in the Book of Light He it is that causeth you to die in the night and knoweth the good and evill that you have committed by day he shall cause you to rise againe at the day nominated you all shall appeare before him he shall give you knowledge of your sins and shall chastise you after your demerits he is alwayes victorious and omnipotent He shall send to observe your actions and when you shall arrive at the hour of death he shall dispatch his messengers who shall not faile to execute his commands the people shall repaire to him as to their Lord he is extreamly exact to keep account Say unto them he shall deliver you from the darknesse of the sea and of the earth when you shall in secret or publikely invoke him if he deliver me I will returne him thanks for his grace Say unto them God can deliver you from darkenesse and all other afflictions yet say you he hath a companion associate with him Say unto them we can send punishments from above and from below he is able to disunite and cause you to tast a thousand miseries which you shall bring upon each other Consider how I shew them the effects of my Omnipotency they will peradventure comprehend my sayings Those of thy Nations have rejected them notwithstanding they are most true say unto them I am not your Tutor every thing hath its time you shall hereafter understand the truth Depart from them that speake of our Law with contempt untill he speak otherwise the devill would induce thee to forget my Commandements and cause thee to sit down with the unjust the true believers shall not regard their discourse neither cease to â—dmonish them peradventure they will be converted Depart thou from such as sport and mock at their Religion the wealth of this world rendreth them haughty declare they shall be severely punished none is able to protect or hear them but God no ransome is able to deliver them they shall find the good and â—vill that they have committed shall drink a liquor extreamly cold and endure grievous torments because of their impiety say unto them shall we worship instead of God what can neither benefit nor hurt us Shall we return on our steps to our sins having been guided by his divine Majesty like unto him whom the devill hath seduced He left him dismaid and astonished in the midst of his voyage having forsaken his companions that shewed him the right way God guideth men to the way of Salvation I will wholly resigne my self to the pleasure of his divine Majesty Make your prayers at the time appointed and pay tithes you all shall appear before God at the day of Judgement to give account of your actions He it is that created heaven and earth Remember thou the day wherein he said Be thou and every thing was he shall reign and at that day command an Angell to sound the Trumpet to call to universall Judgement the living and the dead He knoweth the future present and past is most â—ise and nothing is hidden from him Remember thou that Abraham said to his father * The Arabianâ— say Azâ—r 〈◊〉 Abrahams â—urna â—e and â—hat his fathâ—r was called Terec Azer Azer wherefore doe you worship Idols instead of God I perceive your family to be in manifest error God shewed to Abraham the Kingdome of heaven and of earth and he was in the number of the blessed Abraham seeing by night a most cleare Star asked in himselfe if it were his God no replyed he to himself my God doth not rise and set seeing the Moone to arise he demanded if that were his God no said he to himself certainly God will not guide me to be of them that are erronious when he beheld the Sun rising he likewise asked if that were his God and when he saw it set he said to his people I am innocent of the sin which you commit in adoring many gods I wholly commend my self to his Will who created heaven and earth and professe his Unity His people would dispute against him he said to them will you dispute against me concerning the Unity of God who hath instructed me in the right way I feare not your Idols my God doth what pleaseth him and knoweth all things will you not consider it How shall I feare your Idols since you are not afraid to affirme that God hath companions equall to him which you have no reason to adore If you understand the truth who is more true you or I Such as believe in God and shall not cover the truth with a lie shall be delivered from the torments of hell and conducted into the way of salvation We instructed Abraham with reasons to dispute against his people I give knowledge to whom I see goâ—d and exalt whom I please Thy Lord O Abraham seeth and knoweth all things we gave to Abraham Isaac and Jâ—câ—b his sons we before instructed Noah and his lineage in the right way we taught it David Salomon Job Joseph Moses Aaron Zachary St. John Jesus the Sonne of Maâ—y Eliah Ismael Joshua Jonas and Lot we gratified them above the residue of the world we elected their Fathers Brothers and Progenie and guided them in the right way Thus God guideth whom he seeth good Men before adored Idols and believed there were many gods neverthelesse he blotted out their past errors when they were converted If they slander them that have knowledge of the Scriptures and of Prophesies will give power over their persons to men that shall mislead them with the Infidels Those whom God guideth believe in the Unity of his divine Majesty Say unto them I require no reward for having preached to you the Alcoran he teacheth to all the world the Commandements of God The Jewes have not honoured him as was their duty they understood not his graces when they said he hath instructed the people in nothing that is profitable Say unto them who gave the Tables unto Moses who instructed him in the Scripture which they have written in Vellam to guide and illuminate the people They have published what pleaseth them and have concealed much they shall learn in the Alcoran what they know not and what their fathers understood not Say to them God after that left them obstinate and amazed in their errors We have sent from heaven that Book full of blessedness it confirmeth the Scriptures that were sent before it to the end thou maist instruct the people of Mecca them that inhabit about that City and the rest of the world Such as shall believe in the day of Judgement believe in what is written in this Book and shall pray to God to deliver them from the torments of hell Who is more unjust then he that blasphemeth against God that saith God hath inspired into him what he uttereth notwithstanding he hath received no inspiration from his Divine Majestie Who more unjust then he that saith he will cause to discend from heaven
departeth from his Commandements Such men shall be rigorously chastised in the fire of Hell Will they expect that the Angels came to visit them That God should punish and declare to them his miracles Will they look for the day of Judgement wherein repentance and conversion shall be unprofitable Such as believe in one part of the Law and reject the other have no foundation in their belief God shall make them to know their errors and shall punish them after the enormity of their crimes He that shall do a good work shall have a reward tenfold Whosoever acteth any wickedness shall be punished in like manner neither shall he receive injustice Say unto them God hath gvided me in the way of his Law such as professe the Law of Abraham profess the unity of God Abraham was not in the number of unbelievers my prayers my vows my life my death shall be consecrated to God he hath no companion I wholly commend my selfe to his divine pleasure Say unto them Do I desire to worship other God then the Lord of the Universe The good that a man doth is for himselfe and the evill that he committeth is against him you all shall one day appear in the presence of God he shal resolve your disputes He it is that prolongeth your posterity and exalteth some above others to prove you your Lord is exact to chactise the wicked and gracious and mercifull to the righteous CHAP. VII The Chapter of Prisons containing an hundred and six Verses written at Mecca Reader Mahomet entituled this Chapter the Chapter of Aaraf which is a place between Paradise and Hell where men suffer no punishment See Mokari Bedaoi and Kitab el tenoir IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am God the most wise the most true This Book was sent to thee to preach to the True-beleevers doubt not the Contents of it Say unto them Believe in what was sent to you from your Lord and worship none other God but him few there be among you that consider it How many Cities have we destroyed How often have we inflicted our punishment on their Inhabitants by day and by night when they reposed Neverthelesse they said nothing but that they were greatly afflicted We will examine the people to whom we have sent our Prophets and require account of what they have learned and of what they have done We will examine our Prophets and demand an account of such as have followed and obeyed them I will cause them to remember what they have done worthy of reward We forsook not our Prophets when they preached to them the Truth their actions shall be weighed in the ballance of equity the ballance of the blessed shall be ponderous with good works and they whose ballance shall be light of good works shall be damned for having contemned our Commandements We gave you your habitation on the Earth and there bestowed on you what was necessary for your nourishment but few of you are gratefull to me We created and formed you and commanded the Angels to worship Adam which they performed except the devill to whom we said what hindred thee to worship Adam when we comanded thee He answered I am better then he thou hast created me of fire and hast created man of the mire of the earth then said we to him depart out of Paradise it is not the habitation of the proud thou shalt be in the number of them that shall be laden with ignominy the Devill answered Let me alone untill the day of the Resurrection of the dead wherefore hast thou tempted me I will seduce men from the right way I will hinder them on the right hand and on the left and on all sides to believe in thy Law and the greatest part of them shall be ungratefull we said to him be gone out of Paradise thou shalt be abhorred of all the world and deprived of my mercy I will fill hell with such as shall follow thee O Adam dwell with thy wife in Paradise and there eat of whatsoever shall please thee but approach not that Tree lest thou with thy wife be in the number of the unjust The devill tempted them and dispoyled their bodies of their vestments of grace he said to them God hath forbidden you to eat of the fruit of that Tree that you may not be Angels or eternall he swore that he spake the truth and filled them with ignominy because of their pride They knew their nakednesse having eaten of that fruit and to cover themselves took leaves of Paradise their Lord called them and said Did I not forbid you to approach that Tree I told both of you that the devill was your open enemy they said Lord we have offended thee and injured our souls if thou dost not compassionate us we shall be in the number of the damned he said Depart out of Paradise ye enemies of each other you shall inhabit the earth untill the time appointed you shall there live and die and go from the earth to the day of Judgement O ye children of Adam we bestowed on you vestment of graces signes of our Omnipotency peradventure you wil bear it in minde O ye children of Adam beware lest the devill seduce you as he did your Father and Mother when he caused their departure out of Paradise he dispoyled them of their garments and made them know their deformity he shall appear to you with such as follow them and you shall see him when you least think thereon he protecteth the Infidels when they commit any fault they say we follow the Law of our Fathers God hath so commanded us Say unto them Doth God command you to offend him Will you speak of God what you know not he hath appointed you to doe Justice to worship him and embrace his Law Many shall rise again as you have seen them some shall be in the right way others shall be damned because they have obeyed the devill and believed they were in the right way O children of Adam cloath your selves decently when you shall repaire to the Temples eat and drink what pleaseth you be not prodigall God abhorreth them that spend their wealth unprofitably Say unto them who made the prohibition of decent cloathing when men go to the Temple to worship God Who hath forbidden to eat of the goods that God hath given you This is lawfull for true believers God shall so expound his Commandements at the day of Judgement Say unto them God hath forbidden you whoredome private and publike disobedience injustice desire to adore any other god but him and to speake of his divine Majesty what you know not every one hath his predestination and none can advance or retard it O ye children of Adam did not the Prophets teach you my Commandements Such as shall fear me and do good works shall be delivered from affliction â—t the day of Judgement and they that disobey my Commandements that arise against the Faith shall dwell
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
works the life of the world is like to the rain which we cause to descend from Heaven it causeth with mixture all sorts of herbage to spring forth for the nourishment of men and beasts When the Earth is adorned with flowers and enriched with its fruits the Inhabitants oftentimes believe they have the power to cause their production then send we our chastisements day and night upon the Earth and render it as mown and as if the day before it had brought no fruit Thus do I discover mysteries to such as have knowledge to comprehend them They beg their salvation of God he saveth and putteth in the way of salvation whom it pleaseth him He shall not cover the visage of them that have done good works they shall appear without shame and dwell in Paradise where they shall remain eternally and such as shall have done evill shall be punished after their demerits they shall be covered with shame and none shall be able to protect them they shall be as if a great part of the obscurity of the night had covered their countenance they shall be condemned to the fire of hell where they shall dwell eternally Think on the day wherein we will assemble all the world and will say to the Infidels hell shall be your habitation where be the Idols you adored we have separated you from each other Their Idols shall say to them you have not worshipped us God is witness was there any thing between us and you that rendred us ignorant of your adorations That day shall every one see what he hath done and know that God is Truth it self their Idols shall be separated farre from them and they shall understand their blasphemies Say unto them who enricheth you with the wealth of heaven and earth Who causeth life to come out of death and death out of life Who disposeth all things in the world They shall answer it is God Say unto them why have you not therefore his fear before your eyes God is indeed your Lord what is there after the Truth but falshood How will you depart from his Law his Word shal be accomplished against Infidels Say unto them Have your Idols the power to cause men to die and to rise again how shall they be able to blaspheme after these reasons Say unto them Are your Idols able to conduct you into the right way God guideth the people into the way of Salvation who ought rather to be followed he that guideth the people into the right way or he that misleadeth them What