things like to those which God inspired into his Prophets When thou shalt see the wicked at the point of death and the Angels stretching forth their hands to take their souls say unto them This day the torments of hell shall be the punishment of the blasphemies that ye have vomited against God and your disobedience to his Commandements God shall say to them you are come before us without riches and children naked as you were created and have cast behind your backs the instructions which we gave you I see not with you the Idols you adored you are separated from each other and have forsaken them that you esteemed on earth should have been your protectors God separateth the good from the wicked as the corn from the ear and the stone from the Date He causeth the living to spring from the dead and the dead from the living behold the works of God why will you depart from his Law He divideth the morning from darkness hath established night for the repose of men and the Sun and Moon to compute ages years moneths and seasons such are the effects of Gods power he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He it is that created the Stars to give you light and guide you in the obscurity of the earth and sea he gratifieth with his grace and such as learn his Commandements He it is that created you of one sole person that gave you the earth to inhabit and preserveth you in the world hee hath conferred his grace on such as have obeyed his Commandements hath made raine to descend from heaven and caused the earth to produce divers sorts of herbs green things and corn he hath caused the Date to spring forth and the Palme tree with gardens enriched with Grapes Olives Pomgranets and many fruits alike and different Consider how fruits encrease and multiply this serveth for instruction of Gods Unity to them that have his fear before their eyes the Infidels have adored the devill with God who created them and said that God hath sons and daughters such is their ignorance praised be God he created heaven and earth how shall he have a son who hath no wives He created and knoweth all things he is your God and your Lord there is none other God but he worship him he conserveth all things he is seen of no man and beholdeth all things he is benigne and nothing is concealed from him O people there is come to you a light from your Lord to conduct you he that seeth clearly shall receive advantage and he that shall be blinde shall continue his miserie I am your Tutor neither observe I what you do Thus do I declare the mysteries of my Law the wicked shall in the end confesse that thou hast taught my Commandements to such as inclined to learn them Act what thy Lord hath inspired into thee there is no God but he separate thy selfe from the societie of unbelievers Had it pleased God they had not disobeyed his Commandements thou art not their Tutor injure not them that worship Idols they injure God through malice and ignorancâ— every man esteemeth what he hath done and pleaseth himself in his opinion Certainly they shall all be assembled at the day of Judgement and be chastised after their demerits They have sworn by the name of God to fight for the faith if some miracle appeare to instruct them miracles proceed from God they know not the time wherein he will make them to appeare although they should see miracles they will not be converted I will overturne their hearts blind their sight and they shall never be converted I will leave them in their errors and disobedience with contempt and confusion If we should send to them Angels should the dead come and speake to them and should we bring about them all the witnesses of the world they shall not believe if it so please God most of them are ignorant we have allotted an enemy to each Prophet as the Devill is an enemy to men he tempteth them with the ornament of his discourses to render them proud If it had pleased thy Lord they had wanted that power depart thou from unbelievers and their blasphemies and incline not to their will they shall find no advantage in their impiety Do you desire another Judge then God who hath sent to you the Book that distinguisheth good from evill Such as know the Scripture are not ignorant that this Book was sent from God and containeth the Truth Be not thou in the number of them that doubt the word of God exactly commeth to passe no man can hinder its effects God understandetâ— and knoweth all things If thou incline to the will of most men they will seduce thee they believe but their own opinions and are lyars Thy Lord knoweth them that erre and such as follow the right way Eat what shall be slain in pronouncing the name of God they taught you what was forbidden eat not unlesse constrained through necessity Many erre from the right way and pursue their own appetites and ignorance God beholdeth them that offend him flie publike and secret sinne sinners shall be severely chastised eat not of what is not let-bloud in pronouncing the name of God lest you disobey his Commandements The Devils will tempt them that serve them they will perswade unbelievers to dispute against you if you incline to them you shall be Infidels as they are I raised again many of them that were dead through their sinnes I converted them and gave them a light to illuminate them in the darknesse wherein Infidels shall dwell for ever because they delight in their disobedience Thus will I place in every City leaders that shall seduce the wicked and themselves but shall not understand it When they beheld any signe of the truth of the Prophet appeare they said they will not believe in him unlesse he were accompanied with the vertues and merits of other Prophets God maketh choyce of them on whom he conferreth the grace of prophecie he shall chastise such as discourse in that manner with ignominie in this world and they shall feel in the other great torments by reason of their impietie God rejoyceth the hearts of them that he inclineth to lead into the way of Salvation and punisheth them that digresse from the right path his wrath fell upon the Infidels so soon as he ascended into Heaven The way thou followest is the right way we have recompensed such as have understanding to profit they shall be happy God shall be their protector because of their good works Remember thou the day wherein we shall assemble the people and when it shall be said to the Devils Oh ye bands of Devils wherefore are you risen against men The chiefe of those men that shall have obeyed them shall answer Lord suffer us to be revenged on each other and let each command in his turn See Gelaldin Oh Lord teach us the prefixed time that thou hast appointed to
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
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
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
wicked will depart from the obedience which he oweth to God Make your prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and obey the Prophet God shall give you his mercy Beleive not that the Infidels are more powerfull on Earth than We they shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell O ye that are True-beleivers your slaves and servants of Free-condition shall require leave of you to enter where ye shall be thrice viz. Before the prayer at break of day after noon and after supper they shall not offend in entring without leave where ye shall be at another time they enter there to serve you In this manner doth God teach you his Commandments he knoweth the humor of his Creatures and is most prudent in all that hâ— ordaineth It is ordained to your children when they shall be at age of discretion to demand of you permission to do what they shall desire as did your predâ—cessoâ—s Thus doth God teach you his Commandments he is gracious and mercifull The old and dâ—crâ—pit women shall not offend God to quit their vails and discover their faces provided it be without vanity and design to shew their ornaments If they abstain they shall do well God heaâ—eth whatsoever ye say and knoweth all that is in your heâ—rts The blinde the lame the sick See Kitab el tenior and you also shall not sin to eat in the house of your children at the house of your Father and Mother brothers sisters Vncles Aunts Friends and in the house of your servants ye shall not offend God if ye eat together or apart When ye shall enter into any house salute each other from God with blessing and affection Thus doth God teach you his Commandments peradventure you will learn them When those that believed in God and his Prophet repaired to the Prophet they retired not without his permission Such as required leave to depart believe in God and his Prophet if they require leave of thee for any businesse licence whom shall seem good to thee and pâ—ay to God for them See Kitab el tenoir he is gracious and mercifull Call not the Prophet as ye call one anotheâ— among you God knoweth such as shame ully depart out of the Temple and the French Such as disobey his Commandments ought to take heâ—d least some mischiefe befal them and that they suffer not great tormenâ—s Whatsoever is in the Heavens or on Earth is Gods he knoweth if ye are zealous in your faith See Gelaldin or be hypâ—crites â—e knoweth the day wherein aâ—l thâ— worâ—â— shall be assembled befâ—re him to be jâ—dged â—n thâ—â— dâ—y shall men see what what they have done he knoweth all things CHAP. XXV The Chapter of the Alcoran containing seventy and seven Verses wrinten at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful praised be he that sent the Alcoran to his servant to instruct the world he is King of the Heavens and Earth he hath no Son nor Companion in his rign he created and ordained every thing The Infidels worship Gods that can create nothing and are things created they can neither do them good nor evil they can give neither life nor death neither cause them to rise again They say that the Alcoran is but a fable of thine invention invented with the assistance of some other person but they lye and blaspheme They say that it is but an old Song and a fable of the Ancients that thou writâ—st and that thou studiest morning and evening Say unto them it