâ—er our feet and precipitate them to the bottom of hâ—l Such as shall have professed the Law of God as shall have obeyed his Commandments shall be visiteâ— 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 Exâ—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 imploâ—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 resâ—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 depaâ—t
father and his people I am innocent of the sin that you commit in adoring Idols I woâ—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 * â—Olid bin Maguiâ—he and Arâ—ua bin Mâ—sâ—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 salvaâ—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 nâ—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 braâ—â—lets of guilâ—ed Iron to be given with Collers to criminalls and made theâ— to go tâ—â—oâ—gh the City bracelets of Gold we will see if the Angels and those that follow his Doctâ—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 â—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 â—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 dumâ— 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 â—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 thaâ— 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 aâ—â— 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 â—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 thâ— 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 sâ—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 windâ— 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 â—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
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 iâ— was but an opinion and that ye believe it not in the end ye shall acknowledge your offence and shall suffer the painâ— that ye despised God shall say unto them at the day of Iudgement I have this day forgotten you as ye forgot thâ— coming of this day the fiâ—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 Arâ—biâ— 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 Predecessâ—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 â—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 oâ— 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 preceâ—e him in impiety as well devills as men they shal be damned they shall be in â—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
neverthelesse they ere in doubt if they shall rise again See â—edaoi We created man without difficulty we know the moâ—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 bâ—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 theÌ„ righteous who shal have the fear of God before their eyes it is promised to theÌ„ 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 anâ— 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 shalâ— 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 â—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 befoâ—e their eyes shall be in gardens adorned with fountains they shall enjoy the pleasures prepared for them by God because they are righteous â—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 omnipotencâ— 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 â—â—d the Angels conveigh to thâ—e the books of Abraham Whâ—n they â—ntred into his house they saluted him he likewise saluted them made signs to his â—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 cauâ—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 tormenâ—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 prouâ— and resisted the Commandments of their Lord when it was said to them that the punishment of the wicked was deferâ—ed to another time but thunder surprised thâ—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 pâ—stroyed them because they were impiâ—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 wâ—â—â—â—â—at day shall be unhappy 〈…〉 â—â—ated in the fire 〈…〉 that ye 〈…〉 paâ—◠〈…〉 our 〈…〉 â—ore 〈…〉 â—od 〈…〉 â—e 〈…〉 â—d 〈…〉 â—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 siâ— 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 â—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 sâ—â—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
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. Hâ— 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 Aâ—â— 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 theÌ„ 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 â—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 pâ—â—mission to serve for a token of our omnipotency will any of the vnâ—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 Helâ— 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 Pharoâ—h were preached unâ—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 waâ— 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 gâ—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 bringâ—â—â— 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
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 meÌ„ 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 â—reth into the earth and all that cometh out he knoweth â—â—atsoever descendeth from heaven and whatsoever ascenâ—h he is with you in whatsoever place ye are and seeth 〈◊〉 your actions the Kingdom of the heavens and earth â— his and all things obey him He maketh the night to â—ter the day and knoweth what is in the heart of men â—elieve in God and his Prophet expend in pious works â—â—me part of the wealth that he hath given you he shal â—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 â—nspired his Commandments into his servant to bring â—ou out of darknesse and guide you into light he is graciâ—us and mercifull Who hindreth you to make any exâ—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 â—â—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 â—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 â—hall enter into and dwell eternally in Gardens wherein â—â—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 â—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 dâ—ubtâ—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 divâ—â—â— Majesty this day there is