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
promised to God break not promised faith ye call God to be witness of your promises hee knoweth all your actions Do not like the woman who spun a thred foulded it and afterwards entangled it and spoyled it believe not that there is deceit and error in your Law If the unbelievers be more in numbers then you God permitteth it to prove you he shall clear to you at the day of Judgement the doubts that be among you had it so pleased him you all had observed one and the same Law he guideth misleadeth whom it pleaseth him and will exactly require of you an accompt of your actions Believe not that there is deceipt in your Law take heed of stumbling having once confirmed your steps ye shall be severely chastised â—f ye seduce the people from the right way do not violate what ye have promised to God for any price his grace is of more advantage to you then the wealth of the earth had ye knowledge to understand it your wealth is perishable and the riches of heaven are eternall he shall recompence them that persevere in wel-doing and whosoever shall doe good works shall be blessed in this world and in the other When thou shalt read the Alcoran implore God to deliver thee from the malice of the Divell abominable to all the Creatures he hath no power over them that trust in his divine Majestie his power extendeth over such as go astray who obey not him and adore many Gods When we alter any precepts God well knoweth what he ordaâ—neth they say thou art a lyar but the greatest part of them are ignorant Say unto them that assuredly the Holy Ghost hath taught it from thy Lord to confirme believers in their faith and to guide into the right way them that professe his unity and to anounce to them the joyes of Paradise I know that they will say that a man hath taught him the Alcoran He whom they presume to have taught him is a Persian by Nation and speaketh the Language of the Persians and the Alcoran is in the Arabique tongue full of instruction and eloquence They who will not believe in God shall suffer great torments such as renounce his Commandements blaspheme against his divine Majesty those that reject his Law after having professed it shall feel the effect of his wrath and be punished for preferring the wealth of the earth to the riches of Heaven God guideth not unbelievers They in whose hearts he hath imprinted disobedience those whom he hath deprived of hearing and sight are ignorant they doubtlesse shall be at the end of the world in the number of the damned he is mercifull to them that convert and repent to have mislead the people from the right way and persevere in obedience to his Commandements Be thou mindfull of the day wherein man shall dispute against himself and every one shall be rewarded according to his works without injustice God teacheth you a Parable Behold a free and Priviledged City on the which God poureth his graces on all sides with abundance and is ingratefull for his benefits but he sent upon it misery famine and feare because of its ingratitude God hath sent to the Inhabitants thereof a Prophet of their Nation they have slandered him and were chastised because of their sinne Eate of what God hath given you and give him thanks for his grace if it be he whom ye worship he forbiddeth you to eat of Carrion of Bloud and Swines-flesh and whatsoever is not slaine in pronouncing the name of God he will be gracious and mercifull to them who shall eat through necessity without designe to offend him Lye not in saying Behold that which is permitted to be eaten blaspheme not against God such as blaspheme against him shall not prosper in this world and in the otâ—er shall suffer grievous torments We did heretofore prohibit the Jews to eat of what we have recounted to thee we did to them no injustice they drew mischief on themselves through their sinne thy Lord is gracious and mercifull to them that ignorantly offend him who convert and doe good works Abraham was obedient to God and professed his unity he adored not Idols and gave thanks to God for his mercies God elected and guided him into the right way he gave him wealth in this world and placed him in the other in the number of the blessed We have inspired thee to follow the Law of Abraham he professed the unity of God and adored not Idols he established the Sabbath among the Jews of which they dispute God shall judge their dâ—fference at the day of Judgement Call the people to the Law of God with prudence and preachings and dispute against them with good arguments God knoweth them that depart from the right way if they evilly intreat you intreat them as they shall intreat you if ye be patient patience is advantagious to them that take it willingly have patience for the love of God and afflict not your selves with the deportments and malice of the wicked God is with the righteous who have his feare before their eyes CHAP. XVII The Chapter of the Voyage by night containing an hundred and eleven verses written at Mecca Reader The Turks believe that this night of the Voyage Mahomet ascended into Heaven with the Angel Gabriel he was mounted on a white Burac which is a beast partly Mule partly Asse and partly Horse He saw all the Prophets that preceded him all the wonders of Paradise and saw God who sate on his Throne See Kitab el tenoir Tesfiir anf Giauhoir and the exposition of Gelaldin The Bedaoi intituleth this Chapter the Chapter of the Children of Israel IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull Praise be to him that caused his servant to goe in one night from the Temple of Mecca to the Temple of Jerusalem wee have blessed that Temple and whatsoever is about it in token of our omnipotency We gave to Moses the Old Testament to instruct the Children of Israel and to deterr them from the worship of any other God but of me to forbid them to adore the lineage of Noah or the lineage of them that we preserved in his Ark. To quit their saith and return to it ofâ—en Noah is my creature and my servant acknowledging my benefits wee prohibited in Scripture the children of Israel to defile twice the Earth left they kindled too great a fire when that befell you See Kitab el tenoir we stirred up our servants against you and they entered by force into the midst of your houses this was as soon executed as promised In the end we gave you advantage over your enemies we gave you wealth and children to succor you and ye were more numerous then the Infidels the good and the evill that you shall doe shall be for your souls We stirred up the wicked against you because of your sins to afflict you through the murther and bondage of your persons and they destroyed
