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
is past present and future and all that is in heaven and in the earth even to the weight of an Atome what is yet lesse and what is yet greater then an Atome is written in a book that discovereth every thing he shall reward the true-beleivers that have don good works he shall give them his mercy and enrich them with precious treasures such as have endeavoured to suppresse his Law shall feel the effects of his indignation They that understand the Scripture know that God hath taught thee the very truth to guide the people into the right way into the path of honour and vertue but the wicked said among them will ye beleive a man who affirmeth that after your death ye shall rise again and be new creatures he lyeth impudently he is possessed of the devill Certainly they that beleive not in the Resurrection are in an exceeding great error and shall suffer most greivous pains see they not what is above and what is below them Consider they not the heaven and the earth If I will I can render it barren and cause a peice of the heaven to fall upon them for a signe of my Omnipotency We gave our grace to David and spake to the mountains birds and mettals with him to praise me we commanded him to make cuirasses Iron was soft in his hand as wax O lineage of David I be not ingrateful I see whatsoever ye do we made the winds subject to Solomon he commanded them evening morning from the East to the West we gave him a fountain and brook of dissolved brass the devils through our permission wrought it to his minde and we punished in the fire oâ— hell such as refused to obey him They built for him lost palaces and * Depein piâ—d spacious houses they formed basons foâ— water chanels and pools we said unto him O lineage oâ— David be not ingrateful for my graces for that few persons do acknowledg them When he dyed through ouâ— Commandment nothing discovered his death to the devils buâ— the wormes that had eaten the end of his staffâ— whereon he leaned when the devils saw him fall they perceived that had they known the future and what was hâ— from them they should not have laboured so long a timâ— in his service The Inhabitants of Saba have a mark of mâ— Omnipotency in their Countrey viz. two gardens the one on the North side and the other towards the South iâ— was said unto them eat of the good things that your Lord hath given you and return him thanks their Country is delicious God hath been merciful towards them neverthelesse they are ingrateful and impious we sent the river oâ— Arem that overflowed their gardens we changed them into two gardens of thorns of Cyprus and a little * An Judian Date Tamarinde thus did we punish them because of their impiety We established a way with many cities for facility of commerce among them See Gelaldin and the City which we blessed and spake unto the people to follow that way night and day with safety and without fear They said God destroyeth us through the length of this way they returned to their impiety and we dispersed them upon the earth to serve for example to posterity and instruction to such as persevere in my Law and acknowledg my graces The devill caused them to believe his opinion they followed him except some of the true believers that were among them he had no power over them but to know them that believed in the Resurrection and such as doubt Thy Lord observeth and regardeth all Say unto them invoke your Idols they have not power of the bigness of an Atome neither in heaven nor earth God hath no companion they shall find none to protect them at the day of Iudgment none shall intercede for them without the permission of his divine Majesty if they receive any relaxation in their fear they enquire of each other what God spake answer that he spake the truth that he is most high and most mighty Say unto them who enricheth you with the good things of heaven and earth they will say that it is God Say unto them who of you or of us followeth the right way Or who of you or of us is seduced Enquire not after our sins we are not curious to know what ye do God shall assemble us at the day of Judgment and shall judge our differences with equity he iâ— an exceeding great Judge say unto them let us see the Idols that ye have worshiped certainly there is but one God omnipotent and wise We have not sent thee but to declare to men the joyes of Paradise and to preach to them the pains of hell but the greatest part knoweth it not they aske in what time they shall see the punishment that is preached to them and if thou speakest the truth say unto them when the time thereof is come ye shall not be able to retard or advance an hour they have said that they will not beleive in the Alcoran but thou shalt see them one day assembled in the presence of thy Lord thou shalt see that they shall accuse one another the poorâ— shall say unto â—he rich you have hindred us to obey the Commandments of God they shall answer have we seduced you from the way that was taught you On the contrary you were wicked and malicious they shall say on the contrary you employed night and day your Artifices to render us ingratfull for the graces of God and to induce us to believe that he hath companions equal to him they shall repent of their sins when they shall see their punishment we will lay chains upon their necks and they shall be chastised after their demerits The chief Inhabitants of the Cities said to the Prophets that we sent to them to preach the torments of hell that they believe not their words We have said they more riches and more children then those that believe in their discourse we shall not be damned as they affirm Say unto them my Lord giveth and taketh away riches as seemeth good to him but the greatest part of the people know it not your wealth and your children shall not give you accesse to God such as shall performe good works shall be rewarded and shall live eternally in the delights of Paradise they that sâ—all endeavour to suppress our Law shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell Say unto them my Lord giveth and taketh away wealth as to him seemeth good he maketh vain the alms which ye shall give if ye observe not his Law he is the rich of the rich Be thou mindfull of the day when I shall assemble the Idolaters and shall say to the Angels behold them who have adored you they shall say praised be God thou alone art our Master and protector they adored not us they worshipped the devill the greatest part of them beleived in his word this day they are
propositions my opinion yet with submission to wiser judgements 1. Though it may be dangerous to such as like reeds are shaken and like empty clouds carried about with every wind of doctrin yet to staid solid Christians the reading of Mahomets Heresies wil be no more dangerous then the reading of those errors which are recorded in Scripture for in them are mentioned many damnable errors and abominations of the Egyptians Cananites Hittites Sidonians and other Gentiles and of the Hebrews themselves of the Sadduces who denied Spirits Angells and the Resurrection 2. Is there more in reading the Alcoran then in reaing the Errors of ancient and modern Heretikes surely Tertullian Irenaus Epiphanius Austin and other Fathers were not of this opinion who have left upon record to posterity the damnable heresies of Arians Eutychians Nestorians Macedonians and others and in the Alcoran there are not such dangerous errors as among the Tetratheites Angelites and Theodosians who held there were four Gods or the Tritheites who affirmed there were three or the Gnosticks Manicheans Cerdonians Marcionites who maintained there were two contrary Gods the one good the other bad whereas the Alcoran sets down there is but one true God and although it denieth with Arius the Divinity of Christ yet it holds him a great Prophet nor doth it speak so blasphemously of Christ as the Simonians who held Simon Magus or the Ophites and Manicheans who said the Serpent was Christ or Menander who affirmed himself to be Christ and the Saviour of the world Besides are not the damnable Heresies of the modern Familists who deny Christs Divinity making as many Christs as there be illuminated Elders in their Congregations are not also the Heresies of the Socinians Antitrinitarians Adamites Serâ—etians Antisabbatarians and many others exposed to the view of all that will read them why then may not the Alcoran Besides are men debarred from reading the Greek and Latine Poets nay are not many of them translated into our English tongue as also the modern Histories of the East and West Indies wherein are more damnable tenets then any in the Alcoran and they who have read the Jewish Talmud and Cabala will find them as ridiculous pieces as the Alcoran 3. If there were any lovelinesse beauty excellency or any thing else in the Alcoran that might win the mind and draw the affection after it I should hold the reading of it dangerous but whereas it is such a mishapen and deformed piece I think the reading