little or much and limit the time wherein payment ought to bee made such writings are just before God give more efficacy to testimonie and are requiâ—â—te â—o avoide your complaints one of another If your merchandize be present you shall take it betweene you at the same time then shall you not sinne in not drawing a writing or contract Call witnesses when you sell or buy neither the witnesses nor the Notary shall receive any dammage If you shall doe that which is forbidden you shall doe very ill Feare God he will teach you his Commandements he knoweth all things If you are in a journey and cannot find a Notary you shall give earnest If one trusteth in the other he that shall be trusted in shall satisfie his promise and feare God his Lord no man shall conceale his testimony he that shall conceale shall sinne in his heart God knoweth all your actions Whatsoever is in Heaven or in Earth belonging unto God whether you conceale or reveale what in your minds he shall require an account of you he pâ—â—doneth and chastiseth whom it pleaseth him he is oâ—nipotent The Prophet believed in all that God sent him as likewise all the true believers Such as believe God the Angels and Scriptures and generally all 〈◊〉 Prophets without exception say We have heard 〈◊〉 obeyed Pardon us oh Lord Thou art our refuge Gâ—â— requireth of no man more then he is able to peeform the good that a man shall doe shall be for himselfe 〈◊〉 the evill that he doth shall be likewise agninst him Lâ—â— excuse us if wee have forgotten thee or sinned Lâ—â— charge us not with any heavy burthen as thou diâ—charge them that were before us charge us not with tâ—â—â— which we are not able to suport blot out our sinnes 〈◊〉 give us thy mercy Thou art our Lord give us victory â—gainst the Infidels CHAP. III. The Chapter of the Lienage of Ioachim containing two hâ—â—dred verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am 〈◊〉 most wise God God! There is but one only God â—â—ving and eternall He hath sent to thee the Book 〈◊〉 containeth truth and confirmeth the Scriptures 〈◊〉 were sent before it He sent the Old Testament and 〈◊〉 Gospell that were heretofore guides to the people 〈◊〉 hath sent the Alcoran that distinguisheth good from â—vill they that believe not in the Law of God shall 〈◊〉 severely chastised He is omnipotent and revengefull Nâ—thing is hid from him in Heaven or in Earth It is 〈◊〉 that formed you in the wombes of your mothers as it plâ—â—sed him there is no God but the omnipotent and 〈◊〉 God He it is that sent to thee the Book whose preceâ—â—â—â— are necessary See Kitab el tenoir they are the originall and foundation the Law like in puritie one to the other and with contradiction Such as in their heart incline to depart from the truth doe often follow their inclination desirous of sedition and to understand the explication of the Alcoran but none understand its explication but God and such as are profound in learning they say we believe in God all things proceed from his divine wisdome neverthelesse none remember â—ut the wise Lord cause not our hearts to erre after thou hast guided us into the right way give us thy mercy thou art most bountifull towards thy creatures Lord thou art hee that shalt assemble the world at the day of Iudgement at which day nothing shall be found doubtfull when thou wilt not goe against thy promises and when wealth and children shall not serve to the wicked but to kindle the fire of Hell The Infidell lineage of Pharoah and those that preceded him blasphemed and abjured the Law of God but he surprized them in their sinne hee is grievous in his chastisements Say to the Infidels they shall be vanquished and shall be gathered together into the fire of Hell that is prepared for them You have an example in the two Troops that fought for the glory of God they beheld with their eyes Infidels become true believers like unto themselves God strengthneth with his aide whom it pleaseth him this shall be for example to such as shall cleerly see The love and desire of women of children of riches abundance of gold and of silver of horses cattell and of tillage are pleasing to men such are the riches of the life of this world but the most assured refuge is in God Say unto them I will declare unto you things much better for them that shall have the feare of God before their eyes they shall dwell eternally in Paradise where flow many rivers with women beautifull and leane and all manner of content God beholdeth them that adore him and that say Lord we believe in thy Law pardon our sinnes and deliver us from the torments of fire The patient the persevering true believers the obedient the good men such as beg pardon of God in the morning the Angels the Learned that love Iustice testifie that there is but one only God The Law of salvation is a Law pleasing to his divine Majestie no man contradicteth this truth among * The Iews and Christians such as know the written Law but through envie He that shall not obey the Commandements of God shall find his divine Majesty very exact to call him to an accompt See Gelaldin If the impious dispute with thee say to them I am wholy resigned to the will of God The Iews and Christians with all such as have followed me Aske of such as know the written Law and them that know it not if they resigne themselves to God if they doe they will follow the right way The Arabians if they goe astray thou hast none other obligation but to preach to them God beholdeth them that adore him See Kitab el tenoir Declare grievous torments to those that conceale his Commandements that kill the Prophets and injure them that instruct the people in Iustice the good works that they doe shall be unprofitable to them on earth and they shall be in the other world dâ—prived of protection Seest thou not a partie of them that know the written Law how they were called to a Lecture of the Book of God to the end they might judge with equitie the differences that are among them but many are returned to their sinne they contemned the Scripture in that they said the fire shall not touch us but for a certain number of dayes They are deceived in their blasphemies what will become of them when we shall assemble them at the day of Iudgement when nothing shall be doubtfull and every one shall be recompensed as he shall have merited No in justice shall be done unto them Say Lord thou possessest the Kingdomes of the world thou givest Royalty to whom thou seest good from thy hand oh Lord proceedeth all good thou art Omnipotent thou causest day to enter the night and night the day thou