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
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
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
to light many things of the Scripture which you conceale and he likewise leaveth in silence many things that it is not time to make manifest God hath sent you a Book full of light to conduct into the way of Salvation them that love him to bring them out of darknesse and by his speciall grace to lead them into the way of Salvation Certainly he that saith that the Messiah the Sonne of Mary is God is impious Say to him who can hinder God to exterminate the Messiah and his Mother with whatsoever is in the Earth when it shall seeme good to him God is King of Heaven and earth he created with them what seemed good to him he is Omnipotent The Jews and Christians have said we are the Children of God his wel-beloved Say to them shall not God chastise you for your sinnes Certainly ye are men He that created you pardoneth and punisheth as it pleaseth him he is the King of all that is in Heaven or Earth and of whatever is betweene them he is the refuge of the righteous O ye that have knowledge in the written Law The Poophet the Apostle of God is come to instruct you in a time that there is none other Prophet but hee on the Earth Will you say that no man preached to you the torments of Hell Certainly the word of God is this day preached to you the torment of Hell and the Omnipotencie of his Divine Majestie Remember thou what Moses said to his people Oh people call to mind the grace of God towards you he hath chosen from among you Prophets and Kings hath conferred on you what he hath given to none in the world Enter into the holy Land as God hath commanded turne not your backs to your enemies lest you be in the number of Reprobates They answered oh Moses there are Gyants and Tyrants in the Holy Land we will not enter into it untill they be gone out of it if they forsake it we will enter into it Then two men of them that were in the grace of God said to them enter at the gate and fight against them you shall be victorious trust in God if you believe in his Law They said oh Moses we will not enter so long as those Tyrants dwell therein goe and fight against them with thy Lord we will here attend Then said Moses Lord I dispose but of mine own and my brothers person separate us from this wicked people the Lord said to him the entrance into the Holy Land is prohibited to this people they shall wander forty years upon the Earth in confusion and amazement afflict not thy selfe with the deportments of the wicked teach them the Historie of the Sonnes of Adam how they offered sacrifices how the sacrifice of the one was accepted that of the other was not he through envie menaced his brother to murther him his brother said to him God receiveth the sacrifices and holocausts of such as have his feare before their eyes assuredly if thou extendest thine hand to slay me I will not stretch forth mine to hurt thee I feare the Lord of the Universe If thou chargest thy selfe with the murther of my person with thy past sinnes thou shalt goe to hell where the unjust shall be punished The murther of his brother seemed easie and advantagious for him he slew him and is in the number of the Damned God sent a Raven that made a pit in the Earth and shewed him the manner to bury the body of his brother Then said he would to God I had been weake and impotent that I were like to this Raven I must bury the body of my brother and he was penitent for his offence by reason of this murther we ordained to the children of Israel that he who shall slay a person innocent shall be punished as if he had slaine the whole world and he that shall give him his life shall be recompensed as if hee had given life to the whole world My Prophets came to the Children of Israel taught them my Commandements and caused them to see Miracles neverthelesse many of them were disobedient the punishment of them that oppose the will of God that of his Prophet and that endeavour to pollute the earth is to be slain hanged to have the right foot and the left hand or right hand and the left foot cut off and to bee extirpated from the earth they shall have in this world shame on the forehead and shall feele in the other great torments except such as shall be converted before their death and shall know that God is gracious and mercifull Oh ye that believe feare God fight for his Law you perhaps shall be happy All the Treasures of the world shall not bee able to redeeme Infidels at the day of Judgement they shall endure exceeding great torments they shall desire to goe out of the fire of Hell but shall dwell there eternally Cut off the hands of those men and women that steale they contract upon themselves the wrath of the world and the punishment that God hath prepared for the wicked He that shall turn and do good works shall be pardoned God is gracious and mercifull to the penitent Knowest thou not that the Kingdome of Heaven and of Earth is Gods that hee chastiseth and pardoneth whom it pleaseth him and that he is Omnipotent Oh Prophet afflict not thy selfe to behold them running to impietie that say with the mouth we believe and have no faith in their hearts neither for them that