nevethelesse we raised you after your death perhaps you will give me thanks We covered you with the shadow of clouds we caused Manna and Quails to fall upon you and said Eat the good things we have given you They did us no harm when they murmured they afflicted themselves We said Enter into that City Gelaldin saith it is Jerusalem See Kitab el tenoir and eat therein what shall content you enter in at the gate with humility and say Remove our sins from us I will pardon your offences and encrease the Graces of those that are righteous then the wicked altered their words that were taught them but I sent my indignation from Heaven upon them according to their demerits When Moses demanded drink for his people we said Smite the Rock with thy Rod incontinently there sprung forth twelve Fountains and every man knew his place where to drink Eat and drink the good things of God and defile not the Earth any more You said unto Moses we are not satisfied with one sort of meat entreat thy Lord that he give us what the Earth produceth Beets Cucumbers Garlick Lentils and Onions he said Desire you to change good for evil Go down into Egypt you will there find what you require They were beaten with disgrace and poverty and returned into the wrath of God for that they disobeyed his Commandements and unjustly slew his Prophets for which they were greatly to blame All those that shall believe Christians Jews or Samaritans such as shall believe in God at the day of Judgement and doe good workâ—s shall be recompensed by their Lord See Gelaldin and be free from feare and afflâ—ction at the day of the Resurrection When we received your promise to believe in the Old Tâ—stament we raâ—sed a mountaine over you to over-shadow you and saâ—d Comprehend with affection what we teach you and remember perhaps you will feare the fire of Hell and disobedience neverthelesse you have gone astray without the mercy of your Lord you shall be in the number of the damned You know what befell those that observed not the Sabboth we said unto them Be ye abhorred and despised as Apes See Kitab el tenoir We left this punishment as an advertisement to their temporaries and posterity and particularly to be for an example to the true beleevers Remember thou that Moses said unto the people God commandeth you to sacrifice a Cow They answered doest thou mock us He replied God defend me from being in the number of the ignorant they said Call upon thy Lord that he instruct us what Cow that ought to be he said it must be a Cow of a middle age neither young nor old and doe what is commanded you They said pray unto thy Lord that he shew us of what colour it ought to be It must said he be of a bright yellow colour that it may delight the eyes of the beholders They said Invoke thy Lord that he instruct us what it ought to resemble and we shall if it please him be obedient to his Commandements He said God answereth you that it must be a Cow that never bare the yoke to till the earth neither water the fields round and that hath never laboured neither hath spot upon her body They said thou hast now spoken truth they then sacrificed her and it wanted not much but they had not done it When you have slaine any one you are then full of wrath and become proud God bringeth to light whatever you conceale We â—aid smite that dead body with a piece of that Cow so God raiseth againe the dead * The Turks believe that a man shall rise again being smitten with the tongue of that Cow and manifesteth to you his miracles it may be you will comprehend them yet your hearts are hardned more obdurate then Rocks for Rivers flow from Rocks when they cleave and appeare or when they fall and overturne by the permission of his divine Majesty God is not ignorant of your actions Do you desire the Jews should beleeve you because many among them write the word of God and alter it at pleasure after they have comprized it When they meet with true beleevers they say we beleeve in God and being assembled they say among themselves See Bedaci have you entertained those true beleevers for that God hath instructed you that they may find no excuse against you at the day of Judgement before his divine Majesty See Gelaldin Understand you not that they would excuse themselves upon what you have said to them Know they not that God knoweth whatever they conceale and what they bring to light There be some that know neither to read nor write that understand nothing of Scripture but what they have learned from the lies of their Doctors yet they thinke to be knowing men Miseries is upon them that conceale the Scripture in their hands that alter it and say that what they read proceedeth from God to profit any thing thereby Misery is upon them because of what their hands have written misery is upon them and upon what they have gained in blaspheming against God They have said we shall continue in Fire but a certaine number of dayes Say unto them have you capitulated with God He will not act against his promises Will you speak of God what you know not Such as have gained ought and were entangled in the sinne of their gaine shall for ever remaine in the flames of Hell and they that have faith in God and doe good works shall eternally enjoy the delights of Paradise Remember thou that we taught the Commandements of the Law and how we said to the children of Israel worship one only God doe good unto your father and mother to your allies orphans and the poore speak mildely unto the people make your prayers at the time appointed and pay your Tithes â—â—verthelesse they were disobedient except some verâ— few amâ—â—g them When we received the Commandment of God and that we said shed not your blood neither foâ—sake your houses you approved it your selves are wâ—tneâ—ses Neverthelesse you slew many and constrained a greaâ— number to desert their habitation you assisted each otheâ— in injustice and impiety If slaves have recourse to you you shall redeeme them their deliverance is appointeâ— you Do you beleeve one part of the Scripture to abjunâ— the other The reward of any of you that shal do this thinâ— is ignominie in this world and to be precipitated into thâ— most grievous torments of Hâ—ll at the day of judgement God is not ignorant of your actions Such as purchase thâ— life of the world to quit Paradise shal not be eased in theiâ— miseries and be utterly deprived of succours Certainly we gave the Law to Moses after him sent many Prophets We inspired knowledg into Jesus the son of Mâ—râ— strengthned him by the Holy Ghost but you arose against the Prophets that came contrary to your affections you
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
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
fearful and not oh Prophet as he was wâ—nt See Gelaldin IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull O thou Fearfull Arise by night pray to God at midnight untill two thrid parts of the night and more Read the Alcoran and meditate thereon observe what it contains although it be tendious to thee thou wilt best comprehend it after thy first sleep because thou in the day hast affairs that divert thee Remember thou the name of God forsake the world to worship him he is Lord of the West and East there is no god but God take him for thy protector be not impatient at what the wicked say separate thy self from their society without fear leave me to punish them is there any one that is able to defend them their punishment is deferred but I have chains of iron bread full of thorns and great torments to inflict on them at the day when the earth shall tremble and the mountains shall be dissolved into dust O ye people we have sent to you a Prophet our Apostle to instruct you as we did to Pharoah he was disobedient and obstinate and we severely chastised him How will ye secure your selves from the torments of hell if ye be in the number of the wicked What will ye do at the day when Infants shall be men and heaven shall be opened What God promiseth is infallible these things are for the instruction of them that desire to follow the way of salvation Thy Lord knoweth that thou wilt arise about the third part of the night or at midnight as likewise a part of those that are with thee he reckoneth the hours and the minuts of night and day he knoweth that thou canst not reckon them exactly he pardoneth thee if thou risest a litle sooner or a litle later read during this time what thou shalt be able to read of the Alcoran God knoweth that there will be persons among you that will be sickly others that will be in travels for their affairs and some that will fight for the faith these persons shall be excused Read what ye shall be able of the Alcoran lift up your prayers to God pay tithes lend to God some benefit ye shall one day find the good that you shall have done and a very good reward beg pardon of God he is gracious and mercifull CHAP. LXXIV The Chapter of the Wrapped containing fifty seven Verses Mahomet was wrapt in his garments when the Angel brought him this Chapter written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull O thou wrapped Arise and preach to the people the torments of hell thy Lord is more powerful then the Idols make clean thy garments be thou mindfull of the pains prepared for unbelievers separate thy self from their company lend nothing to Usury the day that the Trumpet shall sound shall be extreamly irksome to the wicked that day let me chastise him whom I created and to whom I gave riches and children and whom I placed in plenty neverthelesse he demandeth more and is obstinate to disobey my Commandements I will adde to his pains because he blasphemeth against the Alcoran wherefore doth he blasphem he maketh his countenace sorrowful covered with hypocrisie when he beholdeth the people with his eyes melancholique and estranged from the way of salvation he is proud scorneth to follow the Prophet saith that the Alcoran is but Magick and but the word of Man he shall be precipitated into the bottom of hell nothing remains to him but to be burned ninteen Spirits shall be appointed to torment the wicked they that punish the damned are Spirits We have mentioned this number of nineteen to seduce the Infidels and confirm the truth and the True-believers in their faith They whom God instructeth in the Scripture and who believe in his Law are not in doubt of these Spirits but such as have evill in the heart who doubt of his Law and the wicked say that he by this number meaneth God Thus God seduceth and guideth whom he pleaseth no person knoweth the number of his Angels but God I swear by the entrance of the night and the morning that hell is an exceeding great punishment prepared for the impious The believers and unbelievers the good and the bad shall answer for their actions and such as shall have their book of accompt in the right hand shall goe into Paradise they shall enquire of the damned and say to them who did cast you into hell They shall answer we did not pray to God at the time appointed we gave not to the poor to eat we believed there was neither Resurrection nor Judgement untill death surprized us the prayers of them that pray for them shall be in vain Wherefore is it that unbelievers depart from the Law of God They are like to the wilde Asse which flyeth as far as he can when he seeth the Lion approach him every one of them would particularly see a book to instruct them and apprehendeth not the day of Judgement Certainly the Alcoran teacheth them the Law of God that reade it none shall understand it but he that shall be pleasing to God who shall have his fear before his eyes and shall implore pardon of his sins of his divine Majesty CHAP. LXXV The Chapter of the Resuâ—rection containing fourty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear that it is most true that men shall rise againe I swear that the wicked shall render an accompt of their actions think they that I cannot recollect their bones I will recollect all of them after they shall be corrupted I am able to recollect their fingers as they had them in their youth Certainly man is prone to blaspheme before the coming of the day of Judgement and enquireth when that day will be When his sight shall be troubled and the Sun and Moon gathered together then shall he say whether shall I flye It shall be said to him thou shalt have none other refuge but in God he shall be surprized and all his offences shall be commemorated to him and he shall witnesse against himself Speak not then in a word if he will excuse himself be not thou impatient I know all that is in his heart I know what thou hast taught him I did read with him that read to thee the Alcoran and made thee to understand it Man presseth himself to goe to his dishonor and considereth not his end he shall raise the head with a countenance content to see God but at the same instant shall have the face covered with affliction and shall know that he is in the height of all miseries His soul shall be conducted towards God when it shall be separate from his body If it renounce the Law of God it shall goe towards the damned towards them that extend their armes through dispaire It shall be said to him God alone whom thou wouldst not obey was thy Lord and protector Doth man think to
Temples and Hospitals and are obliged to give to the poore the first day of the year the tithe of what they have gained during the preceding yeare They believe that after being well washt saying some prayer appropriate to that Ceremony they have also the soul purified from all filthiness and sinne which is the cause that they wash and bathe often especially before they pray They have no Sacrament but Circumcision they cause their children to be circumcised at the age of seven or eight years and when they can pronounce these words La â—â—â—a illâ— aâ—ha Mehemet rasoul allha that is There is but one God Mahomet is his Prophet and Apostle this is their profession of Faith nevertheless there is no mention of Circumcision in all the Alcoran they say they observe it in imitation of Abraham whose Law is recommended to them by Mahomet they believe that the Alcoran was brought to him at severall times by the Angel Gabriel in the City of Mecca and that of Medina because the Jews and Christians had altered the holy Scriptures and the Law of God They are permitted to have four wives married at the same time and as many Concubines as they are able to maintain They can put away their wives when they think fit paying them what they promised them in contract of marriage and marry again at their pleasure but the women are bound to tarry untill they are assured that they aâ—â—â—â—ith childe before they marry again and their 〈◊〉 â—â—â—re obliged to keep and take the care of the 〈◊〉 The children which they have by their slaves 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—rently esteemed with those of their wives and are aâ— held as legitimate They have Temples Colledges and Hospitalls well revenued they have covents of Religious that live exemplarily obey their Superiours without contradiction and dance after the sound of Flutes and other instruments when they make their prayers They have moreover another sort of Religious Vagabonds through the world clothed like fools of that Country they often go naked and cut their skin in many places are held to be holy persons and live by alms which are never refused them both the one and the other sort of Religious are called Dervis they are known by their habit and can retire and marry when they please They deny Jesus Christ to be God or the Son of God neither believe they in the holy Trinity they say that Jesus Christ was a great Prophet born of the Virgin Mary a Virgin both before and after her delivery that he was conceived by divine inspiration or by a divine breath without a father as Adam was created without a mother that he was not crucified that God took him into heaven and that he shall come again on earth at the end of the world to confirm the Law of Mahomet they likewise affirm that the Jews thinking to crucifie Jesus Christ crucified a man among them that resembled him They pray to God for the Dead they invoke their Saints A great question among Mahometans of whom they have a large Legend nevertheless they believe not Purgatory and many among them imagine that the soul and body remain together in the grave until the day of Judgment They have Mecca and Medina that are two Cities of Arabia in great veneration because Mahomet was born at Mecca and buried at Medina they make thither great pilgrimages and believe that Land to be Holy They bear likewise singular respect to the City of 〈◊〉 for that it hath been the Birth-place and haâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—f many Prophets They use no Clocks at the hour of theâ—â—â—â—â—rs their Priests ascend the highest part of the Tower that is in a corner of the Temple and with a loud voyce call the people to prayer singing prayers composed for that purpose WE the Consuls Governors Protectors and Defenders of the Priviledges Freedoms and Liberties of the City of Marseillis do certifie and attest to all to whom it shall appertain that Mr. Andrew du Ryer Lord of Malezair Gentleman in Ordinary of the Kings Chamber and heretofore Consul to his Majesty in Aegypt hath executed the charge for the said Consulship like a man of honesty and honour no complaint having been made at any time or his administration or deportment during the time of his abode there and that he exercised that office Neither was any complaint ever made of the said Mr. du Ryer during the time he sojourned at Constantinople for the service of his Majesty but all the Captains and Officers of Merchant Vessels and of others that negotiated in the same parts received of him all favour as in matters that concerned them as in affairs that did relate to the service of his Majesty and the advantage of his Subjects traffique in testimony of which Wee have drawn and signed these presents and have put and affixed to them the Seal and accustomed Arms of this City At Marseillis the 12. day of Feb. 1633. De Bourgogne Consul I. Savornin Consul Meinardet Consul By the said Consuls Boet. To Mr. DU RYER Lord of Malezair Gentleman in Ordinary of the Kings Chamber at Constantinople SIR HAving heard by the report of many Merchants of this City the good offices that you have daily performed towards them of our Nation and particularly our fellow Citizens who all unanimously much commend your assection and singular care to protect and defend them We thought our duty to return you by these lines a thousand thanks and that the more affection for that your curtesie and not their merits carried you to all those good offices of which they and we shall ever keep a perpetuall memory to render you any acknowledgement when occasion shall be offered and give you a testimony by our services that you have not cast your seed upon barren ground In the mean time Sir we beseech you be pleased to continue to us the honour of your friendship and effects of your favour as we shall desire in all emergent occasion to testifie that we are really Sir Your most affectionate Servant the Consuls Governors of the City of Marseillis Monthouliau Francis Nappolon Du Pont. From Marseillis this 24. of August 1632. A Translation of the Command of the grand Seignior concerning Mr. Malezair ILlustrious and Excellent Commanders refuge of the great Triumphant Eminent Glorious and Honourable Lords endued with the speciall graces of God Bashaws or Vice-Roys Beyes or Governors that are upon the roads of our most August Port to the Realm of France God perpetuate your glory just Judges of the Nusulmans Minerals of Vertue and Knowledge that are upon the road of our most August Port to the Realm of France God increase your vertues Honorable and trusty Governors Captains of Frontires and Castles Captains and Patrons of Galleys and Vessels Customers that are upon the road of our most August Port to the Realm of France God augment your Honours and glory When this most August command shall come to you know that the Lord of
who except God will be thy defendor They whom we have taught the Scripture that study read it with truth beleeve the conâ—ents of it they that do not beleeve are damned O chilâ—ren of Israel call to mind the favour that I did you I preâ—erred you before all the world fear the day wherein one â—oul shall not be able to assist another when a ransom shal not be accepted neither excuse and when the wicked shal not be protected Remember thou that Abraham requested of the Lord an accomplishment of his Word he said to him I will establish thee among the people to teach them the mysteries of my Law and he said what shal become of my â—â—nage He answered Paradise shal not be open to the unjust We have established the Temple of Mecca for a sure refuge of the people in repentance he made his Oratorie â—t Abrahams * Abrahams place is an Oratory in the temple of Mecca place and we have commanded Abraham and Ismael to keep clean my house for them that shall repair thither in procession with humility and adoration When Abraham received this command he said Lord fortifie this City and enrich its people with all good things and all the inhabitants thereof that shal believe in thy divine Majesty and the day of judgment God said I wilâ— for a time enrich the Infidels also precipitate them iâ— to the fire of hell where they shall remain to all eternitâ— When Abraham and Ismael raised the foundations of thâ— Temple of Mecca Aâ—raham said Lord accept our vows choâ— understandest all and knowest all things Lord give us thâ— grace to be obedient to thy Commandments and let a peâ—ple issue from our loyns that may observe thy Law Shew tâ— the way we ought to follow and have mercy upon us thoâ— art gracious and mercifull Lord send to this thy people Prophet of their nation to preach to them thy CoÌ„mandâ—ments to instruct them in Scripture and knowledge anâ— to purifie them thou art omnipotent and wise No manshiâ— abandon the Law of Abraham but to his own damage have chosen him in this world and he is in the other â— the number of the just Remember thou that his Lord saiâ— to him Be thou obedient to thy Lord trust thou in hiâ— he said I resign my self to God Lord of the Universe Hâ— commanded Jacob and his children to follow the Law 〈◊〉 God My children God hath taught you his Law trust yoâ— in him be obedient to him even unto death Were yoâ— present when Jacob was near unto death and when he saâ— to his sons Whom will ye adore after me They answereâ— We will worship thy God the God of our Fathers Abrâ—ham â—smael and Isaac one sole God we resign our selves his pleasure The good that those men gained remained tâ— them the evil that you shal commit shal be against yoâ— enquire not after what they did They have said Be ye eâ—ther Jew or Christian you shall follow the right way Saâ— unto them contrariwise The law of Abraham is most jusâ— he was not of the number of them that believed in manâ— Gods Say ye We believe in God in what he inspired intâ— Abraham Ismael Isaac Jacob and the Tribes in what wâ—â— taught Moses Jesus al the Prophets we rely upon Goâ— If they believe as you do they shal not err if they abandoâ— your faith they will have a controversie with you but Goâ— shal protect you he understandeth whatever they say anâ— what they do he hath purified his Law what better purification is there then that of his Divine Majesty Say untâ— them wil you dispute with us concerning God who is youâ— and our Lord We will answer with our action and you shall answer with yours all our confidence is in his Dâ—vine pleasure Will you say that Abraham Isaac Jacob and the Tribes were Iews or Christians Are you mâ—re knowing then God Who is more unjust then he that concealeth the miracles that he hath seen to proceed from God He is not ignorant of all your actions The good that those men have done remaine to them and the evill that they shall commit shall be against you enquire not after what they did Some ignorant among the people will say Their Prophet doth not appoint them to turn the face to that side to which they turned heretofore when they made their Oâ—isons Say unto them The East and Wâ—st belong unto God he directeth in the right way whom he pleaseth As we have conducted you into the right way we have likewise commanded you to doe that which is just that you be witnesses against the people at the day of judgement See Gelaldin and the Prophet witnesse against you I have not ordained that you turne your face as heretofore when you made your Orisons to the end they may be knowne that follow the Prophet from them that returne to their impiety It will be â—â—rksome to the people to turne to that side except to such â—s God hath guided into the right way God will not make â—aine your belief he is gracious and mercifull to his peoâ—le I see that thou liftest up thy face to Heaven turne â—hich way shall please thee but turne â—hâ—u towards Mecâ—a wheresoever thou art They These are the Iews and Christians that follow the written Law to whom heretofore the â—nowledge of Scripture was given knew that the Truth â—â—oceeded from their Lord what they doe is not concealed â—rom God when thou shalt meet them and that they will â—ot turne themselves as thou in making their prayers â—oe not thou likewise turne as they they turne not all the â—â—me way follow not their appetites having comprehenâ—ed the knowledge that hath been inspired into thee least â—hou fall into the number of the unjust Many to whom â—e have given the knowledge of the written Law underâ—â—and it perfectly as also doe their children neverthelesse â—â—ey conceale the Truth and are not ignorant that it proâ—â—edeth from thy Lord Be not thou of the number of them that doubt Turne thy selfe always towards Mecca Doâ— good wheresoever thou art God will be with thee he iâ— omnipotent From what place soever thou goest forth tuâ—â— thy face towards Mecca This is reasonable and ordaineâ— by thy Lord. Whatsoever you doe is not hid from God wheresoever you are turne towards Mecca that none maâ— find wherewith to reprove your actions but the unjustâ— feare not them but feare me I will accomplish my Gracâ— upon you and you shall be guided through the right waâ— We have sent unto you a Prophet of your Nation thâ— shall teach you my Commandements and purifie you Hâ— shall instruct you in the Scripture in knowledge and 〈◊〉 what you understand not Remember me I will remembâ—â— you praise me and be not in the number of the wickeâ— O ye that are * So the Turks stile themselves True believers implore uccor with paâ—â—ence and prayers Certainly God
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
rest in the other world where they shall be severely chastâ—sed I increase the wealth of Infidels to augment their pain they shall in the â—nd feele grievous torments God will not leave the faithfull in the state that you are in he will one day separate â—he good from the evill he doth not teach you what is to â—ome he for that effect chuseth among the Prophets whom he seeth good Believe therefore in God and his Prophets if you believe in God fear to offend him you shall be rewarded Believe that such as are too sparing â—nd avaritious of the wealth that God hath given them do well on the contrary they do very ill what they spare without reason shall strangle them at the day of Iudgement The inheritance of heaven and earth is Gods he knoweth all things Certainly God heard the speech of them that said God is poor and we are rich hee hath said I will write what they have spoken and keep an exâ—ct account of the murther they have unjustly committed on the persons of the Prophets I will say to them at the day of Iudgement taste of the torments of hell fire which you have deserved God doth not lead into darknesse them that worship him There be that say God hath commanded us not to believe the Prophets untill their sacrifice be consumed by fire say to them there came to you Prophets heretofore with miracles that you demanded you had not slain them had you been righteous if they bely thee know they belyed the Prophets that were before thee that came with miracles the Psalter and the book of light Every man shall taste of death and your reward shall be payed at the day of Iudgement he that shall depart from the fire of hell and enter into Paradise shal be happy The wealth of this world is but matter of Pride that you may be tried in your riches and persons Hearken not to the Iews and Christians that have known the written Law before you neither to them that belieâ— in many gods they offend God through their blasphemie if you have patience and fear God you shall make a verâ— good resolution God hath accepted the speech of the that know his written Law when they promised him 〈◊〉 preach to the people his Commandements and not coâ—ceal them neverthelesse they have contemned them aâ— changed them for profit of little value and have gainâ— nothing but misery think not that such as rejoyce of thâ— evill they have done and affect to be commended 〈◊〉 what they have not done have escaped the punishmeâ— of their crimes they shall certainly suffer great torment The kingdome of heaven and of earth is Gods he is Oâ—nipotent the Creation of heaven and earth the diffâ—rence of day and night are evident signs of his Omnipâ—tencie to such as have judgement Such as have remember God standing sitting or lying down and considerâ— the creation of Heaven and Earth have said Lord the hast not created these things in vain blessed be thâ— Name deliver us from the torments of hell fire thou wâ— render miserable him that thou shalt thither precipitatâ— and the wicked shall be deprived of protection at the daâ— of Iudgement Lord we have heard them that say believe in your Lord we believe in thy unity pardon oâ— faults blot out our sins and give us grace to die in thâ— number of the just bestow on us what thou hast proâ—â—sed by the Prophets and suffer us not to be miserable aâ— the day of Iudgement thou dost not contradict whâ— thou dost promâ—se The Lord heard them and said 〈◊〉 them I will not suffer your works to be lost as well 〈◊〉 men as of women I will blot out the sins of them thaâ— went out of Mecca to separate themselves from the wiâ—ked I will cover the offenses of them that forsook theiâ— houses that assembled to fight for the Faith and weâ— flain I will open to them the gate of Paradise wherein flow many rivers to recompence their good woorks There is with God great reward envie not the Infidels whoâ— thou shalt see posiesse a little wealth in the earth hell is prepared to be their habitation and such as fear Goâ— shall dwell eternally in gardens wherein run many rivers with all manner of content God is a great rewarder of the iust Among them that know the written Law there be that believe in God in what was afore time taught you and in what was preached to them surely they obey God and forsake not his Law They shall receive a great reward from God he is exact in his account O ye that are true believers be patient in your adversities persevere to doe well fight for the Faith feare God and you shall be happy CHAP. IV. The chapter of women containing one hundred and seventy Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Kitab el tenoir O ye people feare your Lord that created you of one sole person and created his wife of his rib of whom issued many men and women Feare God by whom you sweare and say the belly * The ancient Arabians swore by by the name of God and the belly of their wives because they feared their sterility of your wives God exactly observeth your actions Give unto orphans what appertaineth to them and render not evill for good devoure not their substance it is a very great sin If you feare to doe injury to Orphans feare also to doe wrong to women marry those that please you two three or foure if you apprehend you shall not be able to entertaine them equally marry but one or the slaves that you shall have acquired this is most necessary to the end you offend not God Give to women their dowry with a good will if they give to you any thing that is pleasing to you receive it with affection and civility Bestow not on fools the wealth that God hath given you for subsistance assist Orphans give to them the garments that shall be necessary for them and entertaine them honestly instruct them untill they have attained to years of discretion and are capable of marriage if you believe they demeane themselves wisely restore to them their faculties and devoure them not unjustly before they be of age He that shall be rich shall abstain from their goods and he that is poore shall take with honesty according to the pains he shall undergoe for them when you make to them restitution of their goods take witnesse of your action God loveth good accounts The children shall have a good part of what their father and mother and parents left after their decease of little or of much there appertaineth to them a portion prefixed and limitted When they divide their goods the kindred shall have care of the poore and Orphans doe good to them and honestly entertaine them Such as feare to leave after them a weak progeny of little children ought to feare to wrong Orphans they
Conceale not your testimony lest you be in the number of sinners If you discover those two witnesses to have erred in their testimonie substitute two other in their place although they partake in your succession and take oath of them to be more veritable in their dispositions then the two others otherwise they will offend God and be numbred with the unjust It is better to speake Truth then to be in feare lest your falshood be detected feare God and hearken to his Commandements he guideth not them that disobey him He shall one day assemble his Prophets and Apostles and say unto them what did you answer being questioned concerning my unity they shall reply Lord we are ignorant thou alone knowest all things He shall say to Jesus Oh Jesus Sonne of Mary remember thou my grace towards thee and thy mother I strengthned thee with the Holy Ghost Thou spakest in thy Cradle as a man of forty or fifty yeares thee did I instruct in Scripture and knowledge the Old Testament and the Gospell Thou didst forme of earth the figure of a Bird didst breath upon it and it did flie thou didst cure the borne-blind and the leprous didst revive the dead I delivered thee from the Jews when thou didst preach to them my Commandements and wroughtest miracles which the wicked affirmed to be magick and inchantment Remember how thou didst command thy Apostles to believe in me and obey my Prophet and how they said we believe in one sole God be thou witnesse that we entirely resign our selves to the will of God Remember * Mahomet thou that the Apostles said Oh Jesus Son of Mary can thy Lord send us from Heaven a Table covered with meats to satisfie us Jesus answered them Fear God if you believe in his Law they said we have an appetite and desire to eat of the food of Heaven for the repose of our hearts and to know if thou speakest the truth of which we shall be witnesses Then said he Oh God my Lord cause to descend upon us from Heaven a Table covered with meat this day shall be celebrated by us and them that shall succeed this shall be a signe of thy omnipotency enrich us with thy grace thou possessest all treasure God said to him I will cause to descend from Heaven the food which thou desirest and whosoever shall be impious shall be punished with torments that no man yet hath suffered He shal say at the day of â—udgment oh Jesus Sonne of Mary didst thou enjoyne the people to worship thee and thy mother as two Gods Jesus shall answer praised be thy name I will take heed of speaking what is not thou knowest if I have said it thou art omniscient thou knowest what is in my soul and I have no knowledge of what is in thee I delivered nothing but what thou didst command me to speake to wit Worship God your Lord and mine I am witnesse from the time that I was in the world untill thou didst cause me to dye thou didst observe the deportments of the people thou seest all if thou chastisest men they are thy Creatures if thou dost pardon them thou art omnipotent and wise Then shall God say this day shall good workes be profitable to the righteous they shall enter into Paradise wherein flow many rivers there shall they dwell eternally with my grace in exceeding great felicitie the Kingdome of Heaven of Earth is Gods he is Omnipotent CHAP. VI. The Chapter of Gratifications Gelaldin justifieth this Chapter of Animals containing one hundred and seventy five Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise bee to God the Creator of Heaven of Earth of darkenesse and of light such as believe not in their Lord are in error See Gelaldin He it is that created you of the dust of the Earth and appointed a prefixed time for your death and resurrection neverthelesse you doubt he is God in Heaven and in Earth he understandeth the secrets of your hearts and whatsoever you make manifest he knoweth the good and evil that you commit that his Commandements have been taught the Inhabitants of Mecca and that they have abjured them they opposed the revealed Truth but shall be chastised for their contempt They consider not how much people we have destroyed in past ages we gave them places to dwell in See Gelaldin more strong and spacious then those which you inhabit sent them about of raine caused fountaines flow in the places of their habitation after this did we extirpate them by reason of their sins and established in their place a new people We have sent to thee the Scripture written in Vellam the unbelievers have handled it with their hands yet say it is evident sorcery and enchantment that they will not believe therein unless they see an Angel descend to confirme it Should we have sent an Angel they had perished by his presence unless we had sent him under the Figure of a man like unto them and cloathed as they are They derided the Prophets and Apostles thy Predecessors derision is fallen upon such as contemned them Say to them goe through the world and consider the end of them that abjure the Law of God say to them to whom appertaineth whatsoever is in Heaven and earth it is Gods He will employ his mercy to save you doubtlesse he will assemble all of you at the day of Judgement Neverthelesse Infidels believe not in his Unity they consider not that whatsoever moveth by night and by day and whatsoever is in the world belongeth to his Divine Majesty who understandeth and knoweth all things Say to them require you other protection then that of God the Omnipotent Creator of heaven and earth who nourisheth all things is nourished by none Say to them I have received a command to embrace the Law of Salvation Be not ye in number of unbelievers I feare to disobey my Lord and feare the torments prepared for the wicked at the day of Judgement he that shall deliver himselfe shall enjoy the grace of God which is supreame felicity If God will punish you none shall deliver you from his punishment if his Will be to doe good to you he is Omnipotent alwayes victorious and hath all power over his Creatures he is most wise and Omniscient Say to them What better testimony is there in the world then that of God Say to them He shall testifie between you and me to whom he hath inspired the Alcoran to instruct you Will any among you that shall learn it say there is any other God but God I will not say so there is but one God and I am innocent from the sin you commit in associating him with a companion equall to him many of them that understand the written Law have knowledge of the truth of the Alcoran their children also know it but such as forsake their owne souls will not believe in God Who more unjust then he that