〈◊〉 ye that believe if you obey many of them that have 〈◊〉 knowledge of the written Law they will misâ—lead you iâ— the number of the wicked How can you bee of the iâ—pious since you are taught the Commandements of Gâ—â— and that his Prophet and his Apostle is among yoâ— Hee that resigneth himselfe to God is in the rig◠〈◊〉 O ye that fear God die in the profession of his Vâ—y imbrace his Law and remember the favor he hath â—wed you you were all enemies of each other he hath â—ed your hearts and through his speciall Grace you â—â—tinued united to each other as good brethren you â—e upon the brink of a pit of fire from which he withâ—â— you Thus God manifesteth to you his mercies perâ—â— you will follow the right way Some there be among 〈◊〉 that exhort the people to do good they command to â—hat which is honest and abstain from what is unreasoâ—â—â—le these men shall be happy Be not like them that â—e abandoned the Truth and followed lies notwithâ—â—nding the Truth was known to them they shall suffer â—at torment in the day wherein the visage of the good â—ll be white and that of the wicked shall be black It â—ll be said to them that have black visages Have you â—owed impiety after you made profession of the Faith â—ste this day the torment due to your sin Such as shall â—e white visages shall be in the favor of God in which â—y shall eternally continue See there the Mysteries of 〈◊〉 Law of God which instructeth thee with Truth God â—leth that no injustice be done to his people whatever â—n Heaven or in Earth appertaineth to him he dispoâ—th all things There hath appeared no Nation on the â—â—rth that hath followed a better way then you forbid 〈◊〉 to do that which is not reasonable and believe in one â—ely God The Iews If those that heretofore had knowledge of â—e written Law had believed in God they had done veâ—â— well there be among them that believe what is veritaâ—â—e but the greatest part are impious They shall not hurt â—â—u but with their tongue and shall finde no protection â—gainst you if they fight you they shall turn their â—cks they were beaten with shame and ignominy where â—hey made a stand except when they embraced the Law â—f God and observed the precepts that were taught the â—aithfull When they returned in the wrath of God they were beaten with poverty because they believed not the word of his Divine Majesty but slew his Prophets without reason and disobeyed his Commandements They that heretofore had knowledge of the written Law not all alike there be among them that persevere obedience and in the night meditate on the miracle God worship him and believe in his Divine Majâ— and the day of Iudgement preach honesty prohibit do things dishonest and apply themselves to good woâ— certainly they are good men Hide not the good wâ— which you perform God knoweth such as have his 〈◊〉 before their eyes Riches and children shall be unpâ—table to Infidels with God they shall eternally dweâ— the fire of Hell The Alms that they give in this wâ— are like to a wind exceedingly hot or extreamly 〈◊〉 that fell upon the tillage of them that did injurie to 〈◊〉 own souls and wholly destroyed it God did no injuâ— to them they were mischievous to themselves thrâ— their sins O ye that believe in God esteem no maâ— be elected of God that is not of your Religion 〈◊〉 wicked endeavoured to bring you into their disorâ— malice appeared in their mouth and that which 〈◊〉 heart cherisheth is yet greater We have taught you Commandements of God if you observe them shall protect your selves from the malice of Infidels 〈◊〉 ye you love them and they love not you you belâ— generally in the Scriptures and they believe not 〈◊〉 you believe When they met you they said We beliâ— in God and when they were gone from you they bitâ— anger their fingers ends Say to them Die with yâ—â— choller Benou Selimeth God knoweth what is in your hearts If gâ— happen to you they are displeased and when evil beâ—leth you Benou Ayirteth they rejoyce If you have patience and 〈◊〉 God their malice shall not hurt you God knoweth their actions Beder is a place be-between Mecca and Medina where Mahomet gained a battell Remember the morning when some of 〈◊〉 people deserted the true-believers in the field of batteâ— and when two of thy Companions forsooke the figâ— God was their protector All True-believers ought trust in him He protected you at Beder where you were few men ill armed perhaps you will fear him and give hâ— thanks for that favor Say to the True-believers Sufficeâ— it not that God succoreth you with three thousand of 〈◊〉 Angels Truly if you have patience and fear God he will â—e to succor you at need and your Lord will assist you â—h five thousand of his Angels sent from Heaven he 〈◊〉 not send you this assistance but to declare to you his â—otection and to confirm your hearts Victory proceedâ— from his Divine Majesty He is omnipotent and pruâ—t in all his works he will extirpate in this world one â—t of the wicked or will so sharply reprehend them â—t