reason have ye to follow the evill way The greatest part of them follow but their own opinion but their opinion is not conformable to the Truth God knoweth all their actions there is no falshood in the Alcoran it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and perspicuously explaineth them there is no doubt but it proceedeth from the Lord of the Universe They say Mahomet hath invented this Book say unto them come and bring any thing that resembleth it in Doctrine and Eloquence and call the Idols which ye adore we shall see if you are sincere on the contrary they have blasphemed and have talked of what they understood not when they heard the exposition of the Alcoran Thus did their Predecessours but consider what is the end of the unjust There be among them who will believe in this Book and others that will not believe Thy Lord knoweth them that defile the earth if they slander thee say unto them I will answer with my actions and yee shall answer with yours yee are innocent of what I act and I am innocent of what yee doe There be persons among them that have inclination to heare thee but art thou able to cause the deafe to heare Should they not be deafe they would learn nothing Others there be who look towards thee but art thou able to guide the blind should they see clearly they would not follow the right way God doth no injustice to men they doe injury to themselves through the enormity of their offences I will cause them to rise again at the day of Judgement as if they had remained but one houre of a day in the grave they shall know each other and the wâ—cked who have not believed in the Resurrection shall be damned I will shew thee many of them whom I will chastise I will cause thee to die before they be chastised and they all shall appear before me to be judged God is witness of their actions he shall punish them according to their demerits every Nation of the world hath had a Prophet sent from God who hath judged with reason and without injustice the differences that were among them touching Religion They have said at what time shall the wrath of God appear Say unto them I of my selfe can neither procure good nor evill if God doth not permit it every one hath his destiny when the time of their destiny arriveth they can neither retard or advance it one hour Have ye considered the punishment which God heretofore sent by day and by night against the wicked When ye felt it ye believed it and fell into it headlong It shall be said to the wicked at the day of Judgement tast eternall torments shall you not be punished according to your demerits They will ask of thee if the pains denounced against the wicked and if the Resurrection be matters of truth Say unto them yes my Lord is most exact in his words and all the treasures of the world shall not be able to redeem one soul. They shal repent of their sins when they shall feel the punishment of their offences but shal be condemned without injustice whatsoever is in heaven and in earth appertaineth to God he is exact in his promise yet the greatest part of the world do not know him He it is who causeth to die and giveth life and shall assemble men at the day of Judgement O people God hath sent you instructions and remedies for your infirmities he hath sent a guide to conduct true-believers into the way of his mercy it shall be to them of more advantage then the treasures that they accumulate Have ye considered the good things which he hath created for you Ye have appointed one part to be eaten and have prohibited to eate of another Hath God permitted you to blaspheme against him The opinion of such as blaspheme against God shall be but misery at the day of Judgement God is full of goodnesse for the people but most of them are ingratefull In whatsoever place thou art whether thou teach what is contained in the Alcoran or whether thou labour I am alwayes present nothing is concealed from thy Lord of whatsoever is in heaven and earth be it great or litle all is written in the intelligible Booke that explaineth all things There needeth no feare for such as recommend themselves to God they shall be exempt from the pains of hell The true-believers who have his feare
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
this present ye shall this day be punished in this fire because of your pridâ— crimes Remember thou the brother of Aad who preached the torments of HELL in the Valley of HECAF his words was heard in his time and are come to popâ—sterity viz. worship â—ut one God alone iâ— you do otherwise I apprehend for you the day of Judgment they answered him art thou come to hinder us to adore our gods let us â—ee the torments that thou preachest to us if thou art true he laid God knoweth in what time he will chastise you I preach to you what hath been appoâ—nted me to preach but I see that ye are obstinate When they beheld a black câ—oud appear which approached the place of their habitation they said behold a cloud that shall give us rain on the contrary it is the punisâ—ment that ye have demaned it is full of an in pâ—â—â—ous wind that shall destroy you though the Commandment of God in the Morning their houses were found empty of inhabitants Thus God chastiseth the wicked ye dwell in the places which they inhabited they had hearts eyes and cares but their hearts eyes ears were to them unpreâ—ntabâ—e the evill which they despised befell them when they neglected to observe the commandments of God We have destroyed whatsoever is round about Mecca and have made the effects of our omnipotency to appear paradventure the inhabitants thereof will be converted The Idols that they worshiped and those to whom they sacrificed did not save them on the contrary they forsook them because of their blasphemies-Remember thou that we sent to thee devils that desired to hear a Lecture of the Alcoran when they heard thee they said Hark he begins and when thou madest an end they returned with exceeding great fear and said to their companions we have heard a Lecture of a Booke sent from heaven after the book of Moses it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures teacheth the truth and guideth the people into the way of salvation O people hear him that calleth you to the Law of God and to the observance of his Commandments believe him God shall pardon your sins and deliver you from the pains of hell such as shall not hearken to him shall not escape the punishment of their crimes and shall be deprived of protection at the day of Judgment such men are seduced from the way of salvation Considâ—r they not that God who created heaven and earth did not labour in creating them that he is able to give life and death and is omniponent Be thou mindfull of the day that the Infidels shall desire to get out of the fire of hell it shall be said unto them are not the pains that were preached to you true they shall say yes Lord it shall be said to them taste then the torments which ye have merited through your impiety Persevere thou as the Prophets thy pedecessors persevered Be not impatient till thou see the punishment of Infidels they shall see it when they shall rise againe and shall believe that they have been but an hour in their sepulchres This is that which God hath commanded to preach he shall destroy those only that disobey his Commandments CHAP. XLVII The Chapter of the Combat containing fourscore and eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious merciful Good works are vain unprofitable to the wicked and to them that hinder their neighbour to follow the Law of God he pardoneth their sins who beleive in what Mahomet hath preached it is the very truth that proceedeth from his divine Majesty but the Infidels have followed vanity and the believers have embraced the truth sent from their Lord Thus God speaketh to the people in parables When ye shall meet the Infidels in time of warre cut their necks pursue them untill ye take them prisoners then bind them after this ye shal either give them liberty or put them to ransom untill their party shall lay down arms If God pleased he could give you victory without fighting but his will is to prove you he guideth into Paradise them that are slain for the defence of his Law and giveth them his grace Oh ye that believe in God! If ye protect the Law of God God will protect you he wil confirm your steps and destroy the Infidels because they have contemned his commandments and their good works shall be to them unprofitable consider they not what hath been the end of the impious that were before them and that God hath destroyed them Hee shall destroy them in like manner because he protecteth the Believers and Infidels are deprived of his protection he maketh the righteous to enter into Paradise into gardens whâ—reof flow many rivers The punishment of the wicked is sometimes deferred in this world they live like beasts but the fire of Hell is prepared for their punishment How many cities Mecca stronger more opulent then that which they caused thee to abandon have we destroyed They found no protâ—ction Are such as embrace the Law of God like to them that follow their own appetites God hath promiseâ— Paradise to them that have his fear before their eyes there be in Paradise rivers of water that receiveth no alteration there be rivers of milk that never corrupteth rivers of wine savory and delicioius to the taste rivers of honey pure and clean fruits of all sorts and the grace of God for them that shall obey his Commandments the wicked shal remain eternally in the fire of Hell where they shall drink a boyling liquor that shall burn their entrails There be persons among the Infidels that hear what thou dost preach when they are gone from thee their Doctors demand of them what thou hast said concerning the day of Iudgment God hath hardned the hearts of such men and they shall never follow but their own passions God encreaseth the graces of them that obey his Commandments and fortifyeth them in their perseverance Shall the Infidells tarry untill the day of Iudgement surprizeth them The signes of that day hath already appeared that day shall repentance be in vain There is no God but God implore from him pardon of thy sin and for these men and Women that believe in his Law he knoweth what they doe day and night If the Chapter of the place where Justice is rendred had not been sent had not made mention of Combats thou hadst not seen them that doubt of the Law look upon thee with eyes troubled because of their fears of dying Teach them obedience and speak to them with civility Had they believed and obeyed when they were appointed to fight they had performed a good work Have ye disobeyed Have ye abandoned the Law of God to defile the earth and to deprive your sâ—lves of his mercy God rendreth them whom he curseth who comprehend not the truth of the Alcoran deaf and blind Have they a firm heart Such as have returned to their impiery after
posterity to do the like Certainly they are in a great error Separate thy self far from their company and be not troubled at what they say preach the Alcoran it is profitable to the righteous I did not create the devils and men but to worship me Say unto them I require nothing of unbelievers for instructing them I require not that they nourish me God enricheth whom he pleaseth he is omnipotent the wicked shall be chastised as heretofore have been their predecessors in their malice their time shal come and misery shall befal them at the day of judgment CHAP. LII The Chapter of the Mountain containing thirty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Mountain upon which God spake to Moses by what is contained in the book written in parchment by the first Temple of Mecca by the arches of the heavens and by the sea full of water that God is one sole God and the punishment promised to unbelievers is infallible they shall not be able to escape it in the day when the heaven shal tremble and the mountains shall wâ—â—â—â—â—at day shall be unhappy 〈…〉 â—â—ated in the fire 〈…〉 that ye 〈…〉 paâ—◠〈…〉 our 〈…〉 â—ore 〈…〉 â—od 〈…〉 â—e 〈…〉 â—d 〈…〉 â—d 〈…〉 works they shall repose upon beds well ordered we will marry them to wives that shall have fair eyes they shall be attended of their family and be largly rewarded for their good works every good action shall be to them a dégree of happiness We will give them such fruits and Vines as they shall desire they shall present to each other the cup to drink they shall not speak an evill word and shall not siâ— they shall have pages about them for their service beautifull as pollished pearls they shall discourse among them concerning what they did before on Earth and say We were in the world we and our families with a great apprehension of the pains of hell but God hath gratified us he hath delivered us from eternall flames They shall say moreover we worshipped in the world but one God most just and most mercifull Remember thou to preach the Alcoran thou art not ingratefull for the grace of God thou art not possessed of the Devill will they say that thou art a Poet a Rimer that nothing must be expected from thee but fables of past Ages Say unto them ye expect the time of my destruction but I with you expect the time of your ruine Do their superiors command them to speak in this manner Will they be obstinate in their errors Will they say that Mahomet hath invented the Alcoran Certainly they are incredulous let them bring any discourse like to this book in Doctrine and Eloquence if what they affirm be true Were they created of any thing have they created any thing have they created themselves have they created the Heavens and the Earth Certainly they are incredulous Have they in their power the treasures of thy Lord are they Gyants Have they a ladder that may raise them to hear what is spoken in Heaven Let them produce some reason of their opinion Believe ye that God hath daughters and that ye have sonnes Will ye require of him a Salary for obeying his Law Is he your debtor The wicked are lyars do they know what shall be do they weite it Desire they to conspire against thee The wicked often conspire against the righteous that worship but one God Praised be God he hath no companion If the Infidels should see a piece of the Heaven to fall they would say it is a cloud driven by the winds leave them in their obstinacy untill they come to the day of their death that day shall their conspiracy be vain and they deprived of protection They likewise shall be punished before their death but the greatest part know it not Have pacience and expect the Judgment of God thou shalt soon see it I will protect thee and thou shalt not want help Praise thy Lord exalt his glory when thou shalt rise praise him in the night and before the Stars disappear CHAP. LIII The Chapter of the Starre containing sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Star that disappeareth that your friend Mahomet â—rreth not he speaketh nothing of his own he speaketh but what hath been inspired into him by the omnipotent and most bountifull God The Angell approached him in the highest place of heaven within the length of two bowes somewhat nearer The Turks believe that there is an Apple tree at the right side of throne of God and that none can ascend higher then its branches no not the angels God hath inspired into him what he hath inspired into his servant who altered nothing of what hath been inspired into him He hath spoken what he hath seen and in what form the Angel was Dispute not against him concerning what he saw he another time saw the Angel in Heaven near to the Tree that is at the right side of Gods throne and although that tree was covered with that which covered him his fight was not dazled and he is not in error Certainly he hath seen the great wonders of his Lord Have ye considered Alat Az and Menat those three Idols Will ye sâ—â—are that God hath daughters and that ye have Sonnes ye will make a false Oath and shall be in a manifest error Those Idols have nothing but the names which your Fathers and you have given them See Gelaldin God hath not commanded you to worship them ye follow only your passions remote from the truth God teacheth you the way of Salvation by the mouth of his Prophet doth man obtain from Idols what he required of them God is God in the beginning and the end How many Angels be there in Heaven whose prayers are unprofitable if God doth not accept them They that believe not in the day of Judgment say that Angels are maidens they understand not what they say they speak through opinion and that opinion is not conformed to truth Depart thou farre from them that reject our Law and desire only the goods of the Earth and are ignorant of all other things Thy Lord knoweth them that go a stray from the right way and such as follow the path of Salvation all that is in the Heavens and Earth is Gods he shall chastise the wicked See Gelaldin and reward the just He pardoneth their veniall sinnes who flie sinnes mortall he is exceeding merciful He knoweth that he hath created you of Earth Great and small sins and that he formed you in your mothers womb Extol not your selves he knoweth such as have his fear before their eyes Hast thou seen him that abandoned the faith a little wealth was given him and nothing more doth he know what must befall him hath he knowledg of what is to come will he not learn what is written in the books