things like to those which God inspired into his Prophets When thou shalt see the wicked at the point of death and the Angels stretching forth their hands to take their souls say unto them This day the torments of hell shall be the punishment of the blasphemies that ye have vomited against God and your disobedience to his Commandements God shall say to them you are come before us without riches and children naked as you were created and have cast behind your backs the instructions which we gave you I see not with you the Idols you adored you are separated from each other and have forsaken them that you esteemed on earth should have been your protectors God separateth the good from the wicked as the corn from the ear and the stone from the Date He causeth the living to spring from the dead and the dead from the living behold the works of God why will you depart from his Law He divideth the morning from darkness hath established night for the repose of men and the Sun and Moon to compute ages years moneths and seasons such are the effects of Gods power he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He it is that created the Stars to give you light and guide you in the obscurity of the earth and sea he gratifieth with his grace and such as learn his Commandements He it is that created you of one sole person that gave you the earth to inhabit and preserveth you in the world hee hath conferred his grace on such as have obeyed his Commandements hath made raine to descend from heaven and caused the earth to produce divers sorts of herbs green things and corn he hath caused the Date to spring forth and the Palme tree with gardens enriched with Grapes Olives Pomgranets and many fruits alike and different Consider how fruits encrease and multiply this serveth for instruction of Gods Unity to them that have his fear before their eyes the Infidels have adored the devill with God who created them and said that God hath sons and daughters such is their ignorance praised be God he created heaven and earth how shall he have a son who hath no wives He created and knoweth all things he is your God and your Lord there is none other God but he worship him he conserveth all things he is seen of no man and beholdeth all things he is benigne and nothing is concealed from him O people there is come to you a light from your Lord to conduct you he that seeth clearly shall receive advantage and he that shall be blinde shall continue his miserie I am your Tutor neither observe I what you do Thus do I declare the mysteries of my Law the wicked shall in the end confesse that thou hast taught my Commandements to such as inclined to learn them Act what thy Lord hath inspired into thee there is no God but he separate thy selfe from the societie of unbelievers Had it pleased God they had not disobeyed his Commandements thou art not their Tutor injure not them that worship Idols they injure God through malice and ignorancâ— every man esteemeth what he hath done and pleaseth himself in his opinion Certainly they shall all be assembled at the day of Judgement and be chastised after their demerits They have sworn by the name of God to fight for the faith if some miracle appeare to instruct them miracles proceed from God they know not the time wherein he will make them to appeare although they should see miracles they will not be converted I will overturne their hearts blind their sight and they shall never be converted I will leave them in their errors and disobedience with contempt and confusion If we should send to them Angels should the dead come and speake to them and should we bring about them all the witnesses of the world they shall not believe if it so please God most of them are ignorant we have allotted an enemy to each Prophet as the Devill is an enemy to men he tempteth them with the ornament of his discourses to render them proud If it had pleased thy Lord they had wanted that power depart thou from unbelievers and their blasphemies and incline not to their will they shall find no advantage in their impiety Do you desire another Judge then God who hath sent to you the Book that distinguisheth good from evill Such as know the Scripture are not ignorant that this Book was sent from God and containeth the Truth Be not thou in the number of them that doubt the word of God exactly commeth to passe no man can hinder its effects God understandetâ— and knoweth all things If thou incline to the will of most men they will seduce thee they believe but their own opinions and are lyars Thy Lord knoweth them that erre and such as follow the right way Eat what shall be slain in pronouncing the name of God they taught you what was forbidden eat not unlesse constrained through necessity Many erre from the right way and pursue their own appetites and ignorance God beholdeth them that offend him flie publike and secret sinne sinners shall be severely chastised eat not of what is not let-bloud in pronouncing the name of God lest you disobey his Commandements The Devils will tempt them that serve them they will perswade unbelievers to dispute against you if you incline to them you shall be Infidels as they are I raised again many of them that were dead through their sinnes I converted them and gave them a light to illuminate them in the darknesse wherein Infidels shall dwell for ever because they delight in their disobedience Thus will I place in every City leaders that shall seduce the wicked and themselves but shall not understand it When they beheld any signe of the truth of the Prophet appeare they said they will not believe in him unlesse he were accompanied with the vertues and merits of other Prophets God maketh choyce of them on whom he conferreth the grace of prophecie he shall chastise such as discourse in that manner with ignominie in this world and they shall feel in the other great torments by reason of their impietie God rejoyceth the hearts of them that he inclineth to lead into the way of Salvation and punisheth them that digresse from the right path his wrath fell upon the Infidels so soon as he ascended into Heaven The way thou followest is the right way we have recompensed such as have understanding to profit they shall be happy God shall be their protector because of their good works Remember thou the day wherein we shall assemble the people and when it shall be said to the Devils Oh ye bands of Devils wherefore are you risen against men The chiefe of those men that shall have obeyed them shall answer Lord suffer us to be revenged on each other and let each command in his turn See Gelaldin Oh Lord teach us the prefixed time that thou hast appointed to
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
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
chains that strictly bind them Such as shall believe in him that shall honour him that shall defend him from his enemies and follow the light that we shall send him shall be happy Say unto the people I am indeed a messenger sent from God to whom appertaineth the kingdome of the Heavens The Turks believe that Mahomet could neither write nor read and of Earth there is but one God alone he giveth life and death as seemeth good to him Believe in God and in his Prophet who can neither read nor write Such as shall believe in God in his Word and follow the Prophet shall not erre they shall follow a very good way There are some of the children of Israel that knew the truth and judge with equity We divided them into twelve Tribes when Moses required drink for his people we inspired him to strike the rock with his rod whence flowed twelve fountains and every one knew the place where he should drink we covered them with the shaddow of clouds we caused Manna and Quailes to descend upon them and commanded them to eat of the good things which we gave them They did not hurt us when they murmured but afflicted themselves This is the holy land It was said to them Dwell in this City and eat therein what shall please you enter at the gate with adoration See Gelaldin and beg pardon of your sinnes I will pardon you and will augment the graces of the righteous nevertheless the wicked that were among them altered the words that were spoken to them and perverted them and we sent upon them our indignation from Heaven because of their impiety Ask of them concerning a village that was upon the shore of the Sea whose inhabitants observed not the Sabbath and fished on the day of rest they saw in that day Serpents appear upon the water and other dayes they saw none Thus are tryed them because of their disobedience A party of them said Fish not O people it is lost labor God shall destroy and chastise them with grievous torments then their Doctors said They shall implore pardon of the Lord perhaps they will fear to offend him another time When they rejected what we taught them we saved such among them as abstain from evil-doing and grievously afflicted the wicked because of their disobedience when they gloried in their sin we said to them Be ye contemned and abhorred as Apes thy Lord shall send to them at the day of Judgement persons to torment them he is exact in punishing the wicked and mercifull to the righteous We sent upon them good and evill to prove them peradventure they will be converted Their posterity left a progeny heirs of their doctrine nevertheless they returned to their sins and say the Lord shall pardon them they beg pardon of him and return daily to their sin See Gelaldin Shall not account be required from them of what is ordained in the Scripture To wit not to speak of God but with truth They have read the Truth but have not comprehended it Paradise is onely for the righteous I will not deprive them of recompense who make their prayers at the time appointed and observe what is contained in the Scriptures Remember thou how we raised a mountain over them to shelter them and how they believed it would fall upon their heads wee said to them Learne with affection what we teach you and remember perhaps you will feare disobedience Thy Lord caused to come out of Adams reins all his posteritie and asked them saying Am not I your Lord they answered yes thou art our Lord we know it well They cannot therefore say at the day of Judgement That they knew not his unitie they shall say for excuse Our fathers adored many gods before us we are their posterity wilt thou destroy us because of their iniquity Thus doe I discover my mysteries to men it may be they will be converted Relate to them the history of him that saw our miracles he was dispoiled of his understanding the Devill followed it and he was in the number of the wretched Had we so pleased we had exalted him through the knowledge of our wonders among the Doctors but he crouched to the ground and followed his owne appetite like to a chafed dog if thou chase him with choller he putteth forth his tongue if thou leave him at rest he will still put forth his tongue like to the Infidels that contemn our instructions if thou recount to them our miracles or do not recount perhaps they will be converted perhaps they will not be converted and shall be like such as have abjured our Commandements and injured their own souls He whom God guideth is well guided and he whom God mis-leadeth is in the number of the miserable We have created Hell to punish Devils and men they have hearts and comprehend noâ— the truth they have eyes and see it not ears have they and heare it not they are like to beasts and worse then beasts they are altogether ignorant The most beautifull names of the world appertaine to God Beseech him by the beauty of his name and depart from them that depart from the truth through the names that they impose on their Idols they shall be chastised after their demerits Some there be that follow the truth and judge with equity I will by degrees punish them that shall reject our Commandements when they shall think thereon I will defer their punishment some time because my wrath is violent Remember they not that they said Mahomet is possest of the Devill On the contrary he declareth the joyes of Paradise and preacheth the torments of Hell Consider they not the Kingdome of Heaven and of Earth which God hath created of nothing The fear of death shall arrive before they have acknowledged their sins in what will they believe if they have not faith in the Alcoran He whom God shall mis-lead shall find none to guide him he shall leave Infidels confounded in their disobedience They shall enquire of thee concerning the hour and day of Judgement Say unto them No man knoweth it but God but the greatest part of the world believe it not I have not power to do either good or evill of my self if God do not permit it If I knew the future I should provide wealth to preserve me from poverty I am sent only to declare the joyes of Paradise and preach the torments of Hell to them that believe in God he it is that created you of one sole person and created his spouse of his rib to dwell with her When she doubted of being with child she ceased not to travell as she was wont but when her conception rendred her heavy they both besought God their Lord and said Lord give an happy progeny to the end we may be in the number of them that return thee thanks for thy favours When God gave them a son a râ—ghteous man they associated him in what
thirst nor paine nor anguish for the service of his divine Majesty they have not been trampled under-foot by their enemies they shall irritate the Infidels and shall receive no displeasure on the contrary they shall acquire merit and perform a good work God doth not deprive them of recompence that doe well he shall write down their expence for his service and the number of the Idols that they shall destroy for reward of their good works It is not necessary that all the faithfull goe to the warre it is sufficient that of every lineage and of every Nation there goe a party while the rest shall learn the Lawes and mysteries of faith to instruct their Companions when they shall return from their voyage perhaps they will fear the chastisement of God Oh ye that believe in God fight against them that would cause you to be defiled in impiety be valiant and know that God is with them that have his feare before their eyes When God caused to descend from Heaven any Chapter of the Alcoran some of them said through disdaine that will increase the faith of this people Certainly it augmenteth the faith of True-believers it rejoyceth them and enflameth the wrath of his divine Majesty upon Infidels who persist in their pollutions and dye in their wickednesse They know not that God tryeth the good once or twice a year they will not be converted it is lost time to preach to them When God sent from Heaven any Chapter of the Alcoran they beheld each others and said doth any one see us They returned in their impiety and God turned their heart from the right way for that they would not learn the Truth God hath sent you a Prophet of your own Nation who with passion desireth to deliver you from your obstinacy and is extreamly affected to instruct you in the way of Salvation God is milde and pitifull towards True-believers If they abandon the faith say unto them God is my protector there is but one sole God I recommend my selfe to the will of his divine Majesty he is the Lord of the Majestique Throne CHAP. X. The Chapter of Jonas containing an hundred and nine verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am God the mercifull The precepts contained in this Book proceed from the Omnipotent Doth the people wonder that we have inspired a man to preach to the wicked the torments of Hell and to declare to True-believers that they shall finde true what their Lord to them hath promised The wicked say that it is but sorcery and enchantment Certainly God is your Lord who created Heaven and Earth in six dayes and sitteth on his Throne disposing all things no man intercedeth for his Neighbour without his permission he is your God and your Lord worship him alone will ye not consider it you all shall be one day assembled before him he promised with truth that he will cause men to die and raise them again to recompence such as have believed in his Law and done good works The unbelievers shall drink a boyling drink and shall endure great torments because of their impiety He it is that gave light to the Sun and brightness to the Moon that created the signes to know the number of years the account of moneths and of whatsoever he hath created these things teach with truth the miracles of his divine Majesty to such as have knowledge to understand them the difference of day and of night and what God hath created in Heaven and in Earth are marks of his unity to them that have his fear before their eyes They who believe there is no resurrection such as place their content in the wealth of this world they that trust in their riches and that are ignorant of the commandements of God shal be precipitated into the fire of Hell because of their sins and the True-believers shall be conducted by his divine Majesty into delicious gardens wherin flow many rivers they shall there find whatsoever they shall desire and shal say at the beginning of their prayers praised be God afterwards they shall say Salvation be to God and at the end of their prayers prayse be to God Lord of the Universe Although God doth sometimes suddenly chastise men he alwayes attendeth the time of their Destiny I will leave them that shall not believe in the Resurrection in their errors to their confusion When man is afflicted he invoketh us standing sitting lying and in all postures and when we have delivered him from his affliction he persisteth in his wickedness It seemeth good to the wicked to do in this manner we destroyed their Predecessors when they believed not in the Prophets neither obeyed the precepts that we sent them and have established you on the Earth in their place after them to see your deportments When thou teachest our commandements to them that believe not in the Resurrection they say that the precepts of the Alcoran are altogether contrary to what thou preachest and that thou hast altered them Say unto them I have no will to alter them of my selfe I do but what is inspired into me of God I fear to be punished at the day of Judgement should I disobey his divine Majesty Say unto them Had it pleased God I had neither read nor taught you his Commandements I sojourned a long time with you before I taught you will you not learn them Who is more unjust then hee that blasphemeth God doth not aid the Infidels that worship what can neither benefit nor hurt them and say their Idols shall intercede for them will you instruct God in any thing that he knoweth not of what is in Heaven or in Earth Praised be God he hath no companion Men were all of one Religion before Infidelity took place and if God had not said that he would deferre the punishment of the wicked untill the day of Judgement he had already destroyed them in this world because of their impiety They say We will not believe in the Prophet if God make not some miracles to appear in him Say unto them God knoweth what shall be expect I will expect with you when we gave them to taste of content after their affliction they had subtilty upon our Commandements Say unto them God is more subtile then you his Messengers shall write your subtilties he it is that made men to travell upon the earth and sea It is he that sendeth them a favourable winde to rejoyce them in their ships when tempest surpriseth them they believe that the waves will overwhelm them then they invoke God with desire to embrace his Law and say if God doth deliver us from this danger wee will believe in his Unity and return him thanks for this mercy and being delivered from perill persist in their wickedness O people you draw mischief on your selves you require nothing but the wealth of this world you all shall appear before us to be judged according to your
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
before their eyes shall suffer no torments in the other world it is declared to them on earth that they shall have all content the word of God admits of no alteration they shall enjoy perfection of felicity in Paradise Afflict not thy self for the words of the impious vertue proceedeth from God he understandeth and knoweth all things whatsoever is in heaven and in earth appertaineth to him They who worship Idols follow but their opinion and are lyars God hath created the night for repose and the day for labour such as heare his Word find therein marks of his omnipotency They have said doe ye believe that God hath a Son Praised be God he is most rich and hath no need of any person he possesseth whatsoever is in heaven and earth you have no reason in what ye alledge will you speak of God what ye know not God doth not aide in this world them that blaspheme against him he shall cause them to feele after their death great torments because of their impiety Instruct them in the History of Noah how he spake to his people and said O people if my abode with you the preaching of the Commandments of God be irksom to you know that all my support is in God assemble your Doctors with your Idols conceal not what ye doe goe whither you will ye shall find none to protect you if ye contemne my instructions I require not of you a reward for my pains I desire to receive of none other then God the Omnipotent and recommend my self to the Mill of his divine Majesty They slandered Noah then did we save him in the Arke and them that were with him we prolonged their posterity on earth and drowned the wicked consider the end of such as heard the word of God and contemned it We sent to them other Prophets after Noah they made them to see miracles and gave them most salutary instructions but they did not believe in what they had no will before to believe Thus I harden the heart of the wicked We after them sent Moses to Pharaoh and his subjects without miracles they arose against our Commandements when the truth was preached to them and said it was but Magick and enchantment Moses said to them will you say that the Truth is Sorcery God doth not assist Magicians and Sorcerers they said Art thou with thy brother come to divert us from the Religion of our Fathers and to be esteemed on earth We will believe in thy words Then Pharaoh commanded to summon the most skilfull of his Magicians they being assembled Moses said to them cast downe what yee have a will to cast downe on the ground having cast downe their cords and staves Moses said to them know ye none other thing but Magick God shall render it vaine and unprofitable he abhorreth such as defile the earth he confirmeth the Truth through his Word although it be against the will of the wicked Few men believed in Moses because of their feare to displease Pharoah and his Ministers Pharoah was powerfull on earth and in the number of the wicked Moses said O people if ye believe in God resign your selves to his will they answered All our confidence is in God Lord doe not thou abandon us to the malice of the unjust deliver us through thy mercy from the hands of Infidels We inspired Moses and his brother to dwell some time in Egypt with their people and to make Oratories in their houses therein to make their prayers and Preach to true believers Lord said Moses thou hast enriched Phaâ—oah and his people in this world they goe astray from the way of thy Law confound their riches and harden their hearts they will not believe untill they see thy judgements and feel the effect of thy wrath he said I hâ—â—e heard the prayers of you both be faithfull in your Embassie and follow not the way of the ignorant We gave passage through the sea to the children of Israel Pharoah pursued them with hatred and envy untill his people were drowned Then said Pharoah I believe there is none other God but the God of the children of Israel and I wholly recommend my self to his Will Thou dost now believe in God O Pharoah and wert before disobedient to his Commandements filling the earth with thy enormities I have delivered thee from this perill that thou maist be an example to posterity for many among the people are ignorant of my omnipotency We gave the Children of Israell to dwell in places full of delights and enriched them with the good things of the Earth they knew the differences that arose among them touching Religion thy Lord shall judge them at the day of Judgement If thou doubtest what we have taught thee repaire to them that have read the Scripture before thee what thy Lord hath taught thee is most true be not thou of them that doubt neither of such as derogate from the Commandements of God thou shalt be in the number of the wretched Those whom God will chastise shall not believe in his divine Majesty should they behold all the miracles of the world untill they see the torments of Hell The faith is exceeding profitable to the Cities that have received it when the Inhabitants of the City of Jonas embraced it we delivered them from our punishment we delivered them from ignominy and enriched them untill the time appointed if it pleased thy Lord all the world should believe in him wilt thou abhorre the people untill they believe in God No man can embrace the faith withâ—ut his permission he sendeth his indignation against them that disobey his Commandements Say unto them Consider all that is in Heaven and Earth miracles and preaching are of no use to such as will not believe shall they expect what their Predecessors expected Say unto them expect I will expect with you I will deliver my Prophets and the True-believers from the torments of Hell it is reasonable that I deliver them that obey my Commandements Oh people who causeth you to doubt of the Law which I teach you I will not worship the Idols that you adore I worship one God alone who shall cause you all to dye I will embrace his Law it commandeth to professe his Unity I am not of them that say he hath a companion equall to him Adore not what can neither benefit nor hurt thee if thou doe it thou shalt be in the number of the unjust If God will afflict thee none can deliver thee from affliction if God will doe good to thee none can deprive thee of his grace he hath given it to whom seemeth good to himself he is gracious and mercifull Oh people God teacheth you the truth whosoever shall follow the right way shall save his soule and whosoever shall go astray shall destroy it I am not your Tutor I do but what is inspired into me I have patience in my perseverance I wil expect the Judgement of God there is
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
shame and perpetually tormented When our will was to destroy that people and the light of the morning appeared and the water boyled in Noah's pot we commanded him to charge his Arke with two beasts of every kind and Species all creatures were destroyed except those of which we before made mention as well such as believed as them that did not believe and that but a few Noah said unto them ascend the Arke in the name of God who shall cause it to swimme and to anchor the Lord is gracious and mercifull towards us When the Arke began to flote like to a Mountaine Noah called to one of his sonnes who stayed on the Earth and said my * Gelalldin saith that he was called Kinan sonne come up into the Arke with us and remaine not with the Infidels he answered I will ascend an high mountaine that shall save me from the waters Noah said to him none is able this day to deliver thee from the punishment of God if it be not through his mercy The waters being risen he was in the number of them that were drowned God commanded the Earth to drinke its water and the Heavens to poure downe no more raine the water diminished upon the Earth after the people were drowned and the Arke rested upon the Mountaine called Gioudy thus were the unjust extirpated Noah prayed to his Lord and said Lord my son that remained in the waters was of my lineage thou didst promise me to save my family thou dost exactly performe thy promise thou art true in thy words and most just in thine actions Oh Noah answered â—od that son is not of thy lineage he hath offended me and disobeyed my Commandements doe not enquire of me concerning that which thou oughtest not to know otherwise thou shalt be in the number of the ignorant Lord said Noah I will take heed through thine assistance to enquire of thee what I ought not to know if thou hast not pitie on me I shall be in the number of the miserable God said oh Noah descend from the Arke with Salvation and blessing upon thee and upon a part of them that are with thee I will enrich the other part with the wealth of this world to punish them most severely at the day of Judgement I teach what shall be what neither thou nor thy people have not yet knowne be patient in thine afflictions Paradise is for them that have my feare before their eyes Wee sent Hod to the people of Aad his brother he said unto them oh people adore but one God alone otherwise ye shall be in the number of Infidels I require of you no recompense for the paines I take in preaching to you he that created me shall reward me will ye never be wise implore pardon of God be converted and obey his divine will he shall send you raine from Heaven and shall encrease your strength and riches be not in the number of the wicked they answered oh Hod thou shewest us no reasons to prove thy sayings thy words shall not make us to quit our Gods we give no credit to thy discourse and tell thee that some one of our Gods shall severely chastise thee He said take God and your selves to wâ—tnesse that I am innocent of the sinne that you commit in adoring Idols if you conspire against me none shall be able to protect you at the day of Judgement I recommend my selfe to the will of God mine and your Lord he conserveth all the crâ—atures of the Earth and loveth them that follow the right way I have discharged my duty and commission I have taught you what God commanded me if you goe astray he shall establish another â—eople in your place you do him no harme through your impiety he exactly observeth whatsoever is done in the world When we destroyed that pâ—ople we by our speciall grace delivered Hod from their malice and all the True-believers that were with him we delivered them from great affliction The pâ—ople of Aad contemned the Commandements of God and disobeyed his Prophets they followed the will of the obstinate were cursed in this world and shall be accursed at the day of Judgement because they disobeyed his divine Majesty with designe to extirpate the people of Hod his brother We sent Salhe to Temod his brother and his people he said to them oh pâ—ople worshâ—p one God alone he it is who hath created you of the dust of the earth and filled it with many sorts of fruits that you might inhabit it beg pardon of him and be converted he hearkneth to his creatures and heareth their prayers they answered oh Salhe it was hoped thou wouldst have beene our Captaine before the prohibitâ—on was made to adore the Gods of our fathers wee exceedingly doubt of what thou preachest Oh people said Salhe know ye not that God taught me what to you I preach and that he hath given me his grace who shall protect me if I disobey him You can but augment my paine should I believe you O people this Camell which God for you hath created shall be to you a miracle and instruction sufâ—er it to feed and doe it no harme The Turks believe that Salhe changed a rock into a Caâ—ell lest you be suddenly chastised They thâ—ough contempt wounded the Camell Then said he unto them ye shall live in your houses for the space of three dayes before ye be destroyed what is foretold to you is no Fiction when we destroyed them we through our speciall grace saved Salhe and the true-believers that were with him thunder surprized those Infidels and in the morning they were found in their houses dead extended as carkases Thus did Temod and his people contemne the Commandments of God to their disadvantageâ— Our Messengers that came to Abrahams house declared to him the birth of Isaac Jacob and their posterity they mutualy saluted when they enâ—â—ed into his house he caused rosted flesh to be brought to them to eate and perceiving that they did not eate contemned them in himself and was terrified with their coming they said unto him feare not we are sent to Lot to extirpate the inhabitants of his City Abrahams wife being present began to laugh when they foretold the birth of Isaac Jacob and their posterity she said ah God! shall I beate a son I who am old and have an husband extreamly aged this would be a miracle they answered are ye astonished at the power of God O ye of the family of Abraham God hath given you his blâ—ssing praise and glory are due to him in all places When Abraham was freed from his feare and they having announced the birth of his children he disputed with them a long time touching the inhabitants of the City of Lot he was of a mild disposition and frequently repeated the praâ—ses of God The Messengers said unto him O Abraham put an end to thy questions the houre is come wherein God hath commanded to destroy them they shall
undeâ—goe inevitable torment When they arrived in Lots house he was grieved in that he was not able to secure them from the insolency of the people he said behold here a day extremly difficult to passe The inhabitants of the City having knowledge of their arrival repaired to Lots house to continue their filthiness Lot said unto them O people I have two daughters whom I wil give you feare God trouble me not abuse not my guests is there none among you to shew you your error They answered thou well knowest that we have nothing to doe with thy daughters thou knowest what we require he said were I of sufficient power I would dwell in a fortified place to avoid the assaults of your malice Then said the Messengers of God unto him O Lot we are Angels sent from God those villains shall not approach thee go this night out of the City with thy family none shall look back but thy wife she shall feel the punishment prepared for the wicked they shall be punished early in the morning be gone speedily the day approacheth when we destroyed them we turned the City upside downe and caused it to raine upon them stones marked with fire to confound them Such chastisement is not far from the Infidels that are in Mecca We sent Chaib into the Country of Madian See Kitab el tenoir and Gelaldin he said O people Worship one God alone weigh with good weights and measure with good measure detain nothing from your neighbour and defile not the earth if ye believe in God otherwise I feare you may be punished at the day of Judgement the little that shall remaine shall bring you more of content then all that ye can purloin in weighing with false weight and measuring with false measure I am not sent to be your Tutor but only to declare the word of God they said O Chaib doth thy Law enjoyne us to abandon the gods of our Fathers and hinder us to make of our goods what shall seeme good to us thou art not of an humour good enough to be our Director He said O people see ye not that God hath taught me what I preach He hath given me wealth for subsistance I contradict you in nothing but what is forbidden you I will doe nothing but what is reasonable and conform the most I shal be able to Justice my whole support is in God I recommend my selfe to the will of his divine Majesty before which I must one day appeare O people take heed least ye become criminall if ye forsake the company of the righteous and lest that befall you that hapned to them who would not believe Noah Hod Salhe and Lot the punishment of God is not far from you beg pardon of him and be converted he is mercifull and amiable They said O Chaib we understand not all that thou sayest we see thee amongst us without force and power wert thou not accompanied we would stone thee thou shalt have no dominion over us He said O people esteeme ye my company and feare ye it more then God Have ye turned the back towards him He knoweth all your actions live after your own manner I will live after mine you shall hereafter know your error he whom God will chastise shall remaine in perpetuall misery you shall soon understand who shall be the lyar you or I expect the issue I will expect with you when we commanded to destroy them we through our especiall grace preserved Chaib and the true-believers that were with him thunder surprized those wicked ones and they in the morning remained dead extended as carkases in their houses Thus were the Inhabitants of Madian chastised like the people of â—emod We sent Moses to Pharoah and his Doctors with Miracles with Arguments and Reasons most clear and intelligible but those Doctors followed his will and obeyed his commandments notwithstanding they were contrary to reason they shall follow him at the day of Judgement as they followed him upon earth that day shall they be accursed and shall find none that shall be able to protect them the punishment of Mecca shall be like to that I relate to thee there be of its Inhabitants who subsist and that do not subsist and are no more we have done them no injustice they have drawn mischief on themselves and their Idols have been of no use to them but to augment their misery when God hath commanded to destroy them Thus hath God surprized the inhabitants of Mecca he hath chastised them because they were unjust this shall serve for example to them that feare the day of Judgement all men shall there be gathered together all the world shall see it I will retard it untill the time appointed that day shal no man speakwithout my permission there be that shal be miserable others who shal be happy the miserable shal dwel in the fire of hel they shal cry complain so long as the earth the heavens shal endure and so long as it shall please God who doth as seemeth good to himself The happy shall enjoy Paradise where they shall abide eternally so long as earth and heaven shall endure and so long as it shall please God Doubt not what the unbelievers worship they adore but the Idols which their Fathers worshipped assuredly I will chastise them as their Fathers were chastised Moses preached the old Testament yet did the wicked contradict his Precepts had not God said that he will not punish them untill the day of Judgement he had already destroyed them because they are in an exceeding great error thy Lord shall reward every one according to his works he knoweth all their actions Observe exactly what hath been commanded you with them that are converted transgresse not the Law of God he beholdeth whatsoever you doe Incline not to the affections of the unjust lest the fire of hell surprise you and you be deprived of protection Pray to God evening and morning and a part of the night prayers blot out sins it is the doctrine of Preachers be patient and persevere God will not deprive the righteous of their reward He prohibited your Predecessors and their posterity to defile the earth neverthelesse there were few among them that abstained the unjust acted what ever pleased them and were guilty before God He shall not destroy Mecca if the Inhabitants thereof obey his Commandements and if it pleased him the whole world should be of one Religion they to whom he giveth his grace transgresse not his Will his Word shall be accomplished and hell shall be filled with devills and the wicked of all Nations They have recounted to thee and thou understandest whatsoever things are necessary for them and what the Prophets have heretofore taught thine heart hath been strengthened they containe the truth and they shall be for a lesson to true believers Say unto Infidels doc on your part as ye shall understand we will doe on our part as we understand and
