in the number of them that have obeyed GGDS Commandments they shall quarrel among them and shall say it is you that have seduced us from the right way through your oaths ye swore that ye followed the law of God and observed his Commandments they shall answer on the contraay we have no power over you you your selves were in manifest error the word of God shall be accomplished against us and we shall for company suffer the torments of hell if we seduced you we were likewise seduced and we shall this day be your compaions in punishment That day shall the wicked be in this manner afflicted they become insolent on earth when it is told them there is but one God and say shall we abandon our gods for a foolish lying Poet on the contrary he teacheth you the truth as did the Prophets that were before him ye shall be chastised and intreated according to your demerits Such as shall obey Gods Commandments shall have a place of safety wherein to rest with all sorts of fruits in pleasant gardens sitting orderly on delicious beds with glasses full of drink pleasing to the taste which shall not make them drunk Their wives white as fresh eggs shall not cast an eye upon any but upon them they shall talk together and one among them shall say I had on earth a companion who asked me if I beleived in the Resurrection and if after being reduced to earth bones and dust we shall rise again come with me let us go see what he doth he shall see him in the boâ—tom of hell shall say unto him by God it wanted little but that thou hadst seduced me without the grace of God I had bin damned as thou art we are not in the number of the dead we shall not suffer any paine on the contrary we are in exceeding great happiness thus are the righteous rewarded who are the more happy they who are in our felicity or such as are neer to Zacon the tree of hell This tree commeth out of the bottom of hell it riseth high and the branches themselves resemble the heads of devils the damned shall eat of the fruit thereof they shall drink boyling water and hell shall be the place of their habitation there Fathers were Infidels they followed their footsteps and the way of them that were seduced before them we sent unto them Preachers whom they refused to hear but consider what is the end of the righteous and that of the wicked We saved Noâ—h and gave grace to such as obeyed him we delivered him with his family from a great danger and perpetuated his progeny he shall be praised of all them that shall come after him because we gave him our blessing thus do I recompense the righteous he was in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments we saved him and them that followed him and drowned the infidels Remember Abraham God gave him an heart free from impiety and malice he said to his father his People wherefore worship ye false gods instead of the true God think ye to escape the punishment of your crimes Then he had a vision in heaven and said I am sick of your Idolatry they departed from him with purpose to be converted and empty the Temples of Idols of their treasures he said to the Idols wherefore eat ye not the sacrifices that are before you wherefore speak ye not and gave them a great blow with his right hand the people came together with wrath because he had stricken their gods he said unto them will ye worship the works of your hands know ye not that it is God that created you then they said among them let us build a great pile and put fire to it and cast Abraham into the fire they conspired against him but we rendred them ashamed and confounded Abraham said unto them I go towards my Lord he shall guide me into the way of salvation Lord give me a son that may be in the number of the righteous we declared to him that he should have a son exceeding wise when he arrived to years of discretion he said unto him my Sonne I dreamed this night that I must sacrifice thee what wilt thou that I doe he replyed my father do what is commanded you ye shall find me full of patience when his father laid him on the ground and put the knife nigh unto his throat we said uâ—to him O Abraham it is enough thou hast satisfyed thy dream thus do I entreat the righteous thus were we wont to prove them We redeemed hiâ— son with a fair Ram he shal be praised of posterity thoâ—â— that shall come after him shall bless his memory Thâ— do I reward the righteous he was in the number of theâ— that obey my Commandments We declared to him that he should have a son called Isaac from whom should issue many believers and unbeleivers Certainly we gave our grace to Moses and Aaron we delivered them with their followers from an evident peril we protected them they were in the number of the victorious we gave them the book full of light and conducted them into the right way they shall be praised in ages to come and posterity shall bless their memory Thus do I recompence the righteous they were in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments Elias is in the number of my Prophets and Apostles he said unto the people wherefore fear ye not God wherefore worship ye the Idol Balan and forsake the Creator of the world God is your Lord and the Lord of your predecessors they traduced him and were condemned to the fire of hell except such among them as obeyed my Commandments We left his memory happy to posterity thus I reward the righteous he was in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments Lot was in the number of my Prophets and Apostles Remember thou how we delivered him and his family from evident perill except his wife who remained among them that were chastised having saved him we destroyed the wicked they saw in the moâ—ning the foot steps of the ruine that befell them the night before wil ye not understand this mirale Jonas was in the number of the Prophets Remember thou that he fled in a ship was the cause of evill to the Saylors he was swallowed of a Whale â—ad he not repented of his fault he should have continued in the belly of that fish until the day of Iudgment we cast him on the shore extreamly feeble we covered him with leaves of Filbert and sent him to preach to more then an 100000 persons that we reconverted whose decease ferred untill the time appointed The Infidells have demanded if thy Lord hath daughters as they have sons did we create the Angels male and female in their presence They lie when they say that God hath a son hath he desired to have daughters rather than sons how can you thus blaspheme Consider ye not that he is God
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
to light many things of the Scripture which you conceale and he likewise leaveth in silence many things that it is not time to make manifest God hath sent you a Book full of light to conduct into the way of Salvation them that love him to bring them out of darknesse and by his speciall grace to lead them into the way of Salvation Certainly he that saith that the Messiah the Sonne of Mary is God is impious Say to him who can hinder God to exterminate the Messiah and his Mother with whatsoever is in the Earth when it shall seeme good to him God is King of Heaven and earth he created with them what seemed good to him he is Omnipotent The Jews and Christians have said we are the Children of God his wel-beloved Say to them shall not God chastise you for your sinnes Certainly ye are men He that created you pardoneth and punisheth as it pleaseth him he is the King of all that is in Heaven or Earth and of whatever is betweene them he is the refuge of the righteous O ye that have knowledge in the written Law The Poophet the Apostle of God is come to instruct you in a time that there is none other Prophet but hee on the Earth Will you say that no man preached to you the torments of Hell Certainly the word of God is this day preached to you the torment of Hell and the Omnipotencie of his Divine Majestie Remember thou what Moses said to his people Oh people call to mind the grace of God towards you he hath chosen from among you Prophets and Kings hath conferred on you what he hath given to none in the world Enter into the holy Land as God hath commanded turne not your backs to your enemies lest you be in the number of Reprobates They answered oh Moses there are Gyants and Tyrants in the Holy Land we will not enter into it untill they be gone out of it if they forsake it we will enter into it Then two men of them that were in the grace of God said to them enter at the gate and fight against them you shall be victorious trust in God if you believe in his Law They said oh Moses we will not enter so long as those Tyrants dwell therein goe and fight against them with thy Lord we will here attend Then said Moses Lord I dispose but of mine own and my brothers person separate us from this wicked people the Lord said to him the entrance into the Holy Land is prohibited to this people they shall wander forty years upon the Earth in confusion and amazement afflict not thy selfe with the deportments of the wicked teach them the Historie of the Sonnes of Adam how they offered sacrifices how the sacrifice of the one was accepted that of the other was not he through envie menaced his brother to murther him his brother said to him God receiveth the sacrifices and holocausts of such as have his feare before their eyes assuredly if thou extendest thine hand to slay me I will not stretch forth mine to hurt thee I feare the Lord of the Universe If thou chargest thy selfe with the murther of my person with thy past sinnes thou shalt goe to hell where the unjust shall be punished The murther of his brother seemed easie and advantagious for him he slew him and is in the number of the Damned God sent a Raven that made a pit in the Earth and shewed him the manner to bury the body of his brother Then said he would to God I had been weake and impotent that I were like to this Raven I must bury the body of my brother and he was penitent for his offence by reason of this murther we ordained to the children of Israel that he who shall slay a person innocent shall be punished as if he had slaine the whole world and he that shall give him his life shall be recompensed as if hee had given life to the whole world My Prophets came to the Children of Israel taught them my Commandements and caused them to see Miracles neverthelesse many of them were disobedient the punishment of them that oppose the will of God that of his Prophet and that endeavour to pollute the earth is to be slain hanged to have the right foot and the left hand or right hand and the left foot cut off and to bee extirpated from the earth they shall have in this world shame on the forehead and shall feele in the other great torments except such as shall be converted before their death and shall know that God is gracious and mercifull Oh ye that believe feare God fight for his Law you perhaps shall be happy All the Treasures of the world shall not bee able to redeeme Infidels at the day of Judgement they shall endure exceeding great torments they shall desire to goe out of the fire of Hell but shall dwell there eternally Cut off the hands of those men and women that steale they contract upon themselves the wrath of the world and the punishment that God hath prepared for the wicked He that shall turn and do good works shall be pardoned God is gracious and mercifull to the penitent Knowest thou not that the Kingdome of Heaven and of Earth is Gods that hee chastiseth and pardoneth whom it pleaseth him and that he is Omnipotent Oh Prophet afflict not thy selfe to behold them running to impietie that say with the mouth we believe and have no faith in their hearts neither for them that Judaize and hearken to the lies of their Doctors to relate them to others they pervert the language of the Old Testament and say If you be instructed in those precepts you ought to observe them if they instruct you not in them take heed to your selves Such as make use of the name of God to move the people to sedition are without faith God will not purifie their hearts they shall have in this world shame upon the forehead and feele in the other extreame torments They listen to blasphemies and eat what is prohibited If they repaire to thee and submit themselves to thy judgement judge their controversie with equity converse not with them if thou depart from their company they shall not hurt thee if thou givest judgement between them Judge with equitie God loveth the just How shall they submit to thy judgement seeing they have the Old Testament which containeth the Commandements of God They will not execute thy Judgement neither believe in the Old Testament whereis the guide of the right way and a light to the Prophets to judge the differences arising among true believers among Jews their Doctors and ther Priests who study the Scripture and are witnesses that it containeth the truth feare not the world but dread me sell not neither exchange my commandements for any price Such as judge not conformably to the Law of God are Infidels We have ordained the Talio man for man an eye for an eye a