that died heretofore in their impiety CHAP. LXI The Chapter of Array containing fourteen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise God all that is in heaven and earth he is omnipotent and wise O ye that believe say not that ye doe that which ye doe not God abhorreth them that say they doe what they doe not and loveth them that fight in rank and file for his Law like to a strong wall Remember thou that Moses said to his people ye shall doe me no harme ye shall know in the end that I am the Messenger of God but God seduced them from the right way when they departed from obedience to his Commandements he guideth not the wicked Remember thou that Jesus the son of Mary said to the children of Israel I am the Messenger of God he hath sent me to confirm the old Testament and to declare to you that there shall come a Prophet after me whose name shall be Mahomet When he came with miracles reasons most intelligible and arguments infallible they said that he was a Magician who is more impious then he that blasphemeth against God The Infidels would extinguish with their mouth the light of faith but God shall make it manifest against their will he hath sent his Prophet to guide the people into the way of salvation to teach them the truth of his Law and make it more evident then all other Laws of the world against the will of Infidels O ye that believe Will ye that I teach you one thing that shall deliver you from the pains of hell Believe in God and in his Prophet imploy your wealth and persons in fighting for his Law ye shall do exceeding well if ye have knowledge to understand it God shall pardon your offences he shall cause you to enâ—er into gardens wherein flow many rivers he shall cause you to goe into the beautifull Palaces of Eden where is supreme felicity he shall confer upon you yet another grace which ye desire viz victory over your enemies O ye that believe maintain the Law of God Jesus the Son of Mary said to his Apostles who will maintain the Law of God with me he shall be supported and protected of God The Apostles answered we will maintain it One part of the Children of Israel believed in Jesus and another rejected his Law we gave succor to them that believed against their enemies and they were victorious CHAP. LXII The Chapter of the Assembly containing eleven Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise God all that is in heaven and earth praise the King holy majestique and omnipotent who hath sent his Prophet an Arabian by Nation to preach his Commandements to the Arabians to purifie them to teach them the Scriptures and mysteries of faith they were before seduced from the right way They that shall come after them shall not see a Prophet equall to him this is a speciall grace of God the omnipotent and wise he conferreth it on whom he listeth and his graces are immense They that preach the old Testament and performe not what it enjoyneth are like to an Asse charged with books Such are they that disobey the Commandements of God he guideth not the impious Oh ye Jews believe not your selves to be the beloved of God expect death ye shall understand your error they believe not that they shall be chastised for their sins but God beholdeth all the unjust Say unto them ye shall find one day the death that ye flie ye be sent back before God who knoweth what is present past and to come he shall set before you all that ye have done to be judged Oh ye that believe when yee are called to the assembly of Friday to make your prayers pray and quit your trade this shall be a good act it ye understand it when you shal have finished your prayers separate your selves goe whither you please and bâ—g of God his grace call frequently to mind his divine Majesty and ye shall be happy When the Infidels saw any thing of profit or any divertisement they forsook thee and went out from the Sermon Say unto them how great riches and delights are there with God he is the Rich of the rich CHAP. LXIII The Chapter of the wicked containing twelve Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull When the wicked shall come to visit thee they will say that they are witnesses that thou art a Prophet sent from God He well knoweth that thou art his Prophet he seeth that they dissemble and fell their faith to enjoy wealth in the world wherein they commit evill they say with the mouth we believe in the Law of God and are impious in their fouls impiety is imprinted in their hearts and they will not learne the mysteries of faith The beauty of their bodies shall not displease thee when thou shalt see them they erect themselves when they speak and resemble a piece of wood set up against a wall they feare all rumors that flie abroad and are your enemies Beware of them doubtlesse God will destroy them how can they blaspheme against his Law When it was said to them Come to the Prophet he shall beg pardon of God for your sins they shook the head and withdrew with pride misery is upon them whether thou implore pardon for them or dost not implore it God will not pardon them he abhorreth the wicked They say doe no good to them that follow that Prophet of God untill they abandon him the treasures of heaven and earth are Gods but they comprehend it not They say if we returne to the City of Medina we will drive thence shame and infamie and will there establish greatnesse and honour on the contrary greatnesse power and victory proceed from God his Prophet and them that believe in his Law but Infidels understand it not Oh ye that believe in God! your riches and your children ought not to seduce you from his service such as shall forsake it shall be in the number of the damned give alms of the wealth that he hath given you before the houre of your death arrive Then shall the wicked say Lord if thou hadst not so soon caused me to die I had embraced thy Law God retardeth not the day of any one when the hour is come he knoweth all that ye do CHAP. LXIV The Chapter of Deceipt containing eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise God whatsoever is in heaven and earth he is King of all things praise is due to him he is omnipotent He it is that hath created you Some observe his Commandements and others are unbelievers he beholdeth all your actions He created the heavens and the earth he formed you and ye shall be one day assembled before him to be judged he knoweth all that is in heaven and earth he understandeth your secrets and what ye publish
and know it not When they met with such as believe in God they said we believe as you do And when they returned towards the devils their companions they said We believe as you and mock at those men Certainly God mocketh them and continueth them in their Errors to their confusion They that have purchased Error for the right way have gained nothing in their commerce and are not well directed they are like to such as kindled fire and when it hath enlightened what is about them God hath deprived them of light and left them in darkness deaf dumb blind and they shall never be converted or as a cloud of Heaven full of darkness thunder and lightning they stopt their ears with their fingers by reason of the noise and for fear of death but God seeth the unbelievers he caused lightning to approach that ravished from them their sight they have followed what appeared to them and are detained in darkness But if God had pleased he had deprived them both of hearing and sight for he is omnipotent O People worship your Lord who created you and all that were before you it may be That you will fear him that hath extended the Earth that raised the Heaven and caused Rain to descend that caused the production of Fruits to enrich you Say not that God hath a companion equal to him because you know the conttary If you doubt that I have sent my servant come and bring some Chapters like to the Alcoran and call to witness the Idols that you adore if you are good men if you have not done it or cannot perform it Fear the fire of Hell prepared for Infidâ—ls and Idolaters and declare to true believers who do good works That they shall enjoy the immense pleasures of Paradise wherein flow many Rivers they shall there finde all sorts of faire and savory Fruits which God hath prepared for them they shall consider if they be like to such as they had before in the world They shall there have wives fair and delicate and shal dwel in eternall felicity God is not ashamed to compare a little * The Puny is a stinking worm frequently growing in Beds in hot Countries Puny to an extream Greatness Now so it is that true believers know that it proceedeth from their Lord. The wicked demand what God doth mean by that comparison He by this means mis-leadeth and directeth many men but mis-leadeth none but the disobedient Such as pervert his Testament and his Promises such as retrench his Commandements and defile the Earth are damned Why will you be impious seeing that God hath given you life after death He will cause you to dye he will raise you again and you shall all return before him to be judged He it is that created whatever is upon Earth and ascended to Heaven hath ordained seven Heavens knowing all things Remember to instruct men See Kitab el tenoir that thy Lord said to his Angels I would create a Vicar upon Earth and when they answered Wilt thou there place him that shall defile it and shed blood while we exalt thy Glory and sanctifie thee I know said he what you know not He taught Adâ—â— the names of all things who discovered them to the Angels to whom God said Declare to me the names of all things that I have created if you know them they replyed Praise is due to thy Divine Majesty we know nothing but what thou hast taught us thou alone art knowing and wise He said to Adam Declare to them the names of all things that I have created After he had taught them God said Did I not tell you that I knew what is not neither in Earth nor Heaven and that I understand whatever you make manifest and whatever you keep most secret Remember thou that we said to the Angels Humble your selves before Adam they all humbled themselves except the Devil He was already proud and in the number of the wicked We said unto Adam Dwell thou and thy wife in Paradise and eat there what thou likest but approach not that Tree lest thou be in the number of the unjust The Devil made them to sin and depart from the Grace in which they were then we said to them Descend you enemies one to another you shall have a dwelling upon Earth and goods wherewith to live for a time Adam begged pardon for his fault of his Lord he pardoned him because he is gracious and mercifull and said Descend and go all of you out of Paradise there shall hereafter come to you a guide from me Such as shall follow him shall be delivered from fear and afflâ—ction at the day of Judgement such as shall be impious and conceal my Commandements The Alcoran in the old and new Testament shall burn eternally in the fire of Hell O children of Isâ—aâ—l remember the Grace I have done you I will satisfie my Promises perform yours fear me and believe in what I have sent from Heaven confirming what was before taught you be not the first impious and forsake not my Law at any rate fear me and cover not the Truth with a lye neither willingly conceal it Make your prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and worship your Lord with them that adore him Will you command people that have no care of their souls to do good Will you meditate upon Scripture without observing it Entreat for succor with patience and with prayers they abound not but in them thâ—t are obedient that believe they shall one day behold their Lord and shall return before him to be judged O children of â—sraâ—l call to mind my favours I have preferred you to all the world fear the day wherein one Soul shall not be chastised for another when prayer shall not be heard neither ransom succors nor protâ—ctâ—on to be found for the wicked Remember that we delivered you from the hands of Pharâ—oh who afflâ—cted you through the violence of torments who murthered your children abused your wives and that your Lord encreased your miseries because of the enormity of your crimes Remember that we divided the Seas to save you and that we drowned Pharaohs men in your view neverthelesse you worshipped the Calf when we detained Moses with us forty nights in which you were extreamly too blame after this we pardoned you it may be that you will give me thanks We gave unto Moses the Book that distinguisheth good from evill perhaps you will be converted Remember that Moses said to his people Gelaldin saith the innocent slay the wicked You were too blame for having adored the Calf repent and be converted to your Creator Slay one another that wil be a thing acceptable to God he will pardon your crime he is gracious and mercifull You said O Moses we will not believe thee for that we see not God then you were smitten with thunder We have pardoned you See Gelaldin you saw your misery with your own eyes