attend the issue we will attend it with you whatsoever is in heaven and in earth appertains to God all men shall be assembled before him worship him resign your selves to his Will he knoweth whatsoever the people doth CHAP. XII The Chapter of Joseph containing an hundred and thirteene Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull I am the mercifull God These signes are the signes of the Booke which distinguisheth good from evill We have caused to discend from heaven the Alcoran written in the Arabique tongue peradventure yee will learne it I deliver unto thee in the Alcoran one of the best things that I have inspired into thee Thou were before the comming thereof in the number of the ignorant Remember thou that Joseph said to his father My father I saw in a dreame eleven Stars the Sunne and the Moone I saw them adoring me My sonne said his father discover not thy dreame to thy brothers they will conspire against thee the devill is an open enemy to men thou shalt be elected of the Lord in this world he shall teach thee the explication of Dreams he shall accomplish his grace upon thee and upon the lineage of Jacob as he did accomplish it upon thy fathers Abraham and Isaac the Lord knoweth all things and is most wise The History of Ioseph shall serve for example to posterity remember thou how his brothers said our father loveth our brother Ioseph more then all us together he is in an exceeding great error let us kill Ioseph and cast him into some secret place remote from us his absence will render the face of our father more gentle towards us after his death we will be converted One of them said you shall not doe well to kill him but cast him into the well some passengers will take him and carry him into an unknowne Countrie They said to their Father Father wherefore doest thou not send Ioseph into the Fields with us Wee will bee very carâ—full hee shall sport and recreate himselfe I feare said hee that yee will neglect to pâ—eserve him dost thou feare said they that a wolf should devoure him in our presence and that we want strength to defend him In the morning they led him with them and cast him into a Well We inspired him to prophesie to them what should befall them for the mischief they acted but they wanted knowledge to comprehend it they in the evening returned to their fathers house with eyes full of dissembled teares and said unto him father we sported and ran who should run the best Ioseph remained with our baggage a wolf came that devoured him thou wilt not believe us although we speak the truth then they shewed him his shirt which they had sprinkled with blood it is you that hath done it said he you shall answer it before God he is my protector and was patient without lamenting There past that day * The Levantins well a Caravan a number of persons travelling together a Caravan near to that Well who desiring to draw water to drink let downe a bucket on which Ioseph took hold to get out they gave him cloathes led him away secretly and sold him at a good rate for ready money they would not kill him in which they were honest men He that bought him in Egypt commanded his wife to have care of him that he might one day be usefull for their service and be to them instead of a son Thus did we establish Ioseph in the country of Egypt and taught him the exposition of dreams thy Lord is Omnipotent but few men know him when Ioseph came to the age of manhood we gave him knowledge and prudence thus doe we reward the righteous His Masters wife became amorous of his beauty she one day shut him into her chamber and solicited him with love God defend me said he to betray my Master and be unchaste he was in the number of the righteous and fled to the door his Mistrisse ran after him and to stay him tore his shirt through the back she met her husband behind the door to whom she said what other thing doth he merit who would dishonour thine house then to be imprisoned and severely chastised Lord said Ioseph she sollicited me that infant which is in the cradle and of thy parentage shall be witnesse Then the infant in the cradle said if Iosephs shirt be torne before she hath spoken truth and Ioseph is a lyar if the shirt be rent behind Iosepâ— hath delivered the truth and she a lye then her husband bâ—held Iosephs shirt torne behind and knew that it was extreame malice and said to Ioseph take heed to thy self and beware this act be not divulged doe thou speaking to his wife implore pardon for thy fault thou art truly guilty The women of the City said among themselves that the rich mans wife was amorous of his Slave and that she had sollicited his love and had erred from the right way which she understanding made them an exceeding fair feast and caused Ioseph to enter the Parlour where they sate while they carved their meat they were so surprised and entangled with Iosephs beauty that they instead of carving their meat cut their fingers O God! said they this is not a man but an Angel then said she unto them behold him whom I loved with so much passion she another time importuned him to satisfie her desire and perceiving that he would not condescend to her will menaced him with the prison and to make him miserable O God! said Ioseph I had rather be a prisoner then do what she desireth deliver me from her malice defend me from inclining to her lubricity and from being in the number of the wicked his Lord heard his prayer he understandeth and knoweth all things This woman seeing Iosephs resolution judged it requisite to imprison him for some time he was put prisoner with two men one of which told him that he had dreamed that he prest grapes to make wine the other said that he dream'd that he caried bread upon his head which the birds did eat they demanded of him the interpretation of their dreams because he seemed to them to be a good man he said to them before ye break fast I wil interpret your dreams I wil first tell you what God hath taught me and how I quit abandon the law of Infidels embrace the Law of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob we ought not worship many gods such as believe in the unity of God are endued with his grace but few men give him thanks O Prisoners who hath more power Idols or one sole God who is omnipotent The gods which ye adore are but Idols whom ye and your fathers call by such a name as seemeth good to you ye have no reason to worship them God doth not enjoyn you thâ—s he commandeth you to worship him alone this is the right way but the greatest part of the world
you he delivered you from the men of Pharaoh who caused you to suffer great afflictions who murthered your Children abused your wives and layed upon you great evills sent from God because of your sins The Lord hath said if ye be not ingratefull I will augment my graces upon you if ye be impious you shall be afflicted Moses said to his people if you and all men be impious know that God will be alwayes glorious and hath no need of you Know ye not what befell before you the people of Noah Aad Temod and their posterity that none had knowledge of but God because of their great number He sent them his Commandements by his Prophets they bit their fingers for anger and said unto them we renounce and condemne your Doctrine The Prophets said unto them is there any doubt in the beliefe of the unity of God Creator of Heaven and Earth he calleth you to remit your sinnes and deferreth your punishment unill the day appointed They answered ye are men like unto us will you hinder us to adore the Gods of our fathers Produce arguments of strength sufficient to prove what you preach the Prophet replyed Wee are men as you are but God giveth his grace to whom seemeth good to him we are come to you through his permission the True-believers ought to trust in him wherefore should wee not be resigned to the will of God who hath guided us in the right way we will continue in wel-doing the righteous trust in his divine Majesty Then said the Infidels unto them we will banish you from our Country if you be not of our Religion but God inspired into them that the Infidels should perish and that they should inhabit the Land after them that he would protect such as should have his fear before their eyes and fear the pains that are prepared for the wicked The Prophets were protected of God and the obstinate wicked were destroyed they shall be precipitated into Hell and drink of water full of corruption urine and blood death shal appear on all sides before their eyes before they have swallowed that drink they shall not dye in that misery they shall suffer yet greater pains The good works which the wicked have done are like to dust carryed away by an impetuous winde they shall be unprofitable to them and they shall be extirpated because they depart from the truth See they not that God hath created Heaven and Earth that he can destroy them and create in their place a new people if it seem good to him This is not difficult to God all things are known to him The more impotent of them that have followed the wicked shall say at the day of Judgement we obeyed you wil you this day deliver us from the punishment of God They shall answer had God guided us in the right way we had conducted you thither we are alike miserable with you we cry and lament in our misery but finde neither refuge nor protection The Devill shall say unto them what God hath promised to you is infallible I foretold it to you I caused you to transgresse his Commandements through my tentations I had none other power over you but to tempt you you did me no harm when ye hearkened to me you drew mischief on your selves I am not your Tutor neither are you mine I was impious when heretofore I suffered you to adore me Hell is prepared for you and for all unbelievers there shall they endure great torments and the righteous shall enter into Paradise wherein flow many rivers where they shall dwell eternally with all manner of blessednesse and content Seest thou not how God speaketh by a parable A good word is like to a good tree that hath taken root in the Earth and hath raised its branches to heaven and produceth its fruit in due time through the permission of his divine Majesty hee teacheth the people his parables perhaps they will be mindfull An evill word is like to a bad tree that hath been torne from the Earth there is nothing to sustain it and it is without root or fruit God fortifieth the True-believers through his word in this world and in the other and causeth the unjust to erre he doth what to him seemeth good Seest thou not them that have changed his grace into impiety and have made such as have followed them to dwell in the house of perdition They shall abide eternally in the fire of Hell They say that God hath a companion equall to him and erre from the way of his Law Say unto them ye shall have wealth in this world but Hell is your Rendezvous Say to the True-believers who make their prayers at the time appointed and give aimes in private or in publike that the day shall come wherein they shall neither buy nor sell and where every one shall be recompenced for his works Say unto them God hath created the Earth and the Heavens he maketh the rain to descend from Heaven which causeth to spring forth all sorts of fruits to enrich you he created the ship that through his permission saileth on the Sea hee created the Rivers the Sunne and the Moone which move continually hee created the day and the night and bestoweth on you whatsoever yee desire his favours towards you can neither be numbred nor recounted nevertheless the Inhabitants of Mecca are alwayes impious and wicked Abraham said Lord protect this City and make it to be the refuge of the world Keep me and my Children from the worship of Idols they have seduced a part of the people he that shall follow me and professe thy unity shall be mine if any one disobey me thou art gracious and mercifull Lord one part of my Lineage inhabiteth Mecca in a place unfruitfull give them the grace to persevere in thy service incline the hearts of men to affect them enrich them with the fâ—uits of the Earth peradventure they will thanke thee thou knowest whatsoever is in the world I know it not nothing that is in Heaven or in Earth is hid from thee praysed be God who hath given me Ismael and Isaac in mine old age he heareth prayers when it pleaseth him Lord give me and my posterity the grace to persevere in well-doing hear my prayers pardon me and pardon my father and all True-believers at the day of Judgement Think not that God is ignorant of the actions of Infidels he deferreth the punishment of their crimes untill the day that all men shall have their eyes opened that day shall they behold their sins before their eyes and their hearts shall be full of desolation If thou preachest to the people the day of Judgement hath God will the wicked say preserved us to this present time to do what thou dost appoint us Say unto them have ye not sworn heretofore that there is no resurrection Ye have dwelt with the unjust ye have seen how they have been chastised and how we have spoken to you
in parables Certainly they conspire but God knoweth their conspiracy their policie is to tempt the Prophet to see if he will make the Mountains to move Think not that God will violate what hee hath promised to the Prophets hee is omnipotent and avengefull Consider the day wherein the Earth and Heavens shall change their face and all people shall rise again that day shall one sole God omnipotent command men to come out of their Monuments Thou shalt that day see the wicked bound in their chaines their garments shall be full of pitch and guitran their faces shall be covered with fire that day shall he recompense and chastise every one according to his works he is exact to keep account This Book was sent to instruct the people and teach them that there is but one God the wise will remember CHAP. XV. The Chapter of Hegir containing seventy and seven Verses written at Mecca Hegir is a Valley neer Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I am the mercifull God The signes are the signes of the Alcoran which distinguisheth good from evill How may the Infidels hope what the True-believers hope for depart from them See Kitab el tenoir let them eat the substance of the poore let them become rich and content themselves in their hopes they shall see one day what their end shall be We have destroyed no City untill the time destined to its ruine was expired there is no Nation that can advance or retard its destiny The wicked have said oh man who believest that the Alcoran was sent to thee we will affirme that thou art a Sorcerer untill the Angels do assure us that thou are true The Angels shall not descend to the earth unlesse to chastise them and they shall not be able to retard the time of their punishment we certainly have sent the Alcoâ—an upon earth and will preserve it without alteration we heretofore sent prophets one after another the wicked scorned and contemned them thus I imprint impiety in the hearts of the wicked they shall not believe in the Prophet and shall incur the punishment of their predecessors should we open the entrance of heaven and should they behold the Angels go in and goe out at the shadow of the gate they would yet say their eyes were inchanted and that they were bewitched we created signes in heaven and adorned them with Starres to contâ—nt the mindes of them that consider them wee sheltered them from the assaults of the devill but the Butterflie followeth every thing that shineth and believeth it to be a Starre we extended the earth and raised the mountains with proportion we have made it to produce all sorts of fruits to sustain and enrich you we have reserved in our powâ—r the keyes of the treasures thereof to distribute to them by measure what shall be necessary we caused a fresh winde to arise and sent rain to water them it is not you that caused the fruits thereof to spring forth it is we who give life and death and dâ—spose of all things in the world Wee know who they were that did procede you and who they shall be that shall succeed you I will assemble all at the end of the world to be judged we created man of the slime of the earth and before him the devill of fire without smoak Remember thou that God said to his Angels I will create man of the slime of the earth I will breathe upon him to give him life prostrate your selves before him the Angels adored him except the devill God said unto him wherefore dost thou not adore man He replied I will not adore him thou hast created me of fire and him of the mire of the earth He said get thee out of Paradise thou shalt be banished and accursed untill the day of Judgement Lord said the devill lay not thy curse upon me untill the day of Judgement he said thou shalt be accursed untill the day nominated Lord said the devill I will tempt all the creatures because thou hast tempted me I will cause them to disobey thy Commandements except such as shall trust in thee and recommend themselves to thy divine Will God said this is the right way thou hast no power over the righteous who follow my Law but only over the Infidels for whom hell is prepared Hell hath seven gates and every gate hath its particular work the righteous shall dwell in gardens adorned with fair fountains we will free them from all rancour they shall repose upon beds like brethren with respect and affection and shall be in eternall felicity Declare to them that worshâ—p me that I am gracious and â—â—â—ciful and my chastâ—sements are sâ—vâ—re and rigorous Preach unto them the Hâ—story of the guest of Abraham they saâ—â—ted him when they eâ—â—red his house Abraâ—â—m was â—â—â—â—ified at their comming they said to him fear not us we are the Messengers of God we declare to thee that thou shalt have a son who shall be a great personage Do you tell me said he that I shall have a son in mine old age why speak ye in that manner We tell thee the truth despairâ— not of the grace of God none but the wicked despaire O Messengers of God! said Abraham what doe ye require We are sent to destroy the Infidels and to preserve the whole family of Lot except his wife she shall remain wâ—th them that shall be punished When these Messengers came to Lots house he told them he knew them not they said to him we are come to thee to cleare this people of their doubt of Gods Omnipotencie what we speak unto thee is most true cause thy family this night to go out of the City and follow their steps that none among you look behind him and go whither you shall be commanded the wicked shall in the morning be destroyed The Inhabitants of the City came to Lots house to see those strangers Lot said unto them I beseech you defile not your selves with my Guest fear God and dishonour not your selves behold my daughters take them They said we do not hinder thee to lodge thy guests and remained confounded in their drunkenness In the morning thunder surprised them we overthrew the City upside down and caused it to rain stones with fire that utterly destroyed it This shal serve for example to passengers that shal see those ruines and for a mark of the Omnipotency of God to them that shall believe in his divine Majesty They that inhabited the wood neer to Medina were impious but we avenged us on them they served for example to posterity as did the people of the City of Lot They that dwell in the Valley of Heâ—ir have defamed the Prophets we gave them to see our Miracles and taught them our Commandements they contemned them but they reposed in the morning in their houses built upon the mountains and in their fortesses when thunder suprised them their treasures did not save them
the Temple of Jerusalem as they had ruined it the first time Your Lord shall pardon you if you convert we have established Hell for a perpetuall prison of Infidels The Alcoran guideth the righteous into the right way it declareth to them a great reward preacheth to the wicked the torments of Hell and exhorteth men to wel-doing although they are inclining to evill and prompt to sin We created the day and the night they are two signes of our omnipotency we caused the night to passe away and the day to appeare for labor and to the end ye might know number of ages of months and of yeares wee explained our mysteries without obscurity and have enjoyned every one to beare the burden of his iniquities at the day of judgement that day will we make men to see the accompt of their sins they shall be recompenâ—ed and chastised according to the good and evill that they shall have committed and none shall beare burden of his neighbor we sent to the people Prophets and Apostles to preach to them our Commandements before they were chastised before the destruction of a City we advertâ—sed the principall inhabitants thereof when they disobeyed us we chastised them according to our word and destroyed them How many Cities have we ruined since Noahs flood The sins of the people and knowne to their Lord he giveth the riches of this world to them that desire them to cause them to fall head-long into Hell where they shall repent of their iniquities and be deprived of mercy He who shall labor to acquire the riches of Heaven shall be protected of thy Lord in this world and enriched with the Treasures of Heaven in the other Consider how we prefer our Creatures one to another the reward of Heaven is much greater then that of the Earth Believe not that there be two Gods otherwise you shall repent of it and be deprived of protection at the day of judgement Thy Lord hath ordained to worship him alone and to honour your father and mother especially in their old age and say nothing to them that may afflict them neither vex them speak to them with respect doe not contemne them pray to God to compassionate them as they pittied when they brought you up in your infancy God knoweth whatsoever is in your souls he will be mercifull to you if ye obey him Give to your parents what appertaineth to them doe good to the poore and to pilgrims be not prodigall the prodigall are brethren of the Devill ingratefull for the favors of their Lord. Contemne not the poore if ye desire to obtain the mercy of God speak to them with mildnesse and endeavour to content them doe not entirely shut your hands neither altogether extend them if yee doe otherwise yee shall offend Thy Lord giveth and taketh away his graces as seemeth good to him hee knoweth his people and understandeth all their actions Slay not your children for feare of necessity I will give whatsoever shall be necessary for them the murther of children is an exceeding great sin flie whoredom it is a thing uncleane kill no man without reason we have commanded to pursue him that shal have slain his neighbour but let not the heir sin maliciously prosecuting the innocent for the guilty The innocent is in Gods protection take not the goods of Orphans and be carefull of them untill they be in yeers of discretion satifie your promises an accompt shall be required of you measure with good measure and weigh with just weights Busie your selves not with that which you ought not to know There shall be required of you an accompt of the sins ye have committed in seeing hearing and thinking Be not proud ye shall never be so long as the Earth neither so high as the Mountains such sins are exceeding great before thy Lord It is one part of what he hath inspired into thee to preach to his people Say not there be two Gods left thou be confined to the fire of Hell Your Lord hath elected you with all those men and women that obey his Commandements for his sons and daughters as the Angels yet say not that God hath children We made mention in the Alcoran of whatsoever is necessary to be preached to the people say unto them If there be a God with God as ye affirme invok him that hath his Throne in Heaven praised be God he hath no Companion he is most high and great The seven Heavens praise him and all that is in Earth glorifie him but ye comprehend it not he is gracious and mercifull We will separate thee from the wicked we will harden their hearts and stop their ears When thou shalt read the Alcoran and say There is but one God they will turne the back and deride thee I know what they desire to heare they would have the people to hearken to the words of the unjust who say That thou art a Sorcerer and a Magician consider to whom they compare thee they certainly are in error and are not able to find the right way What! we are say they bones and flesh shall we rise againe and become new Creatures who shall cause us to rise again Say unto them Although ye be stone iron bones and flesh he who first created you shall raise you againe They shall shake the head at thee and ask of thee In what time they shall rise againe say unto them Peradventure it shall be suddenly When ye shall be called out of the graves by the Commandement of God ye will believe that ye have remained but very little time in the world then shall the Infidels confesse that the Devill hath deceived them and that he is their open enemy Your Lord knoweth you all he will pardon or chastise you as seemeth good to him We have not sent thee to be their guardian thy Lord knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth Certainly we gave graces to some Prophets which we gave not to others and we gave the Psalter to David Say unto the Infidels invoke the Idols which you adore and see if they are of power to deliver you from affliction They that implore God desire to be nigh unto him who are they that shall neerest approach his divine Majesty they who hope in his mercy or such as feare his punishment Certainly his punishment ought most to be feared We will destroy all the Cities of the world before the day of Judgement and chastise the wicked with rigorous torments this is written upon the Tables kept in heaven nothing hath hindred us to manifest the miracles which the inhabitants of Mecca desire to see but the contempt shewed by their predecessors Tenod saw the miracles of the Camell and contemned it I will no more shew miracles but to make the people to apprehend the torments of hell Remember thou that we have said to thee that thy Lord knoweth all that the world doth that which we gave thee to see in the voyage by
night is to prove the people as the cursed tree See Gelaldin which is spoken of in the Alcoran there be persons that will believe it others that will not believe but I will trie them to augment their confusion Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to humble themselves before Adam and that they did humble themselves except the devill who said shall I adore him whom thou hast created of the earth who is he whom thou hast preferred to me Certainly if thou tarry untill the day of Judgement I will destroy his race except that small number that shall be under thy protection Thy Lord said unto him get thee hence hell shall be thy punishment and the punishment of them that shall follow thee deceive by thy speeches them whom thou shalt be able to deceive seduce whom thou canst seduce with the wealth of the earth cause them to exercise Usury and commit the sin of whoredome tell them there is neither Resurrection nor Judgement whatsoever thou shalt promise them shall be but vanity and falshood thou shalt have no power over them that shall worship me I will protect them against thee It is your Lord who causeth the ship to travell upon the waters for the advantage of traffique when the tempest chargeth you your Idols forsake you he alone is able to protect you neverthelesse when he hath caused you to arrive at the Port you deny his Unity and follow your impiety believe ye that he will another time make the sea calm to you and that he will send you a favourable wind if you doe not acknowledge him your protector Believe ye to returne againe to the sea He shall send you an impetuous wind that shall overwhelme you with your impietie and ye shall find none to protect you against him We have conferred on men many favours we have â—onducted them on thâ— earth and sea enriched with all sorts of riches and gratified them above all creatures of the earth preach to them the day wherein I will assemble before me all the Nations of the world with the Prophet that shall have preached to them He to whom shall be given the Book of the Accompt of his works in his right hand shall read his accompt entirely no injustice shall be done to him and he shall be happy He that shall be blind in this world shall be so in the other and shall not see the right way They would divert thee from performing what we have inspired into thee to induce thee to blaspheme against me If thou do it thou shalt be of their friends were it not for the strength that we have given thee they would make thee to incline to their impiety hadst thou done it we had given thee to taste of great afflictions in this world in the other thou hadst found none to protect thee against us it wanted not much but they had affrighted thee at Medina to cause thee to go out of it had they driven thee thence they had not continued there long after thee We heretofore sent our Prophets to instruct the people in our Law thou shall find therein nothing to change make thy prayers when the Sun shall set at the beginning and at the end of the night and at the dawning of day the Angels shall be witnesses of thine orisons spend one part of the night in prayer this shall be an augmentation of merit thy Lord shall establish thee in the place of his glory Say Lord into whatsoever place I goe make me to enter and goe forth with truth give me thy protection Say See Gelaldin that truth is come and that vanity is vanished this Book shall heal the people of their error it shall bring them into the way of mercy and encrease the misery of unbelievers We have exhorted men to abandon their impiety they have not done it and despaired when they were touched with affliction Say unto them each of us doth after his will and God knoweth him that followeth the right way they shall demand of thee concerning the Soul Say unto them the soul is an effect of God he hath given you very little knowledge assuredly had it so pleased him he could have deprived you of the knowledge he hath given you you shall find nothing that is able to protect you but his mercy Say unto them if the devils and men were all assembled against me they should not be able to compose a Book like the Alcoran We have taught in the Alcoran whatsoever is necessary for the salvation of men neverthelesse the greatest part of the people depart from the Truth and say we will not believe thee unlesse thou cause fountains to spring out of the earth and make in this place a garden beautified with Date trees and Vines with rivers flowing in the midst or unlesse we see descend from heaven a part of the pains which thou preachest we will not believe thee unlesse God and the Angels come to thy assistance unlesse thy house be of fine gold and that we see the Book of Truth sent from heaven we will not believe in thy Parchment unlesse we see descend from heaven a Book which we may be able to read Say unto them praised be my Lord am I any thing but a man sent from him what hindreth men to believe since there hath been sent to them a Pilot to conduct them into the way of salvation They say that thou art a man and not an Angel Say unto them should the Angels have inhabited the Earth God would have sent an Angel to instruct them it sufficeth that he is the witnesse of mine actions between you and me he knoweth and seeth all things he whom God guideth is well guided and such as God shall cause to erre shall find none to put them into the right way he will assemble all of them at the day of Judgement they shall be infamous deaf mute and blind and condemned to the flames of hell because they are wicked and have said through derision that they are bones and flesh and that they shall rise againe as new creatures see they not that God hath created heaven and earth that he can create yet more and hath established a destiny indubitable and infallible The unbelievers are exceedingly too blame Say unto them should you possesse all the treasures of the world yet would ye feare to make expence for the service of God man is too avaricious we gave to Moses nine marks of our Omnipotency known to the children of Israel Pharoah told him that he was a Magician His hand his staffe the deluge grashoppers lice frogs blood fear and famine See Bedaoi assuredly said Moses these signs and miracles that thou seest proceed from God Lord of heaven and earth I believe Oh Pharoah that thou forsakest the Truth Then would Pharoah have driven him out of Egypt but we drowned all those that were with him and commanded the children of Israel to inhabit the land we
and powerfull then he and entred into his gardens being an Infidell and an Idolater and said I doe not think these shall ever have an end they shall endure a long time without withering His companion said to him If thou dost not ackowledge this to proceed from God and if thou be ingratefull towards him that created thee of dust and made thee a man thou shalt soon finde thy gardens ruined this commeth from God my Lord who hath no companion all strength and truth proceedeth from his divine Magesty If I have lesse of substance then thou God can give me fruits more faire then those of thy gardens or send thunder that shall destroy them he shall fill them with water of rain that shall encompasse them and hinder thee to approach them In the morning this Infidell found his gardens destroyed to the very roots he was extreamly perplexed by reason of the expence he had made to plant them eavenly and he said would to God I had not adored Idols He shall find none that is able to protect him at the day of Judgement but God all protection and grace issueth from his divine bounty and the end of the righteous shall be happy Speak unto them this parable the life of the world is like unto rain fallen from Heaven that refreshed and revived the herbs of the Earth and in the morning were drie as chaste carried away by the winde God is omnipotent Riches and children are the ornaments of this life but good works are eternall they are acceptable to God and give us hope of his grace Be thou mindfull of the day when the mountains shall walk and thou shalt see the Earth to be plain that day we assemble the good and the wicked and will not faile of my word to any person that day shall the Infidels beseech the Lord to save them he shall say unto them you came unto us naked as when we at first created you and ye believed on Earth that there was no resurrection Then shall he give to every one the Book wherein shall be written the accompt of their sinnes Thou shalt see the wicked trembling with fear saying behold here our destruction What is there in this Book It containeth their veniall and mortall sinnes and detecteth their offences they shall find the number of their crimes before their eyes Thy Lord is unjust to none Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to prostrate themselves before Adam and that they humbled themselves except the Devill who was in the number of Angels he disobeyed his Lord neverthelesse Adam and his posterity have obeyed him although he is their open enemy and particularly of the Infidels Consider ye not that God created Heaven and Earth that he made you and hath no need to be aided of you Be thou mindfull of the day when it shall be said to Idolaters call upon your Idols that ye have worshipped for remission of your sinnes they shall implore them but none shall hear their prayers we have ruined them the wicked shall behold the fire into which they shall fall and finde none to save them We taught men in the Alcoran many parables yet do the wicked abound in questions and dispute too much What hindreth men to believe since there is come to them a guide to conduct them into the right way If they beg not pardon of God what hapned to their predecessors and at Beder shall befall them they shall be visibly punished I send Prophets only to anounce the joyes of Paradise and to preach the torments of Hell the unbelievers dispute vainly to obscure the truth they deride my Commandements and the fire of Hell who is more unjust then hee who knoweth the Commandements of his Lord and disobeyeth him and forgetteth his past sinnes We have hardned their hearts they shall not understand the Scripture we have stopped their eares they shall heare nothing if thou callest them to the right way they shall not follow thee thy Lord is gracious and mercifull should he chastise them after their demerits he should forthwith destroy them he tarrieth untill the time that he hath promised to punish them and they shall finde none of power to protect them Wee have destroyed Cities when their Inhabitants have offended and we prefixed the day of their ruine Remember thou that Moses said to his servant I will travell incessantly untill I see a place where two seas meet although I travell an Age. When he came to that place hee and his servant forgot their fish he had taken his way through the Sea Having continued their voyage some time Moses was an hungry and demanded somewhat to eat of his servant who said to him Sawest thou what hapned at the Rock I have forgotten our fish the Devill made me to forget it he miraculously took his way through the Sea that Rock is the place which we seek they both returned on their stops discoursing together untill they came to that Rock where they found one of our servants on whom we had conferred our graces and inspired knowledge Moses said unto him permit me to follow thee that thou maist teach me knowledge and instruct me He replyed thou wilt not be able to abide patiently with me how wilt thou patiently endure to hear a thing which none in the world eveâ— knew Moses said thou shalt find me exceeding patient and I will not disobey thee He answered if thou follow me enquire nothing of me and hear only what I shall say to thee They went together and they being in a boat he brake a planck Moses said to him thou hast broken this vessell to drown us it is a strange thing He answered Did not I tell thee that thou wilt not be able patiently to abide with me Moses replied excuse me and afflict me not I had forgotten what thou didst enjoyne me They went on together untill they met with a child whom he slew Moses said to him thou hast slain an innocent that hath not slain any one thou hast done a thing without reason and that ought not to be approved He answered did I not say thou wilt not be able patiently to abide with me Moses said to him excuse me this time also if I demand ought else of thee abandon me They coninued their way unto a Village where the Inhabitants refused them bread at that time they found a wall ruined which he raised again Moses said unto him thou shouldst have been payed for repairing this wall if thou wouldest He answered now behold the place of our separation nevertheless I will explain to thee what thou weâ—t impatient to learn That boat belongeth to two poor men who labour on the sea to gain their subsistance I would have pierced it to preserve it to those poor men because there was an Infidell Prince who by force seized on the good vessels for his service That infant which I flew was an Idolater the son of a true believer a righteous man we
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