of it will confirm us in the truth and cause us love the Scripture so much the more for as a beautifull body is never more lovely then when she is placed neer a Black-moore neither is truth more amiable then when it is beset with Errors Opposita juxta se posita clariùs elucescunt the Gem receives lustre from the foile the starrs from the night and fire is most scorching in Frost even so by an Antiperistasis truth is fortified by error Who can think that the sight of a Hob-Goblin or deformed vizard should draw the child from the Nurse or brest of the Mother to embrace it whereas the sight thereof will rather cause the child hold faster by the mother The wise Spartans oft-times brought drunkards into the room where their sons were not that they should be induced thereby to love but to abhorr drunkkenness which they could not have done had they not seen the unseemly and rude carriage the undecent behaviour and uncomposed gestures of the drunkard When Zisca had destroyed the Adamits of Bohemia he preserved two alive that they might reveal to the world the wicked errors of that Sect Who is so mad as to prefer the embracements of a filthy Baboon to his beautifull Mistresse or the braying of an Asse to a consort of Musick he deserves the ears of Midas that will prefer the Cuckoes song to the â—weet notes of the Nightingale 4. Though the Alcoran be received among many Naâ—ions yet this reception proceeds not from any love they bear to it or any lovelinesse they find in it but partly out of fear being forced by the Sword partly out of a preposterous desire of liberty and preferment and partly out of ignorance as not being suffered to read the Scriptures nor to hear Philosophy by which the errors thereof may be detected nor to enquire into the absurdities thereof or to dispute and question any thing in it for which cause also it is not suffered to be Printed nor are Christians permitted to enter into Mecca least their absurdities and impieties of their Religion should be manifested and thus are those silly souls kept in blindnesse and ignorance and therefore I never read that any Nation did voluntarily receive the Alcoran except the theevish Saracens of Arabia because it was a friend both to their theevery and lechery as permitting multiplicity of Wives and Concubines and a reward for those that shall murther and rob 5. The Alcoran is translated into French and other vulgar Tongues and the chief heads thereof by Purchas in his Pilgrimage by Heilin in his Geography by others into our own tongue without scruple or exception and I pray you why is the Arabick tongue the language of that false Prophet and in which he writ his Alcoran so much learned and taught in Schools and Christian Universities but that by it we may come to the knowledge of Mahomets Laâ— and Religion and how should we know this little hoâ—n in Daniel that spake high and proud things against the Almighty if we read not his life and doctrine 6. There is a kind of necessity we should know evill as well as good falshood as well as truth that we may avoid the one and so much more love the other he that hath smelled a stinking weed will smell with more delight the sweet Rose he that reads the Alcoran will find it smell worse then Mahomets carkasse did which after his death lay putrifying upon the ground which his disciples permitted for many daies together hoping he would have been as good as his word who made them a promise that he would rise again the third day but at last finding he had forgot himself and that his body smelling not so sweet as Alexanders did after his death they were forced to bury it or otherwaies the dogs who were beginning to bury him in their guts had saved them a labour though Sugar be sweet in it self yet it is much more sweet to him that hath tasted Aloes and though Italy in it self be a delicious Countrey and garden of the world yet it is much more delightfull pleasant and beautifull to him who hath passed over the mountanous craggy and rugged Alps Did not the Prodigall love the bread of his fathers house evermore the better after he had been fed on husks with swine doubtlesse we shall find that after we have fed a while upon the course husks of the Alcoran with the Arabian swine we shall with much more eagernesse covet
feared he might cause his father to sin and seduce him into his error and infidelity the Lord through his goodness would have him to be destroyed to deliver his father from his malice The wall appertaineth to two infant Orphans of this City there is under it a treasure that belongeth to them their father was a righteous man God through his goodness willeth that the treasure be preserved for them untill they attain to years of discretion he likewise willed me to do what I have done behold the exposition of what thou wert impatient to learn If any one enquire of thee concerning Alexander the great relate to them his History we gave him on earth what he desired he went as far as the West where he found a fountain guarded by a man who said to him O Alexander chastise men through the murther of their persons bondage and ransome he answered I will put to death unbelievers in this world and the Lord shall punish them in hell and the righteous shall enjoy the glory of Paradise I will tell the wicked that God hath given us what we have desired After this he continued his way untill he came to a place where the Sun riseth he found that it riseth in a countrey where they have nothing to shelter them from its heat the thing is so we taught Alexander how to shelter himself he followed his way untill he arrived between two mountains inhabited of a Nation that spake a Language which he could hardly understand they said to him O Alexander Jagog and Magog defile the earth canst thou put between them and us an obstacle to hinder that they may not come to us God said Alexander hath not given me means to do it but assist me with your power I will put between them and you a strong separation give me iron that can cut stones that I may build betwixt the two mountains and that I may fortifie the way that devideth them blow when the iron striketh the stones to â—indle fire and poure on mâ—lten brass to joyn the stones and iron together if they come they cannot pierce through the mountains neither find a way to come to you this is a favour which God conferreth on you his promises are infallible when the hour arriveth he is true in what hee promiseth we will permit them to mixe each with other we will assemble all of them when the Trumpet shall sound then will we open Hell to the wicked and to such as would neither see nor hear the Alcoran Do they imagine them that worship me to be their gods we have prepared hell to punish them Say unto them shall I relate unto thee what shall befall the damned their works shall be unprofitable in this world although they think to do well good works are unprofitable to them that contemn the Commandements of their Lord and believe not in the Resurrection they shall not want ballance at the day of Judgement hell shall be their habitation because they deride our Commandements and our Apostles and Prophets The righteous shall enjoy eternally the delight of Paradise without discontinuation If the sea were inke to write the wondrous works of my Lord it will sooner have an end then his miracles Say unto the Infidels I am a man like you God hath taught me that there is but one God he that believeth in the Resurrection studieth to do good works worship but one God who is without a companion CHAP. XIX The Chapter of Mary containing fourscore and eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God is the rewarder conductor of the righteous liberall wise true Zachery the servant of thy Lord remembred his grace when he in secret prayed to his Lord and said Lord my bones are become feeble and mine head is white with old age Lord I was never rejected in my prayers hear my petition give me a son to succeed me that may be mine heir heir of the lineage of Jacob and be pleasing to thee O Zachary I declare unto thee that thou shalt have a son named John no man hath yet been called by that name he said Lord how shall I have a son my wife is barren and I am too old It was answered him the thing shall be as I have said unto thee it is easie to thy Lord who created thee he said Lord give me some signe of the conception of my wife he said to him thou shalt not speak for three nights Then went he out of his Oratory and made signes to the people to make their prayers evening and morning Oh John See Kitab el tenoir learn the Scripture with affection We from his infancie gave him knowledge clemency charity piety affection towards his father and mother and not violence and disobedience We blessed the day of his nativity the day that he shall dye and the day that he shall rise again Remember thou what is written of Mary she retired towards the East into a place farre remote from her kindred and took a vaile to cover her we sent her our Spirit in forme of a man she was afraid and said