they shall become desperate Thou hast nothing to 〈◊〉 whether he shall pardon or chastise them because â—y are wicked Whatever is in the Earth and in Heaâ— is his he pardoneth as he seeth good he is gracious 〈◊〉 mercifull to the righteous O ye that believe be not â—urers and fear God peradventure you will obey his â—â—mmandements Fear the fire of Hell prepared for Inâ—â—els Obey God and the Prophets his Apostles your 〈◊〉 shall be forgiven you beg pardon speedily of your â—rd The extent of Paradise containeth Heaven and â—rth it is prepared for the good God loveth them that â—e Alms in joy and in affliction that subdue their pasâ—n and forgive such as offend them he loveth them that 〈◊〉 good and that after the commission of any sin rememâ—r his divine Majesty and implore his pardon Who but â—od forgiveth sins Such as persist not in their errors and knowledge their sins shall be recompenced with the â—ercy of God and enjoy his favor in Paradise There were â—â—retofore Laws and Means to conduct men into the right â—y but consider what hath bin the end of Infidels The â—lcoran was sent to instruct the world to guide men in the â—â—ght way and to preach to the good Dishearten not neiâ—â—er afflict your selves in fighting you shall be victorious you believe in God if you have been wounded the like â—â—rts have befallen the impious God so diversifieth days â—mong men to the end he may know them that are truly â—ealous in his Law and that among you witnesses be taken â—gainst the malice of Infidels God loveth not the unjust â—e forgiveth sins to those that believe and extirpate Infiâ—els Do you believe to enter Paradise
world at the day of Judgement and every one shall receive the recompence that he shall have merited he shall augment his favours upon them that shall have believed in his divine Majestie and have done good works he shall chastise them that shall have held it a dishonour to be his servants and have been proud upon the Earth they shall find no safe refuge but in his mercy Oh people God hath sent you a Protector a most strong argument and a most cleare light they that shall trust in God shall enjoy his grace and he shall guide them into the right way They will enquire of thee concerning successions say to them God teacheth you touching successions as followeth If a man decease without issue and hath a sister she shall have the moity of what he shall leave and shall inherit it if she have no children If they be two sisters they shall have two thirds of what the deceased left if they be many brothers and many sisters the Sonne shall have as much as two daughters God teacheth you his Commandemements depart not from the right way he is Omniscient CHAP. V. The Chapter of the Table containing an hundred and twenty verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull O ye that believe in God! Satisfie what you have promised it is permitted you to eat of the beasts that be in the world except of what shall be hereafter declared Hunting is forbidden you during the time that you shall goe on Pilgrimage to Mecca God ordaineth what he will O ye that believe say not That it is permitted to doe what God hath prohibited performe what is commanded you during the month of Pilgrimage give no impediment to such as carry presents to Mecca nâ—ither to them that assume * The old Arabians in devotion pâ—t the leaves and bâ—aâ—â—â—es of Trees upon their necks like collers as the Peasaâ—ts in many places in France do the herbs of Sâ— John Collers neither hinder Pilgrims to repaire thither to demand the Grace of God and his mercies It is lawfull for you to hunt when you shall have finished your pilgrimage beware lest some pesons cause you to sin and hinder your going to Mecca to oblige you to punish them repose your confidence in the justice and feare of God and not in the sin and malice of your neighbour Feare God who is severe in his chastisements It is forbidden you to eat Carrion See Kitab el tenoir Blood Swines flesh and whatsoever is not killed in pronouncâ—ng the name of God you are prohibited to eat Animals strangled choakt knockt down precipitated that are slain striking each other and such as beasts shall have slain if you find them not alive to let out their blood in pronouncing the name of God You shall not eat of beasts sacrificed to Idols Consult not with Southsayers or Lots it is a great sin The day shall come when they that have abandoned your Law See Gelaldin shall be desperate feare not them and feare me The day will come when I shall accomplish your Law and my grace shall be abundantly upon you The Law of Salvation is the Law that I desire to give you If any one be in necessity and eateth of what is prohibited without a will to sin God shall be to him gracious and mercifull They will demand of thee what is permitted them to eat Say to them it is lawfull to eat all sorts of beasts that are not uncleane and whatever hath been taught you from God touching beasts that hath been wounded by Lions or Dogs eat the beast you shall take and remember God in blooding them feare God he is exact to take account This day it is lawfull that you eat what is not uncleane and the meats of them that know the written Law The Jewes and Christians their meats are lawfull for you and yours for them You are permitted to espouse maidens and women of free condition that are of your Religion and maidens and women of free condition that know the written Law giving them their dowry with civility commit neither Concubinage nor Adultery with them neither secretly or publiquely the good works of him that shall renounce your Law shall be unprofitable he shall be at the day of Judgment in the number of the damned O ye that believe in God when you would make your prayers wash your faces your hands to the elbow