neither ransome nor favour fâ—â— you the fire of Hell is the habitation of the wicked Oâ— 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 haâ— 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 thâ—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 iâ— befall you it is an easie thing to God to the end thâ—t ye afflâ—ct noâ— your selves extraordinarâ—ly in your disâ—leasures that ye rejoyce not overmuch in your contentmeâ—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 â—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 comâ—â—ndments We sent after them our Prophets and Apostls 〈◊〉 sent Iesus the son of Mary we taught him the Gâ—spel 〈◊〉 put civility clemency and chastity into the hearts of â—â—m that followed him we did not command them to â—p virginity they kept it of their own accord because of â—is desire they had to please God they have not obserâ—ed their Law as they ought many have been disobedient â—we have rewarded those among them that believed O 〈◊〉 that believe in Iesus fear God and believe
in his proâ—â—â— ye shall have double â—he reward of Gods mercy he shal â—â—don your sins he is gracious and mercifull I teach you â—â—se things to the end that such as have heretofore receved â—â—e written Law may know that they have no power over 〈◊〉 grace of God he giveth it to whom he lifteth certainly â— is immense CHAP. LVIII â—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 â—er complaints he heareth all your discourses he heareth and â—eeth all No person among you shall swear never to â—â—uch his Wife no more then his Mother your wives â—â—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 moâ—â— his wife and shall desire afterwards to know her shaâ— give liberty to a slave for satisfaction of his oath beforâ— 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 tâ—â—â— transgresse his Commandments They that shall disobey him and the Prophet shall be coveâ—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 fourâ—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 diâ—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 inâ—arge ye your selves God shal inlarge to you his grace When ye are bid to rise rise Goâ— shal raise up all the true-bâ—lievers that are among you and pâ—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 â—efall you and he shall purifie you if ye fear to impart to him â—our secret God will not give you his gracâ— Make your prayers at the time appointed â—â—â—tribute tithes obâ—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 â—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 Bâ— 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 exâ—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 gaâ—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 suffâ—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
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 enâ—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 bâ—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
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 strâ—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 hâ—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 Oâ—â—â—â—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 dâ—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 dâ—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 afraâ—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 tâ—eâ— that weigh with false weights containing thirty tâ—ree Verses written at Mecca In the name of God gracious and merciful They that weigh with false weighâ—s and measure with false measures believe not to risâ— 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 Inâ—â—â—â—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 fablâ— 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
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 youâ— prayers on foote or on horseback and being freed froâ— 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 wherewitâ— 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 letâ— 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 â—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 â—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 â—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 â—ture things Had not God raised the people one against â—he other the whole earth had been ful of disorders such are â—he miracles of God as I declare to thee with truth thou â—t indeed one of the Prophets of his divine Majestie We â—ave conferred our graces on the Prophets on some more â—hen on others many have spoken to their Lord and some â—ave been more elevated then others We gave knowledge â—o Iesus the Son of Mary and fortified him through the holy Spirit Had it pleased God the Prophets that came â—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 â—hey had not been slaine but he doth what pleaseth him O ye that are true believers dispense in alms some part â—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 â—hat ever is in heaven or in earth is his who shall intercede for thee with his divine Majestie unlesse by his permissioâ— He knoweth all the actions of mâ—n and whatever they haâ— done they know nothing but what it hath pleased hiâ— teach them The largenesse of his Throne containeth hâ—ven and earth and the conservation of both is not trouâ—some to him hee is Omnipotent and glorious The â— 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 stronâ— knot that cannot be dissolved broken or cut a sunder â— understandeth and knoweth all things he aideth and sisteth them that believe in his unitie he will cause theâ— come out of darkenesse and will guide them into light wicked shall have Tagot and the devill for their protectâ— he shall cause them to forsake the light and shall lead tâ— into darkenesse such men shall remaine eternally in â— fire of hell Conâ—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 givâ— life See Gelaldin and death He said I even I give life and death 〈◊〉 my subject when