God will preserve me from thee if thou have his fear before thine eyes hee said oh Mary I am the Messenger of God thy Lord who shall give thee a Sonne active and prudent She answered how shall I have a sonne without the touch of man I desire not to be unchaste he said The thing shall be as I have told thee it is facile to thy Lord thy sonne shall be a token of the omnipotency of God and of his speciall grace towards such as shall believe in his divine Majesty She became with child and retired some time into a place remote from people where she sustained the colours of Child-birth at the foot of a Date-tree and said why am I not dead wherefore am I not in the number of persons forgotten The Angell said to her afflict not thy selfe God hath placed a brook under thee shake the foot of this Palme and the Dates shall fall gather them up eat and drink and wash thine eyes say unto them that thou shalt meet that thou fastest and hast made a vow not to speak to any one untill thy fast be accomplished Her parents met her while she bare her Infant and said unto her oh Mary behold a strange thing oh sister of Aâ—ron thy father did not command thee to doe evill neither was thy mother unchaste She made signes to her infant to answer them they said how shall the infant in the Cradle speak Then her infant spake and said I am the servant of God hee hath taught me the Scripture hath made me a Prophet blessed me in all places and commanded me to pray unto him hoe hath recommended to me purity through the whole course of my life and to honour my father and mother hee hath not made me either violent or malicious praysed shall be the day of my birth the day
given you sight hearing and sense but few among you return him thanks he it is that hath created you of earth ye shall one day be assembled before him to be judged he it is that giveth life and death and maketh the difference of day and night will you not honor him neither consider On the contrary they have said as did their predecessors wherefore shall we die our bones shall be dust and shall we rise again This was heretofore promised to our fathers and to us certainly it is but an old song Say unto them to whom appertaineth the earth and whatsoever is in the earth if ye know its Creator and King They will say it is Gods Say unto them know ye not then that he that created yâ—u can raise you again who is Lord of the seven heavens who possesseth the throne of heaven they will say it is God say unto them will ye not fear then to worship any other God but him Say unto them who is King of all things who sustaineth them and is sustained of none They will say that it is God Say unto them why then do ye deceive your selves we have taught them the truth but they have rejected it and said that God had a sonne were there another God with God the one would undoe what the other hath done and they would rise the one against the other Praised be God what they affirm is not true God knoweth that is past the present and the future he hath no companion Say Lord give me o see the effect of all that thou hast promised to them and put me not among the unjust deliver us from evill and do good to us I know their impiety Lord deliver me from the temptations of the devill deliver me from their malice when any one among them dieth he saith Lord permit me to return into the world I will do better then I have done there is no return it is to speak in vain there is an obstacle behinde them that detaineth them untill the day of Judgment when the Trumpet shall sound nothing shall retard them they shall not glory nor discourse with each other the ballance of the blessed shall be heavy with good works and the ballance of the cursed shal be light of good works Have not my Commandments beene preached unto you wherefore did ye contemn them They shall say Lord our misery prevailed over us we were mislead Lord deliver us from this misery the contrary was promised to us truly we are exceedingly too blame It shall be said unto them depart into the fire and never speak to come out Many of them that worship me say Lord we believe in thee pardon our sins thou art mercifull Ye have derided them O yee wicked and have despised my Commandements but I will reward them for their perseverance and they shall be blessed It shall be said to those that rise again how many years have ye remained in the earth they shall answer we have bin there a day or some dayes aske of the Angels appointed to keep the accompt ye have bin there but a little time did ye not know it do you believe that I have created and assembled you before me in vain Praise and exalt God King of Truth there is no God but be he is King of Heaven he is void of reason that invoketh another God with Him he shall give accompt of his actions and the Infidells shall be miserable Say Lord pardon the sins of the righteous thou art the great mercifull CHAP. XXIV The Chapter of Light containing seventy and foure Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull We have sent this Chapter containing our Commandments clear and intelligible peradventure ye will learn them The †Is a man or boy kept unlawfully Catamite and the Concubine shall be whipt with an hundred stripes take heed lest clemency cause you to forget the precepts of the Law of God believe in his divine Majesty and the day of Judgement Some of the True-believers shall be witnesses of their punishment The Catamite lying with a Concubine or an Infidell the Concubine lying with a Catamite or Infidell these things are forbidden the True believers He that shall accuse an honest woman of adultery shall be whipt with twenty four stripes unlesse he prove his accusation by four witnesses and shall never be credited in testimony They that do such things are without the obedience of God except those that repent and satisfie what they owe God shall be to them gracious and mercifull They that shall accuse their Wives of adultery and have no witnesses shall swear four times that they speak the truth and shall the fifth time call for the curse of God to be upon them if they be lyars The Wife shall be exempt from punishment if she swear four times that her husband is a lyar and if the fifth time she pray that the wrath and indignation of God may be upon her See Gelaldâ—n if what her husband hath said be true In this manner doth God gratifie you that ye may understand the truth he is most gracious and most wise That Troup that made defection from the True-believers with a lye and false testimony did you no harme on the contrary they did advantage you every one shall bear the burden of his sinnes the most mâ—licious among them shall be thrown headlong into the torments of Hel This is Abdallabin Selouk It was an happinesse that ye heard the sense of the believers from their own mouth when the said that those men lyed impudently if they had not presented those four witnesses they had found none other One of Mahomets wives was accused of adultery with Safoiian by Mahomets enemies they are lyers without the grace and mercy of God they should have already felt great torments in this world and in the other because of that imposture When they spake of what they were ignorant ye deemed it to be nothing but it is an exceeding sin before God if when ye heard it yee said that to speak of those things did not concerne you ye knew it to be an imposture God forbiddeth you to relapse if ye beleive in his Law he thus declareth to you his pleasure he is omniscient and most prudent Such as desire to cast obloquie among the True believers shaâ—l be rigorously chastised in this world and in the other God knoweth that of which you are ignorant Had not God bin favourable to you he had chastised you in burning fury he is gracious and mercifull Oh ye that are Tru-believers follow not the footsteps of the Devill he will enjoyn you vice sin had not God gratified you with his mercy not any among you should have been purged from that imposture but God purifieth whom he seeth good he beareth all hnoweth all your intentions The most rich and powerfull among you have not sworn to do no good to their parents the poor or