blasphemeth against God and his Commandements Certainly the wicked shall be miserable I will assemble all of them and say where are the gods which you did associate with God They shall have none other excuse but to say by God Lord we were of the number of Idolaters Consider how they will lie and disavow their blasphemies some there be among them that hearken to thee we have hardened their hearts they will not learne the Alcoran because their ears are stopped When they shall heare related all the miracles of the world and shall see them with their eyes they will not believe untill they have disputed against thee The wicked say the Alcoran is but a lie and Fable of Antiquity they forbid the people to believe it and contemne it certainly they destroy their souls and know it not thou shalt see when they shall be detained in the fire of hell they will say would to God I might return into the world I would obey the Commandements of his divine Majesty be in the number of true believers They knew the truth but conceal'd it should they return into the world they would return to their impiety they are liars They affirm there is none other life then that of the world neither any resurrection when they shall be before God they shal acknowledge their errors he shall cause them to feele the chastisements due to their blasphemies Such as believe not in the resurrection are wretched men they shall be afflicted for their sins at the houre when ever death shall surprize them they shall bear on their back the burthen of their crimes and avouch the life of this world to be but deceit and vanity and the life of the other to be full of felicity for the righteous O Mahomet neverthelesse the wicked are not converted I know thou wilt be incensed against such as shall say they desire to obey thee and shall renounce thy Doctrine they that contemne the Commandements of God are impious they have belied the Prophets thy Predecessors the Prophets endured their lies and were patient untill we destroyed them God declineth not what he hath promised Thou knowest what the Prophets foretold if men abandon thee canst thou covet to continue on earth to instruct them and to be in heaven at the same time to cause prodogies appear testimonies of thy mission Had it so pleased God See Gelaldin he had brought them all into the right way nor had they been in the number of the ignorant Certainly he heareth the prayers of the righteous that hearken to his word he will gâ—ve resurrection to the dead and assemble them to receive recompence according to their merits They have said we believe not in the Prophet if he shew not to us some miracle from his Lord say unto them God hath shewed you many miracles but most of you doe not understand them the beasts that walk upon the Earth and the birds that flie in the Aire are in the number of hâ—s creâ—tures We have not omitted to write any thing that is writtâ—n â—n the Book kept in heaven all men shall one day appear before God such as shall not have believed in his Law shall be deaf and dumb and inhabit darkenesse God misleadeth whom it pleaseth him and guideth in the right way whom he seeth good Say unto them have you â—â—lt the punishment of God Have you had knowledge of the day of Judgement Will you invoke any but God if you be good men If you implore him he will deliver you fâ—om the evils that you feare and if it please him you shall abandon the Idols which with unbelievers you adore We sent our Prophets to them that were before you when they contemned them we sent afflictions to procure their conversion which had not been done without the miseries that we brought upon them Nevertheles their heart is hardned the devill caused them to find disobedience more advantagious and they forgot what was taught them When we opened the gate of happinesse they exceedingly rejoyced and were ingratefull but when they thought least of it they were chastised became desperate and were extirpated for the great glory of God Lord of the Univers say unto them if God rendred you deaf blind and ignorant what other god then God shall restore your sight hearing O Mahomet and knowledge Consider how I manifest my Unity neverthelesse they will not believe it say unto them have you had a sense of the scourge of God secretly and publikely Hath God condemned any but the wicked He sent not the Prophets and Apostles but to proclaime the felicity of Paradise and preach the torments of Hell He that shall believe and doe good works shall be exempt from feare at the day of Judgement and unbelievers shall be punished because of their disobedience Say unto them I told you not that I had in my power all the treasures of God neither that I had knowledge of the future and past nor doe afirme that I am an Angell I only act what hath been inspired into me is the blind like to him that seeth clearly Consider what I say I preach not the day of Judgement but to such as apprehend it they shall find none other then God to protect them The poore peradventure they will feare his divine Majesty Molest not them that pray unto God evening and morning and that desire to see his face thou shalt not be accomptable for their actions See Gelaldin neither shall they give accompt of what thou dost if thou disturbest them thou shalt be in the number of the unjust We have proved men by one another they have said among them with derision behold those among us to whom God hath given his graces doth God not know them that acknowledge his benefits Salute with affection true believers when they come to visite thee God loveth civility clemency and humanity and will pardon him among you that shall offend him through ignorance that shall repent of his error and doe good works he is benigne and mercifull Thus doe I recount the graces of God and discover the way of sinners Say unto them I am forbidden to worship what you adore lest I should goe astray from the right way I have received from God a light which yee have contemned God is Judge of all things judgeth with truth and is most just in his Judgements I cannot forthwith give you a sight of the torments of hell neither of the chastisement of God which you with so much instance require this dependeth on his divine Majesty had I this power our difference would be soon at a period God knoweth the unjust in his power are the keys of the future none knoweth but he he knoweth whatsoever is in the earth and the sea the number of the leaves that fall from the trees and of the atomes that are in the darknesse of the earth There is nothing dry or greene in the earth that is not written
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
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
continuance doe not unbelievers tremble when they consider how many men upon Earth we have destroyed in past Ages Their misery shall serve for example to them that are wise Had not thy Lord said that he will deferre the punishment of the wicked untill the time appointed he had already destroyed them Be patient and endure their discourse praise thy Lord before the Sunne arise before it setteth an hour before night and at the end of day thou shalt doe a thing acceptable to him The life of the world is sweet to tempt you but the riches of thy Lord are better and eternall Command the people to make their prayers at the time appointed and be not impatient towards them I require no riches of thee I will enrich thee and in the end Paradise shall be for the righteous The unbelievers have said if Mahomet sheweth not some racle from God and knoweth not the exposition of the books of our predecessors we will not believe in him We before his comming destroyed many wicked persons who said Lord hadst thou sent us a Prophet we had observed thy Commandements before we became infamous and laden with ignominie Say unto them every one expecteth his end expect ye and ye shall one day know them that follow the right way and have not erred CHAP. XXI The Chapter of the Prophets containing an hundred and twelve Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull The day approacheth wherein the people shall render an accompt of their actions but they consider it not and depart from the Commandements of God if they heare them they laugh they understand them not and keep secret their evill intention Is not Mahomet a man like to you Will ye say that he is a Magician you see the contrary God heareth whatsoever is spoken both in Heaven and Earth and knoweth all things They say certainly Mahomet hath dreamed what he speaketh he hath invented it and is a Poet we will not believe him unless he shew some miracle as did the Prophets that were before him We have layed waste many Cities because their inhabitants were incredulous we sent before thee but men who were inspired of us Enquire of them to whom heretofore was given the knowledge of the written Law if ye know it not they were men that did eat and drink and were mortalâ— we effected what we promised to them we preserved them with such as believed and destroyed the incredulous We have sent you a Book to instruct you will ye understand it How many Infidel Cities have wee made desolate How many new people have we established in their place When they felt our punishment they fled fly not and return to what hath delighted you return into your houses peradventure ye will yet cover the riches of the Earth They said misery is upon us we are too blame Thus did they talke untill they were destroyed We have not created Heaven and Earth and whatsoever is between them to sport with had it been our will that they should have scoffed on Earth they should scoffe likewise in Heaven On the contrary I oppose the truth to falsehood to confound it and in effect it doth confound it Misery shall be upon you because of your blasphemies whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods the Angels are not ashamed to worship him they prayse him day and night and exalt his glory without blasphemie The Infidels worship Gods made of Earth Have they power to create any thing Were there in Heaven and on Earth another God they would not accord praised be God Lord of the Universe what the Infidels relate is untrue Hee asketh no counsell when he will doe any thing as do men will they worship any other God but him Say unto them produce your arguments behold what we have to speak unto you behold our reasons and those of our predecessors Certainly the greatest part of them are ignorant of the truth and goe astray We inspired into all the Prophets which we sent that there was but one God that ought to be worshipped They said believe ye that the Angels are the sonnes of God Praysed be God on the contrary they are his creatures he loveth them they speak not but after him and obey what he commandeth them he knoweth all their actions past and future they pray for no man but through his permission and feare to displease him Who among them will say I am God instead of God he shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell thus doe I intreat unbelievers Know they not that the Heavens and the Earth were shut up We opened them and gave life to every thing through the raine which we made to descend will they not believe in my unity We created the Mountains to hinder the Earth to move we made therein wayes large and spacious for our Creatures we covered it with the Heaven and have exempted it from falling neverthelesse they despise our Commandement It is the Lord who created day and night the Moone and the Sunne all things praise and exalt him in Heaven we created no person to dwell for over on Earth all men shall taste of death I will prove you with good and evill and ye shall appeare before me to give accompt of your actions The Infidels scoffe at you when they see you and say behold them that deride our Gods They obey not the Commandements of God he created man of dust and shall shew you the effects of his omnipotency be not impatient to see the punishment of the wicked who say when shall be the day of judgement did they know it they would remove the fire from their backs and visages that day shall surprize them it shall astonish them when they thinke least of it they cannot retard it and shall be deprived of protection Certainly they scorned the Prophets that were sent before thee but they were punished after their demerits Say unto them who but the mercifull God preserveth you day and night neverthelesse yee reject his Commandements Have they any other God but me that is able to save them Their Gods cannot defend themselves I will not protect them yet will I enrich them as I enriched their fathers and will prolong their life to punish them on Earth Know they not that their estates diminish on all sides through thy Conquests Is it so that they are victorious Say unto them I preach to you what God hath inspired into me but the deafe heare not when they are exhorted When they are a little touched with the chastisements of God they say oh misery We are too blame and are unjust I will weigh their workes at the day of Judgement that I may doe injustice to no person of the weight of a grain of mustard-seed and will most exactly accompt We gave to Moses and Aaron the Book that distinguisheth good from evill and commanded them to preach our Commandements to them that had our feare before their eyes