was sent by him that knoweth all â—hings in Heaven and Earth altâ—gether gracious and mercifull They said whâ— is this Prophet He eateth bread and meat and walketh thâ—ough the streets we will not beleive him unlesse an Angell descend from heaven to preach to us with him unles that Angel enrich him and that he have a Garden full of good and savory fruits he is but a wizard or one possesed of the Devil Consider to what they compare thee certainly they are in error and cannot find the right way Praise and bless him that is able to bestow on thee a greater good when it shall seem good to thee to wit Gardens wherein flow many Rivers and houses of pleasure They have denyed the certainty oâ— Universall Judgment and we have prepared the fire of Hell to punish them wrath shall carry them away with terrible cryes when they shall behold the place of the assembly of judgment when they shall there appear they shall be desperate and shall cry O misery Cry not O misery cry O misâ—ries in the Pluâ—al ask of them which is better and more advantagious that or paradise which is prepared for the recompence of the righteous where they shall dwell eâ—ernâ—lly with al manner of felicity this is it that God hath proÌ„ised that which was impetrated of his divine Majesty for them that have his fear beâ—or their eâ—es I wil one day assâ—mble I dolateâ—s with their iâ—â—ls God shall say unto them you are they who have seducâ—d my creatures from the right way They shall say praised be thy name we ought to have worshipped nonâ— but thy divine Majesty but the wealâ—h that thou gavâ—st to our Magistrates and their life which thou did prolong causâ—d them to foâ—get thy Commandmentâ— they were pernicious men in that they aâ—jured thy Law they cannot this day be exempt from the punishment of our crimâ—s neither protect us against thy wrath The Idolaters shall be rigorously punished The Prophets that we sent befâ—re thee did eat bread and meat and walked through the streets we prove them one after another Persevere God beholdeth them that are patient Those that beleive not in the Râ—surâ—ectâ—on have sâ—id The Angels are nâ—t â—escended from Heaven we have not seene Gâ—d they are become proud and are fallen into an exceeding great error but the wicked shal one day be without comfâ—rt when they see the Angel they shal cry help help We will set before their eyes all the sins that they have commiâ—ted the good works which they shal think to havâ— doâ— shall be like to dust which the Winde carryeth away and the blessed shall enjoy a most certain good they shall hear of nothing but what contenteth them When the Heaven and the aire shall divide themselves and the Angels shall descend then shall the truth appear and the mercifull shall raigne that day shall be tedious to Infidels they shall bite their fingers and saâ— would to God I had fâ—llowed the Prophet and his Apostle Oh misery would to God I had not contracted amity with such an Infidell he seduced me from the right way he hindâ—ed me to beleive in the Aâ—coran which God sent certainly the Devill hath tempted men Then shall the Prophet say Loâ—d such as have followed me have obeâ—ed what is written in the Alcoran and the Infidells have rejected it we have appointed an enemy among the wicked to every Prophet of them that were before thee but it
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
have done good works say unto them I require none other recompense for the pains that I take in preaching to you then to love my kindred he that shall do any good work shall be rewarded God is mercifull and good works are pleasing to him Will they say that thou hast blasphemed against God If it please God he shall hinder thee to hear this discourse or will imprint patience in thine heart he abolisheth lies and confirmeth the truth through his words he knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men he accepteth the conversion of his creatures he pardoneth their sins and knoweth all their actions he heareth the prayers of the faithfull that do good works and augmenteth his grace upon them but Infidels shall undergo the rigours of eternall pains Had God equally enriched all his creatures they had bin in confusion upon Earth he enricheth whom he pleaseth he seeth and knoweth all he sendeth rain when men despair of his grace he is the protector of believers and praise is due to him eternally the creation of the Heavens and of the earth and of all that moveth betweene them is a sign of thine omnipotency If evil befal you believe that ye have deserved it neverthelesse he pardoneth you many things ye cannot escape his punishment on earth none is able to protect you against him The Vesâ—el that runneth upon the water big as a mountain is a token of his omnipotency to them that persevere in his Law and acknowledg his graces He shall reprove the wicked for their sins and shall pardon many They that dispute against his Commandments cannot escape their punishent the riches that ye possesse are the riches of the earth the riches that God bestoweth on them that trust in him are eternal They that depart from mortall sins that repent to have committed them that beg of God to be heard and persevere in their supplications they that take councel and consult among them what they ought to do that employ in good works part of the wealth that God hath given them that implore his help in their afflictions such as do good and such as commit evil shall be recompensed and punished according to their works God abhorreth Infidels ye have no power over them that implore his assistance in their affliction and repent your power extendeth over them that doin justice to the people and dâ—sobey on earth the Commandments of his divine Majesty they shall suffer great torments Such as persevere in well-dâ—iâ—g and pardon their Neighbour do what God hath Commanded He whom God shall mâ—slâ—ad shall finde none to guide him Thou shalt see that the Infidels shall ask if they may return into the world when they shall behold the fire of Hâ—l thou shalt see them flie with exâ—ream fear of eternal ignominy they shall look awry upon hell and the believers shall see that the wicked that have lost heâ—r Souls that have misled their family and all the impious shall be eternally damned none shall be able to save them and he that God shall mislead shall not finde the right way Say unto them beg pardon of God before the â—ay come that ye shall finde no way to return into the world nor excuse for your sins If they disobey thee we have not sent thee to be their Tutor thou art sent only to preach unto them When we give to man any pâ—osperity be rejoyceth and when affliction befalleth him â—e is ingratâ—ful for the grace of his Lord King of the heavens and earth God giveth children sons and daughters â—o whom he pleaseth he knoweth all things and is omnipotent he speaketh not to man but by inspiration and parable without being seen he sendeth his Prophets and Apostles into whom he inspireth what pleaseth him he knoweth all things and is omnipotent Thus have we sent thee our spirit to teach thee our Commandments thou knowest not before what was written in the Alcoran neither the misteries of faith we have sent it to thee to be a Light to the world I will guide into the way of Salvation whom I please I wil giude him into the way of the Lord to whom belongeth all that is in Heaven and Earth and who disposeth of all things CHAP. XLIII The Chapter of Ornament containing eighty and nine Verses written at Mecca Exteri intituled This Chapter the Chapter of Gold IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent and wise I swear by the book that teacheth to do well that we have sent it in the Arabique tongue peradventure ye shall understand the Alcoran it is written in in our originall Booke majestique and mysterious Shall I conceal from you the book of Salvation if ye be wicked How many Prophets and Apostles have we sent in past Ages whom unbeleivers have despised We destroyed the most powerful among them and all have incurred the pain of their predecessors If thou ask of them who created Heaven and Earth they will say that it is the omnipoten who knoweth all things Who hath extendeth the earth under you Who established the wayes to guide you It is God he causeth the rain to descend from Heaven in your necessity he maketh the dead drie and barren fields to revive in like manner shall the dead come out of their Sepulchers He it is that created whatsoever is in the world of divers kinds and Species and created the SHIPS and BEAST to carry you Remember the grace of your Lord say praised be he that created â—or us these things we had not the power to create them They all shall return before the Lord to be judged The Infidels have divided God into many parts Certainly he that saith that there are many Gods is impious hath he appointed you to say that the Angels which he hath created are his daughters seeing that he giveth you sonnes When it is declared to some Infidels that a Daughter is born to him he is not satisfied he desireth to have a son will they say that God adorneth himselfe and taketh ornaments to beautifie him like their Idols It is a manifest error they say that the Angels that worship God are the daughters of his divine Majesty I will write what they say and will râ—quire of them aâ— accompt of their discourse at the day of Iudgement They have said had it pleased God we had not adored the Angels They know not what they say and ignorantly blaspheme do they observe any Scripture that hath been taught them heretofore On the contrary they say that their fathers lived in like manner and that they follow their steps they have said as much to all the Prophets that were sent unto them When thou spakest to them to observe â—hat is contained in the Alcoran and to abandon the Idols which their fathers worshipped they answered that they believed neither in thee nor in thy mission but we avenged our selves upon them Consider what is the end of blasphemeâ—s Remember thou that Abraham said to his