and passe your hand over your head and over your feet to the ancles If you be polluted purifie your selves if sick or in a journey or about to discharge your belly or have knowne women and find no water to wash you lay hand on the sand passe it over your visage and wipe therewith your hands God enjoyneth you nothing irksome but willeth you be cleane and desireth to accomplish his grace upon you peradventure you will give him thanks O yee that believe in God! call to mind his grace and promise he made to you when you said We heard and obeyed feare him he knoweth all that is in your hearts O ye that believe in God! obey his Commandements and be true in your Testimonies take heed that no man move you to offend God in divertâ—ng you from what is just render justice to all his feare inviteth you to it have it before your eyes hee knoweth all your actions hath promised his grace and great recompenses to the True believers that shall doe good works in this world and hath prepared Hell to punish Infidels O ye that believe in God! remember his favour towards you when some persons would have extended their hands upon you and how he delivered you from their malice Corcis Enemie to Mahomet Feare him all true believers ought to resigne themselves to his will God received the promise of the Children of Israel to observe his Commandemements he established among them twelve Captains and said to them I will be with you when you shall make prayers pay your Tithes believe in the Prophets defend them and shall lend to me any almes I will cover your sinnes and cause you enter Paradise wherein flow many rivers and he among you that shall be an Infidell shall bee entirely erroneous from the right path When they swarved from what they had promised we gave them our curse and hardned their heart they have altered the words of the Scripture and abjured what they had approved Thou shalt not know them that shall bee Traitors except very few of them forgive and depart from them God loveth them that doe good We likewise received the promise of those who call themselves Christians but they have forgotten what they promised they have altered what was taught them and we have cast among them enmitie and hatred even untill the day of Judgement That day God shal cause them to know what ever they had done for their punishment O yee that know the written Law our * Mahomâ—t Prophet is come to bring
nose for a nose an eare for an eare a tooth for a tooth a wound for a wound he that shall observe it shall do well and such as shall not judge conformably to the Law of God are unjust We sent after many Prophets Jesus the Son of Mary who confirmed the ancient Scriptures to him we gave the Gospel full of light to conduct the people to the right way with a confirmation of the Old Testament a guide and instruction for the righteous They that follow the Gospel ought to judge as it is commanded in the Gospel such as judge not conformably to what God hath taught them are disobedient to his divine Majesty To thee have we sent the Book that containeth the truth and confirmeth the antient Scriptures determine the differences that shall arise among the people as I have inspired thee and follow not the appetite of men that will abjure the truth which I have taught thee We have instructed all of you in a Law and assured means to lead you into the way of Salvation you should all have been of one and the same Religion had it so pleased God he hath done this to prove you Doe good and know that you all shall be assembled before him and he shall resolve the doubts that are among you If thou judgest the differences that are among them judge comformably to what hath been inspirâ—d into thee and follow not their appetites be carefull they seduce thee not and move thee to doubt many things that God hath taught thee if they disobey his Commandements know he will severely punish them because of the enormity of their crimes The greatest part of the world are impious Do they affect the Judgement of the Ignorant What better Judge for the good is there then God O ye that believe obey not the Jews nor the Christians they mutually obey each other in their impietie he that shall obey them shall be like unto them God guideth not the unjust Thou seest such as are unstable in their Faith flock to them and say they fear a change of times but God shall give advantage and victory to his Prophet and they shall repent to have concealed in their mindes the Miracles of his divine Majestie What will they alleadge for excuse who swore by the name of God exactly to observe their Religion and to be with you Their good works shall be unprofitable and they in the number of the Damned Oh ye that believe if you abandon your faith God will put others in your place that shall love him and he them and this to your great ignominie and the advantage of converted Infidels that shall fight without fear for his Law Thus God bestoweth his grace as he seeth good he is liberall and Omniscient You ought certainly to obey God See Gelaldin and his Prophet his Apostle they who believe in God that make their prayers at the time appointed pay tithes and are in the protection of God and his Prophet shall be beloved of his divine Majestie and be victorious Oh ye true believers obey not such as scoffe at your Religion who have knowledge of the written Law obey not Infidels and if you are good men fear God obey not them that deride your prayers it is the action of those that are unwise Oh ye that understand the written Law will you not abhorre me if I believe not in God in what he hath inspired into me and into them that preceded me The greatest part of you are wicked Say to them Did I instruct you to do evill when I preached to you the effect of Gods mercy Those whom he curseth against whom he