That Booke is blessed and was sent from us neverthelesse unbelievers reject and condemne it We heretofore instructed Abraham in the right way and knew that he was a righteous man Remember thou that he said to his father and his people what Idols doe ye adore They said wee find that our Fathers adoreâ— them he said unto them your fathers and you were exceedingly erroneous they said dost thou speak the truth or dost thou jeast He said Certainely your Lord is the Lord of Heaven and Earth I sweare to you that he created them Having convinced those Idolaâ—erâ— he said by God I will make Warne upon your Idolâ— he broke them with an hatchet in their absence except the grâ—atest Idoll on which he hung his hatchet and said peradventure they will accuse him to have broken the other Seeing at their returne their Idols broken they said who hath in this mannner handled our Gods He is impious we heard it is a young man named Abraham who derideth them bring him before the eyes of the people perhaps they shall find witnesses of his Action They said unto him oh Abraham it is thou that hast so abused our Gods he said on the contrary it is that great Idol They enquired of each other if those Idols spake and if they had motion afterwards they returned to themselves and said to the people ye are too blame to adore those Idols he threw them headlong against the ground and they said oh Abram thou well knewest that they spake not at all he answered why therefore doe ye worship what can neither benefit nor hurt you You defile your selves in adoring them instead of God doe ye not know him Then they said burne Abraham and let us defend our Gods if ye are righteous men but we commanded the fire to lose its heat to preserve Abraham They would have tormented him and we destroyed them we saved him as we preserved Lot we conducted him into the Land of blessing gave him Isaac and Jacob and the Children of their Children righteous men and True-believers to instruct the people in the way of Salvation wee inspired them to doe good workes to pray at the time appointed to pay Tithes and to worship us Wee gave to Lot prudence and knowledge and delivered him from the Inhabitants of the City who were the most vicious upon Earth we were gracious to him because he was righteous Remember Noah and that hee heretofore invoked us wee heard his prayer and delivered him from great danger and all that were with him in the Arke we delivered him from the hand of the wicked whom wee drowned Remember David and Salomon who rendred Justice in the field whereinto the flocks of the village entred by night without Shepheards wee are witnesse of their Judgements wee instructed Salomon in Justice we gave his prudence and knowledge the Mountaines adored us with David and with him the Birds praised us we were with them when they praised us We taught you the manner of sowing seed to preserve you from necessity peradventure ye will be thankfull to me We commanded the winds to obey Solomon and know all that he did The devils obeyed him they dived into the sea to fisâ—i for Gems for him and travelled also in other matters and we hindered them to act mischief against men Remember Job who prayed to his Lord and said I am in exceeding great affliction thou art the merciful of the merciful we heard him delivered him from his affliction gave to him our grace to his family to them that were with him who had patience and trusted in me Remember Ismael Enoch * Delcafel is Ely Delcafel Zachary they persevered in wel doing we gave them our grace because they were righteous Remember Jonas See the book composed by Abdelâ—aâ—y who forsooke his people in displeasure he beleived I could doe nothing against him but he cryed in the dark and said There is no God besides thee praised be thy name I am too blame for having offended thee We heard him and delivered him from his disaster Thus do I protect true-beleivers when they invoke me Remember Zachary who made his prayerâ— and said Lord I know there is no better heir in the world then thy self yet let me not dy without issue We heard his request gave him a son named Jon and rendred his wife fruitfull All these Prophets went on with alacrity to do well and invoked us with humility with desire to obtain our grace with fear of the torments of hel Remember Mary whose womb I blessed we inspired into her our Spirit gave her a Son a miracle in the world Your law is on onely law and I am one only God worship me be not impious ye all shal appear before me to be judged I will protect the true believers that shall have done good works wil write what they shall do for their reward Mâ—sery is upon the Cities that we have ruined their inhabitants shall not return into the world untill the passage be opened to Jagog and Magog and they come running from the eminent places of the earth then shall the day of Iudgment approach the promised Truth shall not be far off it shall trouble the sight of the wicked Who shall say O misery We are miserable we did not foresee this disaster we have been excedingly too blame for having offended God It shall be said unto them ye worshipped instead of God the firebrands of Hell into which ye shall be cast headlong Had your Idols been Gods as ye beleived they should not have entred Hell they and those that have adored them shal be eternally damned they shall groan complain and shal not be heard Such as shall be in paradise shall be far remote from them they shall not hear their howlings and shall enjoy eternally what they shall desire the cryes of the damned shall not afflict them the Angels shall meet them when they come out of their graves and shall say Behold now the day that was foretold you in the world a day wherein wee will open the heavens and the book of the accompt of all men as we promised to your predecessors We exactly perform what we promise we have written in the Old Testament and afterwards in the Alcoran That the righteous shall inherit the Earth This Book shall teach the way to Paradise to them that shall worship mee We had not sent thee but in favour of men say unto them God hath alwayes inspired into me that your God is one God will ye not obey him If they go astray I have taught you how they must be intreated Say unto them I know not whether the punishment denounced to you shall be speedy or tardy God knoweth what is known and unknowne in the world I know not whether he will try you or defer his punishment untill the time appointed He is a most just judg and most mercifull he is not such as ye speak him
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
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
had before prohibited Moses to suck the milk of any other nurse then that of his mother his sister said to Pharoahs servant wil ye that I provide you a nurse and people that shall carefully nourish him We caused him to be restored to his mother to nurse him she ceased from her sadness when she knew and saw that God was sincere in what he had promised but the greatest part of the people know it not When Moses was aged about thirty three years we gave him knowledge and wisdom thus do I reward the righteous Moses entring one day into the City met two men that fought the one was of the Children of Israel and the other was an Egyptian and of his enemies whom he assaulted and slew after this he said the Devil tempted me he is the open enemy of men Lord I have offended thee pardon me he pardoned him he is gracious and mercifull Lord since thou hast bin so gracious to me I will never give aid or succour to Infidels He continued in the City with fear and kept himself upon his guard on the morâ—ow he again met him whom the day before he had defended who sought likewise â—ith another Egyptian required his assistance Moses said unto him thou art seditious he replyed oh Moses wilt thou slay me as thou didst slay him yesterday Wilt thou be a murtherer of all men or a just man Not long after a man came in hast to him from the utmost part of the City who said unto him oh Moses the Officers of Pharoah have conspired against thee they desire to put thee to death save thy self and follow my councell He departed from the City with fear keeping himself upon his guard beseeching his Lord to deliver him from the hands of Infidels he went towards Mâ—adian and said Lord suffer me not to folow an evil way he met a great number of persons that made their flocks to drink he with them found 2 maids that could not water their Cattel he said unto them what do ye two here VVe have not strength to draw water to give our beasts to drink we tarry for the Shepheard our father is too old to draw it He drew water out of the well to water their Cattell and withdrew to a shade because of the heat of the Sunne saying Lord I am deprived of all the graces which heretofore then didst confer on me I â—m now poor and necâ—ssâ—â—â—us One of those maidens came to seek him bashfully said unto him my father calleth thee to recompence thee for the pains thou hast taken in watering our catle when he was in the old mans presence he related what had befaln him The old man said fear nothing I wil deliver thee from the hands of the wicked one of his daughters said to her sister give to this man to eat reward his pains he assisted us with affection their father said unto him I wil marry thee to one of my two daughters on condition that thou wilt have a care of my flocks the space of eight years ten years if it please thee said Moses I will not forsake thee thou shalt find me an honest man I wil serve thee the two terms either 8. or 10. yeares as shall seem good to thee God is witnesse of what I say After the term expired Moses forsook the house of his father in law withdrawing with his wife he beheld affar off a great fire on the side of the mountain and said to his Wife tarry here I see the fire of the omnipotent I will speedily return I will bring you a spark peradventure you shall be warmed when he drew near to this fire they cryed unto him from the right side of the valley from an eminent place and from a bush O Moses I am God Lord of the Universe cast thy staffe on the ground when he beheld his staffe to move as it had bin alive he fled for fear and returned no more O Moses draw near and fear not thou art in a place of safety put tâ—ine hand into thy pocket it shall come out white shining without harm draw back thine arm into thy sleeve it shall return to its former condition thy staffe and thine hand