the believers in a place of safty they had recourse to the word of force and vertue wherein they did better then the Infidels God knoweth all Assuredly the dream of the Prophet of God was true when he dreamed that ye were in the Temple of Mecca without fear your hair shaven and beards trimed fear nothing God knoweth what you know not in lieu of this dream he hath given you a great victory he it is that hath sent you his Prophet to teach you his Law more salutary then all other Laws of the world It is sufficient that God is witnesse that Mahomet is his Prophet and Apostle it sufficeth that the true believers who are with him bear testimony God encreaseth his mercy towards those Infidels that convert thou shalt see them worship God humble themselves before his divine Majesty and implore his grace thou shalt know them by their aspect they shall have in their countenance the marks of their zeal it is so written in the old Testament and she Gospel they are like a plant that produceth its leaves that grows strong by little and little and becommeth big afterwards it taketh strength upon its roots becometh a great tree and the wood thereof serveth to make war against Infidels God hath promised his mercy and an exceeding great reward to the Infidels that shall be converted that shall believe in his Law and do good works CHAP. XLIX The Chapter of Inclosures containing eighteene Verses written at Medina Exteri intituled This Chapter the Chapter Of Walls IN the name of God gracious and merciful O ye that belevie prefer not what ye have done to what God and his Prophet hath performed and fear God he heareth what soever ye say and seeth all that ye do O ye that beleieve when ye shall speak to the Prophet speak not louder then he cry not as when ye talk among your selves least ye render your good works vain and unprofitable and know it not God hath tryed the vertue of them that speak low in the presence of the Prophet he shall pardon their sinns and give them an exceeding great reward They that call thee behind the Inclosures know not what they do had they attended untill thou hadst been towards them they had done very well God is gracious and merciful O ye that believe if any Infidel desireth to preach to you distinguish the truth from a lye if ye give credit to the ignorant ye shall repent you Know that the Apostle of God is among you ye shall offend God if ye obey unbelievers in many things God willeth that ye embrace his Law it shal rejoyce your hearts and make ye to abhorre disobedience and impiety such as abhorre it are stedfast in their faith through his speciall grace he knoweth them and is most wise Iâ— two Nations or two Provinces of such as believe in God are at odds reconcile them if the one doe injury to the other fight against him that is unjust untill he repaiâ—e what God hath ordained if he make reparation reconcile them with equity be just God loveth them that do justice to his people all those that believe in his LAW are BRETHREN make peace among your brethren and fear God he shall give you his mercy O ye that believe scorn not your neighbour peradventure that he shall one day be of better value then you O ye women scorn not others perhaps they shall one day be more worth then you Vtter no reproaches and give no name to your neighbour that may displease him call him by his name otherwise ye will disobey God such as repent not are exceedingly too blame O ye that believe in God! take heed of evill thoughts these are oftentimes in the number of sins do no displeasure to your neighbour and speak to each other nothing that may displease who among you would eat the flesh of his dead brother ye shall abhor it fear therefore God who is gracious and merciful to such as have his fear before their eyes O people we created you male and female we have caused to issue out of your loyns people and Nations ye koow each other but your greatest honour is to fear God he knoweth you and understandeth all your secrets Some among the Arabians have said we believe say unto them say not we believe but say we are obedient otherwise faith shall not enter into your hearts if ye obey God and his Prophet ye shall be recompenced for your good works God is gracious and merciful to them that obey his Commandments Such as are beloved of God believe in his Vnity and in his Prophet they doub not of his Law and imploy their persons and wealth for the propagation of the faith Say unto them know ye not that your Law proceedeth from God he knoweth whatsoever is in the heavens and earth he knoweth all They think to do thee a pleasure in saving them say unto them believe not that ye pleasure me for it is God that guideth you into the way of salvation ye ought so to believe it God knoweth all that is in the heavens and earth and beholdeth whatsoever ye do CHAP. L The Chapter of the Thing Judged containing fourty five Verses written at Mecca Mahomet hath intituled this Chapter with the letter Kaf of the Arabique Alphabet which signifyeth in this place Kda el mer that is to say the thing judged See Gelaldin and Bedaoi who have entituled this the Chapter of Judgment or the thing judged Many Mahomitans say likewise that Kaf is a mountain that environeth the world and that Mahomet swore by that Mountain IN the name of God gracious merciful I swear by the Alcoran worthy of praise that the Inhabitants of Mecca wonder that a man of their Nation teacheth them the torments of hell they say that he speaketh strange things What say they shall we die shall we be earth and return into the world Behold a very strong return We know assuredly what the earth will do with us we have a book wherein all is written they impugne the known truth are in a great confusion See they not heaven above them how we have built it how we have adorned it and how there is no defect We have extended the earth raised the mountains and caused all sorts of fruits to spring forth for a sign of our omnipotency We have sent the blessed raine from heaven made gardens to produce grain pleasing to the Reapers and Date trees exceeding each other in height to enrich our creatures We have given life to the dead dry barren earth so shall the dead come out of their sepulchers The peopl of Noahs time those that inhabited neâ—r the wel Temod Pharoah and the fellow Citizens of Lot they that dâ—elt in the Forrest and people of King Teba did heretofore traduce our Prophets Teba was a King of Liemeâ— and felt the punishment denounced against Infidells Was it a trouble to us to create men at first
Temples and Hospitals and are obliged to give to the poore the first day of the year the tithe of what they have gained during the preceding yeare They believe that after being well washt saying some prayer appropriate to that Ceremony they have also the soul purified from all filthiness and sinne which is the cause that they wash and bathe often especially before they pray They have no Sacrament but Circumcision they cause their children to be circumcised at the age of seven or eight years and when they can pronounce these words La â—â—â—a illâ— aâ—ha Mehemet rasoul allha that is There is but one God Mahomet is his Prophet and Apostle this is their profession of Faith nevertheless there is no mention of Circumcision in all the Alcoran they say they observe it in imitation of Abraham whose Law is recommended to them by Mahomet they believe that the Alcoran was brought to him at severall times by the Angel Gabriel in the City of Mecca and that of Medina because the Jews and Christians had altered the holy Scriptures and the Law of God They are permitted to have four wives married at the same time and as many Concubines as they are able to maintain They can put away their wives when they think fit paying them what they promised them in contract of marriage and marry again at their pleasure but the women are bound to tarry untill they are assured that they aâ—â—â—â—ith childe before they marry again and their 〈◊〉 â—â—â—re obliged to keep and take the care of the 〈◊〉 The children which they have by their slaves 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—rently esteemed with those of their wives and are aâ— held as legitimate They have Temples Colledges and Hospitalls well revenued they have covents of Religious that live exemplarily obey their Superiours without contradiction and dance after the sound of Flutes and other instruments when they make their prayers They have moreover another sort of Religious Vagabonds through the world clothed like fools of that Country they often go naked and cut their skin in many places are held to be holy persons and live by alms which are never refused them both the one and the other sort of Religious are called Dervis they are known by their habit and can retire and marry when they please They deny Jesus Christ to be God or the Son of God neither believe they in the holy Trinity they say that Jesus Christ was a great Prophet born of the Virgin Mary a Virgin both before and after her delivery that he was conceived by divine inspiration or by a divine breath without a father as Adam was created without a mother that he was not crucified that God took him into heaven and that he shall come again on earth at the end of the world to confirm the Law of Mahomet they likewise affirm that the Jews thinking to crucifie Jesus Christ crucified a man among them that resembled him They pray to God for the Dead they invoke their Saints A great question among Mahometans of whom they have a large Legend nevertheless they believe not Purgatory and many among them imagine that the soul and body remain together in the grave until the day of Judgment They have Mecca and Medina that are two Cities of Arabia in great veneration because Mahomet was born at Mecca and buried at Medina they make thither great pilgrimages and believe that Land to be Holy They bear likewise singular respect to the City of 〈◊〉 for that it hath been the Birth-place and haâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—f many Prophets They use no Clocks at the hour of theâ—â—â—â—â—rs their Priests ascend the highest part of the Tower that is in a corner of the Temple and with a loud voyce call the people to prayer singing prayers composed for that purpose WE the Consuls Governors Protectors and Defenders