wicked will depart from the obedience which he oweth to God Make your prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and obey the Prophet God shall give you his mercy Beleive not that the Infidels are more powerfull on Earth than We they shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell O ye that are True-beleivers your slaves and servants of Free-condition shall require leave of you to enter where ye shall be thrice viz. Before the prayer at break of day after noon and after supper they shall not offend in entring without leave where ye shall be at another time they enter there to serve you In this manner doth God teach you his Commandments he knoweth the humor of his Creatures and is most prudent in all that hâ— ordaineth It is ordained to your children when they shall be at age of discretion to demand of you permission to do what they shall desire as did your predâ—cessoâ—s Thus doth God teach you his Commandments he is gracious and mercifull The old and dâ—crâ—pit women shall not offend God to quit their vails and discover their faces provided it be without vanity and design to shew their ornaments If they abstain they shall do well God heaâ—eth whatsoever ye say and knoweth all that is in your heâ—rts The blinde the lame the sick See Kitab el tenior and you also shall not sin to eat in the house of your children at the house of your Father and Mother brothers sisters Vncles Aunts Friends and in the house of your servants ye shall not offend God if ye eat together or apart When ye shall enter into any house salute each other from God with blessing and affection Thus doth God teach you his Commandments peradventure you will learn them When those that believed in God and his Prophet repaired to the Prophet they retired not without his permission Such as required leave to depart believe in God and his Prophet if they require leave of thee for any businesse licence whom shall seem good to thee and pâ—ay to God for them See Kitab el tenoir he is gracious and mercifull Call not the Prophet as ye call one anotheâ— among you God knoweth such as shame ully depart out of the Temple and the French Such as disobey his Commandments ought to take heâ—d least some mischiefe befal them and that they suffer not great tormenâ—s Whatsoever is in the Heavens or on Earth is Gods he knoweth if ye are zealous in your faith See Gelaldin or be hypâ—crites â—e knoweth the day wherein aâ—l thâ— worâ—â— shall be assembled befâ—re him to be jâ—dged â—n thâ—â— dâ—y shall men see what what they have done he knoweth all things CHAP. XXV The Chapter of the Alcoran containing seventy and seven Verses wrinten at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful praised be he that sent the Alcoran to his servant to instruct the world he is King of the Heavens and Earth he hath no Son nor Companion in his rign he created and ordained every thing The Infidels worship Gods that can create nothing and are things created they can neither do them good nor evil they can give neither life nor death neither cause them to rise again They say that the Alcoran is but a fable of thine invention invented with the assistance of some other person but they lye and blaspheme They say that it is but an old Song and a fable of the Ancients that thou writâ—st and that thou studiest morning and evening Say unto them it was sent by him that knoweth all â—hings in Heaven and Earth altâ—gether gracious and mercifull They said whâ— is this Prophet He eateth bread and meat and walketh thâ—ough the streets we will not beleive him unlesse an Angell descend from heaven to preach to us with him unles that Angel enrich him and that he have a Garden full of good and savory fruits he is but a wizard or one possesed of the Devil Consider to what they compare thee certainly they are in error and cannot find the right way Praise and bless him that is able to bestow on thee a greater good when it shall seem good to thee to wit Gardens wherein flow many Rivers and houses of pleasure They have denyed the certainty oâ— Universall Judgment and we have prepared the fire of Hell to punish them wrath shall carry them away with terrible cryes when they shall behold the place of the assembly of judgment when they shall there appear they shall be desperate and shall cry O misery Cry not O misery cry O misâ—ries in the Pluâ—al ask of them which is better and more advantagious that or paradise which is prepared for the recompence of the righteous where they shall dwell eâ—ernâ—lly with al manner of felicity this is it that God hath proÌ„ised that which was impetrated of his divine Majesty for them that have his fear beâ—or their eâ—es I wil one day assâ—mble I dolateâ—s with their iâ—â—ls God shall say unto them you are they who have seducâ—d my creatures from the right way They shall say praised be thy name we ought to have worshipped nonâ— but thy divine Majesty but the wealâ—h that thou gavâ—st to our Magistrates and their life which thou did prolong causâ—d them to foâ—get thy Commandmentâ— they were pernicious men in that they aâ—jured thy Law they cannot this day be exempt from the punishment of our crimâ—s neither protect us against thy wrath The Idolaters shall be rigorously punished The Prophets that we sent befâ—re thee did eat bread and meat and walked through the streets we prove them one after another Persevere God beholdeth them that are patient Those that beleive not in the Râ—surâ—ectâ—on have sâ—id The Angels are nâ—t â—escended from Heaven we have not seene Gâ—d they are become proud and are fallen into an exceeding great error but the wicked shal one day be without comfâ—rt when they see the Angel they shal cry help help We will set before their eyes all the sins that they have commiâ—ted the good works which they shal think to havâ— doâ— shall be like to dust which the Winde carryeth away and the blessed shall enjoy a most certain good they shall hear of nothing but what contenteth them When the Heaven and the aire shall divide themselves and the Angels shall descend then shall the truth appear and the mercifull shall raigne that day shall be tedious to Infidels they shall bite their fingers and saâ— would to God I had fâ—llowed the Prophet and his Apostle Oh misery would to God I had not contracted amity with such an Infidell he seduced me from the right way he hindâ—ed me to beleive in the Aâ—coran which God sent certainly the Devill hath tempted men Then shall the Prophet say Loâ—d such as have followed me have obeâ—ed what is written in the Alcoran and the Infidells have rejected it we have appointed an enemy among the wicked to every Prophet of them that were before thee but it
neverthelesse they ere in doubt if they shall rise again See â—edaoi We created man without difficulty we know the moâ—ions of his soul penetrate into his heart as the bloud in to the veins of his body O man think upon the day that thou shalt see thy good and evill Angell near thee at the right hand and on thy left they have observed and written all that thou hast done represent to thy self death before thine eies it is inevitable Think on the Angel that shall sound the Trumpet at the day of the Resurrection that day shall the wicked behold what was promised them and all men shall come before God to be judged Their guardian Angels shall conduct them and be the witnesses of their deportments It shall be said to the Infidells behold the day of which ye would have no thoughts we have now opened your eyes you shal see this day more hard then iron their guardian Angells shall say unto them behold here bâ—fore your eyes all that ye have done cast into Hell those obstinate Infidels that have hindrd their neighbour to do good that have offended in doubting of Gods Law and have affirmed there was another god with God cast them into the most grievous torments Then shall the Devill say to them Lord I did not seduce them they seduced themselves God shall say dispute not before me what was heretofore promised you is infallible my Word admitteth no alteration and I will do injustice to none God shall ask at the day of judgment if hell be full it shall answer is there any more Paradise is prepared for theÌ„ righteous who shal have the fear of God before their eyes it is promised to theÌ„ that shall be converted that shall obey the Commendments of his divine Majesty and persevere in their obendience It shall be said to them enter ye into Paradise exempt from all evill behold the eternall day ye shall have all that ye shall desire and more How rich and powerful Cities have we in times past destroyed their inhabitants sought in their Countryes places of retreat and escaped not the punishment of their crimes this ought to serve for example to them that comprehend it to them that hear it and to such that saw it Certainly we created in six dayes without difficulty the heaven earth all that is between them Persevere be not impatient for the words of unbelievers exalt the glory of thy Lord before the Sun go down anâ— before it rise pray to thy Lord at the entrance of the night the last of all shall be worship Hearken when the Angel shall call thee to generall Judgment that day shall all the world hear the Trumpet the people shall come out of their sepulchers and earth shall open before the eyes of men I give life and death and all the world shall be assembled before me to be judged This assemble is easie for me to accomplish I know what the wicked say thou shalâ— not cause them by force to embrace my Law teach it those that fear the torments prepared for Infidels CHAP. LI. The Chapter of Things dispersed containing sixty Verses Gelaldin Falkredin intitle this the Capter of things that disperse writen at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the winds that disperse the dust by â—he clouds charged with rain by the ship that runneth upon the waters and by them that divide the wealth of the earth that what hath been promised