is incensed whom he hath metamorphised into Apes and Swine and who have adored Idols shall be confined in the fire of Hell they are in a very evill way When they come to thee they will say they believe in the Law of God they will enter thine house with impiety and goe forth in the like manner but God knoweth what they conceale in their heart Thou shalt see many of them embrace Paganisme follow a lye eat what is forbidden and this to displease their Doctors and Priests who have forbidden them to speak lies and eat meats that are unclean The Jews said the hand of God is shut contrariwise it is their hand that is shut and they shall be accursed by reason of their discourse certainly the hands of God are open and he doth good to whom he pleaseth Many amongst them through impietie and disobedience alter what is in the Scripture but we have cast among them hatred and horror even to the day of Judgement God hath extinguished the fire which they had kindled to make warre against the righteous they endeavour to pollute the earth but God detesteth such as cause disorder he remitteth their sinnes that know the Scripture believe in his Law and flie impiety they shall enter Paradise that is full of delights They have read the Old Testament the Gospel and all Scriptures they enjoyed abundance of all good things neverthelesse many have disobeyed the Commandements of God Oh Prophet preach what God hath taught thee whether thou dost preach it or doest not he will defend thee from the malice of men he abhorreth Infidels Oh ye that know the written Law if you observe not the Old Testament the Gospel and Scriptures which God hath sent you you shall be without merit Many of them through impiety and ignorance pervert what is contained in the Scripture afflict not thy self with the actions of the impious The Jews Samaritans Christians all that shall have believed in God the Resurrection of the dead and have done good works shall be exempt from affliction there is nothing for them to feare at the day of Judgement See Kitab el tenoir We received of the Children of Israel a promise to believe in our Prophets and Apostles Yet have they slandred many and slain such as would not follow their appetites they believed there was no punishment for their crimes and became deafe and blinde After this God pardoned them neverthelesse they returned in their sin and are again become deaf and blinde God beholdeth all their deportments Certainly they who affirme the Messiah the Son of Mary to be God are impious the Messiah commanded the Children of Israel to worship God his and their Lord the entrance into Paradise is forbidden to him that shall say God hath a companion equall to him Hell shall be his habitation and the unjust shall finde none to protect them at the day of Judgement Such as affirm there are three Gods are impious there is but one God if they defist not from such discourse they shall burn in the fire of Hell if they turn and implore pardon of God he will be to them gracious and mercifull The Messiah the Son of Mary is a Prophet and Apostle of God like to the Prophets that came before him his Mother is holy and both of them did eat
us to believe in the miracles that wee see neither to obey the Commandements of his divine Majesty Lord give us patience and to dye in the number of True-believers Then said Pharaoh's Doctors dismisse Moses and his people that they may goe whither they see good to pollute the Earth that they may leave thee in quiet with thy Gods He said I will cause their Childeren to be slain their wives to be abused and I will inflict upon them a thousand torments Moses said to his people Implore succors of God with patience and prayers the whole Earth is Gods he giveth it to inherit to whom he seeth good the other world is for the righteous They said Oh Moses We before thy coming desired the death of our enemies he replyed God will not destroy your enemies to leave you alone upon the Earth he shall behold your actions We afflicted Pharaoh and his Subjects with famine perhaps unbelievers will consider it When any happinesse befell them they said they well deserved it and when they fell into misery they affirmed Moses and his people to be the cause of it It is God that punished them but of this most of them were ignorant They said unto Moses cease to shew us thy miracles to inchant us we will not obey thee We sent upon them a Deluge Grasse-hoppers Lice Frogs and Bloud one after another neverthelesse they were proud and in the number of the wicked When our wrath fell upon them they said oh Moses call upon thy Lord that hee give us what to thee he promised remove his displeasure from us we will believe thee and will dismisse with thee the Children of Israel When we delivered them from affliction they sharpened their tongues murmured and violated their promises we avenged our selves upon them and drowned them in the Sea for that they contemned our miracles and we gave the West and East to the Children of Israel who were humble before us we gave them our blessing our word was accomplished upon them because of their perseverance and we destroyed the Armies of Pharoah The Children of Israel having past the Sea met with men that adored Idols and said oh Moses make unto us Gods like to the Gods of this people he answered ye are ignorant these men are wretched what they doe is but ignorance and vanity shall I desire that you worship other Gods then God that preferred you to all the world We have delivered you from Pharoah's people who caused you to endure great torments they murther'd your children abused your wives and you suffered heavy afflictions for the punishment of your sins We detained Moses on the Mountaine thirty nights and ten other nights which is in all forty nights when he went up he said