is with such as are patienâ—â— Say not that those that are slain for the defence of thâ— Law are dead contrariwise they are alive but you knâ—â— it not I will try you and afflict you through the losse â— your goods and disease of your persons Paradise shall â— for them that shall be patient and shall say in their afâ—â—ction We are given up unto God and shall returne befâ—â—â— him to be judged his Grace shall be upon them and thâ— shall not erre * Safa and Meâ—oa are mountains neer Mecca Safa and Moroa are tokens of his poweâ— He that shall goe on Pilgrimage to Mecca shall not doâ—â— misse to visit those two places he that obeyeth shall 〈◊〉 well God rewardeth them that doe good works and knâ—â—eth all things I will lay my curse upon such as concealeâ— Commandements they shall be accursed above whateâ— is in this world except them that shall be converted tâ— shall doe good works and bring to light what they conâ—â—â—led I will give them my Grace I am gracious and merciâ— The wicked that died in their impiety shall be eternâ—â— accursed of God of Angels and of all the World â—â— shall never be eased in their torments and shall be wâ—â—â—out end deprived of protection Your God is one â— God there is none other God but God gracious and â—â—â—cifull The Creation of the Heavens and the Earth difference of the day and the night the Ship that saiâ— on the Sea for the advantage of commerce the Rain that falleth from Heaven to give life to the Earth after its death the diversity of Winds and the Clouds that move between Heaven and Earth are signes of the unity of God to those that can understand it There be that adore Idols and love them The True-believers love but one sole God When thou shalt see the wicked know they shall one day see the punishment of other crimes All strength and vertue proceedeth from God most severe in his chastisements When that a part of them that had embraced the true Law separated themselves from the company of True believers and that any mischief befell them they could not reunite themselves Then they said in their affliction If we another time meet our companions we will separate our selves from them as they have separated themselves from us Thus shall God give them to understand their error See Kitab â—l tenoir with exceeding sorrow and they shall be eternally confined in the fire of Hell O ye people eat what is good and savory in the Earth and follow not the steps of the Divell he is your open enemy he will command you that which is evill and filthy and to speak of God what you know not When it was said to the Infidels obey the Commandements of God they said We will follow the steps of our Fathers we will observe what they observed surely their Fathers were unwise and misâ—led they are like to him that cryeth and understandeth nothing of what is spoken but the voyce they are deaf dumb blind and without judgement O ye that believe in God eat the good things that hee hath given you and give him thanks if it bee him that you worship Hee forbiddeth you to eate Carrion Blood Swines flesh and whatever is not killed in pronouncing the name of his Divine Majesty except it bee in extreame necessity and in this case it shall not bee reputed disobedience nor sin God is benigne and mercifull what they eata that conceale the Word of God for any profit or advantage shall be nothing but matter of fire in their bowels God shall not speak to them at the day of judgement but with fury he will not purifie them and they shall suffer rigorous torments They that have purchased error foâ— the right way and punishment for pardon shall burn â—â— the fire of Hell for that God hath sent the most true Booâ— that containeth his Commandements they that impugnâ— what is contained in that Book are in an exceeding greaâ— error far from the truth It is not justification to turn the face making your prayers towards the East or West hâ— shall be justified that shall believe in God the day oâ— judgement the Angels the Scriptures and the Prophets and that in charity shall impart some part of his goods teâ— his parents to orphans to the poore to pilgrims and tâ— slaves Such as believe in God and have his feare beforâ— their eyes persevere in their prayers pay Tithes they satisfie their promises and are patient in their adversities Oâ— ye that believe the Talio is coâ—manded you in murther the free for the free the slave for the slave the woman foâ— the woman But if any one pardon the blood of his brother he shall prosecute the malefactor according to whaâ— he shall see â—ost advantagious through damages and interests It is a facility whâ—ch God hath given you through his mercy He that shall doe injury to the malefactor having received satisfaction of him shall suffer grievous torments at the day of judgement you shall find life in the Talio The Talio is a pain equall to the offence O you that are wâ—se it may be you will feare God He commandeth you to make your Testament when you approach unto death give legacies of your substance to youâ— Father and Mother your neer Kâ—nâ—ed and bestow Alms on the poore If any man alter your Testament the sin shall be upon him and upon all them that shall alter it God understandeth and knoweth all things If any one feâ—reth that there is an error in the Testament that opposeth Reason he shall doe well to reconcile the parties wâ—th affection God is gracious and bountifull O ye that belâ—eve Fasting is commanded you as it was them that were before you you shall feare God and Fast particularly a certaine number of days but if any one among you is sick or in travell at the time of Fasting he shall count the days that he fasted not and shall fulfill them at another time Such as are not of strength to Fast shall â—â—tisfie for Fasting through Alms he that shall obey shall doe well If you Fast you shall doe well Fast the month of * Ramazan is their Faster which continueth 30 daies during which the Fast. Ramazan in which the Alcoran descended from Heaven to guide men into the right way it containeth preâ—epts of Divine Right and distinguish good from evill all â—hose that live to this month ought to Fast. He that is â—ick or in a voyage shall accomplish the days that he faâ—ted not another time at his conveniency God willeth â—hat his Law should be light unto you and not a burthen â—is will is that you observe the dayes of fasting and that â—ou returne him thanks for that he hath guided you in the â—ight way perhaps you will give him thanks I will be near â—nto my servants when they shall enquire of thee concerning the mysteries of my Law I will heare
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
and drink Consider how I manifiest my unitie to Infidels how they blaspheme and depart from the Truth say to them Will you worship in stead of God what can neither benefit nor hurt you God understandeth and knoweth all things O ye that have knowledge of the written Law speak of your Religion with reverence and follow not the appetites of such as go astray and walk in an evill way The Infidels were accursed by the tongue of David and of Messiah the Son of Mary because of their disobedience they abstain not from things that are not approved they do them and through obstinacy will continue them Thou shalt see many of the Inhabitants of Mecca adhere to them by reason of the sin they conceale in their hearts God assuredly will be incensed against them and they shall be confined eternally in the torments of Hell If they had believed in God in his Prophet and the Scriptures they had not obeyed Infidels but many of them are impious Thou shalt finde the Jews and Inhabitants of Mecca who believe in many Gods to be very great enemies to the faithfull and the Christians to have a great inclination and amity towards the True-believers for that they have Priests and Religious that are humble who have eyes full of tears when they hear mention of the Doctrine which God hath inspired into thee because of their knowledge of the Truth and say Lord We believe in thy Law write us in the number of them that profess thy Unity who hindreth us to believe in God and the Truth wherein we have been instructed We desire with passion O Lord to be in the number of the jest God shall hearken to their prayer and pardon them he shall open to them the gate of Paradise wherein is the reward of the righteous and the Infidels shall inhabit the abyss of Hell Oh ye who are True-believers inhâ—bit not the eating of what God hath permitted offend not God hee abhorreth them that offend him eat of the meats that are lawfull for you and have his fear before your eyes he will not chastise you for what you have spoken at randome contrary to your faith without design of offending him but he shall punish you for your oaths if you observe them not the satisfaction of an oath not accomplished is to give food to ten poore of your Religion and to cloath them or to enfranchise a slave that is a True-believer he that is destitute of means to perform this shall fast three dayes immediately succeeding such is the satisfaction of a not-accomplished oath keep exactly your faith so doth God teach you his Commandements you will peradventure give him thanks Oh ye that believe in God! Wine Games of hazard Idols Lots and divinations are abominations and filthy practises of the Devill depart from him perhaps you will be righteous The Devill desireth to fow among you dissention and horrour through wine and games of hazard to choak your remembrance of God and of praying to him abandon wine and games of hazard be obedient to God and the Prophet his Apostle and take heed to your selves If you disobey God know that the Prophet is obliged only to preach publiquely the word of his divine Majesty the True-believers and the righteous have not provoked God in drinking wine and playing at games of hazard before they were prohibited they will abstaine for the future and performe good works God loveth them that do good Oh ye that believe God proveth you by one thing to wit by hunting whether you take the game with your hands or coursing on horse-back to discerne them among you that fear him and believe in his Law whosoever shall offend him shall be severely punished Oh ye that believe kill not your game during the time of your pilgrimage to Mecca whosoever shall kill of deliberate purpose shall be judged as if he had slain his Neighbours beast he shall be judged by one among you and be condemned to offer a present at the Temple of Mecca or to give food to the poore or to fast or performe somewhat of like nature for the expiation of his errour if he have repentance in his mind God will pardon what is past if he returne in his sin God will be avenged on him he is omnipotent and avengfull It is permitted that you fish and eat of fish during your Pilgrimage but hunting by land is absolutely forbidden in this voyage feare God you shall all one day be assembled before him to be judged he hath appointed the month of Pilgrimage he hath established the Temple of Mecca for the devotion of the people and hath forbidden to give impediment to such as bring thither oblations and those that assume * The ancient Arabians put upon their necks the leaves of trees in devotion when they arrived at Mecca Collers to the end you may learne to understand that he knoweth all things both in Heaven and Earth and that he is Omnipotent Know ye that he is grievous in his chastisements and gracious and mercifull The Prophet is obliged but to preach his Commandements he knoweth all that you conceale in your hearts and whatever you make manifest Evill must not be equall to good notwithstanding it be pleasing to you Oh ye that are wise have the feare of God before your eyes peradventure you shall be happy Oh ye believers desire not the knowledge of all things you will afflict your selves be not curious to know at what time the Alcoran was sent from Heaven God pardoneth your former curiosity See Kitab el tenoir your Predecessours were alike curious and in the number of unbelievers God hath commanded nothing touching * These are the Ceremonies of the ancient Arabians which Mahomet renounceth the she Camell whose eare is slit neither that which is at liberty in the field neither concerning the Ewe that hath brought forth seven Lambs neither the Camell of whom have issued ten Camels but the wicked invent blasphemies against his divine Majestie and are unwise When it was said to them come and observe what God hath taught his Prophet they replyed it sufficed them to follow what their fathers had observed notwithstanding their fathers were ignorant and erroneous Oh ye believers See Kitab el tenoir be carefull of your selves such as be in errour shall not hurt you if you follow the right way all of you shall one day be assembled before God who shall discover all your works and reward you according to your merits Oh ye believers make your Testament when your death approacheth and take two witnesses of your own Religion that are honest men If you are in a journey and sicknesse surprize you you shall take two witnesses such as you shall meet with to serve your testament and having prayed shall deliver to them your will If you doubt their integrity cause them sweare to be faithfull in their testimonies and not give themselves to be corrupted by your kindred
no better Judge then he CHAP. XI The Chapter of Hod containing an hundred twenty and three Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am the mercifull God The signs contained in this Booke are most true they proceed from the most wise who knoweth all things Worship ye but one God alone I preach to you from him the torments of Hell and declare the joyes of Paradise that ye may implore pardon of his divine Majesty and be converted he shall give you an happy life in the world untill the time appointed and shall reward every one according to his works I feare lest you should be chastised at the day of Judgement if you forsake the right way you all shall be assembled before God to be judged The heart of the impious inclined to hatred of the Prophet and they would have concealed themselves for some time from God they are covered with their garments that they may not be knowne but God knoweth what is in their soules he understandeth whatsoever they conceale and whatsoever they make manifest All the Creatures of the world live of his grace he knoweth the place of their repaire and the place where they must dye all is written in an intelligible booke that explaineth all things He it is that created Heaven and Earth in six days See Kitab el tenoir his Throne was before upon the waters the Alcoran exhorteth you to wel-doing If thou saist to the wicked that they shall rise againe after their death they will say it is but witchcraft and sorcery if retard some time to chastise them they say there is no punishment for their crimes but they shall not avoid it in the day when it shall appeare and they shall feel the rigour of the paines which they contemne If we conferre riches and health on the impious and deprive them of them they dispaire in their impiety if we give them good after their evill they say misery hath forsaken them they rejoyce and become arrogant Such as are humble and patient in their afflictions and doe good works shall obtaine pardon of their sinnes and a very great reward Perhaps thou wilt forget to teach something of what I have inspired into thee and be afflicted because they say that what thou speakest shall bring thee no profit Certainly thou art sent only to reprove them of their sin thy Lord is omnipotent and shall chastise them after their demerits Assuredly they will say thou hast * Controve supra forged the Alcoran and that it is of thy invention Say unto them come and bring with you ten Chapters of your invention like to the Alcoran in instruction and Eloquence and call to your aid the Idols that ye adore if you be righteous if they hear not your prayers neither afford you succors know then that the Alcoran descended from Heaven through Gods permission that there is but one sole God wil yet not trust in him I wil bestow the riches and honours of the Earth on many persons that affect them and in the end they shall be confined in the fire of Hell and the good works that they shall doe in this world shall be unprofitable in the other They who observe what God hath ordained study the Alcoran and believe that it proceedeth from his divine Majesty to teach the right way and to obtain his mercy as before