to you is true and that the day of Judgment is infallible I swear by heaven and the stars thereof that ye are in an exceeding great error God expelleth lyars far from him he curseth them that blasphem and such as beleive not in the Resurrection They ask when shall be the day of Judgment That day shall they be punished in the fire of hell It shall be said unto them taste the torments that ye have with impatience demanded They who had the fear of God befoâ—e their eyes shall be in gardens adorned with fountains they shall enjoy the pleasures prepared for them by God because they are righteous â—hey sleep very little by night implore pardon of God at the dawning of the day and give almes to the poor that beg and the poor that are bashfull God manifesteth on the earth and in your persons the signs of his omnipotencâ— consider ye not that what is promised to you is written in heaven God is Lord of heaven and earth he is truth it self wil ye not confess him â—â—d the Angels conveigh to thâ—e the books of Abraham Whâ—n they â—ntred into his house they saluted him he likewise saluted them made signs to his â—ervants to bring a fat calf roasted which he presented to them he said unto them wherefore do ye not eat and was afraid in his mind of their coming They said fear not we are the Messengers of God they declared to him that he should have a son that should be a great personage Then his wife drew near crying with a loud voice smiting her face said one that is barren beareth no child they said the thing shall come to pass as we have spoken thy Lord ordaineth what pleaseth him and knoweth all Abraham said unto them O ye Messengers of God! what is your design they replied we are sent from God to destroy the Cities inhabited by the wicked and cast upon them stones of fire whereon are inscribed the names of them that they shall strike we will cauâ—e all the righteous to depart from among them if we finde there but one family of righteous we will there leave an example to posterity for them that fear the tormenâ—s of hel Moses is a sign of our omnipotency we sent him to Pharoah with reasons clear and intelligible he despised my Commandments and said that Moses was a Magician and possessed of the devil but we surprised him and drowned his people to his great displeasure Aad is an example of our omnipotency we sent an impetuous winde against those wicked people that destroyed them Temod is an example of our omnipotency with his Nation they waxed prouâ— and resisted the Commandments of their Lord when it was said to them that the punishment of the wicked was deferâ—ed to another time but thunder surprised thâ—m they saw it they had not the power to stand on their feet and were deprived of protection The people of Noahs time are an example of our omnipotency we pâ—stroyed them because they were impiâ—us we built heaven with strength and vertue I am he that giveth power strength we extended the earth created of every thing male female perhaps ye will consider it Say unto them turn ye to God I am sent from him to preach to you the pains of hell believe not that God hath another God with him the wicked said heretofore that the Prophets and Apostles whom he sent were Magicians and possessed of the Devil have they recommended to their
posterity to do the like Certainly they are in a great error Separate thy self far from their company and be not troubled at what they say preach the Alcoran it is profitable to the righteous I did not create the devils and men but to worship me Say unto them I require nothing of unbelievers for instructing them I require not that they nourish me God enricheth whom he pleaseth he is omnipotent the wicked shall be chastised as heretofore have been their predecessors in their malice their time shal come and misery shall befal them at the day of judgment CHAP. LII The Chapter of the Mountain containing thirty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Mountain upon which God spake to Moses by what is contained in the book written in parchment by the first Temple of Mecca by the arches of the heavens and by the sea full of water that God is one sole God and the punishment promised to unbelievers is infallible they shall not be able to escape it in the day when the heaven shal tremble and the mountains shall wâ—â—â—â—â—at day shall be unhappy 〈…〉 â—â—ated in the fire 〈…〉 that ye 〈…〉 paâ—◠〈…〉 our 〈…〉 â—ore 〈…〉 â—od 〈…〉 â—e 〈…〉 â—d 〈…〉 â—d 〈…〉 works they shall repose upon beds well ordered we will marry them to wives that shall have fair eyes they shall be attended of their family and be largly rewarded for their good works every good action shall be to them a dégree of happiness We will give them such fruits and Vines as they shall desire they shall present to each other the cup to drink they shall not speak an evill word and shall not siâ— they shall have pages about them for their service beautifull as pollished pearls they shall discourse among them concerning what they did before on Earth and say We were in the world we and our families with a great apprehension of the pains of hell but God hath gratified us he hath delivered us from eternall flames They shall say moreover we worshipped in the world but one God most just and most mercifull Remember thou to preach the Alcoran thou art not ingratefull for the grace of God thou art not possessed of the Devill will they say that thou art a Poet a Rimer that nothing must be expected from thee but fables of past Ages Say unto them ye expect the time of my destruction but I with you expect the time of your ruine Do their superiors command them to speak in this manner Will they be obstinate in their errors Will they say that Mahomet hath invented the Alcoran Certainly they are incredulous let them bring any discourse like to this book in Doctrine and Eloquence if what they affirm be true Were they created of any thing have they created any thing have they created themselves have they created the Heavens and the Earth Certainly they are incredulous Have they in their power the treasures of thy Lord are they Gyants Have they a ladder that may raise them to hear what is spoken in Heaven Let them produce some reason of their opinion Believe ye that God hath daughters and that ye have sonnes Will ye require of him a Salary for obeying his Law Is he your debtor The wicked are lyars do they know what shall be do they weite it Desire they to conspire against thee The wicked often conspire against the righteous that worship but one God Praised be God he hath no companion If the Infidels should see a piece of the Heaven to fall they would say it is a cloud driven by the winds leave them in their obstinacy untill they come to the day of their death that day shall their conspiracy be vain and they deprived of protection They likewise shall be punished before their death but the greatest part know it not Have pacience and expect the Judgment of God thou shalt soon see it I will protect thee and thou shalt not want help Praise thy Lord exalt his glory when thou shalt rise praise him in the night and before the Stars disappear CHAP. LIII The Chapter of the Starre containing sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Star that disappeareth that your friend Mahomet â—rreth not he speaketh nothing of his own he speaketh but what hath been inspired into him by the omnipotent and most bountifull God The Angell approached him in the highest place of heaven within the length of two bowes somewhat nearer The Turks believe that there is an Apple tree at the right side of throne of God and that none can ascend higher then its branches no not the angels God hath inspired into him what he hath inspired into his servant who altered nothing of what hath been inspired into him He hath spoken what he hath seen and in what form the Angel was Dispute not against him concerning what he saw he another time saw the Angel in Heaven near to the Tree that is at the right side of Gods throne and although that tree was covered with that which covered him his fight was not dazled and he is not in error Certainly he hath seen the great wonders of his Lord Have ye considered Alat Az and Menat those three Idols Will ye sâ—â—are that God hath daughters and that ye have Sonnes ye will make a false Oath and shall be in a manifest error Those Idols have nothing but the names which your Fathers and you have given them See Gelaldin God hath not commanded you to worship them ye follow only your passions remote from the truth God teacheth you the way of Salvation by the mouth of his Prophet doth man obtain from Idols what he required of them God is God in the beginning and the end How many Angels be there in Heaven whose prayers are unprofitable if God doth not accept them They that believe not in the day of Judgment say that Angels are maidens they understand not what they say they speak through opinion and that opinion is not conformed to truth Depart thou farre from them that reject our Law and desire only the goods of the Earth and are ignorant of all other things Thy Lord knoweth them that go a stray from the right way and such as follow the path of Salvation all that is in the Heavens and Earth is Gods he shall chastise the wicked See Gelaldin and reward the just He pardoneth their veniall sinnes who flie sinnes mortall he is exceeding merciful He knoweth that he hath created you of Earth Great and small sins and that he formed you in your mothers womb Extol not your selves he knoweth such as have his fear before their eyes Hast thou seen him that abandoned the faith a little wealth was given him and nothing more doth he know what must befall him hath he knowledg of what is to come will he not learn what is written in the books