that I shall dye and the day of my resurrection Thus spake Jesus the sonne of Mâ—â—y with truth of which ye doubt God approveth not the discourse of them that say he hath a sonne praised be God when he willeth any thing he saith be thou and it is he is mine and your Lord worship him this is the right way there be persons who in this regard have been of different opinion but misery is upon the incrudulous they shall be miserable at the day of Judgement The Infidels are manifestly erroneous from the right way If thou preach to them the torments of Hell and their ignorance they will not hear thee Wee are Lords of whatsoever is on Earth and dispose of every thing at our pleasure they shall be one day assembled before us to be judged Remember thou what is written of Abraham he was a righteous man and a Prophet he said to his Father adore not what neither seeth nor understandeth any thing and that cannot be profitable I know what ye know not follow me and I will conduct you into the right way worship not the Devill he is disobedient unto God otherwise I fear that God may chastise you and you may be in the number of the damned He answered oh Abraham dost thou abhorre my Gods unlesse thou change thy discourse I will stone thee depart from me for a long time he said May God inspire you I will pray for you he is exceeding good and will hear my prayers Whom will ye adore when I shall be gone from you Worship God my Lord and your prayers shall be heard he departed from them and worshipped one God We gave him two sonnes Iasaac and Jacob both Prophets we conferred our grace upon him with an eloquent and true tongue Remember thou what is written of Moses he was a righteous man our Prophet and Messenger we called him on the right side of the Mount Sinai drew him neer unto us and taught him our secrets We through speciall gâ—â—â— gave him a brother named Aaron Remember thou what is written of Ismael he exactly observed what he promised was a Prophet and an Apostle of the Lord preached purity and recommended to men to make their prayers often and was pleasing to his Lord. Remember thou what is written of Enoch hee was a just man and a Prophet and we took him up to an exceeding high place God gave his grace to these men among the Prophets of the lineage of Adam among them whom we caused to embarke with Noah among those of the lineage of Abraham and Israel and among those that we assembled and guided into the right way When the miracles of the mercifull were related to them they fell prostrate and adored him with tears in their eyes their posterity forsook their footsteps abandoned the Law and followed their own appetites but they shall be precipitated into Hell except such as shall be converted and do good works they shall enter into Paradise and no injustice shall be done to them they shall enter into the garden of Eden what the mercifull God doth promise is infallible they shall hear nothing spoken in Paradise that shall displease them they shall hear the salutation of Angels and morning and evening shall have what they desire such is Paradise which God giveth to his creatures that have his fear before their eyes I * Gelaldin saith â— that Mahomet complaineth to the Angel Gabriel for having been so long absent from him descend not from Heaven but by the permission of the Lord he is master of our actions in Heaven and Earth and of whatsoever is between them he hath not forgot thee worship him and persevere in thy adoration knowest thou any person that is named like him Man saith what shall I dye and rise again He considereth not that God hath created him of nothing I will one day assemble the Infidels and Devils I will cause them to appear at the gate of Hell upon their knees and will cast upon them all manner of misery because they have encreased their impiety towards their Lord. I know such as deserve to burn in Hell they shall be thrown thither headlong this is a most just sentence pronounced by the Lord. I will save the righteous and forbidâ—â—â— fidels to fall on their knees before Idols when the unbelievers and many of the faithfull heard my Commandements preached they said among themselves that they were in a better way then their neighbour how many have we destroyed befor them in past Ages more rich then they and hypocrites like unto them Say unto them God prolongeth the lâ—fe of the erroneous that they may know their errors and learn the knowledge of the pains prepared for them they shall understand who shall be the most miserable and who shall have been most weak in their faith and least affectionate to the service of his divine Majesty God shall encrease their faith who shall follow the right way and such as be obedient to him shall enjoy his grace Hast thou considered the action of the wicked They demand if they shall have riches and children after their Resurrection Would you know what shall be would you capitulate with the mercifull I will not do it I will write all that they say and will adde to their miseries I will give to them in this world what they require and they shall rise again naked without treasure and children See Gelaldin They adored Idols to have their protection Certainly they erred in that adoration they shall renounce them and be their enemies at the day of Judgement Seest thou not how we have sent the Devils against unbelievâ—rs to seduce them Be not impatient to to see them punished they shall be judged at the day appointed Be thou mindfull of the day when I shall assemble all the righteous in the presence of God and prâ—cipitate all the wicked into Hell their prayers shall not be heard except such as have accomplished their promises to the mercifull They have said Do ye believe that God hath a Son You utter a strange thing it wanteth not much but that Heaven and Earth open themselves and that the Mountains fall with their utter destruction They call God God the Son God hath not to do with a Son whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth adore him he knoweth the accompt and number of all things of the world Men shall appear before him at the day of Judgement and the True-believers that shall do good works shall be beloved of his divine Majesty We have sent thee the Alcoran written in thine own Language that thou mayst proclaim the delights of Paradise to them that fear me and preach the torments of Hell to such as dispute with obstinacy against the Faith How many of the wicked have we destroyed in past ages Hast thou heard speak of them Hast thou heard mention of their memory CHAP. XX. The Chapter of Beatitude and of Hell containing on hundred and thiâ—ty Verses
or the God of Moses They said the miracles that thou hast seen have they not touched thee He that created us doth things which are not in thy power to performe thy power extendeth only in this world we believe in God our Lord who will pardon our sinnes thou art the cause that hee abhorreth us with our magick hee is more powerfull then thou and eternall Hell is prepared for Infidels they shall finde repose neither in their life nor death and the righteous that shall do good works shall eternally enjoy the pleasures of the gardens of Eden wherein slow many delicious rivers such is the reward of them that are purged from their sins We said unto Moses go out by night with my people and make them a drie path through the Sea fear not that thine enemies may overtake thee neither be afraid of being drowned Paraoh shall follow them with his troops I will overwhelm in the sea and will mislead him with his people he shall not follow the right way O children of Israel we delivered you from your enemies and conducted you towards the mountains of Sinai we caused Manna and Quailes to descend upon you and said eat ye of the good things that we have given you and be not ungratefull otherwise my wrath shall fall upon you he upon whom mine indignation shall fall shall be thrown headlong into the fire of hell I will be mercifull to such as shall convert do good works and follow the right way O Moses who pressed thee to absent thy self from thy people He answered behold he that followeth my steps I am come up to receive thy Commandements We after thy departure estranged thy people from thee and Samery seduced them from the right way he returned upon his steps to his people in great displeasure and said O ye people did not God promise to you all manner of content he protracted the effect of his promises because of your sins will you that his wrath fall upon you wherefore have ye transgressed what ye promised to me They said we have not transgressed our promises of our own accord we took the most weighty ornaments of the people and cast them into the fire Samery himself did cast them in he made the body of a bellowing Calfe and said with his followers behold there your God the God of Moses whom he hath forgotten Saw they not that this Calf spake not to them and that it had not power to do good or evill Aaron had said unto them before the comming of Moses O ye people you have been seduced by this Calfe the mercifull is your God and your Lord follow and obey me They said shall we abide here untill Moses returne Moses at his return said unto Aaron what hindred thee to follow me when thou sawest them to turne aside from the Law of God wherefore hast thou disobeyed me O son of my mother said Aaron drag me not by the beard and haire I feared to displease thee if I forsook the children of Israel and disobey thy Commandements Moses said unto Samery what was thy design he answered I saw what this people seeth not I took an handfull of the earth of the footsteps of the Messenger of God and made the Figure of a Calfe the fairest that I could Moses said unto him goe get thee from among us thou shalt fly the presence of men all the dayes of thy life thou shalt say unto them come not nigh me touch me not the time of thy punishment is appointed thou shalt not escape it behold thy false god behold the Calfe which thou hast adored I will cause it to burne and will cast the ashes thereof into the sea your God is one God and there is none other God but the God that knoweth all things Thus doe I relate to thee things past we have sent thee the Alcoran such as shall abjure it shall beare their burthen at the day of Judgement and be eternally tormented I will one day require an account of their burden and will assemble them with all their subtilities when the Trumpet shall sound they shall demand of each other how long they have continued in the world they shall say that they have remained there but ten dayes and ten nights I know all that they will say the most prudent among them shall say that they have been but one day They shall enquire of thee concerning the Mountains Say unto them God shall teare them up and levell them with the Earth thou shalt see them levelled and beaten downe then shall men without retardment follow him that shall summon them to universall Judgement they shall humble themselves before God thou shalt that day heare low and humble voyces that day shall prayers be ineffectuall except of them that shall be pleasing to God whom he will permit to speak He knoweth whatsoever men doe in this world and what must befall them in the other and they know it not they shall humble themselves and hang down the head before the living and eternall Lord all Infidels shall be damned and the righteous of True-believers that have done good works shall not feare injustice We have sent the Alcoran in the Arabique tongue it teacheth men our Commandements peradventure they will feare impiety it teacheth them what they ought to know Exalt the glory of God King of the world he is truth it selfe presse not thy selfe to read the Alcoran untill thou hast well understood it Say Lord encrease my knowledge We heretofore prohibited Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit he was unmindfull of our Commandement I found in him no perseverance Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to humble themselves before him they humbled themselves except the Devill who refused to doe it Remember that we said Adam the Devill is thine enemy and the enemy of thy wife he will endeavour to make you miserable to cause you both to goe out of Paradise where thou sufferest neither hunger nor thirst nor cold nor heat The Devill tempted them and said oh Adam I will conduct thee to the tree of eternity a treasure that shall never perish they did both eat of the fruit of that tree then knew they their filthinesse and took the leaves of trees to cover their nakednesse Adam disobeyed his Lord and became miserable neverthelesse he heard and pardoned him and shewed him the right way he said discend from Paradise ye enemies of each other I will hereafter send you a guide he that shall follow him shall not erre and shall be blessed He that shall goe astray and will not believe in me shall be miserable in the world and blind at the day of Judgement that day shall he say Lord wherefore hast thou made me blind I had good sight when I was in the world I did this day forget thee as thou didst forget my Commandements thus doe I intreat Infidels The torments of the other world are more grievous then those of the Earth and of longer
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
CHAP. XXII The Chapter of Pilgrimage containing seventy and seven Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull O ye people fear God The Earthquake that shall happen at the day of Judgment shall be wonderfull ye shall that day see mothers forget their children and every one shall bear his own burden ye shall see men drunk not with Wine but amazed and astonished at the great jâ—dgments of God There be who dispute of the Deity with ignorance and follow the will of the Devill voluntary and obstinate It is written he shall seduce them that obey him and shall conduct them into Hell O ye people if ye doubt of the Resurrection consider how we created you of the dust of the Earth with a little water sprinkled upon the dust with congeaied blood and a little flesh intirely and not intirely formed I form in the Wombs of Women what seemeth good to me at the time appointed I cause you to come forth children then I give you life and make you to arrive to the age of virility some die young and others live to extremity of age to the end they may learn to live well Consider the Earth dry dead and barren when we shall cause rain to fall it shall change the face shall produce and nourish its fruits of all sorts â—air and pleasing Because God is truth it selfe he raiseth again the deed and is Omnipotent There is no doubt but the day of Iudgement approacheth and that God will cause the dead to rise again There be men that dispute of God without knowledge without reason without authority and go astray from the way of his Law they shall be ful of ignominy and shame in this world and shall feel in the other the pains of Hel. God doth no injustice to his people There be who adore him with scruple if good befall them they persevere to adore him if evill they returne to their impiety and lâ—se the riches of Earth and the riches of Heaven These twâ— losses are exceâ—ding great they invok Idols instead of God they invoke what can neither benefit nor hurt them Such prayers are by-ways far remote from the Commandements of God they worshiâ— that which doth rather mischief nor advantage them Certainly God shall make the True-believers that do good works to â—nter into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers he doth wâ—at seemeth good to him He that is angry that God giveth succour and protection to Mahomet in this world See KITA BEL tenior and in the other let him tye a cord to a beam of his house and hang himselfe he shall see if his choller will be allayed God hath sent the Alcoran as heretofore he sent the other Scriptures it containeth his Commandements clear and intelâ—igible it guideth into the right way whom it pleaseth him He at the day of Judgement shall judge the differences that are betweene the faithful Infidels between the Samaritans the Christians and Idolaters he is omniscient Seest thou not that all that is in Heaven and on Earth the Sun the Moon the Stars the Mountains Trees and Beasts adore him Many worship him with zeal but many likewise merit to be punished None shall esteem him whom God shall despise he doth as seemeth good to him These two contrary partiâ—â— the Believers and the Infidels have disputed of the Deity but the Infidels shall be encompassed with flames of Hell they shall have shirts of fire boyling water shall flow in upon their heads the fire shall burn what is in their bellies shall roast their skin they shall be beaten with clubs of Iron when they think to go out of this fire they shall enter further into it and be eternally tormented God shal cause the True-believers that have don good woâ—ks to go into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers they shall be adorned with bracelets of Gold and Pearls they shall be clothed with Silk and enjoy eternall felicâ—ty because they have professed his Unity and the Infidels shall suffer great torments for that they have hindred the people to imbrace tâ—e Faith and visit the Temple of Mecca which God hath establisâ—ed to be therein adored of all the world He that shaâ—l be solicited to visit it and shall enter it with â—â—â—â—gn to return to his impiety shall be severely punished Remember that we shewed to Abraham the place to build the Temple of Mecca that we commanded him to adore me alone and to purge my Temple from Idols for the satisfaction of them that should there make processions Men shall come thither to visit thee from all parts on foot and on horse-back they shall receive profit they shall there make there prayers at the times appointed and the days nominated they shall thank the Lord for his benefits towards them and the riches which he hath givâ—n them and shall make likewise processions at the old Temple He that shall reverence it shall do exceeding well and shall be recompenced of his Lord. It is lawfull for you to eat of all clean Beasts except of such as have been heretofore prohibited Depart from the pollution of Idols beware of bearing false witnesse and be obedient to God He that saith God hath a Companion is like to him that fell head-long from Heaven whom the Birds devoured and the wind cast into a remote place full of miseries He that shall reverence the signes of the power of God will not doubt of his Law and shall be rewarded for his good works at the time appointed If he visit the old Temple of Mecca We have given to all Nations of the world a Law to offer their Sacrifices and to return thanks to their Lord for having given them advantage above all sorts of Beasts Your God is one God obey his Commandements proclaim a great reward to them that are obedient to him to them that tremble â—ith fear when they hear mention of his name that are patient in their adversity that pray at the time appointed and dispence in alms some part of the wealth that we have given them We have created the female Camel for a sign of our unity she shall be profitable to you in this world Remember to pronounce the name of God when ye shal sacrifice her standing on her feet when she shall fall dead on the ground eat of her flesh if it like you give to eat to such as shall require it We have made her subject to you The Pilgrims Sacrifice a Cammel at MECCA peraâ—venture ye wil be thankful to me for this grace God promoteth before him neither the flesh of this Beast nor the blood but only the good works that ye perform He hath thus subjected it That ye may exalt it and give him thanks for having guided you into the right way Proclaim to the righteous That God will remove far from them the malice of the wicked he abhorreth Traytors and the ingratefull Declare to such as fight against Infidels to repair the injury
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
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
world he answered it iâ— the Lord of Heaven and Earth and of whatsoever is between them Pharoah said to them that were about him Hear ye not what he saith Moses continued his speech and said my Lord is your God the God of your Fathers and of your predecessors Pharoah said this Prophet that is sent to you is a fool Moses said I am indeed the Messâ—â—ger of the Lord of the West and East if ye had understanding to know him Pharoah said if thou worship any other God but me I will cause thee to be put unto the bottom of a pit Moses said to him wilt thou do it seeing I am come to thee with reasons so strong and arguments so infallible Pharoah said unto him bring thy reasons if thou art true Then he cast his staffe on the ground and it was changed into a Serpent he drew hiâ— hand out of his bosom it appeared white and shining to the eyes of the spectators Then said Pharoah to them that were about him certainly behold here a skilfull Magician he would drive you from your Countrey through his magick What say ye They answered he with his brother must be terrified and men must be sent into all thy Cities to assemble the most knowing Magicians of all thy Dominions when they came together at the day appointed it was demanded of them if they were called to follow the magick of Moses and of Aaron They said what shall be our reward if we be victorious Pharaoh said unto them yes ye shall be rewarded and be among them that approach my person Moses said unto them wil you cast your staves on the ground or shal I first cast mine They cast thâ—ir cords â—heir staves first saying with the assistance of Phaâ—aoh we shall be victorious then Moses cast his rod on the ground wâ—h devoured their cords staves when they beheld this miracle they fel prostra and said we beleive in the Lord of the world God of Moses and Aaron Pharoah said to them if ye beleive in Moses without my permission ye shall see what shall befall you he is your Master he understandeth Magick better than you I will cause your right feet and left hands or your right hands and left feet to be cut off and cause you all to be hanged they said this shall do us none harm we shal return before God our Lord we hope that he wil remit our sinâ— because we shal be the first converts We said unto Moses goe with Israel my servants and fear not the people of Pharoah that shall follow thee Pharoah sent his Commissioners through his Dominions to assemble the people and said speaking of the children of Israell those men are few in number they have displeased me but I will wel awake them We moved Pharoah and his people to depart out of Egypt to pursue the children of Israel we caused them to quit their gardens fountaines and houses of pleasure and made the children of Israel heirs of their treaâ—ure they surprized them at the rising of the Sun when the children of Israel beheld them they said we are ovâ—taken Moses answered no my Lord is with me he shall guide me then we inspired Moses to strike the sea with his Rod incontinently it divided it self on both sides like two mountains we saved him and all that were with him and drowned the men of Pharoah which shall serve for an example to the incredulous and obstinate the Lord is omnipotent and mercifull Relate to unbeleivers the History of Abraham when he said to his father and his people whom do ye adore they answered we adore our Idols he said unto them do they hear you when ye invoke them do they do good unto you when ye worship them or mischeif when ye neglect them they answered we find that our fathers worshipped them as we do Abraham said unto them you and your fathers worship vain things ye adore only Idols mine enemies I will not worship them I will worshipp the Lord of the world who created guideth and nourisheth me who giveth me health when I am sick who maketh me to live and will cause me do dye and from whom I hope for pardon of my sins at the day of Judgement Lord give me the knowledg of thy will grant that my tongue and words may be credited as true by posterity put me into the number of the heirs of Paradise pardon my Father who hath bin in the number of the Erroneous and make me not ashamed at the day of the Resurrection at the day when riches and children shall be uâ—profitable except to such as shall have an heart estranged from impiety God shall make the righteous to approach to Paradise and the wicked to see hell they shall say can the Idols that ye adore save you can they save themselves They shall be with you their adherents and the devils thrown headlong into the fire of hell The Idolaters shall despute in hell with them whom they have worshipped and shall say by God we were abuâ—ed when we adored you the wicked seduced us we have none this day to intercede for us neither friend to protect us could we return into the world we would believe in the Law of God this discourse shall be for example to the wicked that believe not that thy Lord is the Omnipotent and mercifull The people of Noahs time slandered the Apostles and Prophets that were sent to them Nâ—ah thâ—ir brother said unto them fear God I am his Messenger sent to preach unto you fear God and obey him I â—equiâ—e no recompence for my Instructions God the sole Lord of the world shall reward my labours fear and obey him They said shall we believe in thee and thy followers who are infamous He said I know not what they do my Lord kâ—epeth accompt of their actions if ye knew â—he right way ye would not worship Idolls I drive not true believers from my society I am sent only to preach the torments of Hell They said O Noah if thou quit not this discourse thou shalt be stoned Noah said Lord this people is impious judge our difference deliver me from their malice and all true believers that are with me We preserved him and those that were with him in the Aâ—k and destroyed them that remained on the Earth This is an Evidence of our Omnipotency yet the greatest part of Infidels believe not that God is omnipotent and mercifull The people of Aads time traduced the Apostles and Prophets that were sent unto them Hod his brother said unto them fear God I am his Messenger sent to preach unto you with fidelity Fear God and obey him I require of you no recompense of my preaching the Lord of the Universe shall abundantly reward me Will ye build Towers and lofty Pallaces as if ye should dwel eternaly in the world Will ye be cruel without compassion on your selvs fear God and obey him fear him who giveth you his grace
bestoweth on you wealth children gardens and fountains I feare that ye shall suffer grievous paines at the day of Judgment They said unto him art thou come to be preached unto or â—o preach to us Thou relatest to us old mens Fables They slandered him and we destroyed them this is a token of our Omnipotency nâ—ver thelâ—sse the greatest part of Infidells beleive not thy Lord to be Omnipotent and merciful The people of Temod belyed the Prophets that were sent unto them his brother Salhe said unto them fear God I am a Messenger sent froÌ„ God to preach to you fear God obâ—y him I require of you no recompence for my preaching the Lord of the Vniverse shal recompense my labours will ye forsake â—ternal riches to cleave to the wealth of this world to put your trust in your gardens your fountains yâ—ur tillages your dates and fruits shall ye be esteemed prudent if ye build houses of pleasure in the mouÌ„tains fear God obey his Commandments obey not the wicked that defile the earth and do no good They sâ—id unto him thou art a Magician and an Inchanter thou art but a man like unto us shew us some miracle if thou be indeed a Prophet sent from God he said behold there a Camell The Turks believe this Camel was changed into a rock by Sâ—lhe he hath a place to drink at a day appointed ye likewise have it to drink as he â—o him no harm otherwise shal yee be punished at the day of Judgement They did hurt this Camel through contempt but â—ad cause to repent it and were severely punished This is an example for posterity nevertheles the greatest part of Infidels beleive not that thy Lord is altogether gracious and merciful The Citizens of Lot traduced the Prophets that were sent unto them Lot their brother said fear God I am a faithful Messenger sent from him to preach to you fear God obey him I require of you no reward for my pains God wil reward me will ye cleave to the world to reject that glory that he hath created for you ye forsake good to imbrace evil They said O Lot if thou change not this discourse we wil banish thee from our City he said perhaps I am one of those whom ye abhor Lord deliver me with my family from their hands We saved him with al his family except his Wife who remained with the inhabitants of the City we caused to fal upon them a rain that destroyed them This is an example for posterity nevertheles the greatest part of Infidels believe not that thy Lord is omnipotent and merciful They that inhabit the * A Forrest near to Madian Forrest slandeâ—ed the Prophets that were sent unto them Chaib said to them fear God I am a faithfull messenger sent from him to preach unto you the torments of Hel See Gelaldin fear God and obey him I require no reward of you for my preaching the Lord of tre Universe shal recompense me Measure with good measure weigh with good weights detain nothing from your neighbour defile not the earth fear him that created you al those that were before you They said unto him thou art a forcerer thou art but a man like us we beleive thee to be a lyar if thou art indeed sent from God cause a part of Heaven to fall upon us he answered God knoweth that of which ye are ignorant they traduced him but were chastised being covered with a cloud that rained upon them a shewer of fire and they were burned as if it had been the day of Iudgement this is a token of my power but the greatest part of Infidels beleive not that thy Lord is Omnipotent and merciful Certainly the Alcoran was sent by the Lord of the world the faithfull Spirit inspired it into thine heart that thou mayst preach to the people the pains of Hell in the Arabique tongue the Scriptures heretofore made mention of it if the Infidels of Mecca are ignorant of it the Doctors of the Children of Israell have knowledge to understand it although that we have not sent it in the language of the Persians yet cease not to instruct thâ—m in that which they know not we have imprinted â— lye in the hearâ—s of the wicked they shall not believe what is written in the Alcoran untill they see the punishment prepared for Infidels at the day of Judgment that day shall come at unawares of which they are ignorant They say let us tarry and not believe as yet in what is contained in that book are they impatient untill they see their punishment Hast thou seen how they have some years deferred it and how in the end that which we promised befell them their riches were to them unprofitable We have not destroyed Cities without having forewarned them of their destruction we are unjust to none That devils did not bring the Alcoran it was to them of none advantage they could not compose it they are reâ—nâ—te from the Angels and cannot hear their speech say not there is another God with God if thou say it thou shalt be chastised preach the torments of hell to them that shall follow thee be humble and civill to true believers if they disobey thee say unâ—o them I am innocent of what ye do and am resigned to the Will of God omnipotent and mercifull He beholdeth thee when thou dost pray and worship him he heareth and knoweth all things Shall I tel ye to whom the devils appresse hemselves they apply themselves â—o lyars they tell to them what they have heard spoken but they all lye The erronious imitate the Poets See Eâ—teri and Kitab el tenoir they are confuted in their discourse and say they have don what theâ— have not except those that believe in God that do good works who often think of his divine Majesty and that have been protected against the injustice of Infidels the unjust shall know that they shall one day rise again CHAP. XXVII The Chapter of the Pismire containing four-score and thirteen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious mercifull God is most pure he understandeth al. These mysteries are the mysteryes of the Alcoran which distinguisheth the truth from a lye it conducteth men into the right way proclaimeth the joyes of Paradize to such as beleive in the Law of God who make their prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and have knowledg of â—heir end They that believe not in the day of Judgment like well of whâ—t they do are in confusion they shall be in â—he number of the damned The Alcoran was conveyd to thee from the most prudent that knoweth all things Remember thou that Moses said to his family I see a fire I goe to it I will bring you tydings I will bring you a spark peradventure you shall be warmed When he drew near to the fire hâ— heard a voyce that said to him oh Moses that which
had before prohibited Moses to suck the milk of any other nurse then that of his mother his sister said to Pharoahs servant wil ye that I provide you a nurse and people that shall carefully nourish him We caused him to be restored to his mother to nurse him she ceased from her sadness when she knew and saw that God was sincere in what he had promised but the greatest part of the people know it not When Moses was aged about thirty three years we gave him knowledge and wisdom thus do I reward the righteous Moses entring one day into the City met two men that fought the one was of the Children of Israel and the other was an Egyptian and of his enemies whom he assaulted and slew after this he said the Devil tempted me he is the open enemy of men Lord I have offended thee pardon me he pardoned him he is gracious and mercifull Lord since thou hast bin so gracious to me I will never give aid or succour to Infidels He continued in the City with fear and kept himself upon his guard on the morâ—ow he again met him whom the day before he had defended who sought likewise â—ith another Egyptian required his assistance Moses said unto him thou art seditious he replyed oh Moses wilt thou slay me as thou didst slay him yesterday Wilt thou be a murtherer of all men or a just man Not long after a man came in hast to him from the utmost part of the City who said unto him oh Moses the Officers of Pharoah have conspired against thee they desire to put thee to death save thy self and follow my councell He departed from the City with fear keeping himself upon his guard beseeching his Lord to deliver him from the hands of Infidels he went towards Mâ—adian and said Lord suffer me not to folow an evil way he met a great number of persons that made their flocks to drink he with them found 2 maids that could not water their Cattel he said unto them what do ye two here VVe have not strength to draw water to give our beasts to drink we tarry for the Shepheard our father is too old to draw it He drew water out of the well to water their Cattell and withdrew to a shade because of the heat of the Sunne saying Lord I am deprived of all the graces which heretofore then didst confer on me I â—m now poor and necâ—ssâ—â—â—us One of those maidens came to seek him bashfully said unto him my father calleth thee to recompence thee for the pains thou hast taken in watering our catle when he was in the old mans presence he related what had befaln him The old man said fear nothing I wil deliver thee from the hands of the wicked one of his daughters said to her sister give to this man to eat reward his pains he assisted us with affection their father said unto him I wil marry thee to one of my two daughters on condition that thou wilt have a care of my flocks the space of eight years ten years if it please thee said Moses I will not forsake thee thou shalt find me an honest man I wil serve thee the two terms either 8. or 10. yeares as shall seem good to thee God is witnesse of what I say After the term expired Moses forsook the house of his father in law withdrawing with his wife he beheld affar off a great fire on the side of the mountain and said to his Wife tarry here I see the fire of the omnipotent I will speedily return I will bring you a spark peradventure you shall be warmed when he drew near to this fire they cryed unto him from the right side of the valley from an eminent place and from a bush O Moses I am God Lord of the Universe cast thy staffe on the ground when he beheld his staffe to move as it had bin alive he fled for fear and returned no more O Moses draw near and fear not thou art in a place of safety put tâ—ine hand into thy pocket it shall come out white shining without harm draw back thine arm into thy sleeve it shall return to its former condition thy staffe and thine hand shall be two signs of my Omnipotency to Pharoah and his Ministers who disobey my Commandments Moses said Lord I have sâ—ain an Egyptian I am afraid they will take away my life command Aaron who is eloquent to go with me to aid me to confirm what I shal say I fâ—ar they wil traduce me I wil give thee thy Brother for thy assistant I wil give to you both strength to defend your selvs from their malice go do what is commanded you ye shall be victorious and all those that shal follow you when Moses came to Pharoah he made him to see my miracles preached my Commandments to his Ministers they said this is buâ— magick and witchcraft we have not heard these things to have bin spoken to our predecessors Moses said the Lord knoweth him that teacheth the right way and him that ought to have part in Paradise Infidels shall be most miserable Pharoah said to his Ministers do ye know any other God but me O Haman let me offer sacrifices and build a Temple shal I deceive myself with the God of Moses I believe him to be in the number of lyars He bâ—came proud on earth with his Ministers they bâ—lieved that they should never be assembled before me to be judged we surprized him with his people and caused him to perish in the Sea consider what is the end of unbelievers we abandoned them and they are in the number of the condemned to the fire of hell They shall finde none to protect them â—t the day of Judgment we cursed them on earth and at the day of the Resurrection they shall be abominable to all the world We taught Moses our Commandments after the destructâ—on of many Infidels before his coming We gave him the Book to be a light to the people to conduct them into the right way and acquire our grace peradventure they will remember Thou wert not with Moses when we spake to him we created another age after him thou didst not at that time dwell with the Inhabitants of Madian neither didst thou â—each them our Commandments it is we that have instructed thee in the History of past ages thou wert not on the mountain when when spake to Moses we sent thee through our special grace to preach to men the torments of Hell they have not yet had a preacher like unto thee perhaps they will consider it when they felt any punishment for their sins they said Lord hadst thou seÌ„t us an Apostl to instruct us we should have obeyed thy commandments have believed in thy Law when on our part they were instructed in the truth they said doth Mahomeâ— work miracles like Moses do they not traduce what Moses did when they say that Moses