〈◊〉 ye that believe if you obey many of them that have 〈◊〉 knowledge of the written Law they will misâ—lead you iâ— the number of the wicked How can you bee of the iâ—pious since you are taught the Commandements of Gâ—â— and that his Prophet and his Apostle is among yoâ— Hee that resigneth himselfe to God is in the rig◠〈◊〉 O ye that fear God die in the profession of his Vâ—y imbrace his Law and remember the favor he hath â—wed you you were all enemies of each other he hath â—ed your hearts and through his speciall Grace you â—â—tinued united to each other as good brethren you â—e upon the brink of a pit of fire from which he withâ—â— you Thus God manifesteth to you his mercies perâ—â— you will follow the right way Some there be among 〈◊〉 that exhort the people to do good they command to â—hat which is honest and abstain from what is unreasoâ—â—â—le these men shall be happy Be not like them that â—e abandoned the Truth and followed lies notwithâ—â—nding the Truth was known to them they shall suffer â—at torment in the day wherein the visage of the good â—ll be white and that of the wicked shall be black It â—ll be said to them that have black visages Have you â—owed impiety after you made profession of the Faith â—ste this day the torment due to your sin Such as shall â—e white visages shall be in the favor of God in which â—y shall eternally continue See there the Mysteries of 〈◊〉 Law of God which instructeth thee with Truth God â—leth that no injustice be done to his people whatever â—n Heaven or in Earth appertaineth to him he dispoâ—th all things There hath appeared no Nation on the â—â—rth that hath followed a better way then you forbid 〈◊〉 to do that which is not reasonable and believe in one â—ely God The Iews If those that heretofore had knowledge of â—e written Law had believed in God they had done veâ—â— well there be among them that believe what is veritaâ—â—e but the greatest part are impious They shall not hurt â—â—u but with their tongue and shall finde no protection â—gainst you if they fight you they shall turn their â—cks they were beaten with shame and ignominy where â—hey made a stand except when they embraced the Law â—f God and observed the precepts that were taught the â—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 Majâ— and the day of Iudgement preach honesty prohibit do things dishonest and apply themselves to good woâ— certainly they are good men Hide not the good wâ— which you perform God knoweth such as have his 〈◊〉 before their eyes Riches and children shall be unpâ—table to Infidels with God they shall eternally dweâ— the fire of Hell The Alms that they give in this wâ— 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 injuâ— to them they were mischievous to themselves thrâ— their sins O ye that believe in God esteem no maâ— be elected of God that is not of your Religion 〈◊〉 wicked endeavoured to bring you into their disorâ— 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 belâ— generally in the Scriptures and they believe not 〈◊〉 you believe When they met you they said We beliâ— in God and when they were gone from you they bitâ— anger their fingers ends Say to them Die with yâ—â— choller Benou Selimeth God knoweth what is in your hearts If gâ— happen to you they are displeased and when evil beâ—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 batteâ— and when two of thy Companions forsooke the figâ— 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 hâ— thanks for that favor Say to the True-believers Sufficeâ— it not that God succoreth you with three thousand of 〈◊〉 Angels Truly if you have patience and fear God he will â—e to succor you at need and your Lord will assist you â—h five thousand of his Angels sent from Heaven he 〈◊〉 not send you this assistance but to declare to you his â—otection and to confirm your hearts Victory proceedâ— from his Divine Majesty He is omnipotent and pruâ—t in all his works he will extirpate in this world one â—t of the wicked or will so sharply reprehend them â—t they shall become desperate Thou hast nothing to 〈◊〉 whether he shall pardon or chastise them because â—y are wicked Whatever is in the Earth and in Heaâ— is his he pardoneth as he seeth good he is gracious 〈◊〉 mercifull to the righteous O ye that believe be not â—urers and fear God peradventure you will obey his â—â—mmandements Fear the fire of Hell prepared for Inâ—â—els Obey God and the Prophets his Apostles your 〈◊〉 shall be forgiven you beg pardon speedily of your â—rd The extent of Paradise containeth Heaven and â—rth it is prepared for the good God loveth them that â—e Alms in joy and in affliction that subdue their pasâ—n and forgive such as offend them he loveth them that 〈◊〉 good and that after the commission of any sin rememâ—r his divine Majesty and implore his pardon Who but â—od forgiveth sins Such as persist not in their errors and knowledge their sins shall be recompenced with the â—ercy of God and enjoy his favor in Paradise There were â—â—retofore Laws and Means to conduct men into the right â—y but consider what hath bin the end of Infidels The â—lcoran was sent to instruct the world to guide men in the â—â—ght way and to preach to the good Dishearten not neiâ—â—er afflict your selves in fighting you shall be victorious you believe in God if you have been wounded the like â—â—rts have befallen the impious God so diversifieth days â—mong men to the end he may know them that are truly â—ealous in his Law and that among you witnesses be taken â—gainst the malice of Infidels God loveth not the unjust â—e forgiveth sins to those that believe and extirpate Infiâ—els Do you believe to enter Paradise
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 â—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 â—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 â—ise and nothing is hidden from him Remember thou that Abraham said to his father * The Arabianâ— say Azâ—r 〈◊〉 Abrahams â—urna â—e and â—hat his fathâ—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 goâ—d and exalt whom I please Thy Lord O Abraham seeth and knoweth all things we gave to Abraham Isaac and Jâ—câ—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 Maâ—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