do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Al things shall have end and the majestique and glorious face of thy Lord shal be permanent what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth imploreth his grace he is ever himself what Lord do ye blasphemâ—e but your own Lord Oh ye men and Devils I will require an account of your actions what Lord will ye blaspheme but your own Lord Oh ye men and Devills passe the extremities of Heaven and Earth go beyond them if ye can ye have not the power what Lord do ye blaspheme but your owne Lord If he send against you flames without smoak and smoake without fire ye cannot defend your selves what Lord do ye blaspheme but your owne Lord When the heaven openeth it resembleth a rose or a crimson coloured skin what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord The time will come when â—n accompt shall be required from men and Devils of their sinnes what Lord do ye blaspheme but your Lord The wicked shall be known by their countenance an accompt shall be required of their readinesse and negligence what Lord do ye plaspheme but your own Lord Behold hell which the wicked would not believe they shall turn round about and round about in boyling water of which they shaâ—â— drink what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Such as have had the fear of God before their eyes shal enter inro Gardens where the trees are covered with branches and leaves adorned with Rivers and Fountains with abundance of all sorts of fruits what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall repose upon fair beds lined with Crimson what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall gather thâ— fruits of this garden to their contentment what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall there have wives who shall not cast a look but upon them and whom no person man or Angel shall touch before them what Lord do ye blaspheme but your Lord They shall resemble Corrall and Rubies what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord good deedes are recompensed with good deeds what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord There be yet other gardens wherein are herbs exceeding green Rivers Dates Pomegranets and all sorts of fruits what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord There be in these gardens women who have eyes exceeding black and bodies exceeding white they are covered with pavillions none either men or angels shall touch them before their husbands what Lord do ye blaspeme but your own Lord They shal repose upon green Carpets near rivolets bordered with flowers what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Praised be the name of God thy Lord honour and glory are due to him eternally CHAP. LVI The Chapter of Judgment containing fourscore and nineteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful The day of Iudgment will come none can deny it That day shall many be afflicted and humbled and many shal be elated rejoyced the Earth shall tremble the Mountain open and be dispersed like dust carryed away by the wind ye shal be present at that day in a threefold manner * These are the Blessed Some shall have in their right hand the book wherein shall be written all their actions * These are the Damned Others shall have it in their left hand and * The propâ—eâ—s such as preceeded them in wel-doing shal be the nearest to his divine Majesty and the higher in Paradise there shal be a great number of the first ages and few of the latter they shall repose upon beds adorned with gold and precious stones they shall look upon each other young boyes shall go about them with vessels Cups and Goblets full of delicious drink that shall not offend â—he head neither intoxicate them they shall have all the fruits that they can covet and such vyâ—nds as they shall desire they shaâ— have wâ—mâ—n with black eyes and who shall be white as polished pearls for recompense of their good works they shall not hear an evill word spoken they shall not sin and shall hear perpetually the voyce of them that bless them They that shall hold their book in their right hand shall be near an Apple-tree fresh and without throne and near the tree of * Muse is a fruit common in Egypt Muse under a pleasant shaddow by flowing water with store of fruits of all seasons they shall use them with freedom lying on delicious beds We have created the daughters of Paradise Virgins and affectionate to their husbands for the content of them that shall have in their right hands the book of the accompt of their actions of many of those that were in the first Ages and of many of such as shall be in the latter Those that shall have their book of accompt in the left hand shall be tormented with an exceeding hot winde they shall drink boyling water they shall be in a black hot and salt smoak for that they were Luxurious in the world for that they were negligent to observe the Commandments of God and continued in the enormity of their sins The Infidels say what after death we shall be earth and dust and shall we rise again with our fathers and predecessors Say unto them you your Predecessors and posterity shall all be assembled before God to be judged Then oh wicked Imposters shall ye eat of the fruit of the Tree * Zacon is the tree of Hel. Zacon ye shall fill your belly ye shall drink boyling water and be daily altered behold your condition at the day of Iudgment We created all of you if ye believe it not See Gelaldin consider the wealth ye possesse did you your selves create it We have appointed that ye shall dye we can if we please put other creatures like unto you in your place and metamorphize you into another forme which ye know not we caused the soule to enter into the body if ye consider not this think upon your tillage do ye make the earth to bring forth fruits or do I cause them to spring forth If I will I can render your fields drie as straw without grain neverthelesse are ye proud Ye say what shall cut grain that we have sown be lost No we will preserve it Consider the water that ye drink have ye made it to fal from the clouds or did we cause it to descend if we please we can render it so salt that ye shall not be able to drink it if ye acknowledg not this grace consider the fire that ye kindle did ye create the wood that burneth Wee created it to put you in mind of the fire of hell and for the profit of the people Exalt the name of God most mighty I swear by him that maketh the Stars to fall this is a great oath if ye understand it that the Alcoran is
a book worthy of praise all therein is written in good order no person shal handle it that is not clean and purifyed it is sent from God Lord of the Vniverse if ye renounce what is written in this book ye shall be in the number of Infidels and shall know the truth when the soul shall forsake your body I know this better then you but ye do not consider it if ye believe not to rise again cause your soul to return into your body when it shall be upon your lipps when a righteous man dyeth he shall finde rest and all manner of concentment in the delights of Paradise if he be of them that hold the book of the accompt of their work in the right hand and shall be free from eternall pains If he be in the number of Infidels and seduced he shall be precipitated into hell this is is a most certain truth Exalt the name of thy Lord omnipotent CHAP LVII The Chapter of Iron containing twenty nine verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful All that is in the Heavens and Earth exalteth the glory of God he is omnipotent and wise the Kingdom of the Heavens and earth is his he giveth life and death to whom he pleaseth he is without beginning without end he knoweth al that meÌ„ make manifest whatsoever they keep secret he knoweth all things He it is that created the earth the heavens in 6 days fitteth on his throne he knoweth whatsoever â—reth into the earth and all that cometh out he knoweth â—â—atsoever descendeth from heaven and whatsoever ascenâ—h he is with you in whatsoever place ye are and seeth 〈◊〉 your actions the Kingdom of the heavens and earth â— his and all things obey him He maketh the night to â—ter the day and knoweth what is in the heart of men â—elieve in God and his Prophet expend in pious works â—â—me part of the wealth that he hath