to his brother Aaron be thou my Lieutenant command this people in mine absence and follow not the path of the wicked When Moses at the time appointed arrived at the top of the Mountaine and that his Lord spake to him he said Lord permit me to see thee he said thou shalt not see me behold this Mountaine if it continue firme in this place thou shalt be able to see me when the Lord appeared upon the Mountaine with his light it was reduced to ashes and Moses amazed fell on the ground as dead When he rose againe he said blessed be the name of God I desire to obey him and believe that no man living is able to behold him He said to Moses I have chosen and preferred thee to all the world I have made thee a Prophet thou hast talked with me receive the grace which I have bestowed on thee and be not ingratefull We gave to him the Tables whereon was written what was necessary for the salvation of men and we said to him receive with affection what I give thee and command thy people to observe the contents of those Tables I will precipitate into Hell such as transgresse my Commandements I will deprive the proud of my graces they will not believe in my Law although they see all the miracles in the world if they see the right way they will not follow it they see the way of error and pursue it because they have abjured my Commandements and rejected my grace the good works of them that disobey me and that believe not in the Resurrection are unprofitable they shall be chastised after their demerits The people of Moses after his departure adored the Calfe a bellowing God saw they not that it spake not to them neither could conduct them into the right way Neverthelesse they adored it for which they were greatly too blame When this Calfe fell to the ground and they found their errour they said if God have not pity on us we shall be miserable When Moses returned he said to them whom did ye obey after my departure You were too hasty to worship that Idol he in displeasure cast against the ground the Tables that God had given him took his brother by the head and dragging him to him said Son of my mother how hast thou governed this people I wanted power replyed he and could not divert them from their evill It wanted little but they had slain me do me no harme rejoyce not my enemies with my misery and account me not with those that adored Idols Moses said Lord pardon me and my brother give us thy mercy thou art the mercifull of the mercifull The wrath of God and the infamy of the world shall fall upon them that worshiped the Calf and blasphemed against God he will be pitifull to such as shall repent and believe in his divine Majesty The displeasure of Moses being allayed he againe tooke the Tables whereon was written the way of salvation for such as have the feare of their Lord before their eyes he caused to be separated from his people at a time appointed threescore and ten persons who were surprized with an earth-quake and with thunder and said Lord thou couldst have destroyed them before they adored the Calf wilt thou destroy us all because of the sin of the ignorant that are amongst us Thou hast desired to prove this people thou guidest and causest to erre whom thou pleasest thou art our Protector pardon our sins for thou art altogether mercifull give us thy grace in this world and guide us to the day of Judgement neer to thy divine Majestie He said I will punish as I see good my mercy embraceth the whole world it is for such as have my feare before their eyes that pay Tithes obey my Commandements follow the right way believe in the Prophet * This is Mahomet who can neither write nor read and what is written in the Old Testament and the Gospell See Kitab el tenoir he shall command them things honest he shall prohibit things uncivill he shall teach them what meats are clean and forbid them to eat what is unclean he shall deliver them from Ceremonies weighty and trublesome and from the
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
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
will assemble them at the end of the world to reward them after their works We have indeed sent thee the Alcoran from heaven to proclaime the joys of Paradise and to preach the torments of hell we have sent it to the end thou maist teach it to the people we have sent it clear and intelligible that it may be understood according to occurences Say unto them believe or bâ—lâ—eve it not when those that have knowledge in the written Law heard it read they prostrated themselves on the ground with humility and said praised be God what he promiseth is infallible and incontinently is his command executed they wept prostrating the face towards the earth and the reading of the Alcoran augmented their devotion Say unto them implore God call God mercifull all his Attributes are most glorious Make it not appear to the world how often thou shalt pray neither how often thou shalt read the Alcoran and fear not to pray to God and to read the Alcoran follow in this the middle path and say praised be God he hath no Son he hath no companion neither protector to preserve him from contempt his greatness is perfect and compleat CHAP. XVIII The Chapter of the Cave containing an hundred and ten Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise be to God who hath sent the Alcoran to his servant There is no contradiction in this Book it teacheth the right way it preacheth to the wicked that they shall suffer great torments and proclaimeth to the righteous that they shall enjoy an eternall felicity it preacheth the torments of Hell principally to such as affirm That God hath a Son they are ignorant like to their predecessors they are arrogant in their discourse and utter nothing but blaspemies Wilt thou destroy thy self in following their