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 noâ— 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 amassâ—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 forgetfulnâ—ss abound in impiety God misleadeth throâ—gh negligence the unbelievers that prefer one moneth to another in imitation of what is commandâ—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 wickeâ— 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 hâ— is our Lord See Gelaldin all true believers are resigned to the will oâ— his divine Majestie say unto them will ye expect thaâ— 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 thâ— 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 yâ— praise not God but with negligence and with regret foâ— what you spend for his service Be not then amazed at thâ— quantity of their treasures neither the number of theiâ— children God shall make use of them to punish them iâ— this world and shall destroy them with their wickedness They swear by the name of God
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 wâ—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 Phaâ—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 hâ—â—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 withâ—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
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 recompenâ—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 advertâ—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
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 â—onducted them on thâ— 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
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 eveâ— 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 weâ—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
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 adoreâ— 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 Idolaâ—erâ— he said by God I will make Warne upon your Idolâ— he broke them with an hatchet in their absence except the grâ—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 fisâ—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 Abdelâ—aâ—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 prayerâ— 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 Mâ—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 jâ—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 â—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 lâ—se the riches of Earth and the riches of Heaven These twâ— losses are exceâ—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 worshiâ— that which doth rather mischief nor advantage them Certainly God shall make the True-believers that do good works to â—nter into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers he doth wâ—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 intelâ—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 partiâ—â— 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 woâ—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 felicâ—ty because they have professed his Unity and the Infidels shall suffer great torments for that they have hindred the people to imbrace tâ—e Faith and visit the Temple of Mecca which God hath establisâ—ed to be therein adored of all the world He that shaâ—l be solicited to visit it and shall enter it with â—â—â—â—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 givâ—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 â—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 peraâ—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
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 â—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 otherâ— 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 theâ—â— 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 froÌ„ the wicked leave them in their errors an accompt shal be required of theÌ„ 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 â—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
given you sight hearing and sense but few among you return him thanks he it is that hath created you of earth ye shall one day be assembled before him to be judged he it is that giveth life and death and maketh the difference of day and night will you not honor him neither consider On the contrary they have said as did their predecessors wherefore shall we die our bones shall be dust and shall we rise again This was heretofore promised to our fathers and to us certainly it is but an old song Say unto them to whom appertaineth the earth and whatsoever is in the earth if ye know its Creator and King They will say it is Gods Say unto them know ye not then that he that created yâ—u can raise you again who is Lord of the seven heavens who possesseth the throne of heaven they will say it is God say unto them will ye not fear then to worship any other God but him Say unto them who is King of all things who sustaineth them and is sustained of none They will say that it is God Say unto them why then do ye deceive your selves we have taught them the truth but they have rejected it and said that God had a sonne were there another God with God the one would undoe what the other hath done and they would rise the one against the other Praised be God what they affirm is not true God knoweth that is past the present and the future he hath no companion Say Lord give me o see the effect of all that thou hast promised to them and put me not among the unjust deliver us from evill and do good to us I know their impiety Lord deliver me from the temptations of the devill deliver me from their malice when any one among them dieth he saith Lord permit me to return into the world I will do better then I have done there is no return it is to speak in vain there is an obstacle behinde them that detaineth them untill the day of Judgment when the Trumpet shall sound nothing shall retard them they shall not glory nor discourse with each other the ballance of the blessed shall be heavy with good works and the ballance of the cursed shal be light of good works Have not my Commandments beene preached unto you wherefore did ye contemn them They shall say Lord our misery prevailed over us we were