of the Priviledges Freedoms and Liberties of the City of Marseillis do certifie and attest to all to whom it shall appertain that Mr. Andrew du Ryer Lord of Malezair Gentleman in Ordinary of the Kings Chamber and heretofore Consul to his Majesty in Aegypt hath executed the charge for the said Consulship like a man of honesty and honour no complaint having been made at any time or his administration or deportment during the time of his abode there and that he exercised that office Neither was any complaint ever made of the said Mr. du Ryer during the time he sojourned at Constantinople for the service of his Majesty but all the Captains and Officers of Merchant Vessels and of others that negotiated in the same parts received of him all favour as in matters that concerned them as in affairs that did relate to the service of his Majesty and the advantage of his Subjects traffique in testimony of which Wee have drawn and signed these presents and have put and affixed to them the Seal and accustomed Arms of this City At Marseillis the 12. day of Feb. 1633. De Bourgogne Consul I. Savornin Consul Meinardet Consul By the said Consuls Boet. To Mr. DU RYER Lord of Malezair Gentleman in Ordinary of the Kings Chamber at Constantinople SIR HAving heard by the report of many Merchants of this City the good offices that you have daily performed towards them of our Nation and particularly our fellow Citizens who all unanimously much commend your assection and singular care to protect and defend them We thought our duty to return you by these lines a thousand thanks and that the more affection for that your curtesie and not their merits carried you to all those good offices of which they and we shall ever keep a perpetuall memory to render you any acknowledgement when occasion shall be offered and give you a testimony by our services that you have not cast your seed upon barren ground In the mean time Sir we beseech you be pleased to continue to us the honour of your friendship and effects of your favour as we shall desire in all emergent occasion to testifie that we are really Sir Your most affectionate Servant the Consuls Governors of the City of Marseillis Monthouliau Francis Nappolon Du Pont. From Marseillis this 24. of August 1632. A Translation of the Command of the grand Seignior concerning Mr. Malezair ILlustrious and Excellent Commanders refuge of the great Triumphant Eminent Glorious and Honourable Lords endued with the speciall graces of God Bashaws or Vice-Roys Beyes or Governors that are upon the roads of our most August Port to the Realm of France God perpetuate your glory just Judges of the Nusulmans Minerals of Vertue and Knowledge that are upon the road of our most August Port to the Realm of France God increase your vertues Honorable and trusty Governors Captains of Frontires and Castles Captains and Patrons of Galleys and Vessels Customers that are upon the road of our most August Port to the Realm of France God augment your Honours and glory When this most August command shall come to you know that the Lord of
unto them you shall assist with your goods your father and mother your allies Orphans the poore and pilgrims God will understand all the good you shall doe Fighting is enjoyned you although it bee against your will it may chance that you will shunne that which is profitable to you and likewise love what is pernicious to you God knoweth what you know not They shall aske of thee if they shall fight in the month of Mharam say unto them great battels shalt happen in this month that shall shut up to the people the way of the Law of God and impieâ—ies that shall hinder the multitude to goe to Mecca To drive the people from Mecca is an exceeding great sinne Sedition is worse then murther The wicked shall not cease to fight you untill they have if they can accomplish â—t mislead you from your Religion His good works among you that shall quit his Law and die an Infidell shall be vaine in this world and himselfe be confined in the fire of Hell Such as belâ—eve in God that separate themselves from the impious that abandon their houses for the service of his Divine Majestie and that fight for the Faith hope for his mercy he is gracious and mercifull They will enquire of thee concerning wine and games of hazard say unto them that it is in them a very great sin and yet of utility to men but the evill that they cause is much greater then the profit they reape They will demand what they ought to expend in â—ood works say unto them what shall remaine to you your â—wne affaires being done So God teacheth you his Comâ—andements peradventure you will call to mind the things â—f earth and of heaven They will enquire concerning Orâ—hans say unto them if their substance bee intermingled â—ith your owne doe them no wrong they are your breâ—â—ren in God he knoweth them that doe good and those â—â—t doe evill if it had pleased him he had detained much â—ore from you for he is Omnipotent and just Marry not â—omen that believe in many gods untill they believe in one â—le God a Slave that is a true believer is of more vaâ—â—e then a free Infidell notwithstanding she is beautifull â—fidels shall be summoned to hell fire and God calleth â—en to Paradise and to his mercy through his meere â—od pleasure and declareth to them his Commandements â—haps they will remember them They will enquire of â—ee concerning the monthly terms of women answer â—â—at they are uncleane separate your selves from your â—ives when they are menstruous and come not nigh them â—â—till they bee purified when they shall be cleane apâ—roach them according to what God hath commanded â—e loveth them that repent of their errors that are cleane â—d purified your wives are your tillage goe to your tilâ—ge at your pleasure and doe good for your souls you â—all one day find it feare God and preach his Commanâ—â—ments to the true believers Your Religion doth not perâ—it you to sweare by God in vaine and oftentimes to â—â—stifie your selves God understandeth and knoweth all â—ings he will not regard what you shall speake at ranâ—ome that shall not bee hurtfull to any but he will see â—hat it shall be in your heart He will be gracious and merâ—ifull to such as shall sweare not to touch their wives the â—ace of foure months if they returne to them he is graâ—ious and mercifull but if they desire to repudiate them â—e understandeth and knoweth all things Women diâ—orced shall tarry untill their Termes be past foure times â—efore they marry againe it is not permitted them to conâ—eale what God hath created in their wombe if they beâ—ieve in his divine Majesty and the day of Iudgement if they flie from their husbands they shall be brought agaâ—â— to them which is a thing reasonable They ought to â—nour them and their husbands likewise ought to honoâ—â— them but the husbands have a degree of advantage aboâ—â— them God is Omnipotent and most wife in what he 〈◊〉 dameth Divorce the first and second time ought to bâ— performed with mildnesse courtesie and good deeds is not lawfull for you to take any thing from your wives what you have given them if you both feare a disability not satisfying the Commandements of God but if yâ—â— both feare to transgresse the bounds prescribed by Goâ— you shall doe well to accord together such are the coâ—mandements of his divine Majesty such as transgresse thâ— are exceedingly too blame He that shall have repudiated wife thrice shall not resume her untill she hath been mâ—ryed to another that hath divorced her then they may 〈◊〉 turne to each other and marry againe without Sinne they thinke themselves able to continue within the lâ—â— prescribed by God which he manifesteth to the wise â— prudent When you shall repudiate your wives appoâ— them the time they must tarry before they againe maâ— take them with civility and modestie and in the like mâ—ner dismisse them give them presents according to your â—bilities and take them not to abuse nor torment theâ— they that doe this offend their owne Souls Mocke noâ— the Commandements of God Remember his favours 〈◊〉 how he hath taught you Scripture knowledge and 〈◊〉 mysteries of his law Feare God and know that he â—â—derstandeth all your actions When you repudiate yâ—â—â— wives appoint them the time they ought to tarry beâ—â—â—â— they marry againe and hinder them not to marry acâ—â—â—ding to the Commandements of God These things preached to them among you that believe in God and the day of Iudgement it is requisite so to make useâ— them God knoweth what you know not The woman 〈◊〉 give suck to their children two yeares entire if they fire to accomplish the time appointed to suckle them 〈◊〉 father shall nourish and cloath the wife and his childrâ—â— according to his faculties expend not but according the measure of your goods the father and mother shall not necessitate themselves for their children the heire shall performe what is above ordained he shall entertaine his father and mother according to his abilities See Gelaldin if the parents desire to weane their children before two years be expired they may do it without offending God if they both agree to it If you cause your children to be nursed by other women then your own wives God will not be offended in giving them their sallary according to reason and honesty feare God and know that he seeth what ever you doe Widdows shall tarry foure months and ten nights after the death of their husbands before they marry againe this time being accomplished they shall doe what shall seeme good to them according to reason and honesty God knoweth all your actions You will not offend God in speaking a word in secret to women that you research in marriage although you conceale in your mind your designe to espouse them he understandeth what ever you thinke of them know them not secretly untill you have pronounced the words