shall be two signs of my Omnipotency to Pharoah and his Ministers who disobey my Commandments Moses said Lord I have sâ—ain an Egyptian I am afraid they will take away my life command Aaron who is eloquent to go with me to aid me to confirm what I shal say I fâ—ar they wil traduce me I wil give thee thy Brother for thy assistant I wil give to you both strength to defend your selvs from their malice go do what is commanded you ye shall be victorious and all those that shal follow you when Moses came to Pharoah he made him to see my miracles preached my Commandments to his Ministers they said this is buâ— magick and witchcraft we have not heard these things to have bin spoken to our predecessors Moses said the Lord knoweth him that teacheth the right way and him that ought to have part in Paradise Infidels shall be most miserable Pharoah said to his Ministers do ye know any other God but me O Haman let me offer sacrifices and build a Temple shal I deceive myself with the God of Moses I believe him to be in the number of lyars He bâ—came proud on earth with his Ministers they bâ—lieved that they should never be assembled before me to be judged we surprized him with his people and caused him to perish in the Sea consider what is the end of unbelievers we abandoned them and they are in the number of the condemned to the fire of hell They shall finde none to protect them â—t the day of Judgment we cursed them on earth and at the day of the Resurrection they shall be abominable to all the world We taught Moses our Commandments after the destructâ—on of many Infidels before his coming We gave him the Book to be a light to the people to conduct them into the right way and acquire our grace peradventure they will remember Thou wert not with Moses when we spake to him we created another age after him thou didst not at that time dwell with the Inhabitants of Madian neither didst thou â—each them our Commandments it is we that have instructed thee in the History of past ages thou wert not on the mountain when when spake to Moses we sent thee through our special grace to preach to men the torments of Hell they have not yet had a preacher like unto thee perhaps they will consider it when they felt any punishment for their sins they said Lord hadst thou seÌ„t us an Apostl to instruct us we should have obeyed thy commandments have believed in thy Law when on our part they were instructed in the truth they said doth Mahomeâ— work miracles like Moses do they not traduce what Moses did when they say that Moses
Mahomet are two aparent Sorcerers when they said that they believed neither Prophet nor Scripture Say unto them bring any book from God that better teacheth the right way then the Old Testament and more savingly then the Alcoran I will follow it if ye speak the truth If they be not heard when they shall require this book know that they follow only their own appetites and their impiety who is more erroneous then he that followeth but his own passion and is not guided of God he guideth not Infidells Certainly we have sent them the Alcoran peradventur they wil believe in it they to whom we heretofore sent this book believe in the contents thereof when they heare it read they say we believe in those words it is the very truth that proceedeth from God we believe in the unity of his divine Majesty they shall be doubly rewarded because they have persevered in well-doing they have overcome evill through their good deeds and have expended in good works part of the wealth that we gave them When they heard the faith evill spoken of they withdrew themselves took leave of the company and said ye shall answer for your and we for our actions Regard not the ignorant thou shalt not convert all them that thou shalt desire to convert God converteth and guideth into the right way whom he pleaseth and knoweth such as serve him They said if I follow with thee the right way I must forsake my Country Shall not I establish them in a place of safety where they shall find all sorts of fruits to enrich them but the greaâ—est part of the people know it not How many Cities have we destroyed that took pleasure in their evill life No man inhabited them any more except very few and we became heirs of their riches God shall not destroy Mecca untill he have sent an Apostle to instruct the Inhabitants thereof in the right way God destroyeth not a Ciâ—y if the Inhabitants be not unjust and disobey not his Commandments The wealth of this world which ye pâ—ssesse pleaseth you but the riches of Heaven are much better eternall will ye not understand it Have we not kept promise with them to whom we promised Paradise and with them to whom we promised the riches of this world in the end were in the number of the damned Be thou mindfull of the day when thy Lord shal cal them say unto them where are your Idols which ye beleived to be my Companions the chief of them shal say Lord behold those that were seduced like us we are innocent of their Idolatry they adored not us they shall speak that day to the Idolaters to invoke their Idols but they shal not hear them they shal be visibly chastizâ—d on Earth Bâ— thou mindfull of the day when thy Lord shall call them and say unto them wherefore have ye not beleived my Apostles and my Prophets they shall be confounded and remâ—in dumbe He that shall be converted and do good works shall be happy Thy Lord createth what pleaseth him and maketh choyce of what seemeth to him good Praised be God he hath no companion he knoweth what is in the hearts of men and what they make manifest he is God there is no God but he praise is due to him in the beginning in the end he commandeth over all things all people shall one day be assembled before him to be judged Say unto them Had God given a continuall night even until the day of judgment what other God is there that is able to you give light will ye not hear me had God given you a continual day until the day of Judgment what other god could have given the night to refresh you will ye not consider his benefits his grace he hath created the night for repose and the day for labour pâ—radventure ye will give him thanks Be thou mindfull of the day when thy Lord shall call the Infidels and shall say unto them where are the Idols that ye worshipped We wil call a witness of every Nation and will say to the Idolaters bring your arguments that may prove the plurality of Gods Ye shall this day know your blasphemies and that there is but one God Caron was of the people of Moses he was proud because of his riches vve gave him so great treasures that many men were burdened when they conveyed away the Keyes Remember how his people said unto him Rejoyce not above measure in thy great wealth God abhorreth the that rejoyce without reason Beg of him paradise with thy riches forget not to do good in this world give almes of the substance which God hath given thee be not disobedient to him on Earth he abhorreth those that disobey him these riches were given thee because thou diâ—st instruct the people in the Old Testament knowest thou not that God destroyed in times past many rich and opulâ—nt persons Who is more strong more powerfull more rich then God He will not enquire of the wicked the number of their sinnes he knoweth all and the accompt Caron one day went forth in publique with all his retinue They that affected the wealth of this world said Would to God we had as much wealth as Caron he is happy but the more knowing among them said ye are unhappy the grace of God is more advantageous to them that believe in his Law and do good works then all the treasures of Caron none shall receive his grace but such as shall obey him and persevere in obedience to his Commandments VVe deprived Caron of all his treasures and none was able to protect him against us then they that had coveted his riches said oh miracle God giveth to and depriveth of wealth whom to him seemeth good Had not God given us his grace we had bin necessitous certainly the wicked shall be miserable I will bestow Paradise on them that hate vanity and disorder on the Earth and shall have my feare before their eyes whosoever shall do good shall find good who doth evill shall be chastised after his demerits He that hath taught thee the Alcoran shall cause thee to return to the * Mecca See Gelaldin place that thou desirest Tell the Inhabitants of that place that God knoweth them that teach the right way and such as go astray Thou didst not expect the Alcoran it is a speciall grace of thy Lord assist not the Infidels and take heed least they seduce thee after having learnt what hath bin taught thee Preach to the people the unity of God Be not in the number of them that belive many Deities adore God alone there is no God but hâ— al things shal have end except his face he commandeth over every thing and all men shall one day appear before him to be judged CHAP. XXIX The Chapter of the Spider containing sixty nine verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am God most wise Men
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
alone without children have ye any reason or authority to speak in this maner bring your arguments produce your reason if ye are true The Infidels have said that the Angels were of the lineage of God but the Angels well know that the Infidells shall be damned because of their blasphemies Praised be God he hath neither son nor daughter other then the righteous that worship him and obey his Commandments You with your Idols cannot escape the punishment of your sins ye shall be condemned to the fire of hell There is none among the angels that knoweth not his place and his order in Paradise to praise and worship his divine Majesty If the Infidels say we observe the Religion of our predecessors we are in the right way Say unto them that If they belive not in the Alcoran they shall in fine know their incredulity We have promised protection to beleivers and Prophets they shall be protected and victorious depart for a time from the wicked consider how God punisheth them they shall feel the punishment of their impiety wil they cast themselvs headlong into the torments of hell assuredly they will be astonished when the shall feel them depart from their company and consider that they shall not be able to escape the punishment of their crimes Praise thy Lord the Lord of power and greatness above the wicked salvation be to the Prophets and eternall praise to the God of the Vniverse CHAP. XXXVIII The Chapter of Truth containing fourscore and eight Verses written at Mecca Reader Mahomet intituled this Chapter with the Letter named in the Arabique Alphabet Ssad which signifieth in this place Ssidk that is to say Truth See the Gloss of Geladin Kitab el tenoir They have intituled it the Chapter of Truth IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the Alcoran that this Book teacheth the way of Salvation neverthelesse the Infidels resist the Faith and are among themselves of a different opinion How many have we destroyed in times past that were like unto them They cryed and required succors but they were no longer to be succored The Infidels wonder that a man like themselves should be sent to instruct them they say That he is a Magician and a lyar to preach one sole God It is a strange thing Their Doctors forsook their Assemblies they went to preach through the City and said Persist to adore your Gods we abjure the beliefe of the vnity of God the last Sect did not preach it it is an evident lie Was Mahomet chosen among us to receive alone the Alcoran descended from Heaven Certainly they doubt the Alcoran they shall know the truth when they shall be in the fire of Hell Have they in their power the Treasures of the mercy of thy Lord omnipotent and bountifull Possesse they the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth and whatsoever is betwixt them If it be so let them ascend into Heaven with their forces assuredly they shall be shamefully beaten in all places The wicked heretofore defamed Noah Aâ—d Pharoah the maker of Charmes and Temod the Inhabitants of the City of Lot those that dwelt in the Forest and their companions traduced the Prophets were punished after their demerits neverthelesse the Infidels consider not that they shall be chastised