mislead Lord deliver us from this misery the contrary was promised to us truly we are exceedingly too blame It shall be said unto them depart into the fire and never speak to come out Many of them that worship me say Lord we believe in thee pardon our sins thou art mercifull Ye have derided them O yee wicked and have despised my Commandements but I will reward them for their perseverance and they shall be blessed It shall be said to those that rise again how many years have ye remained in the earth they shall answer we have bin there a day or some dayes aske of the Angels appointed to keep the accompt ye have bin there but a little time did ye not know it do you believe that I have created and assembled you before me in vain Praise and exalt God King of Truth there is no God but be he is King of Heaven he is void of reason that invoketh another God with Him he shall give accompt of his actions and the Infidells shall be miserable Say Lord pardon the sins of the righteous thou art the great mercifull CHAP. XXIV The Chapter of Light containing seventy and foure Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull We have sent this Chapter containing our Commandments clear and intelligible peradventure ye will learn them The †Is a man or boy kept unlawfully Catamite and the Concubine shall be whipt with an hundred stripes take heed lest clemency cause you to forget the precepts of the Law of God believe in his divine Majesty and the day of Judgement Some of the True-believers shall be witnesses of their punishment The Catamite lying with a Concubine or an Infidell the Concubine lying with a Catamite or Infidell these things are forbidden the True believers He that shall accuse an honest woman of adultery shall be whipt with twenty four stripes unlesse he prove his accusation by four witnesses and shall never be credited in testimony They that do such things are without the obedience of God except those that repent and satisfie what they owe God shall be to them gracious and mercifull They that shall accuse their Wives of adultery and have no witnesses shall swear four times that they speak the truth and shall the fifth time call for the curse of God to be upon them if they be lyars The Wife shall be exempt from punishment if she swear four times that her husband is a lyar and if the fifth time she pray that the wrath and indignation of God may be upon her See Gelaldâ—n if what her husband hath said be true In this manner doth God gratifie you that ye may understand the truth he is most gracious and most wise That Troup that made defection from the True-believers with a lye and false testimony did you no harme on the contrary they did advantage you every one shall bear the burden of his sinnes the most mâ—licious among them shall be thrown headlong into the torments of Hel This is Abdallabin Selouk It was an happinesse that ye heard the sense of the believers from their own mouth when the said that those men lyed impudently if they had not presented those four witnesses they had found none other One of Mahomets wives was accused of adultery with Safoiian by Mahomets enemies they are lyers without the grace and mercy of God they should have already felt great torments in this world and in the other because of that imposture When they spake of what they were ignorant ye deemed it to be nothing but it is an exceeding sin before God if when ye heard it yee said that to speak of those things did not concerne you ye knew it to be an imposture God forbiddeth you to relapse if ye beleive in his Law he thus declareth to you his pleasure he is omniscient and most prudent Such as desire to cast obloquie among the True believers shaâ—l be rigorously chastised in this world and in the other God knoweth that of which you are ignorant Had not God bin favourable to you he had chastised you in burning fury he is gracious and mercifull Oh ye that are Tru-believers follow not the footsteps of the Devill he will enjoyn you vice sin had not God gratified you with his mercy not any among you should have been purged from that imposture but God purifieth whom he seeth good he beareth all hnoweth all your intentions The most rich and powerfull among you have not sworn to do no good to their parents the poor or
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 wifâ— 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 forâ—h you have not the power to cause the plants to spring forth without the assistance of God certainly unbeleivers do erre froÌ„ 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 mâ—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 â—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 intelâ—igible Book the Aâ—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 thâ— Lord shâ—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 tâ—ee pensive and astonished thou oughtest not to guide the blinde neither to make the deaf to hâ—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 Gâ—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 theÌ„ 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 tormenâ— 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 spaâ—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
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 bâ—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 peoplâ— 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 tâ—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 eâ—rth and in tâ—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 shaâ—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 chastisâ—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 iâ— Omnipotenâ— 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 â—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 theÌ„ ye have remained there the time apointed in the book of God to wâ—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 â—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 depaâ—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 earâ—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