that God knowâ—th not them that fought gallantly He knoweth them that were patient in adversity and persevered in obedienâ— his Commandements You expected death before yoâ— it At the battell of Beder you saw it with your eyes and were victorious â—â—â—tainly Mahomet is the Prophet and Apostle of God were many Prophets before him when they died on slain you returned upon your steps to impiety Theâ— return upon their steps do no harm to God he wâ— ward onely such as acknowledge his favors and meâ— not die without his permission and that in a time pâ— bed and predestinate I will give the good things 〈◊〉 world to whom it pleaseth me and will abundantly â—â—pence them that praise me How many Prophets anâ— with them that were not dejected through their aâ—ons that befell them in fighting for the Law of 〈◊〉 They were not weakned neither humbled to the Iâ— God affecteth them that are patient in their adverâ— and such as persevere in his Law They said in theiâ—â—ctions Lord pardon our sins confirm our steps anâ—â—â—â—tect us against the Infidels God giveth them the 〈◊〉 of the Earth and the Treasures of Heaven he 〈◊〉 them that do good O ye that believe in God if yâ—â—bey the wicked they will cause you to return upon steps you shall return to the number of the daâ— truly God is your Lord he is the best protector I wâ— fear into the hearts of Infidels because they have wâ— reason adored many Gods and the fire of Hell shâ— their habitation God hath made the truth of his â—â—ses to appear to you when by his permission you fleâ— Infidels untill you were weary of fighting neâ— lesse you contradicted what the Prophet ordained disobeyed him after he had caused you to see who desired with affection There be among you that 〈◊〉 the goods of this world and others that love the 〈◊〉 things of heaven God hath withdrawn you from tâ—â—â—fidels to trie you he hath pardoned your sins he is â—â—tifull to them that observe his Commandements 〈◊〉 you retreated from the Combat and yeilded withoâ—â— son the Prophet recalled you and gave you to knoâ— errour with a thousand paines afflict not your 〈◊〉 with the losse of the spoyle that escaped you at the day of â—ictory neither with the mischief that befeil you when â—ou were vanquished God knoweth all your actions Afâ—er your labour he sent you great repose part of you slept 〈◊〉 all safety and the residue suffered themselves to be â—rried away at their pleasures they had thoughts of God â—â—ntrary to the truth Think on the ignorant that say â—ave we seen any of the succour that God hath promiâ—â—d Say to them all things proceed from God They â—â—nceale in their souls what they publish not and say had â—e been free of our own wills we had not been slain say 〈◊〉 them although you had stayed in your houses and in our beds death would have taken away them that were â—rived at the houre of their destinie God approveth â—hat is in your hearts and knoweth what you have in our soules Certainly the Devill seduced them that fled â—hen the two Armies were in battell and that because of â—me sinne they had committed neverthelesse God parâ—oned them he is gracious and mercifull to his people Oh â—ee that believe be not like the Infidels that said speaâ—ing of their breathren that were slain in the Armie â—hat had they continued in their houses they had not â—â—ed God putteth this sorrow in their heart because of â—heir impietie he giveth life and death and beholdeth all â—our actions if you be slain for his Law or die in his faâ—our it shall be more advantagious to you then all the â—â—easures of the world and if you die or be slain fightâ—â—g for the Faith you shall appeare before his divine Maâ—estie to be rewarded Through the grace of God thou â—ast rendred them docile although thou bee severe 〈◊〉 them they will not depart from thee pardon them â—ray for them Take their advise in occasions offered See Gelaldin â—nd being resolved to do any thing trust thou in God â—e loveth them that trust in him he protecteth you none â—hall obtain victory over you if he abandon you who â—hall protect you All the faithfull ought to resign themâ—elves to the will of his divine Mejestie It is not lawfull â—or the Prophet to deceive he that shall be a deceiâ—er shall appeare at the day of Iudgement with his deceipt to be judged then shall men be payed with 〈◊〉 they have gained no injustice shall be done to them 〈◊〉 shall have loved God and Hell shall be the Habitation them that through deceit shal return in the displeasurâ— his divine Majestie They shall not be all equally entâ—ted God shall appoint them their ranke and place he holdeth all their actions he assuredly rewarded the 〈◊〉 believers when he sent them a Prophet of their own â—â—tion to preach to them his Commandements and instâ— them in the Alcoran they before his comming were 〈◊〉 manifest errour When any mischief befell you it 〈◊〉 befell the Infidels you have demanded When doth 〈◊〉 mischief come it proceedeth from your selves certaâ— God is Omnipotent What befell you when the 〈◊〉 Camps encountred hapned through the permission God to distinguish the true believers that dispense thâ— goods with affection for the glory of his divine Majestâ— from them that abandoned the fight when it was said them Come fight for the Faith and answered had 〈◊〉 thought of fighting we had not followed you then we they neerer to impietie then to the Faith neverthelesâ— they had not all of them that in their heart that was 〈◊〉 their mouth God knoweth what they keep secret Thâ— be of them that said to their brethren Stay and go 〈◊〉 to the Combat your Companions had not been slain hiâ— they obeyed us say to them Deliver your selves froâ— death if you can avoid it continuing in your houses Believe not that those that were slain for the Faith are deaâ— on the contrary they are alive with God they rejoyâ— for that such as â—an to hinder them to fight did not meeâ— them fear not for them they shall rejoyce eternally 〈◊〉 the favour of God he wâ—ll abundantly reward them thaâ— fight for his Law Those that obeyed God and the Prophet after being overcome that did good works and feared his divine Majestie shall receive great rewards When it was told them the people have conspired against you take heed to your selves this discourse increased theâ— faith and they said it sufficeth that God is our protector they were filled with the grace of God no more evill befell them and they observed the Commandements of his â—ivine Majestie He is gracious to them that obey him The Devill will cause in you a fear of the Infidels fear â—hem not but if you be good men fear me Afflict not â—our selves to see the wicked run to impietie they hurt not God he will not give them
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
God hath bestowed on them and that are impious Such as dispend their wealth with hypocrisie believe neither in God nor the day of Iudgement and those that shall have the Devil for their companion will be in exceeding bad company he shall not approach them if they believe in God and the day of Iudgement and give Alms in some part of the riches God hath given them God knoweth them and doth no iniustice to any one of the weight of a small Ant. If the righteous do good of the quantity of a Pismire God shall multiply it and give them a great reward In what condition will Infidels be at the day of Iudgement for that we have witnesses of all Nations against their impiety and that we will call thee for a witnesse against them of their deportments That day the Infidels that have disobeyed the Prophet shall defâ—â—e to be consumed like to the Earth and not to have concealed or altered through their discourse the Commandments of God O you that believe make not your prayers being drunk untill you know what you speak neither likewise being polluted unless in passing on the way untill you be cleansed if you be in a iourney or sick or go to discharge your belly or have known your wives and find no water to wash you you shall lay hand upon the sand and wipe your face and hands God is graciouâ— and mercifull to his Creatures Seest thou not how thosâ— that know the written Law purchase Error how the desire to mis-lead you through their riches and divert yoâ— from the right way God knoweth your enemies it is enough that he is your defender and protector Such 〈◊〉 Judaize alter the word of God say to the Prophetâ— We have heard and disobeyed thee they heard withouâ— hearing they say preserve us have a care of us neverthelesse do they pervert the word of God in reading it and alter his Commandements they should doe better tâ— say Lord we have heard and obeyed hearken onely tâ— us and regard us But God hath cursed them and fâ—â— of them will believe in his Divine Maiesty O you thaâ— have knowledge of the Scriptures I believe in the Alcoran that confirmeth the old and new Testament before that 〈◊〉 deface your visages and cause them to turn behind your backs He speaketh to the Iewes and Christians I will curse Infidels as I have cursed them of the Sabbath the Commandement of God is incontinently executed he pardoneth not them that associate him with companions equall to him except this he forgiveth sins to whom it pleaseth him He that saith God hath companions blasphemeth and mortally sinneth Consider not such as affirm themselves to be good men contrariwise God maketh those good men that please him no iniustice shall befall them at the day of Iudgement Consider how they blaspheme it is sufficient that God manifestly beholdeth their sin Seest thou not them that have knowledge of the written Law that believe in Habot and Tagoâ— Idols that say to the Infidels Behold the way of them that believe in God Certainly God hath cursed them he whom he curseth shall find none to protect him Shall they alone have part in the kingdome of Heaven without giving Alms They will envy their Neighbour for the favours God hath conferred on him Certainly we gave to the posterity of Abraham the knowledge of the Scriptures and Prophecies we bestowed â—n them great abundance of wealth There were of them â—hat believed in the Scripture and others that contemned 〈◊〉 but they shall be punished in the fire of Hell I will â—ause them to burn and change their burned skin into â— new skin that they may suffer the more God is omnipotent and prudent in what he ordaineth I will cause â—hose that have believed in God and have performed good works to enter into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers where they shall dwell