it was the book of Moses Such as shall believe in the Alcoran shall be happy doubtlesse the fire of Hell is prepared for the Infidels who will not believe therein but the greatest part of the world is incredulous who is more impious then they that blaspheme against God Such men shall not see his face the Angels shall say at the day of Judgement behold them that have been impious a curse is upon them and upon the unjust that have mislead the people from the right way they were indeed Infidels Such men shall not escape the punishment of their crimes on Earth they shall find none that is able to protect them but God he shall augment their paines because they would not abandon their wickednesse neither receive the light of faith Such are miserable men their Idols shall not afford them succors they doubtlesse shall be eternally damned and such as shall believe in God doe good works and be converted shall dwell for ever in Paradise The wicked are as deaf and blind and the True believers are like those who have good sight and perfect hearing shall they be in paralell to each other will ye never consider it We sent Noah to reprove men for their sinnes he said to them worship but one God alone otherwise I feare ye shall be chastised at the day of Judgement The Doctors of the Infidels answered him we see thee to be a man like us and that such as follow thee are poore people blind and without counsell we perceive not that thou hast any grace that ought to preferre thee to us contrariwise we believe thee to be a lyar he said oh people know ye not that God hath taught me what I preach to you that he hath given me the grace of Prophecie and deprived you of it shall I exhort you to acknowledge his grace seeing ye abhorre him Oh people I require no recompense of you for my paines God will reward me largely I desire not to banish True-believers from my company they shall one day appeare before their Lord but I perceive that ye are ignorant Oh people who shall hinder God to punish me if I abuse True-believers Will ye not consider it I say not that I possesse the treasures of God I know not what shall be I say not that I am an Angell I say not to them whom you contemne that God shall enrich them God knoweth what is in their souls should I maintaine such discourse I should have great blame They said oh Noah we have a long time disputed together if thou art sincere let us see the paines which thou preachest to us God said he when it shall please him shall cause you to see them you shall not escape them my instructions shall be to you unprofitable if God will prove you he is your Lord and you shall one day be assembled before him to be judged Will the unbelievers say that thou hast forged the Alcoran and that it is of thine invention Say unto them if I have invented it sinne will be upon me and I am innocent of your blasphemies God inspired into Noah that none should believe in his words but such as had already believed in him He said unto him build an Arke conformable to the inspiration that we have sent thee but speak no more to me of the unjust they shall be drowned the passengers derided him and his Arke he said to them ye scoffe at me I will laugh at you and we shall see them that shall best understand he whom God shall chastise shall be covered with
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
continuance doe not unbelievers tremble when they consider how many men upon Earth we have destroyed in past Ages Their misery shall serve for example to them that are wise Had not thy Lord said that he will deferre the punishment of the wicked untill the time appointed he had already destroyed them Be patient and endure their discourse praise thy Lord before the Sunne arise before it setteth an hour before night and at the end of day thou shalt doe a thing acceptable to him The life of the world is sweet to tempt you but the riches of thy Lord are better and eternall Command the people to make their prayers at the time appointed and be not impatient towards them I require no riches of thee I will enrich thee and in the end Paradise shall be for the righteous The unbelievers have said if Mahomet sheweth not some racle from God and knoweth not the exposition of the books of our predecessors we will not believe in him We before his comming destroyed many wicked persons who said Lord hadst thou sent us a Prophet we had observed thy Commandements before we became infamous and laden with ignominie Say unto them every one expecteth his end expect ye and ye shall one day know them that follow the right way and have not erred CHAP. XXI The Chapter of the Prophets containing an hundred and twelve Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull The day approacheth wherein the people shall render an accompt of their actions but they consider it not and depart from the Commandements of God if they heare them they laugh they understand them not and keep secret their evill intention Is not Mahomet a man like to you Will ye say that he is a Magician you see the contrary God heareth whatsoever is spoken both in Heaven and Earth and knoweth all things They say certainly Mahomet hath dreamed what he speaketh he hath invented it and is a Poet we will not believe him unless he shew some miracle as did the Prophets that were before him We have layed waste many Cities because their inhabitants were incredulous we sent before thee but men who were inspired of us Enquire of them to whom heretofore was given the knowledge of the written Law if ye know it not they were men that did eat and drink and were mortalâ— we effected what we promised to them we preserved them with such as believed and destroyed the incredulous We have sent you a Book to instruct you will ye understand it How many Infidel Cities have wee made desolate How many new people have we established in their place When they felt our punishment they fled fly not and return to what hath delighted you return into your houses peradventure ye will yet cover the riches of the Earth They said misery is upon us we are too blame Thus did they talke untill they were destroyed We have not created Heaven and Earth and whatsoever is between them to sport with had it been our will that they should have scoffed on Earth they should scoffe likewise in Heaven On the contrary I oppose the truth to falsehood to confound it and in effect it doth confound it Misery shall be upon you because of your blasphemies whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods the Angels are not ashamed to worship him they prayse him day and night and exalt his glory without blasphemie The Infidels worship Gods made of Earth Have they power to create any thing Were there in Heaven and on Earth another God they would not accord praised be God Lord of the Universe what the Infidels relate is untrue Hee asketh no counsell when he will doe any thing as do men will they worship any other God but him Say unto them produce your arguments behold what we have to speak unto you behold our reasons and those of our predecessors Certainly the greatest part of them are ignorant of the truth and goe astray We inspired into all the Prophets which we sent that there was but one God that ought to be worshipped They said believe ye that the Angels are the sonnes of God Praysed be God on the contrary they are his creatures he loveth them they speak not but after him and obey what he commandeth them he knoweth all their actions past and future they pray for no man but through his permission and feare to displease him Who among them will say I am God instead of God he shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell thus doe I intreat unbelievers Know they not that the Heavens and the Earth were shut up We opened them and gave life to every thing through the raine which we made to descend will they not believe in my unity We created the Mountains to hinder the Earth to move we made therein wayes large and spacious for our Creatures we covered it with the Heaven and have exempted it from falling neverthelesse they despise our Commandement It is the Lord who created day and night the Moone and the Sunne all things praise and exalt him in Heaven we created no person to dwell for over on Earth all men shall taste of death I will prove you with good and evill and ye shall appeare before me to give accompt of your actions The Infidels scoffe at you when they see you and say behold them that deride our Gods They obey not the Commandements of God he created man of dust and shall shew you the effects of his omnipotency be not impatient to see the punishment of the wicked who say when shall be the day of judgement did they know it they would remove the fire from their backs and visages that day shall surprize them it shall astonish them when they thinke least of it they cannot retard it and shall be deprived of protection Certainly they scorned the Prophets that were sent before thee but they were punished after their demerits Say unto them who but the mercifull God preserveth you day and night neverthelesse yee reject his Commandements Have they any other God but me that is able to save them Their Gods cannot defend themselves I will not protect them yet will I enrich them as I enriched their fathers and will prolong their life to punish them on Earth Know they not that their estates diminish on all sides through thy Conquests Is it so that they are victorious Say unto them I preach to you what God hath inspired into me but the deafe heare not when they are exhorted When they are a little touched with the chastisements of God they say oh misery We are too blame and are unjust I will weigh their workes at the day of Judgement that I may doe injustice to no person of the weight of a grain of mustard-seed and will most exactly accompt We gave to Moses and Aaron the Book that distinguisheth good from evill and commanded them to preach our Commandements to them that had our feare before their eyes
they have don them that God is sufficiently powerfull to protect them When they were driven from their houses without reason they said God is our Lord Had not God stirred up the people against each other the Covents of the Religious the Churches of the Christians the Synagogues of the Jews and the Temples of the Believers had been ruined through the multitude of the wicked See Gelaldin and their malice The name of God is exalted in the Temples of believers and therein is his Law defended and protected God is most strong he hath all power over his people Those whom God hath established on Earth with victory over their enemies make their prayers in the maner ordained pay Tythes and enjoyn to do what is honest and civill forbid to do what is prohibited of God who knoweth the end of all things If the Infidâ—ls traduce thee their predecessors traduced Noah Aâ—d Chiab Abraham and Lot they also slandred Mosâ—s God for a time deferred their punishment but in the end most severely chastised them How many Cities have we destroyed because of their impiety We have overthrown and made them desart through the death of their Inhabitants Shall those of Mecca walk for ever upon Earth with an hard heart without reflecting upon what hath heretofore befalne the Infidels Their eyes are not blinde but their hearts are blinde and hardned They will require thee to cause the wicked to be speedily chastised God will not go against what he hath promised One day before thy Lord is as a thousand yeers before men How often hath the punishments of impiâ—us Cities been deferred that in the end were destrâ—yed The whole world shall one day be assembled before me to be recompenced after their merits Say unto them O people I preach unto you publikely the torments of Hell such as shall believe and do good works they shal receive pardon of their sins a precious treasure they that shall endevor to make voyd the faith shal be damned We sent our Prophet to read only our Commandments to the People the unbeleivers read many things that are not in the Alcoran but God hath made vain what the Devil had there inserted and confirmed the precepts of his Law What the Devill there inserted serveth for sedition to them that are weak in their faith have an heart the Infidels are in an exceeding great error are far from the Truth Such as have the knowledg of Scripture know that the Alcoran is truth it self which proceedeth from thy Lord They beleive in it and humble their heart in reading it God guideth into the right way such as beleive in the truth The Infidels shall be in doubt untill they be surprized of the day of Judgement That day shall they be rigorously chastised that day shall God command and judg the good and the bad the righteous that shall have beleived and done good works shall enter into delicious Gardens and the Infidells that shall have disobeyed his Commandments shall suffer exceeding great torments See Gelaldin They that departed from Mecca and went to Medina to abandon the society of unbeleivers and were slain or died of sicknesse shall be rewarded of his divine Majesty God is the greatest benefactor in the world he shal give them to enter where they shall desire he is omniscient most merciful The believers that shall take revenge of the injury that the unbeleivers have done them shall be protected of God He is gracious and merciful towards his people he maketh day to enter into night night into day he heareth the Prayers of True beleivers and seeth whatsoever they do and will protect them because he is truth it selfe Idols are but vanity God is most high omnipotent Dost thou not consider that God sendeth the rain from Heaven and that the earth becommeth green He is benign to his people knoweth all things whatsoever is in Heaven Earth is his he hath no need of his people and ought to be exalted Seest thou not that God hath subjected to you all the beasts that are upon the Earth Seest thou not that the ship runneth upon the SEA through his command to transport you and your substance Seest thou not that he hindreth heaven to fal upon the earth certainly he is benign and merciful He it is that hath given you life and death he shal make you to dy and shall raise you againe neverthelesse man is ingrateful for his favors We have given a Law to all the Nations of the World to guide them into the right way if they observe it they will not dispute against thee Invoke thy Lord thou art in the right way if they dispute against thee Say unto them God knoweth all your actions he shal judg your differences at the day of judgment knewest thou not that God knoweth whatsoever is in heaven or in earth All is written this is most easie to his divine Maj. Idolaters adore without reason Idols that understand not whether they be gods or no that shall be without protection at the day of Judgment when they preach to men my commandements they know by their countenance those that are impious and ingratefull for my graces they would with wrath fall upon them that instruct them Say unto them I declare unto you things more greivous God hath prepared the fire of hell to chastise Infidels O people A parable is related to you hear it All the Idolls that ye adore cannot create a flye when they shall be assembled to do it if the flies corrupt any thing that is offered to them they have not the power to drive them away because of their impotency and the weaknesse of them that adore them They praise not God in that manner as is just and reasonable he is most strong most powerfull he hath chosen messengers to bear and and execute his Commandements among Angels and men he heareth whatsoever they say beholdeth whatsoever they do he knoweth whatsoever they have don and all things obey him O ye that believe honor and worship your Lord and do good perhaps ye shall be blessed Fight for the establishment of his Law with affection he hath chosen you to follow it he hath not given you a Law heavy and troublesom It is the Law of Abraham your father he hath stiled you the Resigned to God before the coming of the Alchâ—ran The Prophet shall testifie against you at the day of judgment and ye shal testifie against the people that the Prophet hath preached to them the right way persevere in your prayers pay tithes trust in God he is your Lord your Prophet and your protector CHAP. XXIII The Chapter of True Believers containing an hundred and eighteen verses written at Mecca I the Name of God gracious and merifull Certainly the True beleivers shall be blessed that make their prayers with humility they abstain from reviling they pay tithes they commit not whoredom they touch not other women