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 thâ—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 dâ—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
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 hâ—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 Sepulcheâ—â— 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 alâ— 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 beleivâ— 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
this present ye shall this day be punished in this fire because of your pridâ— 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 popâ—sterity viz. worship â—ut one God alone iâ— 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 â—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 appoâ—nted me to preach but I see that ye are obstinate When they beheld a black câ—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 punisâ—ment that ye have demaned it is full of an in pâ—â—â—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 unpreâ—ntabâ—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 Considâ—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 whâ—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 protâ—ction Are such as embrace the Law of God like to them that follow their own appetites God hath promiseâ— 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 sâ—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
fearful and not oh Prophet as he was wâ—nt See Gelaldin IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull O thou Fearfull Arise by night pray to God at midnight untill two thrid parts of the night and more Read the Alcoran and meditate thereon observe what it contains although it be tendious to thee thou wilt best comprehend it after thy first sleep because thou in the day hast affairs that divert thee Remember thou the name of God forsake the world to worship him he is Lord of the West and East there is no god but God take him for thy protector be not impatient at what the wicked say separate thy self from their society without fear leave me to punish them is there any one that is able to defend them their punishment is deferred but I have chains of iron bread full of thorns and great torments to inflict on them at the day when the earth shall tremble and the mountains shall be dissolved into dust O ye people we have sent to you a Prophet our Apostle to instruct you as we did to Pharoah he was disobedient and obstinate and we severely chastised him How will ye secure your selves from the torments of hell if ye be in the number of the wicked What will ye do at the day when Infants shall be men and heaven shall be opened What God promiseth is infallible these things are for the instruction of them that desire to follow the way of salvation Thy Lord knoweth that thou wilt arise about the third part of the night or at midnight as likewise a part of those that are with thee he reckoneth the hours and the minuts of night and day he knoweth that thou canst not reckon them exactly he pardoneth thee if thou risest a litle sooner or a litle later read during this time what thou shalt be able to read of the Alcoran God knoweth that there will be persons among you that will be sickly others that will be in travels for their affairs and some that will fight for the faith these persons shall be excused Read what ye shall be able of the Alcoran lift up your prayers to God pay tithes lend to God some benefit ye shall one day find the good that you shall have done and a very good reward beg pardon of God he is gracious and mercifull CHAP. LXXIV The Chapter of the Wrapped containing fifty seven Verses Mahomet was wrapt in his garments when the Angel brought him this Chapter written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull O thou wrapped Arise and preach to the people the torments of hell thy Lord is more powerful then the Idols make clean thy garments be thou mindfull of the pains prepared for unbelievers separate thy self from their company lend nothing to Usury the day that the Trumpet shall sound shall be extreamly irksome to the wicked that day let me chastise him whom I created and to whom I gave riches and children and whom I placed in plenty neverthelesse he demandeth more and is obstinate to disobey my Commandements I will adde to his pains because he blasphemeth against the Alcoran wherefore doth he blasphem he maketh his countenace sorrowful covered with hypocrisie when he beholdeth the people with his eyes melancholique and estranged from the way of salvation he is proud scorneth to follow the Prophet saith that the Alcoran is but Magick and but the word of Man he shall be precipitated into the bottom of hell nothing remains to him but to be burned ninteen Spirits shall be appointed to torment the wicked they that punish the damned are Spirits We have mentioned this number of nineteen to seduce the Infidels and confirm the truth and the True-believers in their faith They whom God instructeth in the Scripture and who believe in his Law are not in doubt of these Spirits but such as have evill in the heart who doubt of his Law and the wicked say that he by this number meaneth God Thus God seduceth and guideth whom he pleaseth no person knoweth the number of his Angels but God I swear by the entrance of the night and the morning that hell is an exceeding great punishment prepared for the impious The believers and unbelievers the good and the bad shall answer for their actions and such as shall have their book of accompt in the right hand shall goe into Paradise they shall enquire of the damned and say to them who did cast you into hell They shall answer we did not pray to God at the time appointed we gave not to the poor to eat we believed there was neither Resurrection nor Judgement untill death surprized us the prayers of them that pray for them shall be in vain Wherefore is it that unbelievers depart from the Law of God They are like to the wilde Asse which flyeth as far as he can when he seeth the Lion approach him every one of them would particularly see a book to instruct them and apprehendeth not the day of Judgement Certainly the Alcoran teacheth them the Law of God that reade it none shall