given you he shal â—ive you more Do good abundantly to them that believe 〈◊〉 his Law wherefore will ye not believe in God and his Apostle who teacheth you the Commandments of your word Ye have promised him to embrace his Law he hath â—nspired his Commandments into his servant to bring â—ou out of darknesse and guide you into light he is graciâ—us and mercifull Who hindreth you to make any exâ—ence for his glory The inheritance of the heavens and earth is his Such as for his service have expended any thing before the taking of Mecca are not equall in merit to them that fought to conquer that City they are far above them that fought not and shall be protected of his divine Majesty he promiseth Paradise to the righteous â—â—oweth all your actions Who is he that shall lend to him any alms he shall encrease his substance and give a great reward Be thou mindfull of the day when thou â—halt see those men and women that have obeyed my Commandments with a light that shall goe before them it shall be said to them this day it is declared to you that you â—hall enter into and dwell eternally in Gardens wherein â—â—ow many Rivers and where ye shall finde supreme felicity Be thou mindful of the day that the wicked shall say to the True-believers Behold us cast your eye to our side that we may partake a little of your light They shall say unto â—hem return upon your steps to demand light There is a place betwixt them that hath a secret gate full of grace and repose for the righteous and without environed with misery for the wicked they shall call upon the righteous and say were not we of your RELIGION they shall reply yes but ye betrayed your soules through disobedience ye dâ—ubtâ—d of the LAW Law of God your blasphemie rendred you insolent 〈◊〉 the hour of your death the Devill made you proud moved you to rise against the Commandments of his divâ—â—â— Majesty this day there is neither ransome nor favour fâ—â— you the fire of Hell is the habitation of the wicked Oâ— what an habitation Such as believe in God think it no trouble to humble their hearts at the remembrance of the Alcoran and the truth that it containeth they are not like them that heretofore haâ— the knowledg of the written Law they have been a long time without Prophets their hearts are hardned and the greatest part of them have been impious Know that God restoreth life to the Earth after the death thereof we have taught you the misteries of faith peradventure ye will comprehend them God shall multiply the benefits that the righteous shall lend to him and shall return them a great reward Such as believe in God and his Prophet are righteous Martyrs shall be recompensed of God they shall be covered with light and the wicked that disobey his Commandments shall be damned eternally the life of this world is but vanity sport and delusion it is but pride the abundance of wealth and children is like to the rain the wicked wonder at the plants that it produceth in the end they wither become yellow and then are altogether drie The impious shall suffer great torments and the good shall enjoy the mercy of God the life of this world is but matter of pride implore pardon of God Paradise large as heaven and Earth is prepared for them that shall believe in his divine Majesty and his Prophet thâ—s is an immense grace which he conferreth on whom he pleaseth All the evill that ye suffer on earth in your goods and persons is written in a Book before iâ— befall you it is an easie thing to God to the end thâ—t ye afflâ—ct noâ— your selves extraordinarâ—ly in your disâ—leasures that ye rejoyce not overmuch in your contentmeâ—ts God loveth not the proud he hath not to do with the covetous who recommend avarice to the peopl who neglect their duty Praise is due to him praise is due to him in all places Certainly we sent our Messengers with our Commandments we sent with them their Scriptures and â—lance that the people might weigh with good weights 〈◊〉 gave iron to men it causeth great evils and great good 〈◊〉 the world God knowath them that fight with zeal for 〈◊〉 Law and his Prophet without seeing him he is strong 〈◊〉 omnipotent We sent Noah and Abraham to instruct 〈◊〉 people we instructed their progeny in the Scripture 〈◊〉 followed the right way and many disobeyed our comâ—â—ndments We sent after them our Prophets and Apostls 〈◊〉 sent Iesus the son of Mary we taught him the Gâ—spel 〈◊〉 put civility clemency and chastity into the hearts of â—â—m that followed him we did not command them to â—p virginity they kept it of their own accord because of â—is desire they had to please God they have not obserâ—ed their Law as they ought many have been disobedient â—we have rewarded those among them that believed O 〈◊〉 that believe in Iesus fear God and believe
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
appointed by the Law and enter not the bonds of marriage untill the time set downe in writing be accomplished God knoweth whatever is in your hearts take heed unto your selves he is gentle and gracious to them that feare him It is no sin to repudiate your wives before you have touched them you shall give them some presents and doe good unto them according to the proportion of your wealth or poverty and civilly intreat them as is the custome of honest men If you repudiate them before you have touched them and have bestowed on them any presents of garments moveables and other things they shall have the moity if they release it not to you or if the husband remitting with his owne hand the tie of marriage doth not leave to them the whole of courtesie it is requisite to gratifie them and to forget nothing of the benefits betweene you God beholdeth all your actions stand upon your guard when you make your prayers especially that at noone and be obedient unto God If you feare your enemies and cannot place your selves on your knees neither performe the Ceremonies that are appointed you omit not to say youâ— prayers on foote or on horseback and being freed froâ— feare remember God and how he hath taught you what you know not Such as die shall be good to their wives by their Testament they shall bestow on them wherewitâ— to live during the time they must tarry before they marry again drive them not from your houses If they willingly depart the sin of what they shall do in their own persons shall not be upon you God is omnipotent and just you shall likewise do good to your wives that you have divorced according to your power it is a thing reasonable among such as feare God Thus God teacheth you his Commandements perhaps you will learne them See you not them that departed their houses for the fear they had of death they are thousands in number God hath said to them die after this he raised them again God is the Benefactor of the people but the greatest part return him no thanks for his Favours Fight for his Law and know that he understandeth and knoweth all things Who is he that will afford him a good turne He will augment him with multiplicity of increase he giveth good and taketh it away from whom it pleaseth him you shall all returne before him to bee judged Knowest thou not that a company of the children of Israel after the death of Moses said to their Prophet send us a King we with him will fight for the Law of God He answereth them have you disobeyed the Commandements of God If they enjoyne you to fight you will not doe it They said wee have no greater desire then to fight for the glory of his divine Majestie wee for this Cause have abandoned our houses and those of our parents neverthelesse when they were commanded to fight they all except some few of them retired but God knoweth them that sin against him Their Prophet said to them God hath sent Saul to be your King they answered why shall he be our King we rather deserve the royalty then hee hee is not rich enough he replied God hath chosen him to command you he hat encreased his knowledge and stature he giveth royalty to whom he listeth he is liberall and prudent in all his actions Their Prophet said to them the signe of his reigne shall be that the Arke shall appeare to you from God to confirme your hearts wherein shall be contained the remainder of what the people of Moses and Aaron letâ— and it shall be borne by Angels this shall bee to you the signe of his reigne if you believe in God When Saul went forth with his troops to fight his enemies he said God shall trie you by a river he that shall drink of that river shall not be mine unlesse he drink with his hand they all except some few of them drank at their pleasure and having past that river with the true believers they said wee have â—ot this day strength sufficient to resist Goliah and his troops but such as believed in God and feared his divine Majestie said how often through the permission of God â—ath a small troop defeated a great armie He is with them that are patient when they saw Goliah with his troops appeare they said Lord give us patience confirme our steps â—nd give us victory over the Infidels They through the permission