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
sufficeth thee that God guideth and protecteth thee The Infidels have demaâ—ded it the Alcoran was sent all at once I have so done to confirme the truth in thy heart I have sent it piece by piece they shall not shew thee any thing like unto it I have instructed thee in the truth clear and intelligible the incredulous shall be confined in the fire of Hell and be most miserable Certainly We gave to Moses the book of the Law we sent with him hiâ— brother Aaron to assist him and said unto them Goe boâ—h of you pâ—each unto Infidells we will destroy them unless they be converted When the people of Noah despised our Commandment we drowned them and made them sure for example to posterity and prepared great torments for the impious Remember Aad Tâ—mod and those that dwelt nigh unto the well a long time afâ—er them we spake to them in parables and destroyed them Oh ye wicked consider the misery of tâ—e City upon which fell that mischievous rain that destroyed them because the Inhabitants believed not in the Resurrection When the Infidels saw thee appear they dâ—â—ided thee and said This Prophet would seduce us and make us to abandon our God We had patience and deferred our punishment they shall know at the day of Judgement them that have bin seduced Hast thou considered the action of him that spake of his God after his fantasie Wert thou his Tutor to hinder him to speak Dost thou believe that the greatest part of the wicked heare and understand what thou speakest to them They are like beasts and worse Seest thou how thy Lord sheddeth the Rose were it his will it should be permanent the Sun hath caused it to melt and attracteth it gently to himself He it is that created the night for repose and the day for labour He it is that sendeth the winds by his special grace he maketh rain to descend from Heaven to refresh the Earth to give it life to water the beasts and for the contentment of men we have divided it among them that they may be mindful of our grace nevertheless the greatest part of them are ungratefull Had we so pleased we had sent to every City a Preacher to preach unto the Inhabitants the torments of hell obey not Infidels preach to them frequently what is written in the Alcoran It is God that hath sweetned the water of Euphrates that joyned the two Seas that made them faâ—t and put between them a separation to hinder them to mix He created man and woman of a little water to increase multiply together thy Lord can do whatsoever him pleaseth yet do the Infidels adore what can neither henâ— fit nor hurt them and assist the Devil their master to tempt the world We sent thee only to prâ—ach the torments of hel to proclaime the joyes of Paradise Say unto them I require not of you a reward for my preaching he that shall be acceptable to God will follow the way of his Law Praise and exalt thy Lord trust in him he knoweth all the sins of men he created the heavens and the earth in six days and sitteth on his Throne learn this of him that knoweth it When it wâ—s sâ—id to the Infidels worship the merciful God they sâ—id what merciful shal we worshipp what ye appoint us and they added to their impiety Blessed be he that created the signs of heaven that created the Sun and the Moon ful of brightnesse light and hath made the days to succeed each other to returne him thanks for his graces The servants of the mercifull that walk with humility that salute the ignorant when they speak to them Such as pray to worship God day and night such as say Lord deliver us from the torment of hell those that fear God that are not prodigall nor covetous that folow the middle way betwixt prodigality and avarice those that worship one God that kill no man but with reason and following the Commandments of God and that are not luxurious shall injoy eternally the grace of God such as do the contrary shal be chastised their punishment shall be augmented at the day of Iudgment and they shall be damned for ever except him that shal be converted and shall have don good works God shal give him pardon of his sins he is gratious and mercifull They who do good works and repent who make no false Oâ—th who are humble and are not wilfully deaf dumbe when they heare the Alcoran read and say Lord give us and our posterity children that may be the light of our eyes and be obedient to thee work in us a fear to disobey thy Commandements such persons shall enjoy eternally the delights of Paradise for reward of their perseverance they shal there find salutations and benedictions with immense graces Say unto the wicked God will not enlighten you neither hearken to your prayers because yee have traduced his Prophet the time of the punishment of your câ—imes shall suddenly arrive CHAP. XXVI The Chapter of Poets containing an hundred and twenty seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull God is most pure he understandeth all things he is most wise These signs are the signs of the book that distinguisheth truth from falshood wilt thou destroy thy self because men are impious If I will I can cause my judgments to discend upon them that shall humble them they dispise my Commandments they scoffe but shall be rigorusly punished see they not how many fruits we have made to spring out of the earth It is a token of our omnipotencie nevertheless the greatest part of them believe not that thy Lord is the omnipotent the merciful Instruct them how thy Lord said unto Moses thou shalt be my Messenger to the Infidels and the people of Pharoah that they may have my fear before their eyes Moses slew an Egyptian Moses said Lord I fear they may traduce me and that my tongue cannot be loosed send with me my brother Aaâ—on they know the fault I have committed and will put me to death The Lord said to him they shall not put thee to death go both whither I command you I wil be with you will hear what they say say to Pharoah that ye are the Mâ—ssengers of the Lord of the world and let him dismiss with you the children of Israel Pharaoh said unto Moses have I not seen thee within this house a little childe Didst thou not dwell with us many years Didst thou not kill a man thou art impious Moses said I did what I did I was in the number of the seduced I fled when I feared you since that time God hath given me knowledg and placed me in the number of his Prophets and Apostles he hath sent me his grace to set before thee the evill that thou dost commit in causing thy selfe to be adored of the children of Israel Pharoah said unto him who is that God of the
created for men all that is in heaven and earth and conferreth on them his graces in generall and particular There be ignorant persons that dispute of the Diety without reason when it is said unto them do what God hath appointed they answer we will do what we saw don by our fathers They consider not that the devill calleth them their fathers to the pains of Hel he that obeyeth God doth good works fastneth him to the strongest knot will have a care of him at the hour of his end The impiety of the wicked ought not to afflict thee they shal be one day assembled in our presence to be chastised I will shew them all that they have don I know what is in the hearts of men I will prolong a while their punishment upon earth and precipitate them in the other world into the fire of hell Hast thou not damanded of them who created heaven and earth they said it is God say unto them therefore 〈…〉 be God nevertheless the greatest part of them are ignorant Whatsoever is in heaven Earth is Gods he hath no want of the world praise is due unto him in all that he doth if all the Trees of the world were Pens and the Sea Ink they could not comprehend the effect of his Omnipotency he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He created and shall make you to rise again with one word he understandeth and seeth all things Consider they not that God causeth the night to enter into the day and the day into the night that he created the Sun and the Moon that move in the heaven until the day appointed he knoweth whatsoever ye do because he is truly God they that invoke other then him invoke things vain and unprofitable God alone is most high and most mighty Seest thou not how the ship runneth upon the water for a token of his Omnipotency to such as acknowledg his graces When the Wars arose against the Infidels many called upon God with resolution to follow his Law when he saved them on the Land some persevered to do well and others returned to their impiety none but deceivers and ingratfull persons despise his Commandments O people fear God and the day when the father shall not be able to succour his child neither the child serve his father Gods promises are infallible be not proud of your riches neither that God tolerateth and suffereth you he knoweth the time when ye shall be chastised the hour that the rain shall fall upon the earth he knoweth what is in the wombs of women whether it be male or female none but God knoweth what thou wilt â—o to morrow none but he knoweth the place where thou shalt die he knoweth all he knoweth all CHAP. XXXII The Chapter of Worship containing an hundred and thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am the most wise God Dâ—ubtless this book was sent by the lord of the Vniverse will the wicked say that thou hast invented it On the contrary it is the truth it self which proceedeth from thy Lord to preach to them that heretofore had none to instruct them peradventure they will follow the right way God created heaven and earth and all that is between them in six dayes and sitteth on his Throne who shall protect you who shall hear your prayers but he will you never consider it He disposeth all things in heaven and earth all men shall one day be assembled before him to be judged a thousand years are but one day before his divine Majesty he knoweth what is past present and future he is omnipotent merciful he hath created every thing for his people he formed man of the dirt and dust of the earth he inspired the soul into his body he giveth you hearing sight sense but few men return him thanks for his graces they say what shall we die and return to be a new people Certainly they beleive not in the Resurrection Say unto them the Angel of death shall cause you to dye and ye shall return before God to be judged Thou shalt then see how the Infidel will hang downe the head before their Lord and say Lord we now see the certainty of the Resurrection we this day know the truth of thy words permit us to reurn into the world we will be righteous we now understand what is profitable necessary for us we could have given a guide to every person my word is most true I will fill hell with the wicked Paradise with the righteous thus shal men be rewarded chastised according to their works Tast o ye wicked the pains that ye have deserved in refusing to beleive in this day w ch ye have found we leave you in the miseries du to your incredulity tast the eternall torments that ye have merited through your impiety Such as believe in the mysteries of my Law are humble they worship me alone praise me when they here mention of me they are not proud rebell not against my Commandments they arise from their bed to make their prayers with fear and hope and imploy in pious works some part of the wealth that we have given them No man hath either seen or knoweth what God reserveth to recompence the righteous for their perseverance The believers and unbelievers shall not be alike entreated the believers that have don good works shall enjoy Paradise as the reward of their labours and the unbelievers shall be precipitaâ—ed into the fire of hell the more they shall labour to get out the further shall they enter into it it shall be said to them tast the pains of eternall flames which ye would not believe I will make the wicked to tast of the torments of the world and the pains of hell if they be not converted Who is more unjust then he that knoweth the Commandments of his Lord and disobeyeth them we will be avenged on his impiety we gave a most true Book to Moses to instruct the children of Israel we put into the right way those among them that persevered in their faith and obeyed our Commandments Thy Lord shall judge the difficulties of the Infidels at the day of Judgment see they not how much people we destroyed in times past that reposed confidence in their houses It is a token of our Omnipotency will they never understand it See they not how I thrust forth water in desert and barren lands that I cause herbs to spring forth for the nourishment of men beasts will they never consider it They demand when will the day of Judgement come Say unto them that daâ— shall not bring contentment to Infidels and they shall be without protection Depart thou far from them perseveere and attend they wait an occasion to mischief thee but thou shalt see them chastised CHAP. XXXIII The Chapter of Bands and Troups of Souldiers containing fourscore and seven Verses written at Medina IN the name of