when the trumpet shall sound at the day of Judgment and that they shall no more return on earth to be converted They say in scorn Lord give us to see the Book of the Accompt of our sins before the day of Judgment Persevere and be patient be not troubled at their discourse and call to mind our servant David stout and zealous in my Law the Mountains and the Birds praised me with him they assembled in his presence obeyed him we gave force to his reign and endued him with knowled and eloquence Hast thou learnt Davids quarrel when they hindred him to enter into the Temple and how he feared his Enemies When they entred towards him they said unto him Be not afraid we have a dispute among us judge our difference with equity and teach us the right way This man is my Brother he hath fourscore and nineteen sheep I had but one which he hath ravished from me because he was stronger than I. David said He hath done thee wrong art thou troubled for one Ew The greatest part of men arose against their neighbor except such as believe in the Law of God and observe his Commandments which are few in number Then David knew that we had tryed him he implored pardon of his sin he humbled himselfe worshiped us and was converted We gave him pardon of his fault we drew him near unto us and lodged him in a place of content I said unto him O David we have established thee on Earth to determine the differences that shall arise among the people follow not thine own appetite it will seduce thee from the way of Salvation such as shall erre from my Law shall suffer grievous pains at the day of Iudgment We have not in vain created the Heaven and the Earth as the wicked affirm misery shall befâ—l them they shall be cast headlong and burnt in the fire of Hell Shall I alike entreat the believers and unbelievers the righteous and the wicked This Book We have sent it to thee blessed it to the end the people may meditate the mysteries thereof the wise reap advantage for their salvation We gave Solomon to our servant David he was extreamly zealous in our service Remember that horses ready and vigorous were presented to him about evening that he forgot to make his prayer at the houre of Vespers and said What Have I preferred the love of the wealth of the Earth to the remembrance of God even untill the Sun set He caused them to be led back againe and sacrificed some of them for expiation of his fault He caused their legs and neck to be cut off We tryed Solomon we caused a suppositious person to fit on his throne and afterwards restored him to his dominions He said Lord give me thy mercy give me so happy a reigne that the like hath not been seen thou art liberall towards thy creatures We made subject to him the winds which blowed at his command where it pleased him We made the devills subject to him some built his Palaces others dived into the Seas to bring him Pearls and others were bound and chained to attend his commands he retained and dismissed whom he listed with rendring an accompt We drew him neer unto us and lodged him in a place of content Remember our servant Job that he prayed to his Lord and sayd That the Divell had heaped misery and affliction upon him It was said unto him Strike the earth with thy foot thou shalt see water spring forth to wash thee and to drink We restored to him his children his riches through our special grace to be an example to posterity It was said unto him when his
raine from heaven and maketh the rivers to run upon the earth he causeth plants to spring forth and herbs of divers colours thou seest them become yellow and then altogether drie this is a sign of his omnipotency Hath not he to whom GOD hath given the light of Faith received a great grace from his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that have a heart hardned forget his law they are manifestly seduced he hath sent an excellent book for the instruction of men his precepts are alike in purity and without contradiction They that fear God tremble when they hear mention of this book and finde their rest in the word of his divine Majesty This book is the guide of the righteous God by it guideth whom pleaseth him He whom God shall seduce shall finde none to guid him he shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell at the day of Judgement it shall be said that day to the wicked tast the torments that ye have merited their predecessors defamed the Prophets and were punished when they least thought of it God rendred them ignâ—miniâ—us in this world and they shall feel in the other tormenâ—s much more greivous and they know it not We have taught in this book what is necessary for the salvation of the people peradventure they will learn it it is in the Arabique tongue without falshod and contradiction perhaps the people will fly from impiety God teacheth you a parable Two men are associates in their traffique the one is wicked the other an honest man are they alike Praise is due to one sole God the greatest part of the Infidels understand it not Thou shalt die all men shall die and ye shall be assembled at the day of Iudgement when ye shall dispute together Who is more unjust then he that blasphemeth against God and against the known truth Shall not the wicked be damned Such as shall believe the Prophet and fly impiety shall obtaine from God what they desire such is the recompence of the righteous God shall pardon their sins and reward them for their good works doth not he protect his servant They will terrifie thee wiâ—h the Idols which they adore but he whom God shall mislead shall finde none able to guide him and none shall be able to seduce him whom he shall guide is not he the omnipotent and revenging If thou ask of the Infidels who created heaven and earth they will say it is God Say unto them have ye therefore considered the Idols which ye adore can they exempt you from the wrath of God when it shall be his pleasure to chastise you Shall they be able to hinder his grace when it shall be his will to pardon you Say unto them my refuge is God I am resigned to his Will the wise trust in his divine Majesty Say unto them oh people do as you understand him I will do as I understand him ye shall know in the end that whosoever shall be condemned shall be ashamed and be precipitated into eternall torments We have sent unto thee the most true book to instruct the people He that shal follow the right way shal meet with nothing but good and he that shall go astray shall meet with nothing but evill thou art not the guardian of the wicked God causeth men to dye when the hour of their death is arrived he deferreth the death of many during their sleep remitteth that of others to the time appointed this is a sign of his omnipotency to such as consider it Will ye worship any but God Say unto them how shall your Idols be able to intercede for you since they want power know you not this Say unto them we ought to invoke one God alone King of the heaven and earth you all shall one day assemble before him to be judged The Infidels tremble with fear wheÌ„ they hear mention of one sole God rejoyce when they hear speak of their Idols Say unto them God is Creator of the heavens and the earth he knoweth the past present and future Lord thou shalt one day judge the differences of thy creatures Should the Infidels possess al the riches of the earth and yet as much more they would not be able to escape the fire of Hel at the day of Iudgment they shall be punished more greivously then they imagine their sins shall be set before them and they shall feel the rigors of the torments which they despise man calleth upon us when he is in affliction and we give him our grace he saith he meriteth it on the contrary this is to prove him but most of them are ignorant of it their predecessors spake as they the good that they have done hath profitted them nothing and the misery that they have merited is faln upon them they shall not escape the punishment of their crimes Know they not that God giveth and taketh away wealth from whom pleaseth him This is a signs of his omnipotency for the righteous Say unto them oh people they who have offâ—nded God ought not to despair of his grace he is gracious and mercifull be ye Converted and recommend your selves to his will before ye be condemned otherwise ye shall remain without protection follow the instruction that God hath sent to you before ye be chastised the punishment of your crimes shall surprise you ye know not the time the wicked shall be afflicted for that they have not obeyed Gods Commandments they shall know their damnation and the sin that they have committed in scorning the trve-believers They shall say had God guided me into the right-way I had had his fear before my eyes When they shall see hell they shal say could I return into the world I would be in the number of the righteous on the contrary my Commandments were taught you but ye became proud and dispised them Thou shalt sâ—e that day how the visages of Infidels shall be blackned Is there not a place in hell prepared for the proud God loveth and putteth into a place of felicity them that fear him they shall not be touched either with displeasure or affliction God hath created all things and disposeth all at his pleasure he hath in his power the keyes of heaven and earth such as disobey him are damned Say unto them oh ignorant men will ye enjoyn me to worship another god besides God It hath been preached to you and your predecessors that all your good works shall be unprofitable if ye adore many gods and that you shall be in the number of the damned there is but one God worship him and be mindfull of his graces The Infidels have not praised God as he ought to be praised they have no knowledge of his power he shall make earth to tremble and gather together the heavens by the strength of his right hand at the day of Iudgment praised be God he hath no companion When the Trumpet shall sound the first time he shal cause to dis whom
the end too late acknowledg their errors CHAP. XLIIII The Chapter of Smoke cnotaining fifty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent and wise I swear by the book that distinguish the good from evil that we sent it the night of blessing to teach the people the torments of hel this book explaineth our commandments al that we heretofore comanded the Prophets this is a speciall grace of thy Lord he heareth knoweth all things he is Lord of Heaven and Earth aâ—â— of all that is between them beleive in his omnipotency There is no God but he he giveth life and death to whom he listeth he is your Lord the Lord of your fathers and predecessors the wicked deride this discourse but the day of judgment attends them that day the heaven shal resemble smoak that shall cover the world that day shall the people say behold here grievous torments Lord deliver us from this misery we will believe in thy Law Their conversion shall be in vain because when the Prophet preched to them they scorned his words and said that he was a foolish teacher and when they were comforted on earth they returned to their impiety Remember thou the day when they were vanquished and taken by force and that we were revenged on their impiety We heretofore tryed the people of Pharoah my beloved Prophet preached to them my Commandments and said Come follow me oh ye servants of God! I am a faithful Messenger of his divine Maj. resist not his Law I wil teach you his Comandments he shal defend me from your malice he shal preserve me from being stoned but if ye will not believe me depart far from me He prayed to his Lord when he knew that that people were unbelieving impious God said unto him goe by night out of the City with my servants if the men of Pharoah pursue thee enter into the sea through a path large and spacious thine enemyes that shall follow thee shal be drownd How many gardens fountains places of pleasure wherin they took delight did they forsake They fel into the power of another with al their treasures and none lamented them either in Heaven or earth they expected not that punishment We delivered the Children of Israel from Pharoahs tyranny he was powerfull and a great sinner We elected them through our certain knowledg among all the world and tryed them through our Miracles and Commandments The wicked