of God vanquished their enemies See Gelaldin David slew Goliah and God gave him the Royalty and knowledge of â—ture things Had not God raised the people one against â—he other the whole earth had been ful of disorders such are â—he miracles of God as I declare to thee with truth thou â—t indeed one of the Prophets of his divine Majestie We â—ave conferred our graces on the Prophets on some more â—hen on others many have spoken to their Lord and some â—ave been more elevated then others We gave knowledge â—o Iesus the Son of Mary and fortified him through the holy Spirit Had it pleased God the Prophets that came â—eretofore had not been slaine after they had taught his Commandements Men were of different opinions some believed in God others were impious had it pleased God â—hey had not been slaine but he doth what pleaseth him O ye that are true believers dispense in alms some part â—f your wealth that we have given you before the day arrive wherein you shall find no ransome alms protection nor prayers that can succour you Certainly Infidels are greatly too blame God! There is but one only God living and eternall thinke not that he slumbreth or sleepeth â—hat ever is in heaven or in earth is his who shall intercede for thee with his divine Majestie unlesse by his permissioâ— He knoweth all the actions of mâ—n and whatever they haâ— done they know nothing but what it hath pleased hiâ— teach them The largenesse of his Throne containeth hâ—ven and earth and the conservation of both is not trouâ—some to him hee is Omnipotent and glorious The â— ought not to be abjured it manifesteth the difference faith and impiety He that believeth not in Tagot or devill and hath faith in God layeth hold on the stronâ— knot that cannot be dissolved broken or cut a sunder â— understandeth and knoweth all things he aideth and sisteth them that believe in his unitie he will cause theâ— come out of darkenesse and will guide them into light wicked shall have Tagot and the devill for their protectâ— he shall cause them to forsake the light and shall lead tâ— into darkenesse such men shall remaine eternally in â— fire of hell Conâ—ider you not his action to whom God 〈◊〉 given the royalty That is Nebrot When he disputed concerning God 〈◊〉 Abraham Abraham said to him My Lord is he that givâ— life See Gelaldin and death He said I even I give life and death 〈◊〉 my subject when
I see good Abraham answered 〈◊〉 causeth the Sun to rise in the East make thou it to ariâ—â— the West then the Infidell was confuted God is nâ—â— guide to unjust persons Hast thou considered the actioâ— him that came into a Village desolate and ruined and â— How is it that God can be able to give life unto this â—lage after its death and re-establish it after so great aâ—ine Then God caused him to die after the space of hundred years raised him againe and said to him How 〈◊〉 hast thou continued here he answered I have sojounâ— here a day and a halfe On the contrary thou hast beâ— here an hundred years consider thy meat and drinke 〈◊〉 they are not altered through length of time and behâ— thine Asse is death see his bones that are white thou 〈◊〉 become an example to all the world and to posterity the bones of thine Asse I will recollect and revest tâ—â— with flesh Seeing this miracle he said I affirme that 〈◊〉 is omnipotent Remember thou that Abraham said 〈◊〉 shew me how thou revivest the dead God said Dâ— â—hou not believe my omnipotencie Hee answered yea Lord but heare my prayer for the repose of my heart God â—aid Take foure birds cut them altogether in pieces and â—arry the pieces upon those mountains this done call them â—hey shall speedily return to thee God knoweth all things â—nd is most prudent in all his works The action of them that dispend their goods for his glory is like unto a grain of Corn â—hat producerh seven ears and every eare an hundred grains God multiplieth the wealth of whom it pleaseth him he is liberall and omniscient Such as dispend their substance for â—is glory without repining and reproach shall be recompenâ—ed by his Divine Majestie and be delivered from feare and â—ffliction at the day of Iudgement Good words and pardon â—re preferred to almes followed with repentance God is most rich and mercifull Oh ye that believe in God! render not your almes unprofitable through repining and reproach â—s do those that give almes with ostentation and hypocrisie they believe neither in God nor the day of Iudgement their good works are like to a Rock whereon was little earth there fell great rain that carried it away and left nothing thereon their labour shall be in vaine and they reap no merit for God loveth neither the hypocrites nor the impious The action of such as do good to please God or to save their soules is like to a grain sown upon an high place whereon fell great and small rain that caused its fruit to multiply God beholdeth all your actions Is there any one among you that desireth to have a garden enriched with palmes and grapes wherein flow many fountains and rivolets and that is filled with all manner of fruits that old age should overtake him with young and infirme children and that an hot winde come and burn up his garden God so teacheth you his mysteries peradventure you will bear them in minde Oh ye that believe dispend in pious works and give almes of the wealth you have acquired and of the fruits of the earth that God hath given you desire not wealth ill gotten or wherewith to give almes such are not received but to your shame And know that God is most rich and worthy of praise The Divell will cause you to feare poverty and will command you filthiness and God promiseth to you his grace and mercie he is munificent and omnâ—â—ent he giveth knowledge to whom it pleaseth him anâ— whom knowledge is given on him is bestowed an exceed great Treasure which none but the wise do value God holdeth your almes and vowes and the wicked shall be prived of protection at the day of Iudgement If you sâ— your almes to appeare it shall not be amisse if you â—ceale them you shall do well that will cover many of yâ— sins God knoweth all your actions You are not obliged lead men into the right way God guideth whom he listeâ— the good and the almes that you performe shall be for yâ— soules give not almes but for the love of God you shall rewarded for the good works that you shall do and no justice shall be done against you Be benefactors to 〈◊〉 poore that are not accommodated for the service of Gâ—â— and that cannot labour The ignorant believe them to rich by reason of their probitie and goodnesse you shâ— know them by their Physiognomie and in that they demaâ—â— nothing with importunitie God will know the good yâ— shall doe towards them They that give almes by day or night secretly or publikely shall be rewarded of Goâ— there needeth be no feare for them they shall be exemâ— from affliction at the day of Iudgement Vsurers shall râ— again like to men possessed with Devils because thâ— have said that traffique is like unto usury God permiteth traffique and prohibiteth Vsurie hee to whom tâ—â— word of God commeth and who hath abandoned usâ—rie what is past is to himselfe God will pardon his fault but he that shall return to exercise usurie having once abandoned it shall be punished in the fire of Hell God abhorreth usurie he loveth them that are almes-givers anâ— hateth Infidels Such as believe in God that doe good works and that make their prayers at the time appointed and pay their tithes shall be rewarded by his Divine Majesty they shall be delivered from feare and affliction at the day of judgement O ye that believe in God! have the feare of him before your eyes and forsake Vsurie if you will obey his Commandements if you doe not this God and his Prophet will make warre upon you if you be converted your principall remaines unto you Do injustice to no man it shall not be done unto you If your debtors be â—nable to pay you and aâ—e in want you shall doe well to stay their conveniency if you give them almes you shall do well feare the day when you shall return before God and that every one shall be payed without injustice of what he shall have gained O ye that believe in God! when you shall charge your selves with a debt cause no act to be drawn the Notarie shall write the Contract between you conformable to Iustice and shall not refuse â—o write it as God hath instructed him but the debtor shall entirely satisfie what he shall owe and shall have the â—eare of his Lord before his eyes If he that â—s a debtor is a foole or sicke and is unable of himselfe to discharge â—t his guardian or he that shall overseâ— his affaires shall give satisfaction for him Call wâ—th you two witnesses if â—ou cannot find two men one with two women shall sufâ—ice whose testimonie you shall accept if the one be â—anting to her duty the other shall cause her to remember these witnesses shall not refuse their testimonie notwithstanding they bee called in a greater number Make no difficultie to write your testimonie whether it concerne