understand it but he that shall be pleasing to God who shall have his fear before his eyes and shall implore pardon of his sins of his divine Majesty CHAP. LXXV The Chapter of the Resuâ—rection containing fourty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear that it is most true that men shall rise againe I swear that the wicked shall render an accompt of their actions think they that I cannot recollect their bones I will recollect all of them after they shall be corrupted I am able to recollect their fingers as they had them in their youth Certainly man is prone to blaspheme before the coming of the day of Judgement and enquireth when that day will be When his sight shall be troubled and the Sun and Moon gathered together then shall he say whether shall I flye It shall be said to him thou shalt have none other refuge but in God he shall be surprized and all his offences shall be commemorated to him and he shall witnesse against himself Speak not then in a word if he will excuse himself be not thou impatient I know all that is in his heart I know what thou hast taught him I did read with him that read to thee the Alcoran and made thee to understand it Man presseth himself to goe to his dishonor and considereth not his end he shall raise the head with a countenance content to see God but at the same instant shall have the face covered with affliction and shall know that he is in the height of all miseries His soul shall be conducted towards God when it shall be separate from his body If it renounce the Law of God it shall goe towards the damned towards them that extend their armes through dispaire It shall be said to him God alone whom thou wouldst not obey was thy Lord and protector Doth man think to
his train from the town This repulse rather irritating then terrifying him he drew all his force into the field and assailed the Jewes in two severall conflicts in one of which by a wound on the face with a sword that broke out his fore-teeth He signed the Articles of his Law with his blood and continued a long time as dead in a ditch but being rescued by his Slaves and recovered of his wound he again fought and vanquished them and converted their Synagogue into a Temple for his own use The fame of his exploits increasing with the number of his Sectaries to whom some Princes and eminent persons of the Countrey began to incline giving him their daughters in marriage awakened the Nobles of Mecca particularly the family of Coreis who wisely judging a new form of Religion propagated by a new way force of arms must inevitably introduce a new Government of which Mahomet of base and obscure beginnings would be chief as the Author opposed themselves to his designs expelled all such as seemed to favour him out of the City and severall times gave him battell in which he so valiantly deported himself that though he was somtimes put to the worst yet he more often prevailed and giving freedome to such prisoners as would imbrace his Law encorporated them into his Army strengthning himself and weakning his enemies Being in fine a compleat Conqueror in the field he assaulted the City of Mecca took it and after some slaughter of the Nobility his enemies proclaimed impunity to all that would acknowledge him a Prophet of God by whose favour as he affirmed and appointment not by his own valour he had attained to that honor After this Proclamation many for fear of present danger and apprehension of future bondage more out of ignorance imbraced his beliefe and he injoyed the vaine felicity to see himself Generall of an Army Lord of a vast Countrey and to be esteemed and reverenced as a Prophet About that time Heraclius the Emperor disposing himselfe rather to improve the Heresie of the Monothelites then to defend the Confines of the Empire not onely permitted Mahomet to domineere in Arabia but gave advantage to Cosroes the Persian King to invade his Dominions but at length awakened by the alarmes of so puissant an enemy levied a strong Army and summoned the * Sarra signifies in their tongue a Desart Sahen to inhabit Saracens a people so called from their inhabiting the Desart to his assistance The Persian vanquished and the Saracens expecting the salarie of their labours and with some importunity demanding it were answered that the Emperor had not sufficient Treasure to pay the Christian Troops and therefore those Heathen Dogs must attend the conveniency of their Prince Incensed by this contempt they retired See â—â—â—ds his Travell and marched by the way of Africk where finding Mahomet busie to inlarge his power he aggravated their discontents affirming it to be the Will of God that all men should injoy their Liberty that God was offended at their oppressions and willed them to oppose the tyranny of the Christians and that whosoever died in that holy war his soul should be instantly transported to Paradise These motives raised them to a resolution of making defection so that they elected Mahomet their Generall who incontinently deprived the Emperor Heraclius of his Tribute and his Officers who were slaine in demanding it of their lives After this act the whole Province which that of Egypt revolted and the people generally esteeming the successe of Mahomets armes which he was diligent to imploy as a sure testimony of the goodnesse of his Cause embraced his Religion Heraclius having neglected to strangle this rebellion in its birth indeavoured to extinguish it being now growne to considerable strength and to that end sent an Army under the Conduct of Theodesius his Favorite his Army was twice overthrowne the Generall slaine and the Mahometans pursuing their victories tooke from the Greeks the Countries of Egypt Syria and other Provinces of Africa where Mahomet increased his Triumphs and erected his Trophies Being now growne impotent rather through his inordinate life then burthen of years he retired full of glory as a King and Prophet to Mecca where he resolved to end his dayes having affirmed it in the Alcoran to be the most holy City of the world as that wherein stood the Temple of Abraham built miraculously by Angells to be the Sanctuary of all that