Mahomet are two aparent Sorcerers when they said that they believed neither Prophet nor Scripture Say unto them bring any book from God that better teacheth the right way then the Old Testament and more savingly then the Alcoran I will follow it if ye speak the truth If they be not heard when they shall require this book know that they follow only their own appetites and their impiety who is more erroneous then he that followeth but his own passion and is not guided of God he guideth not Infidells Certainly we have sent them the Alcoran peradventur they wil believe in it they to whom we heretofore sent this book believe in the contents thereof when they heare it read they say we believe in those words it is the very truth that proceedeth from God we believe in the unity of his divine Majesty they shall be doubly rewarded because they have persevered in well-doing they have overcome evill through their good deeds and have expended in good works part of the wealth that we gave them When they heard the faith evill spoken of they withdrew themselves took leave of the company and said ye shall answer for your and we for our actions Regard not the ignorant thou shalt not convert all them that thou shalt desire to convert God converteth and guideth into the right way whom he pleaseth and knoweth such as serve him They said if I follow with thee the right way I must forsake my Country Shall not I establish them in a place of safety where they shall find all sorts of fruits to enrich them but the greaâ—est part of the people know it not How many Cities have we destroyed that took pleasure in their evill life No man inhabited them any more except very few and we became heirs of their riches God shall not destroy Mecca untill he have sent an Apostle to instruct the Inhabitants thereof in the right way God destroyeth not a Ciâ—y if the Inhabitants be not unjust and disobey not his Commandments The wealth of this world which ye pâ—ssesse pleaseth you but the riches of Heaven are much better eternall will ye not understand it Have we not kept promise with them to whom we promised Paradise and with them to whom we promised the riches of this world in the end were in the number of the damned Be thou mindfull of the day when thy Lord shal cal them say unto them where are your Idols which ye beleived to be my Companions the chief of them shal say Lord behold those that were seduced like us we are innocent of their Idolatry they adored not us they shall speak that day to the Idolaters to invoke their Idols but they shal not hear them they shal be visibly chastizâ—d on Earth Bâ— thou mindfull of the day when thy Lord shall call them and say unto them wherefore have ye not beleived my Apostles and my Prophets they shall be confounded and remâ—in dumbe He that shall be converted and do good works shall be happy Thy Lord createth what pleaseth him and maketh choyce of what seemeth to him good Praised be God he hath no companion he knoweth what is in the hearts of men and what they make manifest he is God there is no God but he praise is due to him in the beginning in the end he commandeth over all things all people shall one day be assembled before him to be judged Say unto them Had God given a continuall night even until the day of judgment what other God is there that is able to you give light will ye not hear me had God given you a continual day until the day of Judgment what other god could have given the night to refresh you will ye not consider his benefits his grace he hath created the night for repose and the day for labour pâ—radventure ye will give him thanks Be thou mindfull of the day when thy Lord shall call the Infidels and shall say unto them where are the Idols that ye worshipped We wil call a witness of every Nation and will say to the Idolaters bring your arguments that may prove the plurality of Gods Ye shall this day know your blasphemies and that there is but one God Caron was of the people of Moses he was proud because of his riches vve gave him so great treasures that many men were burdened when they conveyed away the Keyes Remember how his people said unto him Rejoyce not above measure in thy great wealth God abhorreth the that rejoyce without reason Beg of him paradise with thy riches forget not to do good in this world give almes of the substance which God hath given thee be not disobedient to him on Earth he abhorreth those that disobey him these riches were given thee because thou diâ—st instruct the people in the Old Testament knowest thou not that God destroyed in times past many rich and opulâ—nt persons Who is more strong more powerfull more rich then God He will not enquire of the wicked the number of their sinnes he knoweth all and the accompt Caron one day went forth in publique with all his retinue They that affected the wealth of this world said Would to God we had as much wealth as Caron he is happy but the more knowing among them said ye are unhappy the grace of God is more advantageous to them that believe in his Law and do good works then all the treasures of Caron none shall receive his grace but such as shall obey him and persevere in obedience to his Commandments VVe deprived Caron of all his treasures and none was able to protect him against us then they that had coveted his riches said oh miracle God giveth to and depriveth of wealth whom to him seemeth good Had not God given us his grace we had bin necessitous certainly the wicked shall be miserable I will bestow Paradise on them that hate vanity and disorder on the Earth and shall have my feare before their eyes whosoever shall do good shall find good who doth evill shall be chastised after his demerits He that hath taught thee the Alcoran shall cause thee to return to the * Mecca See Gelaldin place that thou desirest Tell the Inhabitants of that place that God knoweth them that teach the right way and such as go astray Thou didst not expect the Alcoran it is a speciall grace of thy Lord assist not the Infidels and take heed least they seduce thee after having learnt what hath bin taught thee Preach to the people the unity of God Be not in the number of them that belive many Deities adore God alone there is no God but hâ— al things shal have end except his face he commandeth over every thing and all men shall one day appear before him to be judged CHAP. XXIX The Chapter of the Spider containing sixty nine verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am God most wise Men
have beleived that it is sufficient to say we beleive in God and that they be not proved Certainly God proved their predecessors and knew such as were zealous in his Law and them that were Infidels Do they who have done evill think to escape the punishment of their crimes and not to be judged Such as hope to see God shall behold him at the time appointed by his divine Majesty he understandeth and knoweth all things He that fighteth for the faith fighteth for his soule certainly God hath no need of men their sins shall be pardoned who shall beleive in his divine Majesty and shall do good works We enjoyned the children of Israel to honour their father and mother and to do good to them if they press thee to worship many Gods thou shalt be damned if thou give ear to them obey them not in this matter ye shall be assembled before me I will set before you all that ye have done I will reward you according to your works and place such as shall have observed my Law in the number of the blessed There be men who affirm that they beleive in God and are impatient when evill befalleth them from God to prove them If God give victory to the True beleivers they say that they are on their side but doth not God know what is in their heart he knoweth them that beleive in his Law and those that are impious The Infidels said to the True-beleivers do like us follow our way we will bear your sins They will not bear them they are lyars they shal bear their own burthen shal not an accompt of their sins be required of them at the day of Judgment We sent Noah to instruct men he lived upon the earth 900. 50. years The flood surprized destroyed the people of his time because they were unjust and we saved Noah and those that were with him in the Ark this ought to serve for example to all the world Remember Abraham who said to his people adore one God and fear him ye shall do well if ye have knowledge to comprehend it ye worship but Idols are but lyars those whom ye worship cannot benefit you implore succor of God worship him and give him thanks for his graces ye shall one day appear before him if ye traduce me those that were before you traduced the prophetâ— Gods Messengers Messengers are obliged only to discharge their message are ye ignorant that God causeth men to dye and shall raise them again it is a thing easie to God Walk through the earth and consider how God hath extirpated your predecessors created after them another people certainly he is omnipotent He punisheth and pardoneth as he seeth goed yoâ— shall one day be assembled before him to be judged you shall not render him impotent either in the Earth or in the heavens ye shall find none of power to protect or defend you against his divine Majesty such as obey not his Commandments who beleive not the resurrection and despair of his mercy shall suffer great torments the people answered kill Abraham and burn him but God delivered him from the fire that they had kindled which shall serve for example to True-beleivers He said unto them ye adore only Idols because of your love to the wealth of the world ye shall despise and curse each other at the day of judgement Hel shall be your habitatation and ye shall be deprived of protection Lot beleived in his words and said I wil retyre â—o the place which my Lord shal appoint me he alone îs omnipotent and most wise We gave to Abraham two sons Isaac and Jacob we caused Prophets to be borne of his race and tâ—ught his progeny the Scripture we rewarded him in this world he shal be at the day of judgment in the number of the blessed Rmember Lot who said to his people Ye defile your selvs with filthinesse unknown to any before you ye incline to the love of men ye rob upon the high ways and defile on another This people answered Let us see the Judgements of God if what thoâ— speakest be true Then he said Lord protect me against unbelievers When our Messengers came towards Abraham to declare to him that he should have children they said unto him We will ruine Lots City and destroy all the inhabitants thereof because they are impious Abraham answered Lot dwelleth in that City they said We know all that is within it and we will preserve him with all his family except his wife she shall be in the number of them that shall be punished When our Messengers arrived at Lots house he was troubled in that he had not strength sufficient to defend them from the malice of the people they said unto him fear nothing neither afflict thy selfe We will preserve thee and all thy family except thy wife she shall abide among them that shall be destroyed we wil cause tâ—e indignation of God to fall upon this City because of their impiety it shal serve for exampl to posterity We sent Chaib to his brethren the inhabitants of Madian he said unto them Worship one God fear the day of Judgment and defile not the Earth They impudently traduced him but were surprized by an Earâ—hquake and remâ—ined dead in their houses as câ—rkases We destroyed Aad and Temod their ruine is yet apparent in the places of their habitations the Devil tempted and seduced them from the right way notwithstanding they knew their error We destroyed Caron Pharaoh and Haman Moses preached to them my Commandments they contemned them and became proud in the Earth but escaped not the punishment of their crimes We chastised some by an impetuous wind and other were surprized by thunder we deprived them of their riches and they were drowned God was not unjust towards them they drew mischiefe on themselves through their impiety They that worship Idâ—ls are like to the Spider she buildeth her house of her cob-wed that cannot defend from heat or cold They would not adore Idols did they understand what they do God seeth what they worship he is omnipotent and wise I teach the people these parables and none but the wise understand them Truly God created heaven earth it is a sign of his Omnipotency to True-beleivers Instruct them in the Book that is inspired iâ—to thee make thy prayers at the time appointed prayers divert men from sin to be mindful of God is the best work thou canst perform he knoweth al the actions of men Dispute with mildnesse against them that have knowledge of the written Law except against the wicked that are among them Say unto them we beleive in what hath been taught you in what hath been taught us Your God our God is one God we are resigned to his divine will We have sent thee the Alcoran as we sent to them the old Testament Such as understand the Old Testament bleive in the Truth of the Alcoran Thou hast not
neither like to them that are at present in the number or Heretiques were before as ye are every Sect is pleased in its opinions when any evill bâ—falleth them that call upon God and are converted neverthelesse some of them return to their Idolatry after the reception of his grace they are ingratefull they shall awhile be tolerated and in the end they shall too late understand their error Have we taught them reasons and arguments that prove that I have a companion The peoplâ— rejoyced when we enlarged to them our graces and became desperate when evill befell them see they not that I give and take away wealth as to me seemeth good This is a tâ—ken of my Vnity to such as obey my Commandments Give to your neighbour what appertaineth to him and particularly to the poor and true beleivers if ye desire to see the face of God such as shall do it shall be blessed The money which ye put to Vsury encreaseth in the hands of men God shal not suffer it to prosper the almes which ye give shal make you to see the face of his divine Maj. and shall be doubly restored to you God hath created you he enricheth you causeth you to die rise again can your Idols do as much Praised be God he hath no companion disorder appeared in the eâ—rth and in tâ—e sea because of the iniquities of men peradventure they will be converted when they shall feel the punishment of their crimes Say unto them go throughout the earth and consider the end of your predecessor the greatest part of them were Idolaters embrace the true Law before the day cometh when none shall be heard that day shall the wicked be separated from the good the impious shall give an accompt of their impiety and such as shaâ—l have lived well shall enjoy the joyes of Paradise the grace of God shall be their recompense God abhorreth Infidels It is a sign of his Omnipotency to send the winds to bring you rain and make you to taste the fruits of his grace the ship runneth upon the water through his permission for the advantage of your commerce will ye not be thankfull to him for his benefits We sent to every Nation Prophets and Apostles before thee they came with most intelligible precepts and with many miracles we chastisâ—d those that slandred them and protected the faithful God sendeth the winds that elevate the clouds and extendeth them in the aire in many pieces at his pleasure he causeth the rain to fall where he listeth and rejoyceth whom to him seemeth good of them that expect it with impatience consider the effects of his bounty he causeth the dry and barren earth to flourish again and restoreth the dead to life he iâ— Omnipotenâ— We sent the winds to assemble the clouds that covered men with their shaddow nevertheless they are returned to their impiety the dead shall not understand thee neither likewise the dumbe thou art not obliged to lead the blind none shall hearken to thee but such as shall believe in my Law and be obedient Say unto them God created you impotent he hath given you strength and after having reduced you to the weakness of old age doth what to him seemeth good he knoweth mens secrets and doth what pleaseth him â—he wicked shal swear at the day of judgment that they have remained but an hour in their sepulchers they lye in like manner when they deny the Resurrection the true believers that know the truth shal say unto theÌ„ ye have remained there the time apointed in the book of God to wâ—t untill the day of Resurrection behold the day of resurrection ye knew not at what time it should arrive this day excuses shall be unprofitable to Infidels they shall be â—eprived of protection We have taught in the Alcoran all that is profitable for the salvation of men if thou teachest them my Commandments unbeleivers will say thou bringest nothing but disorder thus God hardneth the hearts of the ignorant Be patient and persevere what God promiseth is infallible beware lest unbeleivers shake thy perseverance CHAP. XXXI The Chapter of Locman containing thirty four Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious merciful I am the most wise God The Turks say that Locman was a great Doctor in Davids time These precepts are the precepts of the book filled with doctrine it guideth into the way of salvation the righteous who make their prayers at the time appointed that pay tithes and beleive in the day of Judgment they are guided by their Lord and shall be blessed There be who deride this book they ignorantly depaâ—t from the law of God and have despised it but shall one day be severely punished when they are taught the comandments of God they turn the back with disdain they will not hear have ears stopped Say unto them you shall in the end suffer infinit pains Such as beleive in the Law of God and do good works shal eternally enjoy the delights of Paradise what God promiseth is infallible he is Omnipotent and altogether wise he created the heaven and sustaineth it without a pillar appearing to your eyes he lifted up the mountains upon the earâ—h to fasten and hinder it to move he hath thereon dispersed many beasts and sent rain from Heaven which causeth plants to spring forth and herbs of divers sorts Behold here what God hath created shew me what your Idols have created assuredly idolaters are manifestly seduced from the right way We inspired knowledg into Locman and spake unto him to give God thanks he that returneth thanks to God for his graces doth good for his soul God rejecteth the ingrateful and praise is due to him in al places Remember thou that Locman said unto his son O my son beleive not thou that God hath a companion it is an exceeding great sin we have commanded man to honour his father and mother his mother beareth him with greif upon grief weaneth him at the age of two years be thou not ingrateful for Gods benefits honor father mother thou shalt be one day before God to be Judged If thy parents press thee to beleive that God hath companions obey them not follow the way of them that obey him all men shall be one day assembled before him to be rewarded according to their works O my son if thou dost evil of the weight of a grain of Mustardseed or of the weight of a rock or of the greatnesse of heaven and earth God wil know it and put it in accompt he is exact and omniscient O my son make thy prayers at the time appointed do what is honest and civill fly what is not approved and be patient in thy adversities regard not the world disordred through pride converse not with the proud God detesteth the haughty observe thy steps walk with modesty speak gently they be persons that bray like Asses when they speak seest thou not that God hath
fear God thou concealest in thy mind a design whiâ—â— God shal discover thou fearest the people but it is thy 〈◊〉 to fear God alone When Zeid did repudiat his wife we â—â—ryed thee to her to the end their might remain no error â—mong the True-belelevers when they shall repudiate thâ— wives they shal observe in repudiating them what God haâ— ordained The Prophet sins not in doing what God haâ— permitted the law of God was in this maner observed by 〈◊〉 predecessors the command of his divine Maj. is execuâ—â—â— without delay Such as preach the word of God his Apostâ—â— and Prophets fear none but his Divine Majesty it suffice them that they are in his protection Mahomet is not yoâ— father He is not the father of Zeid to espouse the wife which he put away he is the Apostle of God and the last of all the Prâ—phets God knoweth all things there shall not come anâ—ther Prophet after him Oh ye that beleive in Goâ— thiâ— frequently on his divine Majesty praise him morning anâ— evening he shall give you his mercy the Angels imploâ— pardon that he may deliver from darkness he is mercifâ—â— to true beleivers the Angels shall salute them on his behaâ—â— at the day of Judgment See Tefsianf Joâ—hir he hath prepared for them an exceeding great reward Oh Prophet we have sent thee to be witnesse of thâ— deportments of the People and as a light to conduct them into the right way proclaim to the True-beleivers thaâ— they shall receive of thy Lord an exceeding great grace obey not Infidels nor the wicked fear not their malice and trust in God thou oughtest to be satisfyed that God protecteth thee O ye that beleive it is not lawfull for you to abuse your Wives if you repudiate them before ye have â—nown them deal well with them and dismisse them with â—ildnesse and civility O Prophet we permit thee to know â—he women to whom thou hast given dowry the women-â—laves which God hath given thee the daughters of thine Vncles and of thine Aunts that have abandoned with â—hee the company of the wicked and the true beleiving wife that shall be given thee if thou wilt marry her that she be not the wife of a true-beleiver We know what wâ— have commanded true beleivers touching their wives and their slaves we have instructed thee therein to the end thou offend not God he is gracious and merciful to such as obey him Thou shalt retain whom of thy wives thou shalt desire to retain and shalt repudiate such as thou shalt desire to repudiate and shalt lye with them that shall please thee it is better that thou repudiate without offending God then to see them male contented and sad they shall be contented with the good that thou shalt do to them in divorcing them God knoweth what is in your hearts he is Omniscient and most merciful Mahomet had nine wives It is not lawfull for thee to know other women then thine own it is not lawful for thee to exchange them although the beaty of others please thee except thy slaves See Gelaldin God regardeth all O yâ—â—hat beleive I enter not into the houses of the prophet withouâ— permission except at the hour of repast that by chance without design if ye are invited enter with freedome when ye shall have taken your repast depart out of the house and tarry not to discourse one with another this molesteth the Prophet he is ashamed to bid you be gone but God is not ashamed to tell you the truth The wives of the prophet shal have the face coverd when ye speak shall unto them this better resented of purity both in them and in you You ought not to importune the Prophet of God neither to know his wives this would be a most enormous sin if ye conceal any design or discover it know that God knoweth all They shall not offend God in suffering themselvs to be seen of their fathers their children their brethren their nephews their maid servants their she-slaves they shall fear God he seeth all God and the angels * Bless thâ— Prophet pray for the Prophet O ye that beleive See Gelaldin pray for the Prophet and obey him He that shall displeâ— God and his Prophet shall be accursed in this world anâ— shall feel rigorous pains in the other such as do injurâ— without reason to those men and women that believe iâ— God commit an exceeding great sin O Prophet speaâ— to thy wives and thy daughters and the wives of true-believers that they cover themselves with vailes they shaâ—â— be more honored and shall receive no displeasure God iâ— gracious and mercifull If the wicked the whoremongers and those of Medina that are weak in their faith quit noâ— their impiety I will give thâ—e absolute power over them few among them will respect thee but take thou them and slay them wheresoever thou shalt meet them God so commanded those that were before thee thou shalt finde no alteration in the Law of God The people will enquire of thee when shall be the day of Iudgment Say unto them that God alone knoweth it and that thou knowest not if it shall bâ— very speedily but that God hath prepared for Infidells an exceeding great fire wherein they shall burn eternally hey shall finde no protection they shall be cast headlong into the fire and shall say would to God we had obeyed his divine Majesty and the Prophet his Apostle they shall say Lord we obeyed our Masters and Superiors they seduced us from the right way Lord chastise them doubly and give them thy curse O ye that believe be not like them that displeased Moses he was innocent of the crimes that they laid upon him he was inspired of God fear God and speak with civility your works shall be acceptable to him and he shall pardon your sins He that shall obey God and his Apostle shall be happy fidelity and obedience are pleasing to him in heaven and in earth and upon the mountains Such as depart far from him as did Adam do injury to themselves and are ignorant he shall chastise those men and women that shall be disobedient and impious he will give his grace to those men and women that shall believe in his Law he is gracious and mercifull to them that obey him CHAP. XXXIV The Chapter of * Saba is a Province of Liemen Saba containing fifty four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful See Gelaldin Praised be God whatsoever is in heaven in the earth appertaineth to him praise is due unto him he is most wise and Omniscient he knoweth whatsoever entreth into the earth and cometh out of it whatsoever ascendeth to heaven descendeth he is gracious and mercifull to his creatures the wicked demand if they shall see the day of judgment Say unto them yes and that thy Lord knoweth the time he knoweth what
is past present and future and all that is in heaven and in the earth even to the weight of an Atome what is yet lesse and what is yet greater then an Atome is written in a book that discovereth every thing he shall reward the true-beleivers that have don good works he shall give them his mercy and enrich them with precious treasures such as have endeavoured to suppresse his Law shall feel the effects of his indignation They that understand the Scripture know that God hath taught thee the very truth to guide the people into the right way into the path of honour and vertue but the wicked said among them will ye beleive a man who affirmeth that after your death ye shall rise again and be new creatures he lyeth impudently he is possessed of the devill Certainly they that beleive not in the Resurrection are in an exceeding great error and shall suffer most greivous pains see they not what is above and what is below them Consider they not the heaven and the earth If I will I can render it barren and cause a peice of the heaven to fall upon them for a signe of my Omnipotency We gave our grace to David and spake to the mountains birds and mettals with him to praise me we commanded him to make cuirasses Iron was soft in his hand as wax O lineage of David I be not ingrateful I see whatsoever ye do we made the winds subject to Solomon he commanded them evening morning from the East to the West we gave him a fountain and brook of dissolved brass the devils through our permission wrought it to his minde and we punished in the fire oâ— hell such as refused to obey him They built for him lost palaces and * Depein piâ—d spacious houses they formed basons foâ— water chanels and pools we said unto him O lineage oâ— David be not ingrateful for my graces for that few persons do acknowledg them When he dyed through ouâ— Commandment nothing discovered his death to the devils buâ— the wormes that had eaten the end of his staffâ— whereon he leaned when the devils saw him fall they perceived that had they known the future and what was hâ— from them they should not have laboured so long a timâ— in his service The Inhabitants of Saba have a mark of mâ— Omnipotency in their Countrey viz. two gardens the one on the North side and the other towards the South iâ— was said unto them eat of the good things that your Lord hath given you and return him thanks their Country is delicious God hath been merciful towards them neverthelesse they are ingrateful and impious we sent the river oâ— Arem that overflowed their gardens we changed them into two gardens of thorns of Cyprus and a little * An Judian Date Tamarinde thus did we punish them because of their impiety We established a way with many cities for facility of commerce among them See Gelaldin and the City which we blessed and spake unto the people to follow that way night and day with safety and without fear They said God destroyeth us through the length of this way they returned to their impiety and we dispersed them upon the earth to serve for example to posterity and instruction to such as persevere in my Law and acknowledg my graces The devill caused them to believe his opinion they followed him except some of the true believers that were among them he had no power over them but to know them that believed in the Resurrection and such as doubt Thy Lord observeth and regardeth all Say unto them invoke your Idols they have not power of the bigness of an Atome neither in heaven nor earth God hath no companion they shall find none to protect them at the day of Iudgment none shall intercede for them without the permission of his divine Majesty if they receive any relaxation in their fear they enquire of each other what God spake answer that he spake the truth that he is most high and most mighty Say unto them who enricheth you with the good things of heaven and earth they will say that it is God Say unto them who of you or of us followeth the right way Or who of you or of us is seduced Enquire not after our sins we are not curious to know what ye do God shall assemble us at the day of Judgment and shall judge our differences with equity he iâ— an exceeding great Judge say unto them let us see the Idols that ye have worshiped certainly there is but one God omnipotent and wise We have not sent thee but to declare to men the joyes of Paradise and to preach to them the pains of hell but the greatest part knoweth it not they aske in what time they shall see the punishment that is preached to them and if thou speakest the truth say unto them when the time thereof is come ye shall not be able to retard or advance an hour they have said that they will not beleive in the Alcoran but thou shalt see them one day assembled in the presence of thy Lord thou shalt see that they shall accuse one another the poorâ— shall say unto â—he rich you have hindred us to obey the Commandments of God they shall answer have we seduced you from the way that was taught you On the contrary you were wicked and malicious they shall say on the contrary you employed night and day your Artifices to render us ingratfull for the graces of God and to induce us to believe that he hath companions equal to him they shall repent of their sins when they shall see their punishment we will lay chains upon their necks and they shall be chastised after their demerits The chief Inhabitants of the Cities said to the Prophets that we sent to them to preach the torments of hell that they believe not their words We have said they more riches and more children then those that believe in their discourse we shall not be damned as they affirm Say unto them my Lord giveth and taketh away riches as seemeth good to him but the greatest part of the people know it not your wealth and your children shall not give you accesse to God such as shall performe good works shall be rewarded and shall live eternally in the delights of Paradise they that sâ—all endeavour to suppress our Law shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell Say unto them my Lord giveth and taketh away wealth as to him seemeth good he maketh vain the alms which ye shall give if ye observe not his Law he is the rich of the rich Be thou mindfull of the day when I shall assemble the Idolaters and shall say to the Angels behold them who have adored you they shall say praised be God thou alone art our Master and protector they adored not us they worshipped the devill the greatest part of them beleived in his word this day they are
not able to benefit or hurt one another they will say to the unjust taste the torments of hell fire which ye would not beleive They said when thou didst preach unto them our Commandments this man would hinder us to worship the gods of our fathers he is a blasphemer They have said that the Alcoran is but Sorcery and Magick and reade not the books that we have sent unto them Their Predecessors did like them they traduced our Apostles hindred them to preach the tenth part of what we had inspired into thâ—m they traducd them but how were they chastised say unto them I preach to you to pray to God two by two or alone or in company ye shall know one day that your freind Mahomet is not possessed of the Devil and that he preacheth to you the pains of hell I require no reward of you for mine exhortations God shall reward me he seeth all Say unto them God teacheth his Prophets the truth and what is to come the truth appeared falshood was discovered and the lyars were deprived of his mercy if I wilfully go astray or if I act what God hath enjoyned me this shall be for my soul God heareth and is present at all things Thou shalt see the Infidels filled with fear affrighted when they shall come out of their sepulchre they shall not escape the punishment of their incredulity they shall then say that they beleive in the Alcoran but I will shew to them from farre the law which they have despised in the world they shall be precipitated with their ignorance into a place remote from mercy and pardon they shal be seperated from the true-believers because they have doubted the Commandments of the Law of God CHAP. XXXV The Chapter of the Creator containing fourty and five Verses written at Mecca This Chapter it intituled the Chapter of Angels in the Book Tefsir and Ioahir which treateth of the exposition of the Alcoran in Turkish IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise be to God Creator of Heaven and Earth who created the Angels the Messengers of his Commandments they have wings two three and foure he maketh of his Creature what seemeth good to him he is omnipotent none can comprehend the grace that he hath given to his people it is incomprehensible he is omnipotent and most wise Oh people Remember the grace of God is there a Creator beside him he enricheth you with the riches of Heaven and Earth there is no God beside him How can the wicked blaspheme against his divine Majesty If they traduce thee certainly they traduced the Prophets that were sent before thee they shall be one day assembled before God to be judged Oh ye people what God hath promised is infallible glory not in the wealth of the Earth beware least the Devill seduce you and render you proud because that God doth a while defer the punishment of your crimes The Devill is your enemy be ye his enemies he leadeth them that follow him into the fire of Hell where they shall suffer the rigors of infinite paines their sinnes shall be remitted that believe in God and do good works Oftentimes he that delighted in what he doth believeth he doth well God misleadeth and guideth whom it pleaseth him be not unwilling to depart from the wicked God knoweth all their actions He sendeth the winds that drive the clouds unto barren and dry places to refresh the Earth and cause it to revive after its death in like manner will he raise again the dead He that affecteth greatness shall finde in God all manner of greatnesse good speeches ascend even to his divine Majesty and our good works are acceptable to him Such as conspire against the Prophet shall endure great torments and their conspiracy become vain and unprofitable God hath created you of dust and mire be created you men and women the woman neither conceiveth not bringeth forth but through his permission no man can either prolong or shorten his life but following what is written in the book kept in heaven these things are easie to God Those two Seas are not like to Eaphrates whose water is sweet and pleasant to drinke the water of the Sea is cold and salt neverthelesse ye eat of the fish of the one and the other Ye fish out of the Sea gemmes to adorne you you see the Ship to run upon the waters and cleave the waves for the advantage of your commerce peradventure you will return thanks to God for his graces He causeth the night to enter into the day and the day into the night he created the Sunne and the Moon that run in the Heaven till the day appointed That God who created these things is your Lord the empire of the world is his the Idols that ye worship have no more power then the skin of an Almand if ye invoke them they shall not hear you they shall deny you at the day of Iudgment and are not of power to let you know either the joyes of Paradise or the torments of Hell Oh ye people ye are poor and necessitous ye have need of Gods assistance and God hath no want of you prayse is due to him in every place he will destroy you if it seeme good to him and create another new people in your place none shall bear the burthen of another be it never so light or heavy no not when they are neer of Kin. Preach thou the torments of Hell to such as feare their Lord without seeing him and make their prayers at the time appointed He that taketh heed of offending him laboureth for himself all the world shall be one day assembled before him to be judged The blind are not like to such as see clear darkness is not like to light the shade and coolnesse are not like to the heat of the Sun the living are not like the dead God causeth himself to be understood of whom he pleaseth thou canst not make the Commandments of God to be understood by them that are in their Sepulchers we have sent only to preach the pains of Hell and the joyes of Paradise there is no place in the world where they have not been preached If the Jnfidels traduce thee their predecessors likewise traduced them whom we sent heretofore to preach to them the mysteries of faith and the scriptures they were surprizd in their sins were rigorously chastised Seest thou not how thy Lord caused rain to fall from Heaven to make the Earth produce many fruits of sundry sorts and to nourish in the Mountains the Goats the Stags and Hinds to nourish the Crowes and Ravens the men and beasts of divers kinds and forme God gratifieth his creatures that acknowledge his benifits he is omnipotent and mercifull They who dâ—voutly read the book of God who make their prayers at the time appointed and bestow in pious works secretly or publiquely part of the wealth that we have given them have hope of a recompence
flow they eat of the fruits which are not the works of their hands will they not acknowledg the works of their Lord Praise is due to hâ—m that created the male and the female of all plants that the Earth produceth who created man and woman and many other things of which they have no knowledg It is a sign of my omnipotency to seperate the day from the night to make the Sunne to run to his appointed place We have appointed to the Moon her signes she goeth and commeth alwayes through her old way the Sun neither hasteneth nor retardeth his course at any time neither doth joyn himself by night to the Moon the night cometh not untill the end of the day And all to wit the Moon the Sun and the Stars exalt my glory in the Heaven it is a mark of mine omnipotency to have born their Fathers upon the waters in the Ark and to have given them vessels like the Ark to bear them had it pleased me I had caused them to be drowned without succor and salvation I saved them through my special grace until the time appointed The wicked despise the signs of Gods omnipotency and scoffed when they were required to fear the wrath of his divine Majesty present and to come and that their iniquities shall be forgiven them When it was said unto them give almes of the wealth that God hath given you they answered shall I give him to eat to whom God shall give bread when it shall please him They are in a very great error They will enquire of you when the day of Judgement shall be and if ye beleive it tel them that they must expect but one sole voice that shall surprise them they shall quarrell they shall not be able to make their Testament neither return to see their parents in the end they shall go out of their Sepulcheâ—â— and present themselves before God when the Trumpet shall sound Then shal they say we are most miserable to have departed from our graves behold what God hath promised us The Prophets spake to us the Truth viz. That the world ought to expect but one voice This day shall all men be assembled before their Lord no injustice shall be done to any person and every one shall be rewarded chastised after his works Such as shall go into Paradise shall be in exceeding great repose with alâ— manner of contentment they and their wives shall be safe from all evills lying on delicious beds they shall have all sorts of fruits and whatsoever they shall desire they shall be saluted on the behalf of the Lord gracious and mercifull God shall say to the wicked at the day of Judgment Depart yee this day from the company of the good did I not forbid you to worship the Devill your open enemy but to worship me alone and that it was the right way Did I not tell you that the Devill seduced a multitude of the people Ye would not beleive it behold Hell that is prepared for you through your incredulity I will shut their mouth their hand shall speak and their feet shall be witnesses of their crimes If we wil we can make the Infidels blind they shall find no way they shall not be able to go or come and shall be succored of none had it been our pleasure we could have transformed them in their houses and they had not been able to go forth I will cast their head against the ground and will render them infamous whose life I shall prolong and they shall not know their errors We have not made them to understand the mysteries of the Alcoran but that was not necessary it is but to preach to the living who comprehend what is spoken to them it is most true that the wicked shall be punished See they not that we alone have created all the beasts of the earth over which they command We have made them subject to them Some serve them to ride on and others for their nourishment will they be ingratfull Neverthelesse they have worshipped Idols they adored what could not deliver them from the pains of Hell Afflict not thy selfe at their discourse I know whatsoever they say and all that they keep secret in their souls Doth not man consider that we created him of dust And that he is to arogant God hath taught us how he formed his Creatures neverthelesse the wicked have said who is he that can give life to bones that are rotten Say unto them he it is that created you at first and that knoweth what he created he maketh fire to come out of the Greene Woods which ye burn and created the Heaven and the Earth cannot he create other creatures like unto you yes without doubt he createth what pleaseth him he knoweth all things when he willeth any thing he saith be thou and it is praised be he to whome all things appertain and before whom you all shall returne to be judged CHAP. XXXVII The Chapter of Orders containing fourescore Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull See Kitab el tenoir I swear by the orders of Angels that worship God and attend his commands by them that hinder men to obey the Devill and by them that read and meditate on the Alcoran that your God is one sole God Lord of the Heaven and the Earth and of all that is between them he is Lord of the West and of the East Wee adorned the Heaven and the Earth with Planets and have kept them safe from the malice of the Devills they cannot hear what is spoken in the Firmament they are shamefully driven away on all sides and shall be eternally tormented if they heare any thing spoken they heare it greedily and follow it speedily but the shining Planet persueth them and detecteth their malice The wicked have demanded if wee created any thing more illustrious then they Certainely wee created them all of the dust of the Earth Thou art amazed at their blasphemies they deride thy amazement and shall never be converted When they shall see miracles they shall scoffe and say that it is but evident magick to believe that they shall dye and after being earth bones and dust they shall rise againe with their Fathers and predecessors Say unto them that they shall rise againe and that they ere seduced from the right way that the world shall be but once destroyed and they shall see what will befall them at the day of Judgment They shall that day say they are wretched and the Angel shall say unto them behold the day of Judgment behold the day that the Godly shall be separated from the wicked behold the day w ch ye would not beleivâ— It shall be said to the Angels gather them together assemble their wives and their Idolls put them into the way of Hell and stay them to give accompt of their deportments and why their Idols do not succour them Certainly they shall desire to be