eternally with most beauâ—ifull women I will give them to enter the shade of Paradise God recommendeth to you Fidelity among your selves to render faithfully what hath been intrusted to you and when you shall iudge differences that shall happen among the people iudge with equity It is a good work that he commandeth you he beholdeth and knoweth all things O ye that believe obey God and the Prophets and such as command over you if you be in controversie concerning any point refer it to God and his Prophet to understand the Exposition if you believe in God and the day of Iudgement you shall do well this will be the best interpretation that you can attain to Seest thou not that they who think to believe in what hath been inspired into thee and what hath been inspired into thy Predecessors incline to dispute before Taâ—oâ— Neverthelesse they have commanded not to believe in that Idoll the Devill laboureth to seduce and withdraw them from the Truth When it was said to them Obey the Commandement of God and his Prophet they departed from thee What will they doe when there shall happen to them any punishment of their past sinnes They will return to thee aâ—d swear by the name of God That they desire Peace and to do good Works but God knoweth what is in their hearts and hath abandoned them Cease not to preach to them and to declare to them the Word of God the Prophets and Apostles were not sent but to preach and to be heard through the permission of his Divine goodness If when they have hurt their souls they come to thee and demand pardon of God thou shalt beg pardon for them they shall find God gracious and mercifull Thâ— will not believe in his divine Maiesty untill they haâ—â— disputed the difference with thee that is among them and when they shall no more doubt of what thou shaâ—â— have done they will without contradiction obey theâ— We have ordained them to kill each other and to foâ—sake their houses they have not done it except very feâ— of them and although they did it they did it not to obey what should have been to them a great benefit anâ— an exceeding merit we had given them a very greâ—â— reward and guided them to the right way He that shaâ— obey God and his Prophet shall be with them whoâ— God hath endued with his Grace He that knoweth it resigneth himself to his divine Maiesty O you that are True-believers be upon your guard assembled to fight stoutly for the Law of God There be among you that be cowardly when any discomfiture hath befaln you they have said God protected me that I was not with them And when God gave you victory they spak as if there had been no understanding between them and you Would to God I had been with them I should have acquired exceeding great merit Fight for the glory of God against them that prefer the life of this world to that of Heaven I will give an exceeding great reward to such as shall fight that shall be victorious and to
from the Truth God pardoneth not them that have embraced his Law and then have forsaken it having believed in his divine Majestie and are returned again to their impietie declare to such men they shall feel heavie torments Such as obey Infidels to be great in this world extreamly delude themselves greatness proceedeth from God It is written in the Book that was sent to you that the Infidels shall mock you when they shall hear the word of God and you shall obey his Commandements Tarry not in their company if they change not their discourse otherwise you will be like to them God will assemble into the fire of Hell all Infidels and wicked persons Some of them that observe your actions said they were of your partie when any felicitie hapned to you and when the Infidels had advantage over you they said they were with them and that they fought against you God at the day of judgement shall judge the difference that is between you and will not give advantage to Infidels over them that observe his Law The wicked thinke to deceive God but God deceiveth them they are negligent to make their prayers they are hypocrites before the world and remember not his divine Majestie except very few of them uncertain whether they should follow the faithfull or the Infidels hee whom God shall cause to goe astray shall not find the right way Oh ye that believe obey not Infidels to the exclusion of true believers will you give God manifest occasion to chastise you for your sinnes The wicked shall be in the lowest place of Hell and shall find no relief except such as shall repent that shall do good works resigne themselves to God and obey his Commandements they shall be with the true believers and receive from God a very great reward He will not send you miserie if you give him thanks for his favours and obey him he accepteth the acknowledgement of his benefits and knoweth all things He willeth not that what evill is committed be published he that publisheth the evill he doth is very much to blame if you manifest the good you do or if you conceale it and abstain from doing evill he will be mercifull to you he is omnipotent Such as blaspheme against God and his Prophets his Apostles such as would make a distinction between the Commandements of his divine Majestie and the precepts of his Prophets such as affirme they believe in some of the Prophets and believe not in all and take a middle way betweene faith and impietie are indeed impious we have prepared for them ignominious torments but they who believe in God and generally in all his Prophets and Apostles shall be recompenced of God gracious and mercifull They that know the written Law will require thee to cause to dâ—scend from Heaven a Book and written Tables They demanded of Moses greater things and said The Iews Cause us to behold God with our eyes then thunder surprized them by reason of their impiety They adored the Calfe after having had the knowledge of our Commandements neverthelesse we pardoned them and gave to Moses an absolute dominion over them We raised the Mountain over them following our promises anh said to them Enter the gate of the Temple with adoration and humility and no longer transgress the observation of the day of Rest We for this matter received from them a strong promise but they swarved from what they had promised and we cursed them because of their impietie by reason of the murther they committed-without reason on the persons of the Prophets and of the words they uttered viz. Our heart is hardned Contrariwise God imprinted infidelitie in their hearts they shall never believe in his Law except very few of them because of their malice and the blasphemies they vomited against Mary they said The Christians We have slain the Messiah Jesus the Son of Mary the Prophet and Apostle of God Certainly they flew him not neither crucified him they crucified one among them that resembled him such as doubt it are in a manifest error and speak not but through opinion Certainly they flew him not on the contrary God took him up to himself he is Omnipotent and prudent in all his actions Such as have the knowledge of Scripture ought to believe in Jesus before his death he shall be a witnesse against them of their actions at the day of Judgement We have prohibited them that Judaize by reason of their sin things that were permitted them We have prepared for them great torment because they mislead the world from the right way because they take Use that is forbidden them and unjustly eat the substance of their neighbour Such of them as are profound in Learning and all the faithfull believe in the Scriptures both ancient and modern I will give great rewards to them that shall make their prayers at the time appointed that shall pay Tithes and believe in the day of Judgement We have sent thee our inspirations as we sent them to Noah and the Prophets after him as we heretofore sent them to Abraham Ismael Isaac Iacob the Tribes to Jesus Iob Ionas Aaron and to Solomon and gave the Psalter to David We have told thee who were the Prophets that preceded thee but we have not spoken to thee concerning the merits of all them Moses spake to God as his Prophet and Apostle all declared his mercy and preached the torments of Hell to the end men might have no cause of excuse God is Omnipotent and prudent in all his actions He shall be witnesse that the Alcoran was sent to thee with his Commandements the Angels likewise testifie it but it ought to suffice thee that God is witness The Infidels that hindred the people to follow the Law of God were exceedingly erroneous God will not pardon them he will lead them into the path of Hell where they shall remain eternally it is a thing easie to his divine Majestie Oh people A Prophet is come to you who preacheth to you the Truth from the Lord believe him you shall do well if you believe him not know that whatever is in Earth and in Heaven is Gods and that God knoweth whatsoever you do Oh ye that understand the written Law Obey the Commandements of God and speak not of his divine Majestie but with truth the Messiah Jesus the Son of Mary is a Prophet and an Apostle of God his Word and his Spirit which he sent to Mary believe therefore in God and in his Prophets and say not there be three Gods put an end to that discourse you shall do well For there is but one God praysed be God he hath no Son what-ever is in Heaven and in Earth obeyeth him it is sufficient that he is witnesse The Messiah esteemeth it no dishonour to be the servant of God neither the Angel nor the Cherubins He that holdeth it a dishonour to be at his service is too proud he shall assemble all the
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
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
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