repaire thither in Pilgrimage And therefore it was that when he had by his Armies taken the City of Antioch he durst not enter into it in person lest by the delightfull and fertile scituation of it he should have been inticed to desert Mecca and contradict his own Prophesie His life now drawing to a period a Plurisie surprized him On the seventh day for Crisis of his disease he became frantique Haly one of his successors â—stonisht at his distemper and frenzie not esteeming it one of the rare qualities of a Prophet and Redeemer as he stiled himself of so much people derided him yet willing to continue his Law that he might inherit his Power carefully concealed it and according to his commands yet living watched his body after his decease For he told his followers that he should rise again the third day and ascend to heaven They observed this and guarding his Corps four daies intire with impatient expectation of his Resurrection were at length compelled by reason of its putrifaction to take him up ond bury him at Medina where his Reliques are annually visited by the superstitious Pilgrims of his Religion Thus Mahomet the Prophet of the Turks and Author of the Alcoran died on the twelf day of the Month * June Rabeg in the great climatericall yeare of his Age having abused men with his horrible impostures full 23. years dwelling in the esteem of a Prophet ten at Mecca and thirteen at Medina His coming was some years after the year of our Saviour 600. Heraclius being Emperor at Constantinople Sadinion Bishop of Rome Clotaire King of France Viteric of Spain and Edbald of England He was of stature not tall large sinews brown color broad face his head disproportioned to his Body yet may we well imagine the beauty of his body to surpasse that of his mind which was full of deceit vicious and cruell never sparing any thing to advance his lust in which he equalled himselfe to forty men or to procure his revenge He was as himselfe confessed altogether illiterate and though by nature subtile and quick witted yet often pusled for the invention of delusive Miracles to confirme the Arabians in their Belief For he continually preached to them that God had sent him to confirm his Law by force of Armes and not by Miracles yet the people instantly demanding them as signs of his Mission he was constrained first to tell them of a certain voyage to Heaven which was briefly thus The Angel Gabriel with threescore and
fear God thou concealest in thy mind a design whiâ—â— God shal discover thou fearest the people but it is thy 〈◊〉 to fear God alone When Zeid did repudiat his wife we â—â—ryed thee to her to the end their might remain no error â—mong the True-belelevers when they shall repudiate thâ— wives they shal observe in repudiating them what God haâ— ordained The Prophet sins not in doing what God haâ— permitted the law of God was in this maner observed by 〈◊〉 predecessors the command of his divine Maj. is execuâ—â—â— without delay Such as preach the word of God his Apostâ—â— and Prophets fear none but his Divine Majesty it suffice them that they are in his protection Mahomet is not yoâ— 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 Prâ—phets God knoweth all things there shall not come anâ—ther Prophet after him Oh ye that beleive in Goâ— thiâ— frequently on his divine Majesty praise him morning anâ— evening he shall give you his mercy the Angels imploâ— pardon that he may deliver from darkness he is mercifâ—â— to true beleivers the Angels shall salute them on his behaâ—â— at the day of Judgment See Tefsianf Joâ—hir he hath prepared for them an exceeding great reward Oh Prophet we have sent thee to be witnesse of thâ— deportments of the People and as a light to conduct them into the right way proclaim to the True-beleivers thaâ— 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 â—nown them deal well with them and dismisse them with â—ildnesse and civility O Prophet we permit thee to know â—he women to whom thou hast given dowry the women-â—laves which God hath given thee the daughters of thine Vncles and of thine Aunts that have abandoned with â—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 wâ— 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 yâ—â—hat beleive I enter not into the houses of the prophet withouâ— 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 thâ— Prophet pray for the Prophet O ye that beleive See Gelaldin pray for the Prophet and obey him He that shall displeâ— God and his Prophet shall be accursed in this world anâ— shall feel rigorous pains in the other such as do injurâ— without reason to those men and women that believe iâ— God commit an exceeding great sin O Prophet speaâ— to thy wives and thy daughters and the wives of true-believers that they cover themselves with vailes they shaâ—â— be more honored and shall receive no displeasure God iâ— gracious and mercifull If the wicked the whoremongers and those of Medina that are weak in their faith quit noâ— their impiety I will give thâ—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 bâ— 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 oâ— hell such as refused to obey him They built for him lost palaces and * Depein piâ—d spacious houses they formed basons foâ— water chanels and pools we said unto him O lineage oâ— David be not ingrateful for my graces for that few persons do acknowledg them When he dyed through ouâ— Commandment nothing discovered his death to the devils buâ— the wormes that had eaten the end of his staffâ— whereon he leaned when the devils saw him fall they perceived that had they known the future and what was hâ— from them they should not have laboured so long a timâ— in his service The Inhabitants of Saba have a mark of mâ— Omnipotency in their Countrey viz. two gardens the one on the North side and the other towards the South iâ— 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 oâ— 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 iâ— 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 poorâ— shall say unto â—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 sâ—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