in the number of them that have obeyed GGDS Commandments they shall quarrel among them and shall say it is you that have seduced us from the right way through your oaths ye swore that ye followed the law of God and observed his Commandments they shall answer on the contraay we have no power over you you your selves were in manifest error the word of God shall be accomplished against us and we shall for company suffer the torments of hell if we seduced you we were likewise seduced and we shall this day be your compaions in punishment That day shall the wicked be in this manner afflicted they become insolent on earth when it is told them there is but one God and say shall we abandon our gods for a foolish lying Poet on the contrary he teacheth you the truth as did the Prophets that were before him ye shall be chastised and intreated according to your demerits Such as shall obey Gods Commandments shall have a place of safety wherein to rest with all sorts of fruits in pleasant gardens sitting orderly on delicious beds with glasses full of drink pleasing to the taste which shall not make them drunk Their wives white as fresh eggs shall not cast an eye upon any but upon them they shall talk together and one among them shall say I had on earth a companion who asked me if I beleived in the Resurrection and if after being reduced to earth bones and dust we shall rise again come with me let us go see what he doth he shall see him in the boâ—tom of hell shall say unto him by God it wanted little but that thou hadst seduced me without the grace of God I had bin damned as thou art we are not in the number of the dead we shall not suffer any paine on the contrary we are in exceeding great happiness thus are the righteous rewarded who are the more happy they who are in our felicity or such as are neer to Zacon the tree of hell This tree commeth out of the bottom of hell it riseth high and the branches themselves resemble the heads of devils the damned shall eat of the fruit thereof they shall drink boyling water and hell shall be the place of their habitation there Fathers were Infidels they followed their footsteps and the way of them that were seduced before them we sent unto them Preachers whom they refused to hear but consider what is the end of the righteous and that of the wicked We saved Noâ—h and gave grace to such as obeyed him we delivered him with his family from a great danger and perpetuated his progeny he shall be praised of all them that shall come after him because we gave him our blessing thus do I recompense the righteous he was in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments we saved him and them that followed him and drowned the infidels Remember Abraham God gave him an heart free from impiety and malice he said to his father his People wherefore worship ye false gods instead of the true God think ye to escape the punishment of your crimes Then he had a vision in heaven and said I am sick of your Idolatry they departed from him with purpose to be converted and empty the Temples of Idols of their treasures he said to the Idols wherefore eat ye not the sacrifices that are before you wherefore speak ye not and gave them a great blow with his right hand the people came together with wrath because he had stricken their gods he said unto them will ye worship the works of your hands know ye not that it is God that created you then they said among them let us build a great pile and put fire to it and cast Abraham into the fire they conspired against him but we rendred them ashamed and confounded Abraham said unto them I go towards my Lord he shall guide me into the way of salvation Lord give me a son that may be in the number of the righteous we declared to him that he should have a son exceeding wise when he arrived to years of discretion he said unto him my Sonne I dreamed this night that I must sacrifice thee what wilt thou that I doe he replyed my father do what is commanded you ye shall find me full of patience when his father laid him on the ground and put the knife nigh unto his throat we said uâ—to him O Abraham it is enough thou hast satisfyed thy dream thus do I entreat the righteous thus were we wont to prove them We redeemed hiâ— son with a fair Ram he shal be praised of posterity thoâ—â— that shall come after him shall bless his memory Thâ— do I reward the righteous he was in the number of theâ— that obey my Commandments We declared to him that he should have a son called Isaac from whom should issue many believers and unbeleivers Certainly we gave our grace to Moses and Aaron we delivered them with their followers from an evident peril we protected them they were in the number of the victorious we gave them the book full of light and conducted them into the right way they shall be praised in ages to come and posterity shall bless their memory Thus do I recompence the righteous they were in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments Elias is in the number of my Prophets and Apostles he said unto the people wherefore fear ye not God wherefore worship ye the Idol Balan and forsake the Creator of the world God is your Lord and the Lord of your predecessors they traduced him and were condemned to the fire of hell except such among them as obeyed my Commandments We left his memory happy to posterity thus I reward the righteous he was in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments Lot was in the number of my Prophets and Apostles Remember thou how we delivered him and his family from evident perill except his wife who remained among them that were chastised having saved him we destroyed the wicked they saw in the moâ—ning the foot steps of the ruine that befell them the night before wil ye not understand this mirale Jonas was in the number of the Prophets Remember thou that he fled in a ship was the cause of evill to the Saylors he was swallowed of a Whale â—ad he not repented of his fault he should have continued in the belly of that fish until the day of Iudgment we cast him on the shore extreamly feeble we covered him with leaves of Filbert and sent him to preach to more then an 100000 persons that we reconverted whose decease ferred untill the time appointed The Infidells have demanded if thy Lord hath daughters as they have sons did we create the Angels male and female in their presence They lie when they say that God hath a son hath he desired to have daughters rather than sons how can you thus blaspheme Consider ye not that he is God
alone without children have ye any reason or authority to speak in this maner bring your arguments produce your reason if ye are true The Infidels have said that the Angels were of the lineage of God but the Angels well know that the Infidells shall be damned because of their blasphemies Praised be God he hath neither son nor daughter other then the righteous that worship him and obey his Commandments You with your Idols cannot escape the punishment of your sins ye shall be condemned to the fire of hell There is none among the angels that knoweth not his place and his order in Paradise to praise and worship his divine Majesty If the Infidels say we observe the Religion of our predecessors we are in the right way Say unto them that If they belive not in the Alcoran they shall in fine know their incredulity We have promised protection to beleivers and Prophets they shall be protected and victorious depart for a time from the wicked consider how God punisheth them they shall feel the punishment of their impiety wil they cast themselvs headlong into the torments of hell assuredly they will be astonished when the shall feel them depart from their company and consider that they shall not be able to escape the punishment of their crimes Praise thy Lord the Lord of power and greatness above the wicked salvation be to the Prophets and eternall praise to the God of the Vniverse CHAP. XXXVIII The Chapter of Truth containing fourscore and eight Verses written at Mecca Reader Mahomet intituled this Chapter with the Letter named in the Arabique Alphabet Ssad which signifieth in this place Ssidk that is to say Truth See the Gloss of Geladin Kitab el tenoir They have intituled it the Chapter of Truth IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the Alcoran that this Book teacheth the way of Salvation neverthelesse the Infidels resist the Faith and are among themselves of a different opinion How many have we destroyed in times past that were like unto them They cryed and required succors but they were no longer to be succored The Infidels wonder that a man like themselves should be sent to instruct them they say That he is a Magician and a lyar to preach one sole God It is a strange thing Their Doctors forsook their Assemblies they went to preach through the City and said Persist to adore your Gods we abjure the beliefe of the vnity of God the last Sect did not preach it it is an evident lie Was Mahomet chosen among us to receive alone the Alcoran descended from Heaven Certainly they doubt the Alcoran they shall know the truth when they shall be in the fire of Hell Have they in their power the Treasures of the mercy of thy Lord omnipotent and bountifull Possesse they the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth and whatsoever is betwixt them If it be so let them ascend into Heaven with their forces assuredly they shall be shamefully beaten in all places The wicked heretofore defamed Noah Aâ—d Pharoah the maker of Charmes and Temod the Inhabitants of the City of Lot those that dwelt in the Forest and their companions traduced the Prophets were punished after their demerits neverthelesse the Infidels consider not that they shall be chastised when the trumpet shall sound at the day of Judgment and that they shall no more return on earth to be converted They say in scorn Lord give us to see the Book of the Accompt of our sins before the day of Judgment Persevere and be patient be not troubled at their discourse and call to mind our servant David stout and zealous in my Law the Mountains and the Birds praised me with him they assembled in his presence obeyed him we gave force to his reign and endued him with knowled and eloquence Hast thou learnt Davids quarrel when they hindred him to enter into the Temple and how he feared his Enemies When they entred towards him they said unto him Be not afraid we have a dispute among us judge our difference with equity and teach us the right way This man is my Brother he hath fourscore and nineteen sheep I had but one which he hath ravished from me because he was stronger than I. David said He hath done thee wrong art thou troubled for one Ew The greatest part of men arose against their neighbor except such as believe in the Law of God and observe his Commandments which are few in number Then David knew that we had tryed him he implored pardon of his sin he humbled himselfe worshiped us and was converted We gave him pardon of his fault we drew him near unto us and lodged him in a place of content I said unto him O David we have established thee on Earth to determine the differences that shall arise among the people follow not thine own appetite it will seduce thee from the way of Salvation such as shall erre from my Law shall suffer grievous pains at the day of Iudgment We have not in vain created the Heaven and the Earth as the wicked affirm misery shall befâ—l them they shall be cast headlong and burnt in the fire of Hell Shall I alike entreat the believers and unbelievers the righteous and the wicked This Book We have sent it to thee blessed it to the end the people may meditate the mysteries thereof the wise reap advantage for their salvation We gave Solomon to our servant David he was extreamly zealous in our service Remember that horses ready and vigorous were presented to him about evening that he forgot to make his prayer at the houre of Vespers and said What Have I preferred the love of the wealth of the Earth to the remembrance of God even untill the Sun set He caused them to be led back againe and sacrificed some of them for expiation of his fault He caused their legs and neck to be cut off We tryed Solomon we caused a suppositious person to fit on his throne and afterwards restored him to his dominions He said Lord give me thy mercy give me so happy a reigne that the like hath not been seen thou art liberall towards thy creatures We made subject to him the winds which blowed at his command where it pleased him We made the devills subject to him some built his Palaces others dived into the Seas to bring him Pearls and others were bound and chained to attend his commands he retained and dismissed whom he listed with rendring an accompt We drew him neer unto us and lodged him in a place of content Remember our servant Job that he prayed to his Lord and sayd That the Divell had heaped misery and affliction upon him It was said unto him Strike the earth with thy foot thou shalt see water spring forth to wash thee and to drink We restored to him his children his riches through our special grace to be an example to posterity It was said unto him when his
wife would have made him to murmur Take rods in thy hand strike thy wife and swerve not from what thou hast promised We found him patient and zealous in obedience to our Commandments Remember our servant Abraham Isaac Jacob affectionate and zealous in our Law we saved and chose them among the righteous Such as have my fear before their eyes shall enjoy the delights of the Garden of Eden where they shall repose upon most glorious beds they shall there have all sorts of fruits and delicious drinke and their wives shall not look on any but on them Behold what is promised to them at the day of judgement and these pleasures shall never end The wicâ—ed and Infidels shall be precipitate â— into the fire of Hell they shall drink boiling water in abundance and water extreamly full of all manner of noysom smells they shall be precipitated into the flames and shall say to them that have obeyed them upon Earth May ye be perpetually tormented you have seduced and mis-led uâ— On the contrary may your selves be tormented you have been the cause of our misery Shall we not be able to see them whom we believed on Earth to be Infidels and whom we deâ—ided cannot our eyes see Thus shall the damned quarrel Say to the people I am sent only to preach unto you the Vnity of God the Omnipotent Creator of Heaven earth and of all that is between them Behold the best Sermon that I can make unto you neverthelesse you despise it I know not what happened in Heaven when the Angels quarrelled God hath inspiâ—ed it into me and I am â—ent but to instruct you aâ—d to preach publikly the paines of Hell Remember thou that God said to his Angels I will create man of the mire of the Earth when I have formed him I will breath against him and inspire my Sâ—irit into his body prostrate your selves before him with humiliâ—y The Angels there prostrated themselves except the Devil he was proud and already in the number of the wicked Thy Lord said unto him wherefore dost thou not humble thy self before the work of my hands Thou art in the number of the proud he replied I am better then man thou hast made me of fire and hast created him of the dust of the Earth Then thy Lord said unto him Get thee hence thou shalt be chastised on all sides my curse be upon thee untill the day of Iudgment He answered Lord defer my punishment untill the day of the Resurrection he said I will defer it untill the day appointed He replied through thy permission I will tempt all the world except such as shall be zealous in thy Law and shall obey thy Commandments He said I tell thee true I tell thee true I will fill Hell with thee and those that shall follow thee Say unto the people I require of you to recompence for my instructions I am not importunate Certainly this Book is sent only to instruct men you shal one day know the truth of what it containeth CHAP. XXXIX The Chapter of Troups containing seventy five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious merciful This book was sent by God the Omnipotent and wise We sent it to thee the contents thereof are most true worship one God alone and obey his Commandments faith proceedeth from him alone Such as worship any other but him worship Idols They have said we would not invoke our Idolls had they not power to draw us neer to God Certainly God shall judge one day the difference that is between the beleivers and unbeleivers he guidetâ— not him that is a lyar and impious If he would have a son he would make choise of one of his creatures that should be pleasing to him praised be God there is but one God alwayes victorious he created the heavens and the earth with proportion he maketh the night to enter into the day the day into the night he created the Sun and the Moon which performe their course in heaven untill the day appointed he is omnipotent and merciful He hath created all of you of one sole man of whom he created his wife he hath given you clean beasts male and female he formed you in the wombs of your mothers form upon from he brought you out of three * The obscurity of the mothers belly her womb and the skin that infolâ— you in the womb obscurities he alone is your God and your Lord the kingdom of the world appertaineth to him there is no God but he How can the Infidel depart from his service If ye will not worship him he hath nothing to do with you he desireth not that his creatures should be impious his Will is that they praise him this is his pleasure and none shall bear the burthen of his neighbour ye al shall be assembled before him he wil shew ye what you have done he knoweth what is in the hearts of men When man is touched with any affliction See Gelaldin he invoketh God and turneth and when he is in prosperity he forgetteth his vows he hath said that God hath a companion equall to him and erreth from the way of his law Say unto him thou shalt be a while tollerated in the end thou shalt be cast headlong into the fire of hell and he that shall pray to God day and night erect prostrate or on the knee with fear of the torments of hell shall enjoy the mercy of his divine Majesty Are such as labour to be compared to them that are idle They that have judgment will understand this discourse Say unto them oh ye people that beleive in your Lord have his fear before your eyes Such as shall do good works in this world shall enjoy abundantly the riches of the earth God will innumerably reward them that persevere in obedience to his Commandments Say unto them I am commanded to worship one God to professe his Vnity to be obedient to him Say unto them I apprehend the day of Iudgment if I disobey God my Lord. Say unto them I will worship but one God worship ye others whom ye will Such as shall despise the Law of God shal lose their souls families at the day of Iudgment These are two great losses most certain they be involved in eternal fire Thus God preacheth to true beleivers O my creatures speak unto them that have my fear before their eyes that they adore not idols and that if they turn to their Lord they shall enjoy the delights of Paradise Proclaim to them that hear my Word and obey my Commandments that they are in the right way and well advised canst thou deliver from the fire of hell him that shall be condemned Certainly such as obey God shal enjoy the pleasures of Paradise wherein flow many rivers there shal they dwel eternaly This is the promise of God he swerveth not from that which he promiseth Seest thou not that God sendeth
raine from heaven and maketh the rivers to run upon the earth he causeth plants to spring forth and herbs of divers colours thou seest them become yellow and then altogether drie this is a sign of his omnipotency Hath not he to whom GOD hath given the light of Faith received a great grace from his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that have a heart hardned forget his law they are manifestly seduced he hath sent an excellent book for the instruction of men his precepts are alike in purity and without contradiction They that fear God tremble when they hear mention of this book and finde their rest in the word of his divine Majesty This book is the guide of the righteous God by it guideth whom pleaseth him He whom God shall seduce shall finde none to guid him he shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell at the day of Judgement it shall be said that day to the wicked tast the torments that ye have merited their predecessors defamed the Prophets and were punished when they least thought of it God rendred them ignâ—miniâ—us in this world and they shall feel in the other tormenâ—s much more greivous and they know it not We have taught in this book what is necessary for the salvation of the people peradventure they will learn it it is in the Arabique tongue without falshod and contradiction perhaps the people will fly from impiety God teacheth you a parable Two men are associates in their traffique the one is wicked the other an honest man are they alike Praise is due to one sole God the greatest part of the Infidels understand it not Thou shalt die all men shall die and ye shall be assembled at the day of Iudgement when ye shall dispute together Who is more unjust then he that blasphemeth against God and against the known truth Shall not the wicked be damned Such as shall believe the Prophet and fly impiety shall obtaine from God what they desire such is the recompence of the righteous God shall pardon their sins and reward them for their good works doth not he protect his servant They will terrifie thee wiâ—h the Idols which they adore but he whom God shall mislead shall finde none able to guide him and none shall be able to seduce him whom he shall guide is not he the omnipotent and revenging If thou ask of the Infidels who created heaven and earth they will say it is God Say unto them have ye therefore considered the Idols which ye adore can they exempt you from the wrath of God when it shall be his pleasure to chastise you Shall they be able to hinder his grace when it shall be his will to pardon you Say unto them my refuge is God I am resigned to his Will the wise trust in his divine Majesty Say unto them oh people do as you understand him I will do as I understand him ye shall know in the end that whosoever shall be condemned shall be ashamed and be precipitated into eternall torments We have sent unto thee the most true book to instruct the people He that shal follow the right way shal meet with nothing but good and he that shall go astray shall meet with nothing but evill thou art not the guardian of the wicked God causeth men to dye when the hour of their death is arrived he deferreth the death of many during their sleep remitteth that of others to the time appointed this is a sign of his omnipotency to such as consider it Will ye worship any but God Say unto them how shall your Idols be able to intercede for you since they want power know you not this Say unto them we ought to invoke one God alone King of the heaven and earth you all shall one day assemble before him to be judged The Infidels tremble with fear wheÌ„ they hear mention of one sole God rejoyce when they hear speak of their Idols Say unto them God is Creator of the heavens and the earth he knoweth the past present and future Lord thou shalt one day judge the differences of thy creatures Should the Infidels possess al the riches of the earth and yet as much more they would not be able to escape the fire of Hel at the day of Iudgment they shall be punished more greivously then they imagine their sins shall be set before them and they shall feel the rigors of the torments which they despise man calleth upon us when he is in affliction and we give him our grace he saith he meriteth it on the contrary this is to prove him but most of them are ignorant of it their predecessors spake as they the good that they have done hath profitted them nothing and the misery that they have merited is faln upon them they shall not escape the punishment of their crimes Know they not that God giveth and taketh away wealth from whom pleaseth him This is a signs of his omnipotency for the righteous Say unto them oh people they who have offâ—nded God ought not to despair of his grace he is gracious and mercifull be ye Converted and recommend your selves to his will before ye be condemned otherwise ye shall remain without protection follow the instruction that God hath sent to you before ye be chastised the punishment of your crimes shall surprise you ye know not the time the wicked shall be afflicted for that they have not obeyed Gods Commandments they shall know their damnation and the sin that they have committed in scorning the trve-believers They shall say had God guided me into the right-way I had had his fear before my eyes When they shall see hell they shal say could I return into the world I would be in the number of the righteous on the contrary my Commandments were taught you but ye became proud and dispised them Thou shalt sâ—e that day how the visages of Infidels shall be blackned Is there not a place in hell prepared for the proud God loveth and putteth into a place of felicity them that fear him they shall not be touched either with displeasure or affliction God hath created all things and disposeth all at his pleasure he hath in his power the keyes of heaven and earth such as disobey him are damned Say unto them oh ignorant men will ye enjoyn me to worship another god besides God It hath been preached to you and your predecessors that all your good works shall be unprofitable if ye adore many gods and that you shall be in the number of the damned there is but one God worship him and be mindfull of his graces The Infidels have not praised God as he ought to be praised they have no knowledge of his power he shall make earth to tremble and gather together the heavens by the strength of his right hand at the day of Iudgment praised be God he hath no companion When the Trumpet shall sound the first time he shal cause to dis whom
he will have to die in the heavens and earth the second time all the world shall rise again and attend his commandments the earth shall be full of the light of the Lord thereof he shall bring his book where in shal be written what the Prophets Martyrs have taught he shal judg the world with equity shall not do injustice to any every one shal be rewarded chastised for his works he knoweth all that they have don he shal send the Infidels into the fire of hel in troops â—hen they shal be arrived at the gate it shal open before their eyes it shall be said unto them behold Hell which ye have merited were there not Prophets and Apostles to teach you the Commandments of God and to preach unto you on Earth the coming of this rigorous day They shall say yes but the word of God shall be accomplished against the wicked It shall be said unto them goe enter into Hell ye shall abide there eternally it is the habitation of the proud Such as shall have the fear of God before their eyes shall be conducted in troups to the gate of Paradise the gate shall open before their eyes it shall be said unto them behold what ye have gained the peace of God is with you ye have not been ignorant enter into Paradise ye shall dwel therein eternally They shall say praised be God for that we believed in his Law and because we are heirs of his grace we will goe into Paradise into what place shall seeme good to us God giveth his blessing to the righteous Thou shalt see the Angels about the throne of thy Lord who shall praise and exalt his glory they shall say God hath judged his creatures with equity praise is due to the Lord of the Vniverse CHAP. XL. The Chapter of the True-believer containing eighty five Verses written at Mecca Reader Gelaldin entituleth this Chapter Of the Pitifull IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent and wise This Book is sent by the omnipotent who knoweth all things who pardoneth sinnes and accepteth the conversion of his Creatures he is severe in his chastisements and indulgent to his people there is no God but he and all the world shall one day be assembled before his divine Majesty to be judged No man disputeth against the precepts of the Alcoran but the wicked be not thou discontented if they live on earth with some felicity the people of Noahs time contemned his instructions their posterity did like them and every Nation hath conspired the death of them whom God sent to instruct them thy disputed to obscure the truth through their lies but they were punished and after what manner So is the word of God accomplished against the wicked they all shall be damned The Angells that are about the Throne of God and those that bear him praise and exalt his divine Majesty they beleive in his unity and beg pardon of him for the True-believers Lord Lord thy mercy extendeth through the whole world nothing is hid from thee either in Heaven or Earth pardon their sins that convert and embrace thy holy Law deliver them from the fire of Hell open to them the gate of the gardens of Eden which thou hast prepared for them their Fathers wives and children and them of their lineage that shal do good works thou art omnipotent and wise Depart from sin he that shall depart from it shall resent the effects of Gods mercy at the day of Iudgment and shall enjoy eternall felicity the Infidels shall be hated of God his hatred is far more dangerous then yours wil ye be Indels after being called to the observation of the Law of Salvation They said Lord wilt thou cause us to dye twice and shall we twice rise againe But they shall say at the the day of Judgment Lord we confesse we have offended thee we acknowledge our sinne in having renounced the belief of thine unity Shall we never go out of Hell to observe thy Law and follow the way of salvation No ye shal suffer in the fire of Hell because that ye have believd them that adored Idols and because ye have said that God hath companions equall to him All things obey one sole God omnipotent he it is that made you to see his Miracles and sendeth you the riches of Heaven and Earth none consider it but such as are converted Pray to God and observe his LAW although it be against the will of the wicked he elevateth his Creatures to what degree he listeth he hath created his Throne and sent his inspirations to whom he seeth good to preach the day of Judgement that day shall the people come out of their Monuments none shal be able to hide himselfe from his divine Majesty Who shall command that day It shall be God alone victorious that day shall he recompense every one after his works without injustice he is exact to make accompt If thou preach to the wicked the day of Judgement their heart will lift them up and they shall be full of affliction their prayers shall not be heard and none shall intereede for them God knoweth them that have eyes of treachery and seeth all that is in the hearts of men he judgeth of every thing with truth the Idols which they worship are without power God alone understandeth all things and is omnipotent Consider they not what was the end of their predecessors who were more powerfull and more wealthy then they God surprized them in their sinnes there was none of power to save them for that they despised the Prophets of his divine Majesty they contemned his Law and were impious but he severely chastised them he is omnipotent and most severe Wee sent Moses with miracles with reasons cleare and intelligible to Pharoah to Haman and Caron they said that Moses was A Sorcerer and a Lyar and when hee preached to them the truth on our behalfe they said kill him with all those that believe him and make their wives infamous but their conspiracy was but impiety Pharoah said hinder me not to kill Moses let him invoke his God to save him I fear that he may alter your Law and introduce some disorder in the Land Moses said God mine and your Lord shall defend me from the malice of the proud that believe not the day of judgement Then a man of the domestiques of Pharoah that secretly professe the true Law said will ye slay a man that declareth that God is his Lord and that hath made you to see miracles if he be a lyar his lye shal be against him but if he speak the truth something of what he hath preached shall befal you God guideth nether the wicked nor lyars Oh people you this day command on Earâ—h with splendor who shall defend us from the wrath of God if it fall upon us Pharoah said I speak nothing to you but what I have told you heretofore and I will guid you
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
the beasts for your use Some ye eat and others serve you to ride on from them ye reap profit they bear the burden as likewise do the ships for the advantage of your commerce God manifesteth to you his graces And what graces Will ye despise them Do not unbelievers consider the end of those that were before them who were more powerfull and rich then they their treasures did not save them they derided the Peophets and Apostles that preached to them and in the end felt the paines that they had despised When they shall fear the torments of hel they shall say We believe in one God alone and renounce Idoâ—s This profession of Faith shal be unprofitable to them in Hell they shall incur the rigour of the Law of God that was observed against their predecessors and all unbeleivers shall be damned CHAP. XLI The Chapter of Exposition containing fifty and foure Verses written at Mecca Reader Gelaldin intituleth this Chapter Of Adoration IN the name of God gracious and merciful The Alcoran was sent by the gracious and merciful God It explaineth divine Mysteries in the Arabique tongue to them that have knowledge to understand them it proclaimeth to the good the delights of Paradise and preacheth to the wicked the torments of Hel neverthelesse the greatest part of the world pepart from the Faith and hear not thy words They say We have obdurate hearts we cannot comprehend what thou preachest our ears are stopped we are too remote to heare what thou sayest Observe thy Law we will live after our own Say unto them I am a man like you your God is one sole God be obedient to him and begge pardon of him for your sins Misery is upon unbelievers that pay not Tiths believe not in the day of judgment The believers that shall do good works shall enjoy an infinite reward Say unto them How wilâ— ye be wicked towards him that created the Earth in twâ— days Munday Tuesday how can you say that he hath a Companion equaâ— to him He is sole Lord of the Vniverse he raised the Mountains blessed the Earth and gave to every Regioâ— the particulars thereof in four days for them that shall have need See Gelaldin After this he ascended into Heaven that was like unto smoke and said unto Heaven and Earth Ye shall obeâ— me either through force or affection They answered Lord we will be obedient to thy Commandments He created seven Heavens in two days Thursday Friday and disposed every Heaven after his own will he adorned them with Stars and preserveth them from the malice of the Devil See Gelaldin This is aâ— effect of his Omnipotency he is omnipotent and knoweth all things If the unbelievers depart from the Faith say unto them I have threatned you as heretofore thundeâ— did the people of Aad and Temod when the Prophets taughâ— them the Law of the ancient True believers to wit To worship but one God They said Were it Gods pleasure to alter our Law he would have sent us Angels to preach unto us we will not believe in thy mission The people of Aad waxed proud on the Earth without reason and said Who is more powerfull then we will they not consider that he that created them is more powerful and wealthy then they Neverthelesse they despised our Commadments We sent against them a cold and impetuous wind in an unhappy time that made them to suffer on Earth shame and ignominy because of their crimes He shall cause them to feel the pains of Hell that are much greater then those of the Earth and they shall be eternally deprived of protection We instructed the men of Temod in the right way they preferred blindnesse to light and impiety to Salvation they were surprized by thunder and suffered great afflictions because of their sins We saved none of them but the believers who had our fears before their eyes Be thou mindfull of the day that the Enemies of God shall be assembled in Hell they shall defend their cause before the Judge until testimony be brought against them their ears their eyes and their skin shall be witnesses of their iniquities They shall say Wherefore do ye witnesse against us They shall answer He that made us to speak giveth speech to every thing he it is that created you and ye are this day assembled before him to be judged Ye did not well conceal your selves when ye offended him your ears your eyes your skin are witnesses against you ye beleived that God should not see your sins this was your opinion Certainly he shall chastise you and you all shall be in the number of the damneâ— Persevere and be thou patient the fire of Hell shall be theâ—r habitation they shall not be able to please God in the flames We have given them the Devils for their Companioâ—s who caused them to delight in sin The word of God shal be accomplished against them as it was accomplished against their predecessors as well men as Devils that are condemned The unbelievers have said Heare not that Alcoran it is full of error peradventure ye shall be seduced I will cause them to suffer grievous pains and will chastise them after their demerits such is the reward of Gods enemies They shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell because they despise his Commandments The wicked shall say at the day of Judgement Lord let us see the Devils and the men that seduced us we will trample them unâ—er our feet and precipitate them to the bottom of hâ—l Such as shall have professed the Law of God as shall have obeyed his Commandments shall be visiteâ— by the Angels and shall that day be free from fear and affliction They shall say unto them Rejoyce ye in Paradice that is prepared for you ye shall there find all the contentments that ye shall desire they have been prepared for you by the gracious and mercifull There is nothing better then to pray to God then to do good works and to professe his unity Good and evill are not a like Exâ—ell evill with thy good works There is an exceeding great antipathy between Faith and Jmpiety Faith is given to such as persevere to do well and to them that are indued with the grace of God The Devil will tempt thee but imploâ—e assistance from God he heareth and knoweth all things The night and the day the Sun and the Moon are signs of his Omnipotency Adore neither the Sun nor the Moon worship God that created them If the Infidels resâ—st the Faith the Angels that are in Paradise defist not notwithstanding to exalt the glory of his divine Majesty day and night without intermission It is a signe of his Omnipotency to see the barren and dry Earth to change the face and become green when it is watered with rain He that maketh the plants to revive is he that maketh every thing to live and dye he is Omnipotent Such as depaâ—t