The earth shall produce nothing to them that shall conspire against the Prophet they shall be chastised when they least think of it God shall afflict them in their commerce they shall not escape his punishment and their substance shall diminish by little and little before their eyes God is gracious and mercifull to them only that honour him See they not the shadow of that which God hath created sometimes at the right hand sometimes at the left to adore his divine Majesty they certainly are contemptible whatsoever is on the earth and in the heavens beast and Angels worship God with humility feare their Lord and obey his Commandements God hath commanded them to worship and to feare one God alone to whom obedience is due eternally whom will ye feare but God who but God shall protect you when evill befalleth you you have recourse to his divine goodnesse being delivered some of you give him thanks and yet believe not in his Law You seek only the riches of the earth but you shall see what shall be your end they say that their wealth proceedeth from their Idols by God! an account of their blasphemies shall be required of them they affirme that God hath daughters assuredly they deceive themselves and are not well satisfied when it is said to them that a daughter is born to them they fly such as declare to them the punishment of their sins God shall leave them in igmony and they shall be contemned as the earth which they trample under their feet because they believe not in the day of Judgement misery shall perpetually pursue them God shall command for ever and be eternally powerfull and victorious Should God chastise men when they offend he should leave no living creature upon the earth he deferreth their punishment untill the time appointed they can neither advance nor retard it they affirm God to have that which themselves are not satisfied to have they lye when they say that paradise is for them doubtlesse they are erroneous and shall be precipitated into the fire of hell By God! we have sent heretofore Prophets to the people the devill seduced men and was master of the wicked in this world but in the other they shall rescent great torments We have sent thee the Alcoran to cleare to men the doubts touching Religion and to guide true believers into the right way God sendeth raine from heaven to refresh the earth this is an evident signe of his omnipotency to them that heare his word ye have yet a token of his omnipotency in the beasts that give you milk to nourish you and another marke in the fruits of the earth in the fruits of Date trees and the Vines from which you extract wine and receive profit These things are signes of his omnipotency to such as comprehend them The Lord inspired the Bee to dwell in the fields to lodge in trees in Hives and to eat of all sorts of fruits it produceth honey of divers colours that serveth for a remedy to the diseases of men these things are signes of Gods omnipotency to them that consider them God hath created you and shall cause you to dye There be persons among you that shall be full of ignominy in their life to the end they may understand that God is omnipotent conferreth benefits on some more then on others Slaves have no part in the faculties of their Masters neither are they associate with them neverthelesse they associate to God another God equall to him and blaspheme against his grace God hath created you men and women hath given you Children and Children to your Children he hath enriched you with the riches of the earth Will you after this grace believe in your Idols which are things inanimate vaine and unprofitable Will yee bee ingratefull for the benefits of God Will yee Worship what can neither benefit not hurt you Believe not that there is another God companion and associate with God Hee knoweth what yee know not hee teacheth you a Parable A Slave that is poore cannot give Almes and he who is rich giveth almes secretly and publiquely as he seeth good are they both alike Ought they to be put in paralell Praise be to God Certainly the greatest part of men know not his graces he teacheth you a parable Behold two men the one was borne deaf and dumb and given in charge to his Guardian he knoweth not how to imploy him he is capable neither of doing nor speaking well is he like to him that speaketh that understandeth teacheth men Justice and followeth the right way Whatsoever is in Heaven or on Earth appertaineth to God when he commandeth any thing it is performed in the twinkling of an eye yea sooner he is omnipotent He it is that causeth you to come out of the wombe of your mother that giveth you hearing sight and sense perhaps ye will return him thanks See ye not the birds that flye in the Aire who sustaineth them but God It is an evident signe of his omnipotency for the True-believers he hath given you houses to inhabit and the skins and furres of beasts to cover you he hath given you their haire and wooll to furnish your houses and enrich you he created trees and clouds to overshadow you made the Mountaines and Caves to cover you from rain created garments to defend you from the heat of the Sun and the rigour of cold he hath accomplished his grace upon you peradventure you will resigne your selves to the will of his divine Majesty and professe his Unity If the unbelievers depart from the way of the Law thou art obliged only to preach to them intelligibly they know the grace of God and contemne it for that the greatest part of them are impious preach unto them the day wherein I will raise againe all the Nations of the world and the Prophets and Apostles who have preached to them my Commandements there shall be no excuse for Infidels neither shall they find protection or relaxation of their miseries When they shall behold their Idols they shall confesse that they were mislead they shall understand the unity of thy Lord and that their Idols are not able to intercede for them God hath added to the punishment of Infidels hath sent them evill upon evill because they hinder the world to follow his Law Preach unto them the day wherein I will cause to rise again all the Nations of the world with the Prophet who preached to them to be witness of their actions I will be witness against them of thy Nation I have sent thee the Book that unfoldeth the mysteries of my Law to guid the people into the right way and to declare the joyes of paradise to such as professe my unity God commandeth you to do only that which is reasonable he commandeth you to give almes and do good to your parents he forbiddeth whordom disobedience and injustice enjoyneth you to do good perhaps you will consider it Perform what ye have
promised to God break not promised faith ye call God to be witness of your promises hee knoweth all your actions Do not like the woman who spun a thred foulded it and afterwards entangled it and spoyled it believe not that there is deceit and error in your Law If the unbelievers be more in numbers then you God permitteth it to prove you he shall clear to you at the day of Judgement the doubts that be among you had it so pleased him you all had observed one and the same Law he guideth misleadeth whom it pleaseth him and will exactly require of you an accompt of your actions Believe not that there is deceipt in your Law take heed of stumbling having once confirmed your steps ye shall be severely chastised â—f ye seduce the people from the right way do not violate what ye have promised to God for any price his grace is of more advantage to you then the wealth of the earth had ye knowledge to understand it your wealth is perishable and the riches of heaven are eternall he shall recompence them that persevere in wel-doing and whosoever shall doe good works shall be blessed in this world and in the other When thou shalt read the Alcoran implore God to deliver thee from the malice of the Divell abominable to all the Creatures he hath no power over them that trust in his divine Majestie his power extendeth over such as go astray who obey not him and adore many Gods When we alter any precepts God well knoweth what he ordaâ—neth they say thou art a lyar but the greatest part of them are ignorant Say unto them that assuredly the Holy Ghost hath taught it from thy Lord to confirme believers in their faith and to guide into the right way them that professe his unity and to anounce to them the joyes of Paradise I know that they will say that a man hath taught him the Alcoran He whom they presume to have taught him is a Persian by Nation and speaketh the Language of the Persians and the Alcoran is in the Arabique tongue full of instruction and eloquence They who will not believe in God shall suffer great torments such as renounce his Commandements blaspheme against his divine Majesty those that reject his Law after having professed it shall feel the effect of his wrath and be punished for preferring the wealth of the earth to the riches of Heaven God guideth not unbelievers They in whose hearts he hath imprinted disobedience those whom he hath deprived of hearing and sight are ignorant they doubtlesse shall be at the end of the world in the number of the damned he is mercifull to them that convert and repent to have mislead the people from the right way and persevere in obedience to his Commandements Be thou mindfull of the day wherein man shall dispute against himself and every one shall be rewarded according to his works without injustice God teacheth you a Parable Behold a free and Priviledged City on the which God poureth his graces on all sides with abundance and is ingratefull for his benefits but he sent upon it misery famine and feare because of its ingratitude God hath sent to the Inhabitants thereof a Prophet of their Nation they have slandered him and were chastised because of their sinne Eate of what God hath given you and give him thanks for his grace if it be he whom ye worship he forbiddeth you to eat of Carrion of Bloud and Swines-flesh and whatsoever is not slaine in pronouncing the name of God he will be gracious and mercifull to them who shall eat through necessity without designe to offend him Lye not in saying Behold that which is permitted to be eaten blaspheme not against God such as blaspheme against him shall not prosper in this world and in the otâ—er shall suffer grievous torments We did heretofore prohibit the Jews to eat of what we have recounted to thee we did to them no injustice they drew mischief on themselves through their sinne thy Lord is gracious and mercifull to them that ignorantly offend him who convert and doe good works Abraham was obedient to God and professed his unity