all into the right way He of his Domestiques that secretly professed the true Law said oh people I fear lest ye be chastise as have been your predecessors as were the people of Noâ—â— Aad Temod and those that were after them God will 〈◊〉 do injustice to men I fear for you the day of judgment a daâ— when ye shall rise again with terror to render accompt â— your actions he whom God shal seduce shall find none 〈◊〉 guide him Certainly Joseph came hertofore with instructions clear and intelligible nevertheless ye doubted even untill his death and said that after him God shall not sendâ— Prophet like unto him thus doth GOD seduce the wicked that doubt of his Law he hateth such as dispute without reason they are abhorred of them that believe in his divine Majesty Thus God hardneth the heart of the proud and tyrants Pharoah sayd to * Haman was Pharoahs Leiutenant General Haman build me an high Palace peradventure I shal arrive at the Heavens and as high as the God of Moses I beleive him to be a lyar Thus Pharaoh delighted in his wicked actions he erred from the right way and his conspiracy was but his destruction He of his family that was a True-beleiver said oh people follow me See Gelaldin I will guide you into the right way the riches of the earth pass away lightly and the riches of Heaven are eternall he that doth evill shall finde evill who doth good man or woman beleiving in God shall enter into Paradise where he shall be enriched innumerably with all manner of riches Wherefore invite you me to precipitate my self into the fire of Hell since I exhort you to salvation Ye invite me to be wicked and to beleive that God hath companions and I know it is not so I call you to the omnipotent and mercifull God doubtlesse I will not worship your Idols they cannot hear you either in this world or in the other we all shall be one day assembled before God who will condemn Infidels to the fire of Hell consider hereafter what to you I have preached I am resined to the will of God he beholdeth all the actions of his creatures he shall chastise them for the evill that they shall commit and for their wicked designes He sent his punishment upon the Lineage of PHAROAH they deserved to be precipitated into the fire of Hell they shall burn evening and morning It shall be said to â—hem at the day of Iudgment oh people of Pharoah goe enter into the fire of Hell The Infidels shal quarrell in Hell the poor shall say unto the rich We followed you are you able this day to deliver us from eternal flames they shall answer we all are damned with you God is a most just Iudge The damned shall say to the Ministers of Hell Pray to your Lord that he may asswage these torments for one day they shall answer had ye not on earth the Prophets and Apostles of God to instruct you They shall say yes pray therefore to God your selves the wicked love nothing but impiety I will protect on earth my Prophets and them that observe my Law and particularly at the day of judgment that day the wicked shall have no excuse that shal advantage them my curse shall fall upon them and they all shall be damned We taught Moses the way of Salvation and made the Children of Israel heirs of his instructions to instruct them that shal understand them Persevere and be patient the promise of God is infallible implore pardon of thy sinnes and exalt the praise of thy Lord evening and morning They that dispute against the Commandments of God are without reason and have nought in their souls but pride and ignorace Implore succor of God he understandeth and seeth all things the Creation of the Heavens and of the Earth is greater then the Creation of men but the greatest part of men know it not the blind is not like to him that seeth clearly he that doth good is not like to him that doth evill neither is obscurity such as the light but few men consider it Doubtlesse the day of Iudgment shall come neverthelesse the greatest part of men will not believe it Your Lord hath said call upon me I will heare you Such as shall resist my Law shall go into Hell and be eternally seduced God hath created the night for repose and the day for travell he is bountiful towards his Creatures bvt the greatest part of the peopple are ingratefull GOD is your LORD Creator of all things there is no GOD but he How can the wicked blaspheme So do they blaspheme that are ingrateful for the graces of GOD he hath established you on Earth he hath covered you with the Heavens he hath formed you enriched you he your God your Lord blessed be God Lord of the Vâ—â— verse he it is that giveth and depriveth you of life there no God but he be obedient to him and observe his Laâ— Praised be God Lord of the Vniverse who hath createâ— you of mire Say unto the Infidels I am forbidden to woâ—ship the Idols that ye adore God hath taught me his â—nity I have received command to worship none but the Lord of the Vniverse he created you of dust mire and coâ—gealed blood he causeth you to be born little Infants hâ— maketh you to arrive to the age of discretion to virility old age many dye before that age and all attaine to the time of their destiny peradventure ye shall understand his unity he it is that maketh you to live and to dye and when he willeth any thing he saith be thou and it is See ye noâ— that they that dispute against his Commandments deparâ— from his Law Such as reject our Commandments and what we enjoyed our Prophets to preach to men shall find their errors when they shall see chaines on their necks and fetters on their feet they shall be dragged and burned in Hell then shall it be said unto them where are those Idols that yee adored upon Earth they shall answer they are departed from us certainly they are without power thus God seduceth Infidels to their confusion It shall be said unto them these paines befall you for that ye were proud and insolent without reason enter within the gates of Hell which is the habitation of the proud ye shall dwell there eternally Be patient and persevere the word of God is infallible I will make thee to see a part of what I have promised to men I will cause thee to dye and thou shalt behold them all assembled to be judged Certaâ—nly we sent Prophets before thee we have spoken to thee of one part of our Apostles and the rest are concealed from thee neither Prophets nor Apostle can preach any thing without Gods permission he chastiseth the wicked when he pleaseth he shall judge the differences that are between them and the Prophets and shall destroy the unbelievers God hath created
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
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
ten pair of wings came to him by night as he was in bed with his wife Aijssa told him God had sent for him he going down with this Angell found at his door an Heterogeneous beast called Elborach halfe Asse halfe Mule but much swifter then either for it would go as far at one step as the most quick-sighted could see this Beast or believer of the Alcoran would not let Mahomet mount him unlesse he would first promise to pray for him which the charitable Prophet did and was in the twinkling of an eye brought by him to Jerusalem where the Angel Gabriel tyed the Beast with his girdle to a rock and taking Mahomet on his shoulders carried him to heaven-gate They knocked and the Porter understanding Mahomet to be there instantly opened and bade him welcome In this first Heaven he saw Angels of divers and monstrous shapes some composed of fire and snow others of fire alone every of them diversly shaped among the rest one with the head of a Cock whose feet touched one Heaven and head another each Heaven being distant from the other a voyage of five hundred years and when he crowes which is his language he moves the Cocks of the earth to crow This Angell recommended him to another he to a third and so one to another until he came to the Heaven where God kept his residence God curteously received him asked him how his people did how they entertained his Law and familiarly laid his hand upon his shoulder which was so cold that it pierced to the marrow of his back-bone God had soon done with him only telling him how often his people should make their prayers which were so many that as he was returning in the fourth Heaven Moses advised him to go back to God and entreat him that fewer prayers might serve his turne for his people were not able to make so many which he did and after many returnes brought the number to five This done he went back to his Elborach which in a moment brought him to his house in Mecca where he went to bed again to his wife she not once dreaming her husband would leave heaven for her company or thinking he had been there all this he performed in the tenth part of a night The Turks at this day fondly believe this as a truth but the Arabians of his time requiring him to do as much in their view he unwilling to take again so long a journey replyed Praised be God I am man and an Apostle He had other slights which in sight of the people by Art or Sorcery he performed and they stupidly believed and entertained as miracles as a Pigeon being by him taught to come and pick a pease out of his eare he told them it was the holy Ghost that came to tell him what God would have him do so an Oxe brought him a Chapter of the Alcoran upon his hornes in a full assembly He likewise perswaded them that being at dinner at the house of one that pretended to be his friend who had an intent to poison him or he at least was so informed a shoulder of mutton served in to the table fore-warned him that he should not eat of it and though many were present none but he heard or understood the language of the mutton and yet he permitted one of his deerest friends to eat of it and die impoisoned Such and many of the like nature were his miracles As the bowing of trees shaken by some sudden gust of wind the howling of Wolves and braying of Asses which is their language desiring Mahomet to pray for them and he Prophetically understanding as religiously performed His custome was often to inculcate into the ears of his Auditors that God gave him commission to fulfill his own desires in all things and to that purpose introduceth God speaking to him To thee O Prophet It is permitted to lie with all women that are given thee or thou dost purchase thy Aunts and kindred and all good women that freely desire thy company and this is lawfull for thee alone His issue was one only Son called Casfim who died before him and many daughters Fatione the eldest in high esteem at this day among the Arabians and honoured as the royall root of Aben Alabecy was wife to Haly. Zeineb the second was married to Osmen after son to Mahuvias and perhaps to both successively for they both succeeded in the Empire of Arabia to her is attributed the originall of the other family of Aben Humeia Imiaultim and Naphisse are diversly mentioned by the most faithful Historians some delivering them as his daughters others as his neer kindred On the Seal which he used were ingraven these words Mahomet Messenger of God Heaven ordained him to be a scourge for the punishment of Christians who in multitudes at that time had forsaken the truth to follow the Sects and Heresies of the Arrians Donatists Nestorians and others The day of his death was no lesse prodigious then the course of his life a Comet resembling a sword appearing at high noon pointing from South to North when it was behold the space of thirty daies which that age interpreted to portend the fatall rising and spendor of the Arabian Empire FINIS A needfull Caveat or Admonition for them who desire to know what use may be made of or if there be danger in reading the Alcoran By Alexander Ross. GOod Reader the great Arabian Imposter now at last after a thousand years is by the way of France arrived in England and his Alcoran or Gallimaufry of Errors a brat as deformed as the Parent and as full of heresies as his scald-head was of scurffe hath learned to speak English I suppose this piece is exposed by the Translator to the publike view no otherwise then some Monster brought out of Africa for people to gaze not to dote upon and as the sight of a Monster or mishapen creature should induce the beholder to praise God who hath not made him such so should the reading of this Alcoran excite us both to blesse Gods goodnesse towards us in this land who injoy the glorious light of the Gospell and behold the truth in the beauty of holinesse as also to admire Gods judgements who suffers so many Countreyes to be blinded and inslaved with this mishapen issue of Mahomets braine being brought forth by the help of no other midwifry then of a Jew and a Nestorian making use of a tame Pigeon which he had taught to pick corn out of his ears instead of the Holy Ghost and causing silly people to believe that in his falling sicknesse to which he was much subject he had conference with the Angell Gabriel I know the publishing of the Alcoran may be to some dangerous and scandalous dangerous to the reader scandalous to the higher powers who notwithstanding have cleared themselves by disliking the publishing and questioning the publishers thereof but for the danger I will deliver in these ensuing
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
little or much and limit the time wherein payment ought to bee made such writings are just before God give more efficacy to testimonie and are requiâ—â—te â—o avoide your complaints one of another If your merchandize be present you shall take it betweene you at the same time then shall you not sinne in not drawing a writing or contract Call witnesses when you sell or buy neither the witnesses nor the Notary shall receive any dammage If you shall doe that which is forbidden you shall doe very ill Feare God he will teach you his Commandements he knoweth all things If you are in a journey and cannot find a Notary you shall give earnest If one trusteth in the other he that shall be trusted in shall satisfie his promise and feare God his Lord no man shall conceale his testimony he that shall conceale shall sinne in his heart God knoweth all your actions Whatsoever is in Heaven or in Earth belonging unto God whether you conceale or reveale what in your minds he shall require an account of you he pâ—â—doneth and chastiseth whom it pleaseth him he is oâ—nipotent The Prophet believed in all that God sent him as likewise all the true believers Such as believe God the Angels and Scriptures and generally all 〈◊〉 Prophets without exception say We have heard 〈◊〉 obeyed Pardon us oh Lord Thou art our refuge Gâ—â— requireth of no man more then he is able to peeform the good that a man shall doe shall be for himselfe 〈◊〉 the evill that he doth shall be likewise agninst him Lâ—â— excuse us if wee have forgotten thee or sinned Lâ—â— charge us not with any heavy burthen as thou diâ—charge them that were before us charge us not with tâ—â—â— which we are not able to suport blot out our sinnes 〈◊〉 give us thy mercy Thou art our Lord give us victory â—gainst the Infidels CHAP. III. The Chapter of the Lienage of Ioachim containing two hâ—â—dred verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am 〈◊〉 most wise God God! There is but one only God â—â—ving and eternall He hath sent to thee the Book 〈◊〉 containeth truth and confirmeth the Scriptures 〈◊〉 were sent before it He sent the Old Testament and 〈◊〉 Gospell that were heretofore guides to the people 〈◊〉 hath sent the Alcoran that distinguisheth good from â—vill they that believe not in the Law of God shall 〈◊〉 severely chastised He is omnipotent and revengefull Nâ—thing is hid from him in Heaven or in Earth It is 〈◊〉 that formed you in the wombes of your mothers as it plâ—â—sed him there is no God but the omnipotent and 〈◊〉 God He it is that sent to thee the Book whose preceâ—â—â—â— are necessary See Kitab el tenoir they are the originall and foundation the Law like in puritie one to the other and with contradiction Such as in their heart incline to depart from the truth doe often follow their inclination desirous of sedition and to understand the explication of the Alcoran but none understand its explication but God and such as are profound in learning they say we believe in God all things proceed from his divine wisdome neverthelesse none remember â—ut the wise Lord cause not our hearts to erre after thou hast guided us into the right way give us thy mercy thou art most bountifull towards thy creatures Lord thou art hee that shalt assemble the world at the day of Iudgement at which day nothing shall be found doubtfull when thou wilt not goe against thy promises and when wealth and children shall not serve to the wicked but to kindle the fire of Hell The Infidell lineage of Pharoah and those that preceded him blasphemed and abjured the Law of God but he surprized them in their sinne hee is grievous in his chastisements Say to the Infidels they shall be vanquished and shall be gathered together into the fire of Hell that is prepared for them You have an example in the two Troops that fought for the glory of God they beheld with their eyes Infidels become true believers like unto themselves God strengthneth with his aide whom it pleaseth him