Judaize and hearken to the lies of their Doctors to relate them to others they pervert the language of the Old Testament and say If you be instructed in those precepts you ought to observe them if they instruct you not in them take heed to your selves Such as make use of the name of God to move the people to sedition are without faith God will not purifie their hearts they shall have in this world shame upon the forehead and feele in the other extreame torments They listen to blasphemies and eat what is prohibited If they repaire to thee and submit themselves to thy judgement judge their controversie with equity converse not with them if thou depart from their company they shall not hurt thee if thou givest judgement between them Judge with equitie God loveth the just How shall they submit to thy judgement seeing they have the Old Testament which containeth the Commandements of God They will not execute thy Judgement neither believe in the Old Testament whereis the guide of the right way and a light to the Prophets to judge the differences arising among true believers among Jews their Doctors and ther Priests who study the Scripture and are witnesses that it containeth the truth feare not the world but dread me sell not neither exchange my commandements for any price Such as judge not conformably to the Law of God are Infidels We have ordained the Talio man for man an eye for an eye a
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
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
will assemble them at the end of the world to reward them after their works We have indeed sent thee the Alcoran from heaven to proclaime the joys of Paradise and to preach the torments of hell we have sent it to the end thou maist teach it to the people we have sent it clear and intelligible that it may be understood according to occurences Say unto them believe or bâ—lâ—eve it not when those that have knowledge in the written Law heard it read they prostrated themselves on the ground with humility and said praised be God what he promiseth is infallible and incontinently is his command executed they wept prostrating the face towards the earth and the reading of the Alcoran augmented their devotion Say unto them implore God call God mercifull all his Attributes are most glorious Make it not appear to the world how often thou shalt pray neither how often thou shalt read the Alcoran and fear not to pray to God and to read the Alcoran follow in this the middle path and say praised be God he hath no Son he hath no companion neither protector to preserve him from contempt his greatness is perfect and compleat CHAP. XVIII The Chapter of the Cave containing an hundred and ten Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Praise be to God who hath sent the Alcoran to his servant There is no contradiction in this Book it teacheth the right way it preacheth to the wicked that they shall suffer great torments and proclaimeth to the righteous that they shall enjoy an eternall felicity it preacheth the torments of Hell principally to such as affirm That God hath a Son they are ignorant like to their predecessors they are arrogant in their discourse and utter nothing but blaspemies Wilt thou destroy thy self in following their footsteps If they believe not in the Alcoran they shall one day have sorrow and shall repent it We adorned the Earth with whatsoever is upon it for the advantage of men One part thereof is happy and plentifull and the other unfruitfull and desart Do ye not believe that the sleepers that entred the Cave and the Paper wherein their names were written be our miracles when those men entred the Cave they said Lord give us thy mercy and guide us into the right way Then did we cause them to sleep for the space of some years and awaked them having continued some time in that Cave to make it appear which of the two Religions was the most just I will relate to thee their History with truth they were young men who had the fear of their Lord before their eyes we strengthned them and encreased their faith when they were with the Infidels they said Our God is Lord of Heaven and Earth we will never worship but one God otherwise we shall separate our selves from the truth This people have adored Idols without reason who is more unjust then he who blasphemeth against God When they deserted the Infidels they worshipped one God alone Enter into the Cave God shall make his mercy towards you to appear and shall guide you through a path smooth and pleasant When the Sun arose he cast his rayes on the right side of their Cave and on the left at his going down they in the mean time were in the most spacious place of this Cave This is one of Gods miracles hee whom he guideth is well guided and whom he misleadeth shall find none to give him succour or to guide him Believe ye that they should be awake Assuredly they slept and turned themselves sometimes to one side sometimes to another Consider how their Dog extended his feet before that old habitation of stone if any one had entred towards them he would have caused them to flie and had affrighted them In the end we awaked them and they mutually enquired of each other in what place they were and how long they had there continued one of them replyed That they had been there a day or two then they all said God knoweth the time that we have abode here send one of us to the City with money to buy bread and meat let him not be fearfull neither make himself known to any if wee be known they will murther or constrain us to follow their Religion in which we shall be eternally miserable Thus did we stir up the people against them to the end they might know that thy Lord is true when he said He will cause the dead to arise again the Resurrection is indubitable nevertheless unbelievers dispute among them concerning the History of the Sleepers and say That they built a secret place to retire themselves God knoweth the Truth The True-believers