he adored not Idols and gave thanks to God for his mercies God elected and guided him into the right way he gave him wealth in this world and placed him in the other in the number of the blessed We have inspired thee to follow the Law of Abraham he professed the unity of God and adored not Idols he established the Sabbath among the Jews of which they dispute God shall judge their dâ—fference at the day of Judgement Call the people to the Law of God with prudence and preachings and dispute against them with good arguments God knoweth them that depart from the right way if they evilly intreat you intreat them as they shall intreat you if ye be patient patience is advantagious to them that take it willingly have patience for the love of God and afflict not your selves with the deportments and malice of the wicked God is with the righteous who have his feare before their eyes CHAP. XVII The Chapter of the Voyage by night containing an hundred and eleven verses written at Mecca Reader The Turks believe that this night of the Voyage Mahomet ascended into Heaven with the Angel Gabriel he was mounted on a white Burac which is a beast partly Mule partly Asse and partly Horse He saw all the Prophets that preceded him all the wonders of Paradise and saw God who sate on his Throne See Kitab el tenoir Tesfiir anf Giauhoir and the exposition of Gelaldin The Bedaoi intituleth this Chapter the Chapter of the Children of Israel IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull Praise be to him that caused his servant to goe in one night from the Temple of Mecca to the Temple of Jerusalem wee have blessed that Temple and whatsoever is about it in token of our omnipotency We gave to Moses the Old Testament to instruct the Children of Israel and to deterr them from the worship of any other God but of me to forbid them to adore the lineage of Noah or the lineage of them that we preserved in his Ark. To quit their saith and return to it ofâ—en Noah is my creature and my servant acknowledging my benefits wee prohibited in Scripture the children of Israel to defile twice the Earth left they kindled too great a fire when that befell you See Kitab el tenoir we stirred up our servants against you and they entered by force into the midst of your houses this was as soon executed as promised In the end we gave you advantage over your enemies we gave you wealth and children to succor you and ye were more numerous then the Infidels the good and the evill that you shall doe shall be for your souls We stirred up the wicked against you because of your sins to afflict you through the murther and bondage of your persons and they destroyed
the Temple of Jerusalem as they had ruined it the first time Your Lord shall pardon you if you convert we have established Hell for a perpetuall prison of Infidels The Alcoran guideth the righteous into the right way it declareth to them a great reward preacheth to the wicked the torments of Hell and exhorteth men to wel-doing although they are inclining to evill and prompt to sin We created the day and the night they are two signes of our omnipotency we caused the night to passe away and the day to appeare for labor and to the end ye might know number of ages of months and of yeares wee explained our mysteries without obscurity and have enjoyned every one to beare the burden of his iniquities at the day of judgement that day will we make men to see the accompt of their sins they shall be 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
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
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
is in this fire and whatsoever is about it is blessed praise is due to God Lord of the Vniverse I am God omnipotent and eternall Cast thy staffe on the ground When Moses beheld his staffe to move as it had been alive He went back very sorrowfull and returned no more Feare not that staffe my messenger and my Prophets have no fear in my presence he that shall be converted shall finde me gracious and mercifull Put thine hand into thy pocket it shal come forth white without harm it shal be one of the nine marks of my omnipotency Pharoah and his Ministers were altogether erroneous when they saw my Miracles they said that thâ—y were but sorcery they disposed them and increased their impiety Consider what is the end of the wicked and how they have been destroyed we gave knowledg to David to Solomon they said God who hath gratifyed us above many of his servants that have beleivd in his omnipotency Solomon was Davids heire and said to the people we understand the Language of birds we know whatsoever can be known it is an exceeding great grace Solomons Army being one day assembled before him composed of men Devils and birds he lead them to the valley of Pismires a Pismire their Queen cryed out oh Pismires enter into your houses least Solomon and his troups trample you under foot without knowledge of it Solomon hearing these words remained sometime without speaking and in the end began to laugh saying Lord assist me that I may give thee thanks for the benefits and graces which thou didst conferr upon my Father If I do well thou wilt accept it place me through thy mercy in the number of them that exalt thy glory He called for the †A Bird so called Whoope and said wherefore see I not the Whoope is she in the number of the absent I will punish and put her to death if she have not a lâ—â—â—â—ll excuse not long after she humbled her selfe before Solomon who asked her whence she came she answered I come from seeing what thou seest not I come from the Kingdom of Saba whence I bring certain tidings I have found a woman their Queen who hath whatsoever is necessary for a King she hath a great and magnificent Thron I have found that she with her Subjects adore the Sun the Devill caused them to delight in this their Action he hath seduced them from the right way and they shall be in Error untill they worship one God who sendeth rain from Heaven maketh the earth to produce plants and fruits who knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men and what they utter God! There is but one God Lord of the Vniverse Solomon said I shall soon see if thou speak truth or whither thou be in the number of the lyars goe bear to her this letter and obsâ—rve what she and her people shall answer At her arivall the Queen said to her Ministers Oh ye that are raised to dignity in my dominions a Letter is given me from Solomon of this tenour In the name of God gracious and mercifull rise not up against me and obey me Give me counsell what I ought to do I will do nothing without your advice and what you see not with your eyes They answered Our welfare and misery depend on thee command whatsoever shall seem good to thee and we will obey thee She said When Kings enter a City they introduce many disorders they abase and humble the chiefe of the Inhabitants and the most eminent if Solomon his people come hither they will use us in the like maner I think it requisit to send to him an Ambassador with some presents perhaps he will take a resolution to return When the Ambassador arrived in Solomons presence he said unto him Do ye bring me presents God hath bestowed on me more riches then on you presents rejoyce you because ye love them Return to them that sent you I will go visit them with forces so great that they shall not be able to resist I will drive them out of their dominions and they shall be miserable if they obey me not Then he said to his people Sits who will bring to me the Royall Seat of that woman before she and her subjects obey me One of the Devils said unto him I I will bring it before thou arise from thy place I am strong enough to bear it I will carry it carefully One of them that attended Sâ—lomon Gelaldin saith he knew the name of God who knew the Scriptures said I will bring it to thee in the twinkling of an eye When Solomon beheld this Throne before him he said Behold here a favor of God to try if â— would acknowledg his benefits He that returneâ—h thanks to God for his graces performeth his duty he rejecteth him that is ingratful I will try if she followeth the right way or whether she be in the number of the seduced They changed something in her Royall seat to try if she would know it when she arrived in Solomons presence At her arrival they shewed it her and asked if it resembled her own she replyed It resembleth it This Quee was called Balkis as if it were the same She had knowledge of the right way but that which the people and she adored instead of God had seduced them from the obedience of his divine Majesty They spake to her to enter into a gallery See Gelaldin when she beheld the pavement she believed it to be water and in lifting up her robe fearing to wet it discovered her Legg Solomon told her that the pavemenâ— was of pollished glass and exhorted her to embrace the Law of God Then she said Lord I am too blame in having offended thee I am obedient with Solomon to the Commandments of the God of the Universe We sent Salhe to Temod his people to exhort them to worship one God he said unto them O people flye to the mercy of God if ye implore pardon of him ye shal be pardoned They said wouldst thou draw us into thine error into the erroâ— of them that are with theâ— He said God shall chastise you ye are seditious They were nine persons in the City that defâ—led the earth and did no good they said among them Let us this night kill the Prophet and his adherents we will say to them that seeke him That we saw him not neither them that slew him and will swear that we speak truth They were cunning but we were more subtle then they and they knew it not Consider what was the Issue of their stratagems we destroyed them with their followers and their houses are become desart because of their impiety This shall serve for example to them that have knowledge of Our omnipotency We served the Prophâ—t and all the True-beleivers that were with him Remember then the History of Lot who said to his Citizens Will ye alway defile your selvs in uncleannesse in
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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