footsteps If they believe not in the Alcoran they shall one day have sorrow and shall repent it We adorned the Earth with whatsoever is upon it for the advantage of men One part thereof is happy and plentifull and the other unfruitfull and desart Do ye not believe that the sleepers that entred the Cave and the Paper wherein their names were written be our miracles when those men entred the Cave they said Lord give us thy mercy and guide us into the right way Then did we cause them to sleep for the space of some years and awaked them having continued some time in that Cave to make it appear which of the two Religions was the most just I will relate to thee their History with truth they were young men who had the fear of their Lord before their eyes we strengthned them and encreased their faith when they were with the Infidels they said Our God is Lord of Heaven and Earth we will never worship but one God otherwise we shall separate our selves from the truth This people have adored Idols without reason who is more unjust then he who blasphemeth against God When they deserted the Infidels they worshipped one God alone Enter into the Cave God shall make his mercy towards you to appear and shall guide you through a path smooth and pleasant When the Sun arose he cast his rayes on the right side of their Cave and on the left at his going down they in the mean time were in the most spacious place of this Cave This is one of Gods miracles hee whom he guideth is well guided and whom he misleadeth shall find none to give him succour or to guide him Believe ye that they should be awake Assuredly they slept and turned themselves sometimes to one side sometimes to another Consider how their Dog extended his feet before that old habitation of stone if any one had entred towards them he would have caused them to flie and had affrighted them In the end we awaked them and they mutually enquired of each other in what place they were and how long they had there continued one of them replyed That they had been there a day or two then they all said God knoweth the time that we have abode here send one of us to the City with money to buy bread and meat let him not be fearfull neither make himself known to any if wee be known they will murther or constrain us to follow their Religion in which we shall be eternally miserable Thus did we stir up the people against them to the end they might know that thy Lord is true when he said He will cause the dead to arise again the Resurrection is indubitable nevertheless unbelievers dispute among them concerning the History of the Sleepers and say That they built a secret place to retire themselves God knoweth the Truth The True-believers believe that they made no building the Infidels say they were five and that their dog was the sixth they speak by opinion but the True-believers affirm them to be seven and their dog to be the eighth Say unto them My Lord knoweth how many they were few persons except God know â—heir number Doubt no more the History of the Sleeâ—ers the matter is averred and known dispute no more with the Jews and say not I will do this to morrow without saying If it please God Call God to minde after thou hast forgot him and say The Lord shall guide me and teach me the History of the Sleepers See Gelaldin who remained in the Cave three hundred years there be who affirme they continued there nine hundred years Say unto them God knoweth the time of their abode there he knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth he understandeth and seeth all things he alone disposeth every thing and hath no companion Preach what thy Lord hath inspired into thee his word admitteth of no alteration there is no safer refuge then in him dwell with those that invoke him morning and evening and desire to see his face depart not from their company if thou desirest to have content of life in this world obey not those whose heart we have hardned and are unmindfull of us follow not their impiety whatsoever they do is but offence and sin Say unto them the truth proceedeth from your Lord who shall desire it shall be True-believers and who shall not desire it shall be an Infidell we have prepared Hell to chastise the impious and prisons wherein to detaine them They shall implore succors against the melting pit into which they shall be plunged as into waters it shall rost their faces and shall be their drink I will not frustrate of reward them that shall have done well they shall enjoy the delights of the gardens of Eden wherein flow many rivers they shall have bracelets of â—ine Gold they shall be cloathed with green with Scarlet and shining colours and shall sit on thrones with an eternall felicity Declare to them this parable there were two men I gave to the one of them gardens whereâ—n was store of fruits he in contempt told his companion that he was more wealthy
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
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