believe that they made no building the Infidels say they were five and that their dog was the sixth they speak by opinion but the True-believers affirm them to be seven and their dog to be the eighth Say unto them My Lord knoweth how many they were few persons except God know â—heir number Doubt no more the History of the Sleeâ—ers the matter is averred and known dispute no more with the Jews and say not I will do this to morrow without saying If it please God Call God to minde after thou hast forgot him and say The Lord shall guide me and teach me the History of the Sleepers See Gelaldin who remained in the Cave three hundred years there be who affirme they continued there nine hundred years Say unto them God knoweth the time of their abode there he knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth he understandeth and seeth all things he alone disposeth every thing and hath no companion Preach what thy Lord hath inspired into thee his word admitteth of no alteration there is no safer refuge then in him dwell with those that invoke him morning and evening and desire to see his face depart not from their company if thou desirest to have content of life in this world obey not those whose heart we have hardned and are unmindfull of us follow not their impiety whatsoever they do is but offence and sin Say unto them the truth proceedeth from your Lord who shall desire it shall be True-believers and who shall not desire it shall be an Infidell we have prepared Hell to chastise the impious and prisons wherein to detaine them They shall implore succors against the melting pit into which they shall be plunged as into waters it shall rost their faces and shall be their drink I will not frustrate of reward them that shall have done well they shall enjoy the delights of the gardens of Eden wherein flow many rivers they shall have bracelets of â—ine Gold they shall be cloathed with green with Scarlet and shining colours and shall sit on thrones with an eternall felicity Declare to them this parable there were two men I gave to the one of them gardens whereâ—n was store of fruits he in contempt told his companion that he was more wealthy
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
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
earth that openeth it self and receiveth it to produce its fruits that the Alcoran distinguisheth good from evill and that it was not sent in vain The unbelievers conspire against the Prophet but God shall turn their conspiracie against them and they shal not know it Be thou patient and a while endure the Infidels CHAP. LXXXVII The Chapter of the High and Mighty containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Exalt the name of thy Lord high and mighty who hath proportioned all that he hath created he ordaineth what he listeth and guideth into the right way then that are pleasing to him he causeth herbs to spring out of the earth createth them green rendreth them dry and altereth them as to him seems good I will read to thee the Alcoran forget nothing of what thou shalt read but that which God shall will thee to forget he knoweth whatsoever is kept secret in the world and whatsoever is made manifest I will instruct thee in his Law preach the Alcoran it shall be profitable to him that shall have the feare of God before his eye such as shall despise it shall be miserable they shall be precipitated into the fire of hell where they shall not be able either to live or die and he that shall embrace the Law of God and shall be mindfull of his name shall be blessed Pray to God at the time appointed Certainly the righteous shall be heirs of the good things of the earth and those of heaven that are exceeding great and eternall this is written in the antient books of Abraham and Moses CHAP. LXXXVIII Chapter of the Covering containing twenty six Verses written at Mecca Gelaldin intituleth this the Chapter of Judgement because that day the damned shall be covered with fire and fear See Exteri IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Hast thou heard mention of the covering That day shal the countenance of the wicked be covered with affliction they shall enter into fire that is extremely hot they shall drink of boiling water they shall eat nothing but bryers and thorns they shall be extremely lean and famine shall not deliver them from an infinite number of other miseries That day shall the good be filled with content they shall be recompensed for their labours in Paradise they shall hear nothing spoken that may displease them they shall see fountains flow lying upon high beds they shal drink in fair glasses fixed on diamonds upon pillows well disposed and upon pallets well adorned will not the wicked consider the miracle of the she Camell how it was created how heaven was elevated how the mountains were disposed how the earth was extended Preach to the wicked the pains of hell thou art sent to preach to them and not to constrain them God will chastise with his great chastisement him that shall abandon his Law and traduce the Alcoran All men shall be one day assembled before his divine Majesty to give accompt of their actions CHAP. LXXXIX The Chapter of the Morning containing thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God See Kitabel tenoir Ye shall there see the exposition of this passage gracious and mercifull I swear by the Morning by the tenth night of the moneth by even and odd and by the coming of night that the wicked shall be chastised Is there any thing in consideration of this oath that can move men to fly uncleannesse Considerest thou not how God entreated Aad the Son of Arem that dwelt in pavillions supported by columns so big that there were none like to them in his Countrey Knowest thou not how he used Temod who hewed stones and rocks to inhabit the Valley Knowest thou not how he entreated Pharaoh who pierced with pins the feet and hands of such as he gave up to punishment Knowest thou not how