say we shall dye and not rise again If the Resurrection be true cause our fathers to revive to evidence the â—ruth of thy words Are they more powerful then their predecessors whom we destroyed because of their impiety We have not created in vain the Heaven and the Earth and whatsoever is between them we created them for certain signes of our Vnity the greatest part of the world understand it not the day of Iudgment is thâ— time appointed for their punishment that day none shall be able to save his neighbour or parent or freind nor shall any be saved but those to whom God shall give his mercy he is omnipotent and mercifull The fruit of the Tree of Hel called Zacon shall serve for food to the wicked it shal boil in their bellyes like pitch or water They shall cry take the wicked drag them into the fire of Hell pour upon their heads all manner of torments It shall bee said unto them tast the pains of Hell ye believed your selves to be the Omnipotent precious on Earth behold the punishment of which ye doubted The righteous shall be in delicious places in Gardens adorned with Fountains they shall be clothed with purple they sâ—all behold each other face to face we wil assemble them with women pure clean who shall have most beautifull eyes that shall have fruits savory and delicious of all seasons they shal never dye and shall be delivered from the torments of Hell through the special grace of thy Lord behold supreme felicity Certainly we have sent the Alcoran in thy tongue peradventure the Arabians will learn it they covet thy ruine but persevere thou and expect the time of the punishment of their crimes CHAP. XLV The Chapter of Genuflexion or Knee-bowing containing fifty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is most prudent and wise This Book is sent by the Omnipotent and wise The Heavens and the Earth are most certain signes of his Vnity to such as believe in his Law your Creation and the Creation of all Creatures are marks of his greatnesse to them that have his fear before their Eyes the difference of the night and the day the rain that he sendeth from Heaven to cause fruits to spring out of the Earth and to revive it after its death and the diversity of windâ— are signes of his Omnipotency to them that have knowledg to comprehend it I relate to thee the wonders of God with truth in what will Infidels believe if they believe not in the word of his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that hear the Commandments of God and become proud as if they had not heard them Preach unto such men that they shall suffer â—he rigors of infinite pains They deride the Faith when they are spoken to Certainly they be punished in the fire of Hell their riches shall not be able to save them neither the Idols which they adore they shall be eternally damned This Book guideth men into the way of salvation they that shall not believe in the Law of God shall feel the effects of his fury He created the Seas that bear the Ships for the advantage of your commerce peradventure ye will acknowledg this grace He hath created for you all that is in Heaven and on Earth it is a sign of his goodness to such as consider it Speak unto them that believe in the Law of Salvation that they pardon those that have not the fear of God before their Eyes God shall chastise them after their demirits Whosoever shall do good shall finde good and ye shall be assembled before his divine Majesty to be judged Certaiuly we instructed the children Israel in the Scripture and our Commandments we taught them knowledg and gave them the grace of Prophesie we enriched them with all sorts of riches preferred them to al the world We taught them our Law none disputed against our Commandmenes but such as had knowledg that through the envy thar arose among them but thy Lord shall judg their differences at the day of Iudgment We have sent thee our Law observe it and follow not the appetites of the ignorant they shall not be able to deliver thee from eternall pains The Infidels obey each other and the true-belivers obey God This book is the light of the world it guideth into the way of Salvation and the mercy of God them that believe in his divine Majesty Do the wicked imagine they shall
be intreated like the godly in their life and death and that they shall not be judged God hath created heaven and earth for a mark of his power he shall judg every one according to their works and shall do injustice to none Consider how they worship what cometh into their fancy God hath seduced them from his certain knowledge he hath rendred them deaf hath hardned their heart blinded them who shal guide if God seduce them Do they not consider it They say our resurrection shal be like the life of this world some dy others are born length of years cause us to die they know not what they say and speak but by opinion When they are preached unto they have no other ' discourse to utter but make our fathers to revive if what we say be true Say unto them God causeth you to live dy shal assemble you at the day of Iudgment there is no doubt in this but the greatest part of the people know it not God is the King of the heavens earth of the day of judgment that day shall he assemble the Infidels thou shalt see all Sects and all Religions assembled before him upon their knees every sect shall see their sins written in a particular book shal be al chastised after their demerits It shall be said unto them behold the book that speaketh against you we have exactly written what you have don God shal give his mercy to the righteous that is supream felicity It shal be said to the wicked have not the Commandments of God bin preached to you Ye became proud and were incredilous when it was told you that the promises of God and the day of Judgment were indubitable ye said that iâ— was but an opinion and that ye believe it not in the end ye shall acknowledge your offence and shall suffer the painâ— that ye despised God shall say unto them at the day of Iudgement I have this day forgotten you as ye forgot thâ— coming of this day the fiâ—e of hell shall be your habitation none shall deliver you because ye derided my Law and waxed proud with the riches of the earth They shall never get out of this Fire neither be able to repent Praise be to God Lord of the heavens and earth glory is due to him in all places he is omnipotent and wise CHAP. XLVI The Chapter of Hecaf containing thirty five Verses written at Mecca Hecaf is a Valley in the Country of Licmen upon the frontiers of Arâ—biâ— See Gelaldin and the Book intituled Kitab el Tenoir IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is most prudent and wise This Book was sent by the Omnipotent and wise We created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a sign of our Omnipotency and Vnity and appointed to every thing a prefixed and limited time If the Infidels depart from that which hath been preached to them Say unto them have ye considered the Idols that ye adore shew me what they have created on earth are they Gods companions in the creation of the heavens bring me a Book sent from heaven before the Alcoran that containeth like it what remained of the doctrine of our Predecessâ—rs we shall see if ye be true who is more seduced then he that worshipeth things that can neither hear his prayers nor protect him at the day of judgment That day shall the Infidels be enemies to each other and the Idols shall not acknowledge them that have worshipped them When they heard the Alcoran read they affirmed it to contain the truth and when they were commanded to observe it they said that it is but magick Will they say that thou hast invented it Say unto them if I have invented it ye cannot deliver me from the punishment of God he knoweth all that is in this book it is sufficient that he is witnesse between you and me he is gracious and mercifull Say unto them I am not the first Prophet nor the first Apostle that God hath sent I know not what God shall determine of you and me I do but what he hath inspired into me and am sent to preach the torments of hel have ye considered in what condition ye shall be if the Alcoran be sent from God Ye have renounced it but one of the children of Israel is witnesse that it is sent from God and hath believed in his divine Majesty neverthelesse ye are become proud God guideth not the proud The Infidels say to the believers if the Alcoran were any good thing you should not exceed us in observing it it guideth not into the way of salvation it is but an old Fable The book of Moses that came before it teacheth the right way and the Will of God Say unto them the Alcoran confirmeth the Scriptures sent heretofore to them that precedeed us it is in the Arabique tongue he preacheth the pains of hell to unbelievers and declareth the joyes of Paradise to the righteous Such as shall believe that God is their Lord and shall obey him ought to fear nothing they shall suffer none affliction at the day of Judgment they shall enjoy Pardadise for the reward of their good works We have recommended to man to honor father and mother and to do good to them his mother beareth him with pain she bringeth forth with dolour she giveth him suck and weaneth him at the end of thirty moneths she hath care of him until he be in a condition to govern himself hath attained to age of discretion Then he saith Lord inspire me to be grateful for the grace that thou hast given to my father mother if I do well thou wilt accept it take care of my posterity I trust in thee desire to obey thy Commandments Their prayer shall be heard their sins shall be pardoned they shall enjoy the joyes of Paradise prepared for the righteous He that shall â—peak to his father and mother in civility shall say unto them in derision will ye bring me yet once more into the world after my death wil ye revive me from my grave many are dead heretofore that are not returned he shall be punished of God his father and mother shall require help of his divine Majesty and shall say unto him my son misery is with thee believe in God and in the Resurrection the word oâ— God is insallible if he reply that it is an old Fable he shall feel the punishment of God the word of his divine Majesty shall be accomplished against him as it hath been accomplished against them that did preceâ—e him in impiety as well devills as men they shal be damned they shall be in â—undry degrees of payns he shall chastise them after their demerits and no injustice shall be don to them It shall be said to the wicked that would depart out of hel fire ye expelled your felicity when ye lived in the world your punishment was deferred until