this shall be for example to such as shall cleerly see The love and desire of women of children of riches abundance of gold and of silver of horses cattell and of tillage are pleasing to men such are the riches of the life of this world but the most assured refuge is in God Say unto them I will declare unto you things much better for them that shall have the feare of God before their eyes they shall dwell eternally in Paradise where flow many rivers with women beautifull and leane and all manner of content God beholdeth them that adore him and that say Lord we believe in thy Law pardon our sinnes and deliver us from the torments of fire The patient the persevering true believers the obedient the good men such as beg pardon of God in the morning the Angels the Learned that love Iustice testifie that there is but one only God The Law of salvation is a Law pleasing to his divine Majestie no man contradicteth this truth among * The Iews and Christians such as know the written Law but through envie He that shall not obey the Commandements of God shall find his divine Majesty very exact to call him to an accompt See Gelaldin If the impious dispute with thee say to them I am wholy resigned to the will of God The Iews and Christians with all such as have followed me Aske of such as know the written Law and them that know it not if they resigne themselves to God if they doe they will follow the right way The Arabians if they goe astray thou hast none other obligation but to preach to them God beholdeth them that adore him See Kitab el tenoir Declare grievous torments to those that conceale his Commandements that kill the Prophets and injure them that instruct the people in Iustice the good works that they doe shall be unprofitable to them on earth and they shall be in the other world dâ—prived of protection Seest thou not a partie of them that know the written Law how they were called to a Lecture of the Book of God to the end they might judge with equitie the differences that are among them but many are returned to their sinne they contemned the Scripture in that they said the fire shall not touch us but for a certain number of dayes They are deceived in their blasphemies what will become of them when we shall assemble them at the day of Iudgement when nothing shall be doubtfull and every one shall be recompensed as he shall have merited No in justice shall be done unto them Say Lord thou possessest the Kingdomes of the world thou givest Royalty to whom thou seest good from thy hand oh Lord proceedeth all good thou art Omnipotent thou causest day to enter the night and night the day thou
causest life to come out of death and death out of life thou enrichest without measure whom thou seest good The believers shall not obey the unbelievers to the exclusion of true believers he that doth this thing â—bserveth not the Law of God but if you feare your enemies God willeth that you feare him also he is the assured refuge of the righteous say to them whether you conceale what is in your heart or whether you manifest it God knoweth all things he knoweth all that is either in Heaven or Earth he is Omnipotent Think on the day wherein every one shall find the good and the evill that he hath done then shall you desire to be cleansed from your sinnes See Gelaldin and that the number of your good works exceed that of your evill God willeth that you feare him he is gracious to them that worship him Say to them If you love God follow me God shall give you life and pardon your sinnes he is gracious and mercifull Say to them obey God and his Prophet If they returne in their sinne God will very severely punish them he loveth not Infidels God elected Adam and Noah the lineage of Abraham and the lineage of Joachim the one proceedeth from the other God knoweth and understandeth all things Remember thou how the wife of Joachim said Lord I vow unto thee the fruit that is in my wombe free See Kitab el tenoir and exempt from all affaires to serve thee in thy Temple Accept him from me who offer him to thee with affection thou understandest and knowest all things When shee was delivered shee said Lord I am delivered of a Daughter thou knowest thou hast given her to me I have named her Mary I will preserve through thine assistance her and her posterity from the malice of the Devill accept her Lord with a pleasing acceptation and cause her to produce good fruits Zachary had the care of the education of this daughter and whensoever hee went into his Oratorie he there found a thousand sorts of different fruits of divers seasons He said one day oh Mary whence doe these good things proceed she answered they proceed from God who enricheth without measure whom he pleaseth Then Zachary prayed to the Lord and said Lord give me a progenie that may bee pleasing to thee and that may observe thy Commandements Lord heare my prayers The Angels called him and said to him I declare to thee from God that thou shalt have a sonne called John See Gelaldin he shall affirme the Messias to be the word of God that he shall be a great person chaste a Prophet and one of the just Lord answered Zachary how shall I have a sonne I am old and my wife is barren The Angell said to him so God doth as pleaseth him Lord said Zachary give me some signe of the conception of my wife The signe that I will give thee answered the Angell shall be that thou shalt not speake in three dayes but by signes Remember thou thy Lord often praise him evening and morning Remember thou how the Angels said Oh Mary God hath chosen and purified thee above all women of the world oh Mary obey thy Lord praise him and worship him with them that worship him I relate to thee how the matter past thou wert not with the Ministers of the Temple when they cast in their pens to draw lots and to see which of them should have the care of the education oâ— Mary Oh Mahomet neither when they entred upon this difficulty Remember thou how the Angels said oh Mary God declareth unto thee a word from which shall proceed the Messias named Iesus the sonne of Mary full of honour in this world and that shall be in the other of the number oâ— Intercessors with his divine Majestie hee shall speakâ— in the cradle as a man betwixt thirty and fifty years and shall be in the number of the just She said Lord how shall I have a child without the touch of a man he answered so God doth as pleaseth him when he createtâ— any thing he saith be thou and it is I will teach him the Scriptures the Mysteries of the Law the Old Testament and the Gospell and he shall be a Prophet sent to the children of Israel Iesus said to the children of Israel I come to you with evident signs of my mission from your Lord I will make unto you of the slime of the earth the figure of a Bird I will blow upon it incontinently it shall be a Bird and by the permission of God shal fly I wil heal them that are borne blind and the leprous I will raise again the dead I wil teach you what you shal eat and what you ought not to eate this shall serve you for instruction if you believe in God I am come to confirme the old Testament and what hath been taught you heretofore Certainly it is lawfull for you to eat things that have been heretofore forbidden I am come to you with signs of my mission that testifie that I am truly sent from your Lord â—â—are God and obey me God is my Lord and your Lord â—orship him this is the right way When Iesus knew â—heir impiety he said who shall sustaine the Law of God 〈◊〉 my absence The Apostles answered him we will sustain â—â—e Law of God we believe in his unity be thou a witâ—esse before God that we resign our selves wholly to the â—leasure of his divine Majestie Lord we believe in what â—hou hast commanded and we have followed the Proâ—het thy Apostle write us in the number of them that â—rofesse thy Law The Iews conspired against Iesus and God caused their conspiracie to turne against them hee â—noweth the designs of Conspirators Remember thou â—ow the Lord said O Iesus I will cause thee to die I â—ill elevate thee to my self and remove thee farre from â—nfidels and preferre those that have obeyed thee to Infidels at the day of Iudgement That day shall assemble you all before me I will judge the differences between you and will punish the impious in this world and in the other none among them shall be of power to protect them I will reward them that shall have believed in my Law and have done good works God loveth not the unjust I relate to thee these mysteries and teach thee the Alcoran Iesus is with God as is Adam God created him of the Earth he said be thou and he was this truth proceedeth from thy Lord be not thou of the number of them that doubt If any one dispute with thee concerning thy Doctrine say to them Come call together your children and ours your wives and ours let us assemble and addresse our prayers to God I will lay the curse of his divine Majesty upon lyars This discourse is most true there is no God but God alone the omnipotent and wise If they depart from his Commandements he shall well observe the unbelievers say
eternally in hell fire Who is more unjust then he that blasphemeth against God and his Commandements Such shall be punished conformably to the Scripture When the Angels of death shall cause them to die they shall say Where be the Idols that you adored instead of God they shall answer that those false gods have forsaken them and shall acknowledge their Idolatry but God shall say to them enter into hell with the men and devils that are condemned they shall execrate the Secâ—s that preceded them and being assembled they shall say Lord judge them they seduced us augment their miseries in hell God shall say We will adde to their and your pains but you understand it not They shall say among themselves we are not the cause that you were unbelievers you were not such to please us suffer with us the torments that you have merited I will not open the gate of heaven to such as disobey my Commandements untill a Camell pass through the eye of a needle so will I chastise sinners hell shall be their bed fire shall be their covering and such as shall have done good works according to their power shall dwell eternally in Paradise I will remove deceit far from their heart rivers shall flow in their fields with delights and they shall say praysed be God who hath brought us hither otherwise we had bin in the number of the erronious Certainly the Prophets Gods Messengers taught us the truth in saying the observance of the Commandements of his divine Majesty should render us heirs of Paradise Such as shall be saved shall tell the damned that they have found the grace foretold them of God and we will demand of them if they have not met with the punishment that his divine Majesty did denounce against them they shall say aloud Yes and that the curse of God is upon the unjust that misled men from his Law and they shall be eternally in the number of the miserable * The Mahometan Doctors believe that such as shall have doâ—e as much good as evil and whose ballance shall not decline neither on the scale of good works or of bad shall dwell in the place called Aaraf with them that have done neither good nor evill and this place is between Hell and Paradise Between the blessed and the damned there is a separation and a place called Aaraf or prisons wherin are many persons who know the blessed and the damned by their countenances they call to the blessed and salute them yet they go not into Paradise notwithstanding their great desire to enter When they turn their eyes towards the damned Lord say they involve us not in the number of the unjust Such as are in that place call to the damned they know them by their visages and say to what served your riches and that ye arose against the Faith and Commandements of God Behold the faithfull whom ye contemned you swore they should be deprived of mercy God hath spoken to them and hath said enter into Paradise and fear not you shall for ever be exempt from affliction the damned shall cry unto the blessed Give us of the water which you drink and the meats that you eat they shall answer The drink and bread of Paradise is prohibited to Infidels who sported with their faith that were proud of the wealth of the earth and that scoffed at the Commandements of God he hath forgotten them because they forgot the comming of the day of Judgement and blasphemed against his precepts We are come to the Inhabitants of Mecca to instruct them in the Alcoran we teach it unto men to give them knowledge of the right way and to acquire the mercy of God if they believe in that Book Shall they expect to believe untill they know its explication It s explication shall appear at the day of Judgement that day such as shall have lived without faith shall say Certainly the Prophets delivered the Truth shall we partake of their prayers will they intercede for us untill we return to the world to do better then we have done and to obey Gods Commandements But they shall be damned because of their blasphemies God is your Lord he created the heaven and the earth in six dayes and sitteth on his Throne he causeth the night incontinently to succeed the day the Sun the Moone and the Stars move at his command and all the world obeyeth him praised be God Lord of the Universe pray to God privately and publikely he abhorreth the unjust pollute not the earth after the ordure is removed pray to God to avoid his chastisements and obtain his mercy which is for the righteous It is God that sendeth the windes to dissipate the rain when they carry the clouds we drive them charged with water into places drie dead and ruined and cause the rain to fall there that they may produce herbs and fruits so will we cause the dead to arise again perhaps men will remember the good land bringeth forth good fruits through the permission of its Lord and the bad land produceth only darneill I teach my Commandements to such as are not ingratefull Certainly we sent Noah to instruct men he said O ye people worship one God alone if you adore other then him you shall be punished at the day of Judgement their Rulers answered O Noah thou art in a great error He replyed I erre not I am a messenger sent from God to preach his Will I give you most wholsome advise God hath taught me what you know not Is it strange to you that he hath sent you his Commandement by the tongue of a man like your selves to declare to you the torments of Hell Fear God he will pardon your sinnes But they belyed Noah we saved him in the Arke with his retinue and drowned those that contemned our Law they were altogether blinde We sent Hod to his brother Aad and to his retinue he said Oh ye people worship one God alone whom will ye adore or whom feare but God The Teachers answered thou art in an extream ignorance we believe thee to bâ— in the number of lyars he replyed I am not a lyar I am a messenger sent from God to preach his Commandements I give good and salutary advice wonder not that God teacheth you his precepts by the tongue of a man like you who declareth to you his pleasure Remember that he left you on Earth after Noah that he encreased you in number force and power Call to minde his grace you shall be happy They answered are we come to this to worship one God alone and to relinquish what our fathers adored Shew us the truth whereof thou dost preach if thou art true he said the wrath and indignation of God shall fall upon you will you dispute with us of the names that you and your fathers imposed on your Idols God did not enjoyne to worship them neither have you reason to doe it expect your punishment I will