from our Commandments cannot hide themselves from us Shall he that shall be precipitated into Hell be better lodged then he that shall be saved at the day of Iudgment Do what shall please you your Lord beholdeth all your actions I will chastise them thot traduce the Alcoran it is a precious Book it is approved by the ancient and modern Scriptures it is sent from the glorious and mercifull None other thing shall be spoken to thee then what hath been spoken to the Prophets that preceeded thee thy Lord is mercifull and just Had we sent the Alcoran in the Persian tongue to a Prophet an Arabian by Nation the wicked would have said That the divine mysteries are not well explained Say unto them It is the guide of Believers and a remedy to their ignorance Infidels have deaf ears they are blind and hear not a◠those that are called too far off Certainly we gave the Book and the Law to Moses Vnbelievers doubt but if thy Lord had not said That he would defer their punishment untill the day of Iudgement he had already chastised them in this world because they doubt of the truth Whosoever shall doe good shall find good and the evill that a man committeth shall be against him Thy Lord doth no injustice to his Creatures None but he knoweth the day of Iudgement no fruit nor flower springeth out of the Earth and woman neither conceiveth nor bringeth forth but by his permission Be thou mindful of the day that the lord shal cal Idolaters demand of them where be their Idols They shall say Lord we acknowledg thy Vnity None of us will hereafter adore those false gods They that worshipped one God departed from Idolaters they know that the punishment of their sin is infallible Man never ceaseth to require riches and is troubled when evill befalleth him if we give him good after his affliction he saith that he foresaw it and hath no thought of the comming of the day of Judgement if he be converted thy Lord openeth to him the gate of Paradise I will make the wicked to know their wickednesse and will most severely punish them when we bestow wealth on man he followeth his Idolatry and his sin and when he is touched in affliction he aboundeth in prayer Say unto them know ye not that the Alcoran proceedeth from God neverthelesse ye have renounced it who is more impious then he that impugneth the known truth I will cause them to see my miracles even to the utmost parts of heaven and earth and in their own persons to the end they may know the truth of the Alcoran Sufficeth it not them that thy Lord seeth all things neverthelesse they are in doubt of the Resurrection and of being assembled before him to be judged certainly God is omniscient CHAP. XLII The Chapter of Counsell containing fifty and three Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent wise majestique he understandeth all things and is omnipotent God hath sent thee the same inspirations that he sent to them that did precede thee he is omnipotent and wise whatsoever is in heaven and in earth appertaineth to him he is omnipotent and knoweth all things the heavens open at his command the Angels exalt his glory and implore his pardon for them that are on earth he is mercifull he beholdeth them that invoke Idols and knoweth them all but thou art not their Tutor We have inspired into thee the Alcoran in the Arabique tongue to preach to the Inhabitanta of Mecca and such as dwell about that City we have sent thee to preach unto them the day of Judgement there is no doubt that one part of men shall be saved and the other shall be damned had it pleased God he had created them of one the same Religion he giveth his grace to whom he listeth and Infidels shall be deprived of succour because they have required the protection of Idoles but God is the true protector of the world he reviveth the dead and is omnipotent he shall one day judge all the difficulties resolve all your doubts in your Religion he is my Lord I recommend my self to his divine Will he created your wife of your selvs he created all beasts male and female and caused you to multiply there is not any thing like unto him he keepeth the keyes of the Treasures of heaven and earth and taketh away and giveth wealth as pleaseth him The Law that I gave to Noah Abraham Moses and Jesus is that which I commanded thee to observe viz. to believe in one God The infidells are angry when thou preachest to them the unity of God he teacheth it whom he pleaseth and guideth into the right way them that obey him the wicked approve some points of his law and reject the rest although they have knowledge of his Vnity and that through the envy that is risen among them if thy Lord had not heretofore said that he would defer their punishment untill the day of Iudgment he had already destroyed them many of those who after them shall have knowledg of the Scriptures shall doubt of his Law but follow thou the way that is appointed thee and follow not their appetites Say unto them I believe in the Book that God hath sent I have received commandment to preach unto you that God is your and our Lord ye shall answer for your actions and we shall answer for ours it is not necessary to dispute against us God will one day assemble us in his presence to judge our differences he is our refuge such as dispute against the faith after knowledge of the truth are without reason their arguments shall be vaine with God they shall be the object of his wrath and shall suffer exceeding great pains God hath sent the Alcoran with truth ballance he will not instruct thee when the day of judgment shal be Such as have no faith in him ask when it shal come and they that believe him fear the coming thereof and know it to be infallible such as doubt are erroneous from the right way God is merciful to his people enricheth whom he pleaseth he is strong omnipotent he encreaseth the graces of him that desireth the riches of Heaven he giveth the wealth of the earth to them that effect it and depriveth them of the riches of Heaven Are there wicked ones among men that teach them a false Religion prohibited of God God hath not revealed it to thē had he not deferred their punishment until the day of Iudgmment he had already destroyed them they shall in the end feel grevious tormens ye shal see thē fear their own deportments ye shall see them chastised after their demerits and the believers that do good works shall enjoy the delights of Paradise where they shall finde whatsoever they shall desire this is the great grace of God this is that which he hath proclaimed to the faithfull that believed
father and his people I am innocent of the sin that you commit in adoring Idols I woâ—ship him alone that created me he shall guide me into the way of Salvation and hath left his words to posterity perhaps the Infidels shall be converted I deferred heretofore the punishment of Idolaters until they had learned the truth and that a Prophet came to instruct them When he preached unto them the truth they said that it is but witchcraft and that they would give no faith to it Had the Alcoran beene sent to a man * â—Olid bin Maguiâ—he and Arâ—ua bin Mâ—sâ—oud in whom the Arabians had confidence See Kitab el tenior Master and Lord of two Cities or Villages they had esteemed and approved it Would they dispose of the graces of GOD He hath divided the riches of the world among men Some there be that are more eminent and scorn each other but the mercy of God is more advantageous then the riches of the Earth which they accumulate Although all the people be not of the same Religion we cease not to bestow on the wicked houses adorned with seeling enchased with silver staires doores and Beds of silver and gold These things are the riches of the Earth and Paradise is for them that are righteous I will cause to fall headlong with the Devils such as shall reject the Law of the mercifull the Devils shall be their companions they shall seduce them from the way of Salvation and they shall not know it When we shall come to judge the Vniverse they shall say would to GOD we had been as remote from you as the West is from the East Oh what company for you This day your repentance and your hopes shall be vaine ye were Infidels for company ye shall be companions in the Fire of Hel. Wilt thou make the blind to see and the deafe to heare Wilt thou guide them that wilfully erre If they dye before being punished on Earth I will be avenged on them in the other world Shall I shew thee during thy life the punishment that we have prepared for them We can do it but do thou only what hath been commanded thee thou art in the way of salvaâ—ion instruct men therein an accompt of thy mission shal be required of thee I wil require an accompt of their mission that we sent heretofore to instruct the people we wil demand of them if we appointed them to worship any other God but us Wee sent Moses to Pharoah and his Ministers he caused them to see our Miracles preached to them our Commandment he told them that he was the Messenger of the God of the Vniverse neverthelesse they scoffed I shewed them no greater Miracle then that of Moses his sister and we chastised them because of their nâ—redulity They said unto Moses oh Magician pray unto thy Lord that he deliver us from these evils and we will be converted when they were delivered they violated their promiser and Pharoah said to his people am not I King of Aegypt doth not the River NILVS flow under my obedience Know ye not that I am more powerful then that poor wretch Moses that knowes not what he sayes Give him * Pharoah caused braâ—â—lets of guilâ—ed Iron to be given with Collers to criminalls and made theâ— to go tâ—â—oâ—gh the City bracelets of Gold we will see if the Angels and those that follow his Doctâ—ine will testifie the truth of his words He terrified his Subjects they obeyed him for they were Infidels but we were avenged on them when they provoked us we drowned them and made them serve for example to posterity like those that preceeded them in impiety The people would not hearken to the Sonne of Mary when he spake by parable they said our Gods are more profitable to us then his lyes and questions On the contrary they were refractory he is our servant we conferred on him our grace and made him like to the other Prophets of the Children of Israel Had it pleased me I had created Angels on earth in your place the comming of Jesus the Sonne of Mary shall be a sign of the certainty of the day of Iudgment See Gelaldin And Kitab el tenoir doubt not concerning that day He said unto men â—ollow me it is the right way beware lest the Devill seduce you he is your open enemy I come to teach you the Commandments of God to resolve the doubts and judg the differences that are among you Fear God obey him he is your Lord and mine worship him it is the right way The people doubted his Doctrine but misery shall be upon the wicked they shall suffer great torments at the day of â—udgement will they expect that day for their conversion it shall surprize them and they know it not that day shall they be enemies one of another God shall say to the righteous fear not ye shall not this day resent any affliction The believers that have obeyed my Commandments shall enter into Paradise you and your wives shall there rejoyce ye shall drink in cups of fine gold ye shall there find whatsoever ye shall desire and all that can content the minde and delight the eyes and ye shall dwell eternally in supream felicity behold the Paradise that ye have gained by your good life it is enriched with abundance of fruits which ye shall eat with contentment and the wicked shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell they shall not be eased in their miseries and shall be dumâ— with despaire we do no injustice to them they drew mischief on themselves through their disobedience They shall demand of the Keeper of the fire will thy Lord never deliver â—s from these paines He shall answer them ye shall abide there Eternally We have taught men the truth but the greatest part of them would not believe it The wicked have conspired against thee and we conspired against them think they that I know not their secrets and whatsoever they utter The Angels our Messengers keep accompt Say unto them if God have a Son who shall we first adore Praised be God King of the Heavens and of the Earth the matter is not as the Infidels deliver it Leave them implunged in their impiety let them Laugh and rejoyce untill the day of their punishment arrive One God alone ought to be worshiped in Heaven and Earth he is most wise and omniscient Praised be he to whom appertaineth the Kingdome of the Heavens and Earth and whatsoever is between them He knoweth the hour and the day that all the world shall be assembled before him to be judged The Idols that the Infidels adore shall not be able to intercede for them the good intercede for them thaâ— have knowledge of the truth If thou ask of men who created them they will say it is God How can they then depart from his Commandments Lord this peole is incredulous Depart thou far form their company they shall in
the end too late acknowledg their errors CHAP. XLIIII The Chapter of Smoke cnotaining fifty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent and wise I swear by the book that distinguish the good from evil that we sent it the night of blessing to teach the people the torments of hel this book explaineth our commandments al that we heretofore comanded the Prophets this is a speciall grace of thy Lord he heareth knoweth all things he is Lord of Heaven and Earth aâ—â— of all that is between them beleive in his omnipotency There is no God but he he giveth life and death to whom he listeth he is your Lord the Lord of your fathers and predecessors the wicked deride this discourse but the day of judgment attends them that day the heaven shal resemble smoak that shall cover the world that day shall the people say behold here grievous torments Lord deliver us from this misery we will believe in thy Law Their conversion shall be in vain because when the Prophet preched to them they scorned his words and said that he was a foolish teacher and when they were comforted on earth they returned to their impiety Remember thou the day when they were vanquished and taken by force and that we were revenged on their impiety We heretofore tryed the people of Pharoah my beloved Prophet preached to them my Commandments and said Come follow me oh ye servants of God! I am a faithful Messenger of his divine Maj. resist not his Law I wil teach you his Comandments he shal defend me from your malice he shal preserve me from being stoned but if ye will not believe me depart far from me He prayed to his Lord when he knew that that people were unbelieving impious God said unto him goe by night out of the City with my servants if the men of Pharoah pursue thee enter into the sea through a path large and spacious thine enemyes that shall follow thee shal be drownd How many gardens fountains places of pleasure wherin they took delight did they forsake They fel into the power of another with al their treasures and none lamented them either in Heaven or earth they expected not that punishment We delivered the Children of Israel from Pharoahs tyranny he was powerfull and a great sinner We elected them through our certain knowledg among all the world and tryed them through our Miracles and Commandments The wicked say we shall dye and not rise again If the Resurrection be true cause our fathers to revive to evidence the â—ruth of thy words Are they more powerful then their predecessors whom we destroyed because of their impiety We have not created in vain the Heaven and the Earth and whatsoever is between them we created them for certain signes of our Vnity the greatest part of the world understand it not the day of Iudgment is thâ— time appointed for their punishment that day none shall be able to save his neighbour or parent or freind nor shall any be saved but those to whom God shall give his mercy he is omnipotent and mercifull The fruit of the Tree of Hel called Zacon shall serve for food to the wicked it shal boil in their bellyes like pitch or water They shall cry take the wicked drag them into the fire of Hell pour upon their heads all manner of torments It shall bee said unto them tast the pains of Hell ye believed your selves to be the Omnipotent precious on Earth behold the punishment of which ye doubted The righteous shall be in delicious places in Gardens adorned with Fountains they shall be clothed with purple they sâ—all behold each other face to face we wil assemble them with women pure clean who shall have most beautifull eyes that shall have fruits savory and delicious of all seasons they shal never dye and shall be delivered from the torments of Hell through the special grace of thy Lord behold supreme felicity Certainly we have sent the Alcoran in thy tongue peradventure the Arabians will learn it they covet thy ruine but persevere thou and expect the time of the punishment of their crimes CHAP. XLV The Chapter of Genuflexion or Knee-bowing containing fifty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is most prudent and wise This Book is sent by the Omnipotent and wise The Heavens and the Earth are most certain signes of his Vnity to such as believe in his Law your Creation and the Creation of all Creatures are marks of his greatnesse to them that have his fear before their Eyes the difference of the night and the day the rain that he sendeth from Heaven to cause fruits to spring out of the Earth and to revive it after its death and the diversity of windâ— are signes of his Omnipotency to them that have knowledg to comprehend it I relate to thee the wonders of God with truth in what will Infidels believe if they believe not in the word of his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that hear the Commandments of God and become proud as if they had not heard them Preach unto such men that they shall suffer â—he rigors of infinite pains They deride the Faith when they are spoken to Certainly they be punished in the fire of Hell their riches shall not be able to save them neither the Idols which they adore they shall be eternally damned This Book guideth men into the way of salvation they that shall not believe in the Law of God shall feel the effects of his fury He created the Seas that bear the Ships for the advantage of your commerce peradventure ye will acknowledg this grace He hath created for you all that is in Heaven and on Earth it is a sign of his goodness to such as consider it Speak unto them that believe in the Law of Salvation that they pardon those that have not the fear of God before their Eyes God shall chastise them after their demirits Whosoever shall do good shall finde good and ye shall be assembled before his divine Majesty to be judged Certaiuly we instructed the children Israel in the Scripture and our Commandments we taught them knowledg and gave them the grace of Prophesie we enriched them with all sorts of riches preferred them to al the world We taught them our Law none disputed against our Commandmenes but such as had knowledg that through the envy thar arose among them but thy Lord shall judg their differences at the day of Iudgment We have sent thee our Law observe it and follow not the appetites of the ignorant they shall not be able to deliver thee from eternall pains The Infidels obey each other and the true-belivers obey God This book is the light of the world it guideth into the way of Salvation and the mercy of God them that believe in his divine Majesty Do the wicked imagine they shall
be intreated like the godly in their life and death and that they shall not be judged God hath created heaven and earth for a mark of his power he shall judg every one according to their works and shall do injustice to none Consider how they worship what cometh into their fancy God hath seduced them from his certain knowledge he hath rendred them deaf hath hardned their heart blinded them who shal guide if God seduce them Do they not consider it They say our resurrection shal be like the life of this world some dy others are born length of years cause us to die they know not what they say and speak but by opinion When they are preached unto they have no other ' discourse to utter but make our fathers to revive if what we say be true Say unto them God causeth you to live dy shal assemble you at the day of Iudgment there is no doubt in this but the greatest part of the people know it not God is the King of the heavens earth of the day of judgment that day shall he assemble the Infidels thou shalt see all Sects and all Religions assembled before him upon their knees every sect shall see their sins written in a particular book shal be al chastised after their demerits It shall be said unto them behold the book that speaketh against you we have exactly written what you have don God shal give his mercy to the righteous that is supream felicity It shal be said to the wicked have not the Commandments of God bin preached to you Ye became proud and were incredilous when it was told you that the promises of God and the day of Judgment were indubitable ye said that iâ— was but an opinion and that ye believe it not in the end ye shall acknowledge your offence and shall suffer the painâ— that ye despised God shall say unto them at the day of Iudgement I have this day forgotten you as ye forgot thâ— coming of this day the fiâ—e of hell shall be your habitation none shall deliver you because ye derided my Law and waxed proud with the riches of the earth They shall never get out of this Fire neither be able to repent Praise be to God Lord of the heavens and earth glory is due to him in all places he is omnipotent and wise CHAP. XLVI The Chapter of Hecaf containing thirty five Verses written at Mecca Hecaf is a Valley in the Country of Licmen upon the frontiers of Arâ—biâ— See Gelaldin and the Book intituled Kitab el Tenoir IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is most prudent and wise This Book was sent by the Omnipotent and wise We created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a sign of our Omnipotency and Vnity and appointed to every thing a prefixed and limited time If the Infidels depart from that which hath been preached to them Say unto them have ye considered the Idols that ye adore shew me what they have created on earth are they Gods companions in the creation of the heavens bring me a Book sent from heaven before the Alcoran that containeth like it what remained of the doctrine of our Predecessâ—rs we shall see if ye be true who is more seduced then he that worshipeth things that can neither hear his prayers nor protect him at the day of judgment That day shall the Infidels be enemies to each other and the Idols shall not acknowledge them that have worshipped them When they heard the Alcoran read they affirmed it to contain the truth and when they were commanded to observe it they said that it is but magick Will they say that thou hast invented it Say unto them if I have invented it ye cannot deliver me from the punishment of God he knoweth all that is in this book it is sufficient that he is witnesse between you and me he is gracious and mercifull Say unto them I am not the first Prophet nor the first Apostle that God hath sent I know not what God shall determine of you and me I do but what he hath inspired into me and am sent to preach the torments of hel have ye considered in what condition ye shall be if the Alcoran be sent from God Ye have renounced it but one of the children of Israel is witnesse that it is sent from God and hath believed in his divine Majesty neverthelesse ye are become proud God guideth not the proud The Infidels say to the believers if the Alcoran were any good thing you should not exceed us in observing it it guideth not into the way of salvation it is but an old Fable The book of Moses that came before it teacheth the right way and the Will of God Say unto them the Alcoran confirmeth the Scriptures sent heretofore to them that precedeed us it is in the Arabique tongue he preacheth the pains of hell to unbelievers and declareth the joyes of Paradise to the righteous Such as shall believe that God is their Lord and shall obey him ought to fear nothing they shall suffer none affliction at the day of Judgment they shall enjoy Pardadise for the reward of their good works We have recommended to man to honor father and mother and to do good to them his mother beareth him with pain she bringeth forth with dolour she giveth him suck and weaneth him at the end of thirty moneths she hath care of him until he be in a condition to govern himself hath attained to age of discretion Then he saith Lord inspire me to be grateful for the grace that thou hast given to my father mother if I do well thou wilt accept it take care of my posterity I trust in thee desire to obey thy Commandments Their prayer shall be heard their sins shall be pardoned they shall enjoy the joyes of Paradise prepared for the righteous He that shall â—peak to his father and mother in civility shall say unto them in derision will ye bring me yet once more into the world after my death wil ye revive me from my grave many are dead heretofore that are not returned he shall be punished of God his father and mother shall require help of his divine Majesty and shall say unto him my son misery is with thee believe in God and in the Resurrection the word oâ— God is insallible if he reply that it is an old Fable he shall feel the punishment of God the word of his divine Majesty shall be accomplished against him as it hath been accomplished against them that did preceâ—e him in impiety as well devills as men they shal be damned they shall be in â—undry degrees of payns he shall chastise them after their demerits and no injustice shall be don to them It shall be said to the wicked that would depart out of hel fire ye expelled your felicity when ye lived in the world your punishment was deferred until
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
neverthelesse they ere in doubt if they shall rise again See â—edaoi We created man without difficulty we know the moâ—ions of his soul penetrate into his heart as the bloud in to the veins of his body O man think upon the day that thou shalt see thy good and evill Angell near thee at the right hand and on thy left they have observed and written all that thou hast done represent to thy self death before thine eies it is inevitable Think on the Angel that shall sound the Trumpet at the day of the Resurrection that day shall the wicked behold what was promised them and all men shall come before God to be judged Their guardian Angels shall conduct them and be the witnesses of their deportments It shall be said to the Infidells behold the day of which ye would have no thoughts we have now opened your eyes you shal see this day more hard then iron their guardian Angells shall say unto them behold here bâ—fore your eyes all that ye have done cast into Hell those obstinate Infidels that have hindrd their neighbour to do good that have offended in doubting of Gods Law and have affirmed there was another god with God cast them into the most grievous torments Then shall the Devill say to them Lord I did not seduce them they seduced themselves God shall say dispute not before me what was heretofore promised you is infallible my Word admitteth no alteration and I will do injustice to none God shall ask at the day of judgment if hell be full it shall answer is there any more Paradise is prepared for theÌ„ righteous who shal have the fear of God before their eyes it is promised to theÌ„ that shall be converted that shall obey the Commendments of his divine Majesty and persevere in their obendience It shall be said to them enter ye into Paradise exempt from all evill behold the eternall day ye shall have all that ye shall desire and more How rich and powerful Cities have we in times past destroyed their inhabitants sought in their Countryes places of retreat and escaped not the punishment of their crimes this ought to serve for example to them that comprehend it to them that hear it and to such that saw it Certainly we created in six dayes without difficulty the heaven earth all that is between them Persevere be not impatient for the words of unbelievers exalt the glory of thy Lord before the Sun go down anâ— before it rise pray to thy Lord at the entrance of the night the last of all shall be worship Hearken when the Angel shall call thee to generall Judgment that day shall all the world hear the Trumpet the people shall come out of their sepulchers and earth shall open before the eyes of men I give life and death and all the world shall be assembled before me to be judged This assemble is easie for me to accomplish I know what the wicked say thou shalâ— not cause them by force to embrace my Law teach it those that fear the torments prepared for Infidels CHAP. LI. The Chapter of Things dispersed containing sixty Verses Gelaldin Falkredin intitle this the Capter of things that disperse writen at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the winds that disperse the dust by â—he clouds charged with rain by the ship that runneth upon the waters and by them that divide the wealth of the earth that what hath been promised to you is true and that the day of Judgment is infallible I swear by heaven and the stars thereof that ye are in an exceeding great error God expelleth lyars far from him he curseth them that blasphem and such as beleive not in the Resurrection They ask when shall be the day of Judgment That day shall they be punished in the fire of hell It shall be said unto them taste the torments that ye have with impatience demanded They who had the fear of God befoâ—e their eyes shall be in gardens adorned with fountains they shall enjoy the pleasures prepared for them by God because they are righteous â—hey sleep very little by night implore pardon of God at the dawning of the day and give almes to the poor that beg and the poor that are bashfull God manifesteth on the earth and in your persons the signs of his omnipotencâ— consider ye not that what is promised to you is written in heaven God is Lord of heaven and earth he is truth it self wil ye not confess him â—â—d the Angels conveigh to thâ—e the books of Abraham Whâ—n they â—ntred into his house they saluted him he likewise saluted them made signs to his â—ervants to bring a fat calf roasted which he presented to them he said unto them wherefore do ye not eat and was afraid in his mind of their coming They said fear not we are the Messengers of God they declared to him that he should have a son that should be a great personage Then his wife drew near crying with a loud voice smiting her face said one that is barren beareth no child they said the thing shall come to pass as we have spoken thy Lord ordaineth what pleaseth him and knoweth all Abraham said unto them O ye Messengers of God! what is your design they replied we are sent from God to destroy the Cities inhabited by the wicked and cast upon them stones of fire whereon are inscribed the names of them that they shall strike we will cauâ—e all the righteous to depart from among them if we finde there but one family of righteous we will there leave an example to posterity for them that fear the tormenâ—s of hel Moses is a sign of our omnipotency we sent him to Pharoah with reasons clear and intelligible he despised my Commandments and said that Moses was a Magician and possessed of the devil but we surprised him and drowned his people to his great displeasure Aad is an example of our omnipotency we sent an impetuous winde against those wicked people that destroyed them Temod is an example of our omnipotency with his Nation they waxed prouâ— and resisted the Commandments of their Lord when it was said to them that the punishment of the wicked was deferâ—ed to another time but thunder surprised thâ—m they saw it they had not the power to stand on their feet and were deprived of protection The people of Noahs time are an example of our omnipotency we pâ—stroyed them because they were impiâ—us we built heaven with strength and vertue I am he that giveth power strength we extended the earth created of every thing male female perhaps ye will consider it Say unto them turn ye to God I am sent from him to preach to you the pains of hell believe not that God hath another God with him the wicked said heretofore that the Prophets and Apostles whom he sent were Magicians and possessed of the Devil have they recommended to their
posterity to do the like Certainly they are in a great error Separate thy self far from their company and be not troubled at what they say preach the Alcoran it is profitable to the righteous I did not create the devils and men but to worship me Say unto them I require nothing of unbelievers for instructing them I require not that they nourish me God enricheth whom he pleaseth he is omnipotent the wicked shall be chastised as heretofore have been their predecessors in their malice their time shal come and misery shall befal them at the day of judgment CHAP. LII The Chapter of the Mountain containing thirty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Mountain upon which God spake to Moses by what is contained in the book written in parchment by the first Temple of Mecca by the arches of the heavens and by the sea full of water that God is one sole God and the punishment promised to unbelievers is infallible they shall not be able to escape it in the day when the heaven shal tremble and the mountains shall wâ—â—â—â—â—at day shall be unhappy 〈…〉 â—â—ated in the fire 〈…〉 that ye 〈…〉 paâ—◠〈…〉 our 〈…〉 â—ore 〈…〉 â—od 〈…〉 â—e 〈…〉 â—d 〈…〉 â—d 〈…〉 works they shall repose upon beds well ordered we will marry them to wives that shall have fair eyes they shall be attended of their family and be largly rewarded for their good works every good action shall be to them a dégree of happiness We will give them such fruits and Vines as they shall desire they shall present to each other the cup to drink they shall not speak an evill word and shall not siâ— they shall have pages about them for their service beautifull as pollished pearls they shall discourse among them concerning what they did before on Earth and say We were in the world we and our families with a great apprehension of the pains of hell but God hath gratified us he hath delivered us from eternall flames They shall say moreover we worshipped in the world but one God most just and most mercifull Remember thou to preach the Alcoran thou art not ingratefull for the grace of God thou art not possessed of the Devill will they say that thou art a Poet a Rimer that nothing must be expected from thee but fables of past Ages Say unto them ye expect the time of my destruction but I with you expect the time of your ruine Do their superiors command them to speak in this manner Will they be obstinate in their errors Will they say that Mahomet hath invented the Alcoran Certainly they are incredulous let them bring any discourse like to this book in Doctrine and Eloquence if what they affirm be true Were they created of any thing have they created any thing have they created themselves have they created the Heavens and the Earth Certainly they are incredulous Have they in their power the treasures of thy Lord are they Gyants Have they a ladder that may raise them to hear what is spoken in Heaven Let them produce some reason of their opinion Believe ye that God hath daughters and that ye have sonnes Will ye require of him a Salary for obeying his Law Is he your debtor The wicked are lyars do they know what shall be do they weite it Desire they to conspire against thee The wicked often conspire against the righteous that worship but one God Praised be God he hath no companion If the Infidels should see a piece of the Heaven to fall they would say it is a cloud driven by the winds leave them in their obstinacy untill they come to the day of their death that day shall their conspiracy be vain and they deprived of protection They likewise shall be punished before their death but the greatest part know it not Have pacience and expect the Judgment of God thou shalt soon see it I will protect thee and thou shalt not want help Praise thy Lord exalt his glory when thou shalt rise praise him in the night and before the Stars disappear CHAP. LIII The Chapter of the Starre containing sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Star that disappeareth that your friend Mahomet â—rreth not he speaketh nothing of his own he speaketh but what hath been inspired into him by the omnipotent and most bountifull God The Angell approached him in the highest place of heaven within the length of two bowes somewhat nearer The Turks believe that there is an Apple tree at the right side of throne of God and that none can ascend higher then its branches no not the angels God hath inspired into him what he hath inspired into his servant who altered nothing of what hath been inspired into him He hath spoken what he hath seen and in what form the Angel was Dispute not against him concerning what he saw he another time saw the Angel in Heaven near to the Tree that is at the right side of Gods throne and although that tree was covered with that which covered him his fight was not dazled and he is not in error Certainly he hath seen the great wonders of his Lord Have ye considered Alat Az and Menat those three Idols Will ye sâ—â—are that God hath daughters and that ye have Sonnes ye will make a false Oath and shall be in a manifest error Those Idols have nothing but the names which your Fathers and you have given them See Gelaldin God hath not commanded you to worship them ye follow only your passions remote from the truth God teacheth you the way of Salvation by the mouth of his Prophet doth man obtain from Idols what he required of them God is God in the beginning and the end How many Angels be there in Heaven whose prayers are unprofitable if God doth not accept them They that believe not in the day of Judgment say that Angels are maidens they understand not what they say they speak through opinion and that opinion is not conformed to truth Depart thou farre from them that reject our Law and desire only the goods of the Earth and are ignorant of all other things Thy Lord knoweth them that go a stray from the right way and such as follow the path of Salvation all that is in the Heavens and Earth is Gods he shall chastise the wicked See Gelaldin and reward the just He pardoneth their veniall sinnes who flie sinnes mortall he is exceeding merciful He knoweth that he hath created you of Earth Great and small sins and that he formed you in your mothers womb Extol not your selves he knoweth such as have his fear before their eyes Hast thou seen him that abandoned the faith a little wealth was given him and nothing more doth he know what must befall him hath he knowledg of what is to come will he not learn what is written in the books