having known the right way were tempted of the Devil particularly when they told the Infidels that they would obey them in any thing God knowetth all their secrets what wiâ—l become of them when the Angels shall cause them to dye they shall beat them before and behied beâ—ause they have inâ—urred the wrath of God and despâ—sed his Commandmenâ—s their good works shall be unprofâ—â—able think they thaâ— God will never make manifest their malice If thou wilt I wil make it appear thou shalt know them by their countenance thou shalt discover them by their voyce and speech Say unto them God knoweth all your actions he shall prove you to discover the believers and the unbelievers The wicked who hinder the people to follow the way of salvation that contradict the Prophet after they have had knowledg of the Law of God hurt not his divine Majesty their actions are vain unprofirable Oh ye that believe obey God and his Prophet and render not your good works ineffectuall through disobedience he pardoneth not the wicked who seduce the people from the way of Salvation and dye in their impiety Be not fainted-hearted and slothfull ye shall be victorious God is with you He will not deprive you of reward the life of this world is but foolish pastime and delusion if yee believe in God and have his fear before your eyes he will recompense for your good works he requireth not an accompt of your riches if he do require it of you it is to hinder you to be avaricious and to banish usury from among them that believe in his Law Oh people ye are commanded to make some expence for the love of God he that shall be a niggard and avaricious in this occurrence shall be avaricious and a niggard to himself God is rich and ye are poor If ye despise his Law he will create in your place other persons that shall not do like you CHAP. XLVIII The Chapter of Conquest containing twenty nine Verses written at Mecca This is the Chapter Of the taking of the City of Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull We have given thee a manifest victory God pardoneth the sinne that thou didst commit when thou wert too prompt and when thou wert too tardy to fight for his Law he shall accomplish his grace upon thee he shall guide thee into the right way and shall powerfully protect thee he hath delivered the hearts of the believers from fear to augment their faith he disposeth the forces of the Heavens and Earth he knoweth all and is most prudent He shall make them that shall obey his Commandments to dwell in Gardens wherein flow many rivers and shall remit to them their offences this is supream felicity The Infidels the wicked the disobedient and unjust that have evill thoughts of God shall be accursed of his divine Majesty misery shal alwayes pursue them his wrath be eternally upon them he hath prepared for them the pains of Hell God disposeth the powers of the Heavens and Earth he is omnipotent and wise We have sent thee to be witnesse of the deportments of those of the Nation to proclaime to them the joyes of Paradise and to preach to them the pains of hell to the end they may believe in God and in his Prophet that they may praise him honour him and exalt his glory evening and morning Such as shall obey thee obey God the hand of God is stronger then the hand of men he that shall sin shall offend against his own soul and he that performed what he hath promised to God shall have an exceeding great reward Such of the Araâ—ians as have no inclination to â—olloâ— thee say thou imployest our WEALTH and PERSONS to goe with thee implore therefore pardon of God for us but they speake not with the mouth what they have in the heart Say unto them who but God is able to do ought for you if it be his will to bring good or evil upon you he is omnipotent and knoweth all that you do Ye believed that the Prophet and True-believers should be slain when they fought for the Law of God ye believed that they should never return to their houses This opinion rejoyced your heart but you were deceived and were your selves destroyed with them that believed not in God nor his Prophets God hath prepared the fire of hell for Infidels the Kingdome of the heavens and earth appertaineth to him he punisheth and chastiseth whom he listeth he is gracious mercifull When ye shall go to the spoil such as refused before to follow you to the sight will say permit us to go with you they would pervert the Word of God Say unto them ye shall not follow us in this occasion God hath not heretofore ordained it they will reply certainly ye are envious against us on the contrary they understand not the Law of God except very few among them Say to the Arabians that refused to follow thee ye shall be called to fight against miserable men yee shall fight them neverthelâ—sse they shall still be obedient to God if yee obey and fight for the Faith he will largely reward you if ye desert his service as heretofore ye have done he shall severely chastise you The blinde the lame and the sick are not obliged to go to the war He that shall obey God and his Prophet shall dwell eternally in gardens wherein flow many rivers and he that shall disobey Gods Commandments shall be punished for his disobedience God accepted their action that repaired to thee under the tree he knew what they had in their hearts their confirmed he steps gave them victory he is omnipotent and wise God had promised you great spoil he gave it you and delivered you from the hands of the people this shall serve for a sign of his omnipotency to the true-lievers he will conduct you in to the right way none but you could have atchieved that conquest he well knew that that was for none other he is omnipotent if the wicked fight you they shall fly they shall turn the back and finde none to protect them Observe the Law of God against them do as was heretofore commanded you the Law of God admits no alteration God hath delivered you from their hands and delivered them into yours in the midst of Mecca having given you victory over them he beholdeth all their actions they have despised the Commandments of his divine Majesty and hindred you heretofore to go to the Temple of Mecca they are at present prisoners without the assistance of the true-believers that were within the City with you ye had not known them ye had trampled them under our foot without distinction and had offended God without knowledg of your sin God bestoweth his mercy on whom he pleaseth had ye been separated from the unbelievers we had severely punished them When they were succoured of the ignorant and had some advantage God put his Prophet and all