who effect what they have promised and preserve faithfully what to them hath been entrusted who speak the truth in testimony and who make their prayers at the time appointed shall be honoured in Paradise Wherefore is it that the Infidels who are about thee cast their eyes to the right hand and to the left with pride do they require to enter into Paradise and be saved We have created them as other men I swear by the Lord of the East and West that we are able to change them into a people better then they and that it is a thing easie for us to perform leave them in their errors untill they be come to the day when they are promised to be chastised and that they shall come out of their sepulchres to repaire to universall Judgement they shall repair thither terrified and their sight shall be covered with shame this is the day that hath been heretofore preached to them CHAP. LXXI The Chapter of Noah containing twenty eight Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull Before men were chastised we sent Noah to preach to them the pains of hell he said unto them O ye people I preach to you the pains of hell worship one only God and fear him obey me he shall pardon your sins hee deferreth your punishment untill the day appointed and shall not retard it when his hour shall be come did ye know it ye would be converted Afterward he said Lord I have exhorted this people night and day but mine exhortations have been very much in vain they have strengthned themselves in their impiety and when I preached to them they put their fingers into their ears and covered their heads with their garments that they might not hear they continue in their impiety and become proud I have preached to them publikely I lifted up my voyce I have expounded to them the mysteries of thy Law I said unto them implore pardon of God he is most merciful he shall send you abundance of rain to water the earth he shall give you store of wealth and many children he shall give you gardens embellished with fountains and rivers who hâ—ndreth you to honour God He it is that hath created you in the condition wherein you are consider ye not that he hath created seven heavens the one upon the other that he created the Moon with her brightness and the Sun with his light he hath caused the earth to bring forth all sorts of plants he will cause you all to return to earth and to revive he hath extended it to the end ye may walk in the wayes thereof large and spacious Lord said Noah this people hath disobeyed me they have followed that which can give them neither prosperity nor profit but rather a most certain damage they have conspired against me and said among themselves forsake not your gods forsake not Oâ—â—â—â—oa Igout Joac and Nesar they erre from the right way Lord adde to their confusion Then were they drowned because of their sins they shall be cast headlong into the fire whence none but God is able to deliver them Noah said Lord leave not a wicked man upon the earth they will seduce thy creatures from the right way they will leave children lyars and impious like themselves pardon my sins pardon the sins of my father my lineage and those that shall believe in thy Law and destroy the unjust CHAP. LXXII The Chapter of Devils containing twenty eight Verses written at Mecca Some Mahometans intitle this the Chapter of Spirits IN the name of God gracious and merciful Say to the people I have received an inspiration which some devils heard of me when I read the Alcoran and that they said we have heard the miraculous Alcoran read it teacheth the right way we believe in what it contains we believe not that God hath companions we believe there is but one God we believe not that he hath wives or children our ignorant persons blaspheme against his divine Majesty nevertheless we imagin that they could not do it There are who require aid of the devils and augment their confusion because they say that God will not cause any to rise again some devils have said we have been as high as heaven and found it furnished with guards and stars we staied in a place a little distant to hear there is one star that watcheth them that hearken and drives them away we know not if God hateth the men that are upon earth or if he will teach them the right way but we are now in the number of them that believe in the unity of his divine Majesty they sayd oh ye people we were before in the way of error we heretofore believed that God did not operate on earth but no person in whatsoever place he be can avoid obeying his Will we heard the book read that teacheth the right way we believe in what it contains he that believeth in God will not fear any misery or injustice there be of us that are good and that trust in God others there are who are wicked and impious such as obey the Commandements of God follow the right way and the wicked shall be precipitated into the fire of hell Had the Infidels followed the right way we had sent them from heaven abundance of rain and given them our grace I will try them and such as shall despise the Alcoran shall be punished The Temples belong to God invoke one sole God in the Temples when his servant riseth he worshippeth his divine Majesty it wanted not much but these dâ—vils had published the plurality of Deities Say unto the people worship God my Lord I believe in one God who hath no companion I can neither guide nor seduce you but through his permission If I dâ—sobey him none shall be able to save me and I shall want protection at the day of Judgement I can do no more for you then to preach to you his Law this is the subject of my Embassie He who shall disobey God and his Prophet shall be damned and shall remain eternally in the fire of hell The wicked shal know such as shall be deprived of succour and protection when they shall behold the pains prepared for them Say unto them I know not whether what is promised to you shall incontinently happen or whether God will defer it some time none knoweth what is to come but God and those whom he hath elected to be Prophets and Messengers of his Will he inspireth into them his Commandments to preach to men he upholdeth all the actions of men and keepeth an exact accompt of every thing CHAP. LXXIII The Chapter of the Fearfull containing twenty Verses written at Mecca The Arabians have intituled this the Chapter of the Fearfull when the Angel Gabriel brought this Chapter to Mahomet he was afraâ—d of the splendor of his light and covered himself with his garments which gave occasion to the Angel to call him and say oh
the seduced there shall they remain eternalâ— They shall find there no rest neither drink but of boyâ—ng and most stinking water a reward conformed to their â—orks the Infidels believe not that they must render an â—ccompt of their actions and blaspheme but we keep â—ccompt and write exactly what they doe It will be said 〈◊〉 them at the day of Judgement Taste this day the punishment that ye have merited your pains shall be augmented and pains upon pains They who shall have had the feare of God before their eyes shall be in a place of felicity in the gardens of a most fertile Land enriched with grapes and Pomegranats they shall drink in Cups full of a delicious liquor and shall hear no vain speeches nor lying such is the recompense of them that obey the Commandements of God He is Lord of the heavens and earth none shall dare to speak when the Spirits and Angels shall be assembled before him none shall be able to speak or pray for another without his permission This day shall be the day of truth they that shal be acceptable to him shall retire towards his divine Majesty We have preached unto you that the punishment of God shal speedily come upon you every one shall see all that he shall have done and the wicked shall say at the day of Judgment would to God that I had been earth and dust CHAP. LXXIX The Chapter of them that take away containing forty six Verses written at Mecca Gelaldin entituleth this the Chapter of them that draw forth the soul. IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I sweare by the Angels that take away the souls from the bodies of Infidels and the wicked By the Angels that accompany the souls of believers By the Angels that exalt the glory of God By the Angels that guide the souls of the righteous when they goe into Paradise and by the Angels that are appointed for the affairs of the world that all people shall rise again at the day of Judgement that day the earth shall tremble and the hearts of men shall tremble at the first time that the Trumpet shall sound at the second their sight shall be troubled with feare and they shall say Behold we we are returned upon earth to the place whence we departed our bones were rotten and our returne to the world shall bring upon us only misery this second sound of the Trumpet is a sign of the wrath of God Then shall they be out of their sepulchers revived upon the earth Hast thou learned the history of Moses and how God his Lord called him in the holy valley called Tor and how he said goe towards Pharoah he is seduced from the right way and is in a great error Say unto him I called thee to the way of Salvation I will purifie and guide thee into the way of the Law of God to the end thou mayst have his fear before thine eyes Moses made Pharoah to see one of his great miracles neverthelesse he contemned Moses disobeyed him and departed from the right way he caused his people to assemble and made Proclamation that he was their God but God rigorously chastised him because of his blasphemies this is an example of his omnipotency to them that are righteous O ye wicked were ye more difficult to create then heaven God hath raised the roof thereof and proportioned it he hath made the night obscure and the day full of splendor he hath stretched forth the earth hath made fountains to spring forth to water the plants and to give drink to beasts he hath elevated and established the Mountains for you and for your flocks Men shall call to mind the good and the evill that they have done at the second sound of the Trumpet and hell shall appeare open before their eyes The wicked that have followed their own appetites on earth shall be precipitated into hell and such as have had the feare of God before their eyes and have subdued their passions in this world shall goe into Paradise The wicâ—ed will ask of thee when the day of Judgement shall be none knoweth it but thy Lord Thou art not sent but to preach the pains of hell to them that feare that day as if they saw it present before their eyes they shall imagine that they have not remained in the tomb but from evening untill morning when they rise againe CHAP. LXXX The Chapter of the Blind containing forty two Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The Prophet frowned had a surly countenance and withdrew himself when the blind came towards him He will not tell thee if he will believe in God and if he will professe thy preaching depart thou from him that shall depart from the Law of God thou art obliged only to preach to him and not to make him to believe but forsake not them that shall come to see thee to be instructed and shall fear God The Alcoran is sent for the instruction of men it was copied upon the book that is kept in heaven to which honour and praise is due eternally Wherefore is man impious Is it because he is created of a little water retained in the womb of his mother untill the time appointed and because hee found the way to come forth is it for that God causeth him to dye and to revive when it seems good to him Hee performeth nor what God commandeth neither considereth the good things that nourish him We have sent rain we opened the treasures of the earth we made all sorts of grain to spring forth Blites Olives Dates Gardens and fields full of fruits and herbs to nourish you and your flocks When the Angel shall sound the Trumpet the second time Man shall flie his brother his mother wife and children every one shall take thought for himself that day shall the wicked have countenances covered with affliction the countenance of the good shall be joyfull and such as have sought the way between faith and impiety shall have the countenance covered with earth and dust CHAP. LXXXI The Chapter of Roundnesse containing twenty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull When the Roundnesse of the Sun shall appeare the Stars fall the Mountains walk the Camel be without burden and without keeper when the beast shall be gathered together the Sea covered with fire Souls returne into bodies * The Arabians buried their daughters alive when they had done a fault the Daughter demand why they put her to death when the book of good and evill shall open when heaven shall cast oft its ornaments the fire of hell appeare and Paradise be opened then shall souls know the good and the evill that they have committed I sweare by the Planets by the obscurity of night and by the brightnesse of day that the words of the Alcoran are the words of the Prophet beloved of God powerfull with his divine Majesty ye