of Moses and Abraham to wit that none shall bear the burden of another man shal have but what he shal have gained he shal in the end see his labour be rewarded after his works and all shall appear in the presence of thy Lord. Hâ— it is that causeth to laugh and mourn to live and to dye he created the male and female of every thing he giveth and taketh away mans soul when he listeth he is most rich and hath no want of any person He is the Lord of the Planet which men adored He destroyed Aâ—â— and Temod drowned the people of Noah who were most erroneous and unjust overthrew the City of Lot and covered it with burning stone In whom will they believe if they believe not in thy Lord This Prophet is sent to preach to you the pains of hel as did the other Prophets that were before you The day of Judgment approacheth and none but God knoweth when it will come wonder ye at this discourse Ye scoffe and lament not when ye are spoken to but ye shal be surprized in your sin if ye humble not your selves before God neither worship him CHAP. XLVII The Chapter of the Moon containing fifty five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The day of Iudgment approacheth the Moon was divided into two parts nevertheless Infidels believe not miracles when they see them they say that this is Magick they lie and follow but their passion but as is written The history of past ages full of salutery counsels was preached to them neverthelesse Preachers were to them unprofitable Depart thou far from them when they shall be called to the universall Judgement which they will not believe that day shall their eyes be troubled with feare they shall come out of the Earth dispersed like frighted GRASSEHOPPERS they shall flock to him that shal summon theÌ„ Judgment and shall say behold here a day unhappy for the wicked The people heretofore belyed Noah and said that he was possessed of the Devill Noah exhorted them and invoked his Lord in the end he said that his strength was gon and that he was overcome through the malice of men then was he powerfully succored we opened the gate of the Heavens and caused an extraordinary raine to fall wee caused FOVNTAINES to issue â—orth from under the Earth the water of Heaven and Earth were gathered together and overwhelmed the Infidels because of their sins We saved Noah in the Arke well pinned and chaulked it floated upon the water trough our pâ—â—mission to serve for a token of our omnipotency will any of the vnâ—elievers of this time consider this will they consider the punishment of their crimes and the pains of Hell We have made the Alcoran easie to be understood will there be any that study it The wicked that traduced Aad were chastised but with what chastisement We sent against them an impetuous wind in a day to them unfortunate that caused men to fall like palms rooted up consider what was their puishment We have rendred the Alcoran intelligible will there be any one that will study it Temod and his people traduced the Prophets and contemned their exhortations they said there is a man among us who would seduce us from the right way if ye follow him he will lead you into Helâ— was he alone elected among us to receive the inspirations of God No he is an Imposter but in the end they knew them that were wicked and lyars We sent the Camell to prove the Infidels their Prophet observed what they did and was patient the water was divided for them and for the Camel and each at his day found to drinke neverthelesse they called their Companions and slew the Camell of Salhe but in what manner were they chastised I darted thunder against them which made them drie as chaffe We have made the Alcoran easie to be understood will there be any to study it Lots Citizens traduced him and despised his instructions We sent against them an hot winde with burning stones that destroyed them and we in the morning saved Lot with his family throught our speciall grace thus do I recompense them that ackowledge my benefits Lot had preached to them the pains of hel we surprized them when they disputed against his exhortations they saw his guests to enter into the city in the figure of men we blinded their sight and said Tast oh ye wicked the punishment of your crimes In the morning they wery chastised with a perpetuall chastisement because they despised the words of Lot We have made the Alcoran intelligible will there be any that will study it Certainly the men of Pharoâ—h were preached unâ—o they would not obey my Law and despised my miracles but we surprized them in their sinnes Are the Infidels that are among you of more value then those that preceded them Finde ye any Salvation for them in the SCRIPTVRE Will they say they shall obtain victory over the believers On the contrary they are vanquished and turn the back Certainly the hour of their punishment shall speedily come their time approacheth and their pain in Hell shall be greater then that of the Earth they are wholly seduced from the way of Salvation and shall be dragged and cast headlong into eternal flames We have created all things by our sole power we spake but one word and in the twinckling of an eye the thing waâ— we heretofore destroyed a great number of Infidels like unto them will there be any that considereth it All the good and the evill that they have done is exactly written The righteous shall dwell in pleasant gardens they shall drink in eternall rivers they shall not speak a lye in their assemblies and shall dwell eternally near to the most majestique and omnipotent God CHAP. LV. The Chapter of the Mercifull containing eighteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The mercifull hath taught the Alcoran he hath created man and given him the use of reason he created the Sun and the Moon to count seasons the Stars and Trees adore him he hath elevated the Heavens established Justice commanded to weigh with good weights he hath created the Earth for the habitation of men with all sorts of fruits gâ—ain and leaves he created the winds and tempests Oh men and Devils what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord He created man of Earth like a pot and the Devils of the flame of fire what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord He is the Lord of both the Wests and both the Easts what Lord do you blasphem but your own Lord He maketh the fresh water to mingle with the salt and the one easily mingleth with the other what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord be bringâ—â—â— Pearls and Corrall out of the Sea what Lord do ye blaspeme but your own Lord he created the Ships that float upon the Sea big as mountains what Lord
commandeth what pleaseth him Give a share to God to the Prophet his Parents Orphans the poor and pilgrims that no disorder may arise among you that are rich perform what the Prophet shall command you abstain from what he shall prohibit you and fear God he is severe in his chastisements do good to the poor that have forsaken their faculties and hoâ—ses and separated themselves from the wicked for the service of God and to defend his Law and his Prophet Theâ— that before them forsooke their Houses for the service of GOD affect those that have followed them they beare them no malice for the wealth they possesse although they themselves are necessitous They that are not avaritious shall be happy such as shall suceed them shall pray for them and say Lord pardon our sins and our brethren that were our predecessors in the observance of thy Commandements infuse no malice into our hearts against them that follow thy Law thou art gracious and mercifull Seest thou not that the wicked say to their brethren wicked as themselves had ye not so soon left Medina we had gone out with you and had never obeyed him whom ye have obeyed had ye fought we had defended you God seeth that they are impious had they delayed to goe forth they should not have gone forth with them had they fought they would not have succoured them they had turned the back and had found no protection they feare men more then God because they are ignorant The Jews shall not fight against you together unlesse in their fortresses and behind walls the War among them is cruell but think not that they may assemble and unite themselves their hearts are divided because they are ignorant they are like their predecessors who were chastised and slain and shall suffer great torments at the day of Judgement they are like to him whom the devill had seduced and said to him I am innocent of thine impiety I feare God Lord of the Universe the end of both is to be cast headlong into the fire of hell where they shall abide eternally such is the reward of the wicked O ye that believe feare â—od and consider what ye shall do at the day of Judgement feare God he knoweth whatsoever ye doe be not like to those that forget his Commandements he forgetteth them and they continue in the number of the damned they shall be most miserable and such as shall go into Paradise shall be blessed If wâ— should make the Alcoran to descend upon a mountain it will open it self with the feare it will have of the Word of God Thus doe I speak in parables to the people peradventure they will be converted There is but one only God who knoweth what is present future past he is gracious merciful there is but one God King of all things He is holy the deliverer true the punisher strong powerfull glorious Praised be God he hath no companion he is God the Creator who hath formed whatsoever is in the world all glorious attributes are due to him whatsoever is in heaven and earth exalt his glory he is omnipotent and wise CHAP. LX. The Chapter of Triall containing eighteene Verses written at Mecca Some Mahometan Doctors have intituled this the Chapter of Vocation because it entreateth of women that forsooke their husbands to follow the Law of Mahomet who appointed to try their hearts intention and to know their Vocation IN the name of God gracious and mercifull O ye that believe obey not mine nor your enemies ye shew kindnesse to them when ye meet them neverthelesse they reject the truth that hath been sent unto them and chase away the Prophet and you also and that because ye believe in God your Lord Seek not their friendship when ye fight against them for my Law I know what ye ought to feare and ye know it not he that shall doe what is here above prohibited followeth an evill way if they have advantage over you they will be your enemies they will stretch forth their hands and tongues against you they will revile you and desire that ye may renounce your faith if ye doe it ye shall have no content in your wives or children at the day of judgement ye shall be separated from them and God shall behold all your actions ye have a fair example in Abraham and them that were with him when they said to the people we are innocent of the sin that ye commit in worshipping any other God but God Abraham said to his father I will â—ot implore pardon of God for thee I am not able to deliver thee from his punishment if thou art an Idolater Lord all our confidence is in thee our refuge is in thy mercy protect not unbelievers against us pardon our sins thou art mercifull and wise ye have in them a faire example for them that feare God and apprehend the day of Judgement God hath not to doe with them that obey Infidels neither hath he need of any person and praise is due to him in all places peradventure he will establish for the future great amity between you and them that ye hate he is omnipotent gracious and mercifull he doth prohibite you the conversation of them that fight not against you for his faith and that expel you not from your houses he doth not forbid you to do them justice he loveth the just He forbiddeth you to converse with them that fight against your faith that drive you from your houses and aide to expell you he prohibiteth you to obey them and to contract amity with them such as obey them shall be exceedingly too blame O ye that beleeve in God! when the wives of your enemies shall throw themselves into your party trie their conscience if ye know them to be faithfull and to believe in the Law of God restore them not to the incredulous Infidels it is not lawfull for them to know them neither for the women to teach them give them subsistance ye shall not sin in espousing them marry them not after the laws of unbelievers demand of them what dowry they require they shall demand of you what ye are willing to bestow on them continue in accord God so commandeth he shall be your Judge at the day of Judgement he knoweth all your actions and is most wise If your wives revolt to the party of unbelievers and ye suffer any damage ye shall repaire that damage to him that suffereth out of the booty that ye shall conquer feare God and believe in the Law of his divine Majesty O Prophet when women shall desire to embrace thy Religion with firm purpose to believe in one only God not to steal neither to commit adultery neither to murther their children to lye blaspheme or be disobedient receive them implore pardon of God for them he is gracious and mercifull O ye that believe obey not them against whom God is angry they despaire of their salvation as the wicked dispaired
your sins and make you to enter into Gardens wherein flow many rivers the light of faith shall goe before the Prophet and them that have followed him When God shall recompense them they shall say Lord give us thy light pardon our sins thou art omnipotent Oh Prophet fight against the Infidels and the wicked fortifie thy self against them hell shall be their habitation God teacheth unbelievers a parable and saith the wives of Noah and the wives of Lot were under the power of my two servants righteous men they betrayed them but did not escape the punishment of their sin It was said unto them enter into the fire of hell with them that goe into it God teacheth them a parable that follow his Law Take example by the wife of Pharoah she prayed to God and said Lord build me an house in Paradise deliver me from Pharoah from his works and unjust men Mary the daughter of Josaphat preserved her virginity we inspired into her our Spirit she believed the words of her Lord and the Scriptures shee was in the number of them that obey CHAP. LXVII The Chapter of Empire containing thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praised be he to whom belongeth the Empire of the world who is omnipotent and hath created life and death to let you know which is the better he is omnipotent and mercifull He hath created seven heavens one upon another thou seest nothing of what he hath created that is not proportioned raise yet thy sight to heaven thou shalt not there see any thing defective behold it twice or more often thou shalt not perceive therein any thing vain or imperfect We have adorned the heaven and the world with Stars we expelled thence the Devils we prepared for them a great fire and the torments of hell for unbelievers They shall hear horrible and terrible voyces that proceed from despair and wrath when they shall be cast thither headlong when they shall enter into hell by troups the Overseer of the torments shall say unto them had you none on earth that preached to you the pains of hell yes shall they reply they were preached to us but we traduced our preachers we said that God did not command to do what they declared that they were lyars and seduced from the right way Had we heard them and had we been wise we should not this day have been in the number of the damned they shall confess their sins in the bottome of hell Such as fear God without seeing him shall receive pardon of their offences and an exceeding great reward Speak secretly or publiquely God knoweth whatsoever ye have in your hearts since the time of your creation he is blessed and omniscient He hath established wayes upon the earth goe on all sides and live of his good things ye all shall revive and be one day assembled before him to be judged Believe ye that he who is in heaven cannot render the earth drie and barren and cause it to tremble Believe ye that hee who is in heaven is not able to send against you an impetuous winde to destroy you Ye shall hereafter feel what are the torments of hell Your predecessors would not believe them and were chastised for their incredulity Consider ye not the birds that flie over your heads how they extend and shut their wings nothing supporteth them but that mercy that beholdeth all things Who but God shall protect you in your miseries The Infidels are proud Who shall enrich you if God restraineth his grace neverthelesse ye persevere in your sinnes and flie the truth Is he that creepeth on his face like to him that goeth on his feet in the right way Say unto them God hath created you hee hath given you sight hearing and sense but few among you return him thanks for his graces Say unto them he created you of earth and ye shall one day be assembled before him to render accompt of your actions The wicked dmaned when the day of Judgement shall be Say unto them God knowes I am sent only to preach to you the pains of hell Their visages shall become black when they shall see the punishment of their sinnes approach It shall be said to them behold that which ye have demanded with so much impatience Say unto them did you see that God destroyed me and them that were with me No he gave us his grace Who shall deliver the Infidels from the torments of hell Say unto them God is mercifull we believe in him and we are resigned to the will of his divine Majesty ye shall know hereafter them that shall be seduced If the water that watereth your flocks enter under the earth who shall give you other water or another Fountain to supply you CHAP. LXVIII The Chapter of the Pen containing fifty two Verses written at Mecca Bedaoi entituleth this the Chapter of the Letter Noun n and saith that it is as much as to say whale or great Fish Some other Doctors say that Noun n is the name of the Ink or Table on which the Angels write the Commandements of God Others affirm it to signifie the Ink-horn but many of the Mahometan Doctors intitle this the Chapter of the Pen. IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the Pen and by all that is written that thou art not possessed of the Devill through the grace of thy Lord thou shalt have an infinite reward God hath created thee with a creation high and most illustrious Thou shalt hereafter know and the Infidels likewise shall know one day them among you that are ignorant Certainly thy Lord knoweth them that are seduced and them that follow the right way Obey not the wicked they desire thee to be more indulgent towards them and themselves more milde towards thee Obey not those infamous lyars those bablers sinners seducers and wicked persons full of treasures and children When the Mysteries of faith are related to them they say that they are but fables of antiquitie we will put upon their noses a mark of shame and ignominy we have tryed them as Gardeners when they have resolved in the evening to cut off the morning following some fruits of their garden for their refection and have not said if it please God By night which they slept God sent fier into their gardens that consumed them in the morning they called each other and said come to put order to your garden if ye desire to gather the fruits they believed the poore would enter they ran to drive them away and found their fruits black and their gardens blasted Then they said we are seduced we are sinners one of them said that it was requisite to praise God Then they said praised be God we are great sinners they approached each other and complained among themselves They said misery is upon us we were in a great error peradventure God will give us hereafter more then the value of what
we have lost we must beg his grace thus God chastiseth on earth whom he pleaseth but the torments of the other world are much more grievous They that have his fear before their eyes shall dwell in gardens full of delights Shall I intreat the good like the wicked How can ye judge it have ye a book wherein you reade what pleaseth you have we promised to you any content at the day of Judgement Shall you have that day what ye have promised to your selves Ask of them who will be surety for their belief will their Idols and companions be their surety Let them cause them to come if they be true Be thou mindfull of the day when sins shall be detected and the wicked shall be commanded to worship God but they shall not be able to behold him their eyes shall be troubled with fear and their sight covered with shame They are enjoyned in the world to worship his divine Majesty but they refuse to perform it I will punish them by little and little when they shall least think of it I will defer the punishment of their crimes because my wrath is strong Dost thou demand of men any recompence for thy preaching are they charged with any expence Have they in their power the book wherein is the future to write therein what they affirm Attend the Judgement of thy Lord and be not like him that was swallowed of the Whale He invoked his Lord in his affliction if his Lord had not sent him his grace he should never have come upon earth when he repented of his sin his Lord pardoned and placed him in the number of the righteous The unbelievers labour to shake thee through their looks and that through envie they affirm that thou art possessed of the Devill when they hear thee read the Alcoran It was not sent but to instruct the world CHAP. LXIX The Chapter of Verification containing fifty two Verses written at Mecca Ekteri intituleth this the Chapter of Judgement because that day all shall be verified IN the name of God gracious and merciful Verification approacheth Verification approacheth God hath not told thee in what time shall be the day of Verification Temod and Aad would not believe in him that preached to them the day of affliction and sorrow but Temod was destroyed by an extraordinary noise and Aad by an impetuous winde that God sent against them seven nights and eight dayes together they were overthrown strâ—tched out like palms faln upon the earth did any one among them save himself Pharoah and his predecessors with the Inhabitants of the Cities that were overthrown because of their sins disobeyed the Prophets and Apostles of God and were rudely chastised We preserved you in Noahs Ark when the waters swelled to serve for example of our omnipotency to them that saw it and to such as shall hear it mentioned Be thou mindfull of the day when the Angell shall sound the Trumpet when the earth shall lift it selfe up and the mountains tremble then what must come to passe shall come to passe heaven with weakness shall open and the Angel that shall bear the throne of God shall be upon the border of the heaven Then shall eight Angels present the books wherein shall be written the sinnes of men and nothing shall be concealed Such as shall take in the right hand the book of the accompt of their actions shall say wee finde what we believed to be true we know with certain knowledge the comming of this day and the felicity of life is in Paradise It shall be said to them eat and drink of the good things of Paradise at your pleasure They that shall take the book of accompt of their actions in their left hand shall say would to God that this book had been lost I know not what is this accompt would to God that I had been eternally buried in the earth the riches authority and treasures of the world are to me unprofitable It shall be said to the devils take them binde them and throw them headlong into hell put chains seventy cubits long upon their arms and cast them into fire they would not believe in the Unity of God the Omnipotent they have eaten the bread of the poor they are this day without protection and want bread and shall find nothing but the pains of hell prepared for the wicked I swear although ye see and although ye do not see the Alcoran it is the word of the Prophet the Apostle of God it is not the word of a Poet but few persons will believe it It is not the word of one that is wicked but few men remember it it is sent from God Lord of the Universe The Infidels say oh Prophet if thou speak we will not hear thee thy speech shall not enter into our hearts Say unto them there is none among you able to deliver you from the punishment of your crimes the Alcoran instructeth in the way of salvation them that believe in his divine Majesty I know that there are lyars among you whom God shall put into the number of Infidels the Alcoran is truth it self Praised be the name of God Omnipotent and Majestique CHAP. LXX The Chapter of the Ascent containing forty four Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Some persons have demanded when shal the day of Judgement be and in what time the wicked shall be chastised none but God is able to deliver men from the torments of hell he is Lord of the way that ascendeth to heaven the Angels and Spirits shall ascend towards him at the day of Judgement that day shall seem to the wicked to endure fifty thousand years expect with patience the wicked imagine they are far from that day but thou shalt see it speedily that day shall the heaven resemble dissolved mettall the mountains shall be like to carded wooll which bendeth downwards none shall ask his neighbour who he is and they shall look one upon another the unbelievers shall desire to redeem themselves from these pains through the loss of their children their wives their brethren their companions their neighbours and the loss of all that is on earth The flame of fire shall rise upon them and shall burn the skin of their head they shall call upon those that are behinde them that have like themselves abandoned the Law of God and the covetous that shall have heaped up treasures Man was created timerous he is afraid when evill befalleth him and is arrogant when good hapneth to him except the believers who are stable in their faith that persevere in their prayers that give alms to the poor that beg and those that are bashfull that believe in the day of Judgement feare the punishment of God and know none other women but their own and their slaves they shall be exempt from affliction at the day of Judgement those that shall act the contrary shall be in the number of the unjust They
who effect what they have promised and preserve faithfully what to them hath been entrusted who speak the truth in testimony and who make their prayers at the time appointed shall be honoured in Paradise Wherefore is it that the Infidels who are about thee cast their eyes to the right hand and to the left with pride do they require to enter into Paradise and be saved We have created them as other men I swear by the Lord of the East and West that we are able to change them into a people better then they and that it is a thing easie for us to perform leave them in their errors untill they be come to the day when they are promised to be chastised and that they shall come out of their sepulchres to repaire to universall Judgement they shall repair thither terrified and their sight shall be covered with shame this is the day that hath been heretofore preached to them CHAP. LXXI The Chapter of Noah containing twenty eight Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull Before men were chastised we sent Noah to preach to them the pains of hell he said unto them O ye people I preach to you the pains of hell worship one only God and fear him obey me he shall pardon your sins hee deferreth your punishment untill the day appointed and shall not retard it when his hour shall be come did ye know it ye would be converted Afterward he said Lord I have exhorted this people night and day but mine exhortations have been very much in vain they have strengthned themselves in their impiety and when I preached to them they put their fingers into their ears and covered their heads with their garments that they might not hear they continue in their impiety and become proud I have preached to them publikely I lifted up my voyce I have expounded to them the mysteries of thy Law I said unto them implore pardon of God he is most merciful he shall send you abundance of rain to water the earth he shall give you store of wealth and many children he shall give you gardens embellished with fountains and rivers who hâ—ndreth you to honour God He it is that hath created you in the condition wherein you are consider ye not that he hath created seven heavens the one upon the other that he created the Moon with her brightness and the Sun with his light he hath caused the earth to bring forth all sorts of plants he will cause you all to return to earth and to revive he hath extended it to the end ye may walk in the wayes thereof large and spacious Lord said Noah this people hath disobeyed me they have followed that which can give them neither prosperity nor profit but rather a most certain damage they have conspired against me and said among themselves forsake not your gods forsake not Oâ—â—â—â—oa Igout Joac and Nesar they erre from the right way Lord adde to their confusion Then were they drowned because of their sins they shall be cast headlong into the fire whence none but God is able to deliver them Noah said Lord leave not a wicked man upon the earth they will seduce thy creatures from the right way they will leave children lyars and impious like themselves pardon my sins pardon the sins of my father my lineage and those that shall believe in thy Law and destroy the unjust CHAP. LXXII The Chapter of Devils containing twenty eight Verses written at Mecca Some Mahometans intitle this the Chapter of Spirits IN the name of God gracious and merciful Say to the people I have received an inspiration which some devils heard of me when I read the Alcoran and that they said we have heard the miraculous Alcoran read it teacheth the right way we believe in what it contains we believe not that God hath companions we believe there is but one God we believe not that he hath wives or children our ignorant persons blaspheme against his divine Majesty nevertheless we imagin that they could not do it There are who require aid of the devils and augment their confusion because they say that God will not cause any to rise again some devils have said we have been as high as heaven and found it furnished with guards and stars we staied in a place a little distant to hear there is one star that watcheth them that hearken and drives them away we know not if God hateth the men that are upon earth or if he will teach them the right way but we are now in the number of them that believe in the unity of his divine Majesty they sayd oh ye people we were before in the way of error we heretofore believed that God did not operate on earth but no person in whatsoever place he be can avoid obeying his Will we heard the book read that teacheth the right way we believe in what it contains he that believeth in God will not fear any misery or injustice there be of us that are good and that trust in God others there are who are wicked and impious such as obey the Commandements of God follow the right way and the wicked shall be precipitated into the fire of hell Had the Infidels followed the right way we had sent them from heaven abundance of rain and given them our grace I will try them and such as shall despise the Alcoran shall be punished The Temples belong to God invoke one sole God in the Temples when his servant riseth he worshippeth his divine Majesty it wanted not much but these dâ—vils had published the plurality of Deities Say unto the people worship God my Lord I believe in one God who hath no companion I can neither guide nor seduce you but through his permission If I dâ—sobey him none shall be able to save me and I shall want protection at the day of Judgement I can do no more for you then to preach to you his Law this is the subject of my Embassie He who shall disobey God and his Prophet shall be damned and shall remain eternally in the fire of hell The wicked shal know such as shall be deprived of succour and protection when they shall behold the pains prepared for them Say unto them I know not whether what is promised to you shall incontinently happen or whether God will defer it some time none knoweth what is to come but God and those whom he hath elected to be Prophets and Messengers of his Will he inspireth into them his Commandments to preach to men he upholdeth all the actions of men and keepeth an exact accompt of every thing CHAP. LXXIII The Chapter of the Fearfull containing twenty Verses written at Mecca The Arabians have intituled this the Chapter of the Fearfull when the Angel Gabriel brought this Chapter to Mahomet he was afraâ—d of the splendor of his light and covered himself with his garments which gave occasion to the Angel to call him and say oh
the seduced there shall they remain eternalâ— They shall find there no rest neither drink but of boyâ—ng and most stinking water a reward conformed to their â—orks the Infidels believe not that they must render an â—ccompt of their actions and blaspheme but we keep â—ccompt and write exactly what they doe It will be said 〈◊〉 them at the day of Judgement Taste this day the punishment that ye have merited your pains shall be augmented and pains upon pains They who shall have had the feare of God before their eyes shall be in a place of felicity in the gardens of a most fertile Land enriched with grapes and Pomegranats they shall drink in Cups full of a delicious liquor and shall hear no vain speeches nor lying such is the recompense of them that obey the Commandements of God He is Lord of the heavens and earth none shall dare to speak when the Spirits and Angels shall be assembled before him none shall be able to speak or pray for another without his permission This day shall be the day of truth they that shal be acceptable to him shall retire towards his divine Majesty We have preached unto you that the punishment of God shal speedily come upon you every one shall see all that he shall have done and the wicked shall say at the day of Judgment would to God that I had been earth and dust CHAP. LXXIX The Chapter of them that take away containing forty six Verses written at Mecca Gelaldin entituleth this the Chapter of them that draw forth the soul. IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I sweare by the Angels that take away the souls from the bodies of Infidels and the wicked By the Angels that accompany the souls of believers By the Angels that exalt the glory of God By the Angels that guide the souls of the righteous when they goe into Paradise and by the Angels that are appointed for the affairs of the world that all people shall rise again at the day of Judgement that day the earth shall tremble and the hearts of men shall tremble at the first time that the Trumpet shall sound at the second their sight shall be troubled with feare and they shall say Behold we we are returned upon earth to the place whence we departed our bones were rotten and our returne to the world shall bring upon us only misery this second sound of the Trumpet is a sign of the wrath of God Then shall they be out of their sepulchers revived upon the earth Hast thou learned the history of Moses and how God his Lord called him in the holy valley called Tor and how he said goe towards Pharoah he is seduced from the right way and is in a great error Say unto him I called thee to the way of Salvation I will purifie and guide thee into the way of the Law of God to the end thou mayst have his fear before thine eyes Moses made Pharoah to see one of his great miracles neverthelesse he contemned Moses disobeyed him and departed from the right way he caused his people to assemble and made Proclamation that he was their God but God rigorously chastised him because of his blasphemies this is an example of his omnipotency to them that are righteous O ye wicked were ye more difficult to create then heaven God hath raised the roof thereof and proportioned it he hath made the night obscure and the day full of splendor he hath stretched forth the earth hath made fountains to spring forth to water the plants and to give drink to beasts he hath elevated and established the Mountains for you and for your flocks Men shall call to mind the good and the evill that they have done at the second sound of the Trumpet and hell shall appeare open before their eyes The wicked that have followed their own appetites on earth shall be precipitated into hell and such as have had the feare of God before their eyes and have subdued their passions in this world shall goe into Paradise The wicâ—ed will ask of thee when the day of Judgement shall be none knoweth it but thy Lord Thou art not sent but to preach the pains of hell to them that feare that day as if they saw it present before their eyes they shall imagine that they have not remained in the tomb but from evening untill morning when they rise againe CHAP. LXXX The Chapter of the Blind containing forty two Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull The Prophet frowned had a surly countenance and withdrew himself when the blind came towards him He will not tell thee if he will believe in God and if he will professe thy preaching depart thou from him that shall depart from the Law of God thou art obliged only to preach to him and not to make him to believe but forsake not them that shall come to see thee to be instructed and shall fear God The Alcoran is sent for the instruction of men it was copied upon the book that is kept in heaven to which honour and praise is due eternally Wherefore is man impious Is it because he is created of a little water retained in the womb of his mother untill the time appointed and because hee found the way to come forth is it for that God causeth him to dye and to revive when it seems good to him Hee performeth nor what God commandeth neither considereth the good things that nourish him We have sent rain we opened the treasures of the earth we made all sorts of grain to spring forth Blites Olives Dates Gardens and fields full of fruits and herbs to nourish you and your flocks When the Angel shall sound the Trumpet the second time Man shall flie his brother his mother wife and children every one shall take thought for himself that day shall the wicked have countenances covered with affliction the countenance of the good shall be joyfull and such as have sought the way between faith and impiety shall have the countenance covered with earth and dust CHAP. LXXXI The Chapter of Roundnesse containing twenty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull When the Roundnesse of the Sun shall appeare the Stars fall the Mountains walk the Camel be without burden and without keeper when the beast shall be gathered together the Sea covered with fire Souls returne into bodies * The Arabians buried their daughters alive when they had done a fault the Daughter demand why they put her to death when the book of good and evill shall open when heaven shall cast oft its ornaments the fire of hell appeare and Paradise be opened then shall souls know the good and the evill that they have committed I sweare by the Planets by the obscurity of night and by the brightnesse of day that the words of the Alcoran are the words of the Prophet beloved of God powerfull with his divine Majesty ye