ought to obey him he is a faithfull observer of what is commanded him he is not possessed of the Devill as ye have imagined he hath seen the Angel clearly and without riddle and is not perplexed for what is to come the words of the Alcoran are not the words of the Devill on whatsoever side ye turne you it is only for the instruction of men and such among you as will follow the right way but ye shall have no inclination to follow it if it please God the Lord of the Universe CHAP. LXXXII The Chapter of the opening of Heaven containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The souls shall know the good and the evill that they have pone when the heavens shall open the starrs fall the seas be gathered together and the sepulchres be opened O man what maketh thee so proud as to rise against God who hath created thee who hath formed and proportioned thee after what manner he pleased O ye wicked ye will not believe the day of Judgement there are Angells that observe your actions and are obedient to God The just shall go into Paradise and the unjust be precipitated into the fire of hell whence they shall never return I will not tell when the day of Judgement shall be that day none shall be able to succour his neighbour and God alone shall command CHAP. LXXXIII The Chapter of tâ—eâ— that weigh with false weights containing thirty tâ—ree Verses written at Mecca In the name of God gracious and merciful They that weigh with false weighâ—s and measure with false measures believe not to risâ— again at the day when all the world shall appear before God to be judged Certainly the book wherein the sins of the wicked are written is kept in hell Misery shall be upon Inâ—â—â—â—lls at the day of Judgement none doubteth the coming of this day but the wicked when they hear the Commandments of God preached they say that it is but an old fablâ— impiety retaineth them in this error and induceth them to abandon the Law of his divine Majesty but they shall be cast headlong into the flames of hell It shall be said unto them behold the punishment which ye would not believe The book wherein the good works of the righteous are written is reserved in heaven the Angells are witnesses how the just shall enjoy the delights of Paradise they shall see the immense graces of God reposed on delicious beds their countenance shall be covered with joy and content they shall drink of purified wine most savoury that shall have the odour of Musk preserved in bottells that none but themselves shall open and it shall be mixt with the water of the fountain of Paradise where the Cherubins do drink The Infidells deride the true believers that would instruct them neverthelesse when they return to their companions they admire their doctrine and say when they see them behold the seduced but they are not sent to be their tutors The Infidells that shall be converted and believe in the day of Judgement shall go into Paradise they shall enjoy the grace of God they shall behold the grievous torments of the damned that shall be punished after their demerits and shall find in the other world what they have done on earth CHAP. LXXXIV The Chapter of the Cleft containing twenty five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The day of Judgment shall appear when the heaven shall cleave asunder and the earth cast men out of their sepulchres by the Commandement of God O man thou goest daily towards death and shalt find in the end the good and evill that thou shalt have done he to whom shall be given the book of accompt of his actions in the right hand shall be blessed he shal go with his companions into Paradise where he shall enjoy eternall felicity He to whom shall be given the accompt of his actions in the left hand shal be damned he shall be cast headlong into the fire of hell because of the unlawfull pleasures that he hath taken in the world and for that he believed not in the Resurrection God beholdeth all that he doth and keepeth accompt I swear by the rednesse that appeareth in the Air when the Sun setteth by the obscurity of the night and the brightnesse of the Moon that you all shall change being and posture and shall revive after your death Wherefore is it that the wicked believe not in God why do they not humble themselves when they hear the Alcoran read they blaspheme against God but he knows all their actions declare to them that they shall be chastised and that such as believe in his Unity and do good works shall receive infinite reward CHAP. LXXXV The Chapter of Signs Celestiall containing twenty Verses written at Mecca Many Mahometane Doctors intitle this the Chapter of Castles IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by heaven adorned with signs and by the day of Judgement by the Angels and men that they who have made pits filled with fire to burn the true-believers shall be witnesse of their own malice and shall avouch that the fire burned themselves to make them know the unity of God and the truth of his Law God is Omnipotent and always victorious he is the King of the heavens and earth he beholdeth all They that torment true-believers and shall not repent shall be damned they shall burn eternally in the fire of hell and such as shall believe in God and do good works shall dwell in pleasant gardens wherein flow many rivers where they shall for ever enjoy supream felicity The wrath of God is strong he maketh his creatures to die and rise again when he pleaseth he is mercifull towards them that repent of their sins and loveth them that serve him He hath created his throne to which praise is due eternally he raiseth up whom he listeth and nothing is to him impossible Hast thou heard the history of the people of Pharaoh and Temod God shall chastise in like manner them that shall not believe in his Law he knoweth them all Certainly the precious Alcoran is written in the book that is reserved in heaven CHAP. LXXXVI The Chapter of the Starr or of the North Star containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by Heaven and the Star that teacheth men the way I will not tell thee by what star by the starr full of brightnesse that every person hath a guardian which observeth the good and the evill that it acteth Doth not man consider of what he is created he is made of a little sprinkled water that issueth out of the body of man and woman God shall make him to rise again at the day of Judgment and none shall be able to protect or defend him from the wrath of his divine Majesty I swear by heaven that returneth the rain by the
XCII The Chapter of Night containing twenty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the obscurity of Night by the brightnesse of Day by the creation of man and woman that your actions are very different He that shall yeild to God the obedience that is due to him and believeth in his Unity shall go into Paradise and whosoever shall not praise his divine Majesty and will not be converted shall go into hell his riches shall not save him and he shall be cast headlong into eternall flames It is we that guide the people we dispose the beginning and end of every thing I preach to you the torments of hell none shall enter there but the wretches that have blasphemed and departed far from the way of salvation he that hath the fear of God before his eyes and giveth almes shall be delivered from the fire of hell every one shall be recompensed for what he hath done for the love of God he shall be satisfied and contented CHAP. XCIII The Chapter of the Sun rising containing ten Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I sweare by the brightnesse of the rising of the Sun and by the darknesse of night that thy Lord hath not forsaken thee He doth not hate thee his delay shall be to thee advantage and in the end thou shalt be content Did he not well lodge thee when thou wert an Orphan Did he not well guide thee when thou wert seduced Did not he inrich thee when thou wert poore Do no injury to Orphans devoure not the poor and recount the graces that God hath conferred on thee CHAP. XCIV The Chapter of Joy containing eight Verses written at Mecca Mahomet complains to the Angel Gabriel because he so long had refrained to visit him IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Have not I rejoyced thine heart have not we delivered thee from the burden that was heavy on thy shoulders we have raised thy name and reputation affliction is followed of content when thou shalt have finished thy prayers labour and love thy Lord. CHAP. XCV The Chapter of the Figge containing eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the Figs and Olives by Mount Sinai and by the safety and freedome that is in this City of Mecca that we created man with proportion afterwards we rendred him contemptible except the true believers that do good works they shall receive an infinite reward After this ô wicked man what maketh thee to blaspheme against the Faith is not God the Judge of Judges CHAP. XCVI The Chapter of Blood congealed containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca Beddaoi and Gelaldin call this the Chapter of Reading IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Read the Alcoran and begin through the name of God who created all who made man of a little congealed blood Read the Alcoran and exalt the glory of thy Lord who hath instructed man in the Scriptures who taught him what he knew not neverthelesse he is in a great error he will not consider that he shall returne before God Hast thou considered him that would have hindred one of the servants of God to make his prayers hast thou understood if he were in the way of salvation hast thou seen if he blasphemed if he hath abandoned the faith knoweth he not that God forsaketh him If he desist not he shall be dragged by the hair into the fire of hell with the wicked he shall quit the place where they assemble to dispute against the faith and the devills shall cast them head-long into flames eternall Disobey not the commandements of God persevere in thy prayers worship God alwaies obedience to his commandements shall draw thee neer to his divine Majesty CHAP. XCVII The Chapter of Glory or Power containing five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull We sent the Alcoran in the night of Glory and Power I have not taught thee the graces of this night of glory and vertue the prayers and good works that are done that night have more of merit and efficacy then those that have been performed in a thousand months The Angels descended that night to the earth thorow the permission of their Lord and salute the true believers untill the dawning of the day CHAP. XCVIII The Chapter of Instruction containing eight Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull They that understand the Scripture and believe in many gods will not relinquish their Idolatry untill they have heard the instruction of the Prophet of God he shal read unto them a book clean and pure wherein are written the Precepts of the right way They that know the Scripture are not divided untill they have learned this instruction It commandeth to worship one only God to make their prayers at the time appointed and to pay tirbes this is the right way The unbelievers that know the Scriptures and adore many gods shall remain eternally in the fire of hell and shal be most miserable They that believe in one God and perform good works shal be most happy they shall be recompensed of their Lord in the garden of Eden wherein flow many rivers where they shall dwell eternally God shall be satisfied with their obedience and shall give them his blessing prepared for them that feare him CHAP. XCIX The Chapter of the Earth-quake containing eight Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull When the earth shall tremble and shall cast bodies out of their sepulchres man shall demand what it will do they shall tell him news to wit that God hath commanded it to do so That day shall men come out of sepulchres from divers places and shall see the good and the evill that they have done he that hath committed evill of the weight of an atome shall be chastised and he that shall have done good of the weight of an atome shall be rewarded CHAP. C. The Chapter of Horses containing eleven Verses written at Mecca and Medina Some Arabians have called this the Chapter of Return or of them that return IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I sweare by the Horses and the noise they make with their feet when they return to war and by the fire which they make to arise when they strike their feet against stones that run lightly through jealousie and raise the dust in the midst of enemies that man is ingratefull for the graces of his Lord he himself is witnesse of his ingratitude and too much affecteth the riches of the earth knoweth he not â—â—â—t God will make all the world to revive that he will â—â—ing to light whatsoever is most secret in the hearts of â—en and that he knoweth all that they have done CHAP. CI. The Chapter of affliction containing eleven Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull When the extreme