he entreated them that heretofore erred from the right way in their own Countreys and that increased their pollution he poured upon them divers torments he observeth all that men do he giveth store of goods to them that he doth not try and taketh them away from such as he proveth The wicked will not give honour to Orphans they will not abstain from eating the bread of the poor they shall give an accompt they too much affect riches when the earth shall tremble and shall overthrow all the buildings when the Angels shall descend in order by the command of thy Lord then shall hell be open to the wicked they shall call to mind what was preached to them in the world and say why did not I observe the Commandements of God during my life they shall be punished more then ever any hath been and shall be more straitly bound then ever any hath been bound It shall be said to the blessed O thou soul that haft observed with courage and without fear the Commandements of God return to thy Lord with content enter into the soâ—â—ry of the blessed enter into Paradise CHAP. XC The Chapter of the City containing twenty Verses written at Mecca Many have entituled this the Chapter of Night IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Mecca I swear by that City which is permitted thee to conquer I swear by the father and the child that we created man in misery thinketh he that there is none stronger then he He saith that he hath expended great wealth doth he think that none hath seen what he hath done He declaims against Corets See Gelaldin Have we not given him two eyes a tongue two lips Have we not given him to see the way of good and of evill he shall be severely chastised but I will not tell thee with what kind of chastisement Wherefore doth he not deliver slaves Wherefore doth he not give to eat to them that are hungry to Orphans and his kindred that are in necessity and to the poor patience and charity are recommended among true-believers they shall be seated at the right hand and such as impugn the Mysteries of our Law shall be at the left hand they shall be shut up in the fire of hell CHAP. XCI The Chapter of the Sun containing fifteen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull I swear by the Sun and his light by the Moon and her splendour by the fire and its elevation by the night and its obscurity by Heaven and the Starres thereof by the earth and its plaines by the creation of the soul by the knowledge of vertue and vice that he that shall be purified from his sins shall be most happy and that he who defileth himself with vice shall be most miserable The people of Temod traduced their Prophet because of their obstinacy but certainly they were chastised The Apostle and Prophet of God said unto them Behold the Camell of God suffer it to drink they derided him and slew that Camel God severely punished them he spared not his chastisement against them CHAP.
Christian vertues and indeed if Christians will but diligently read and observe the Lawes and Histories of the Mahometans they may blush to see how zealous they are in the works of Devotion Piety and Charity how devout cleanly and reverend in their Mosques how obedient to their Priests that even the great Tâ—rk himselfe will attempt nothing without consulting his Mufti how carefull are they to observe their hours of prayers five times a day wherever they are or however imployed how constantly do they observe their â—asts from morning till night a whole moneth together how â—oâ—â—ng and chaâ—itable the Mustâ—â—mans are to each other and how carefull of strangers may be seen by their Hospitalls both for the poor and for travellers if we observe their justice temperance and other morall vertues we may truly blush at our own coldnesse both in devotion and charity at our injustice intemperance and oppression doubtlesse these men will rise up in judgement against us and surely their devotion piety and works of mercy are main causes of the growth of Mahometanisme on the contrary our neglect of Religion and loosenesse of conversation is a main hindrance to the increase of Christianity is it not a shame that they should read over their Alcoran once every moneth and we scarce read over the Bible in all our life that they shall give such reverence to their Alcoran as to honour the very Camell that carried it to Mecca and to lay up for holy reliques the napkins and handkerchiefs that rubbed off the sweat from his skin and we shall prefer lascivious Poems and wanton Ballads to the sacred Word of Almighty God do we not make our selves unworthy of such an inestimable treasure 12. The Turks are our neighbours and their territories border upon the Dominions of Christendome there have been continuall warres and will be still between us it concerneth every Christian who makes conscience of his waies to examine the cause and to look into the grounds of this war whether they be just or not which cannot be known but by reading the Alcoran in which we see the Mahometans to be the enemies of the Crosse of Christ in denying his Death and of his Divinity also Euseb. in vit Const. l. 9. c. 9 Hist. Theod. l. 5. c. 24. Sâ—crat l. c. 7.18 Aug. l. 5. de civi dei c. 13. in that they deny his Godhead we shall find so many passages in it repugnant to and destructive of Christian Religion that Christian Princes are bound to oppose the enemies thereof after the example of those glorious Emeprors Constantine who made war against the Heathen Princes Maxentius Maximinus and Licinius of Theodosius the elder against the Tyrant Eugenius the worshipper of Hercules of Theodosius the younger against the Saracens of Honorius against the Goths all enemies of Christ by whose assistance they got notable victories and glorious triumphs 13. We cannot do better service to our Countrey-men nor offer a greater affront to the Mahometans then to bring out to the open view of all the blind Sampsons of their Alcoran which hath mastered so many Nations that we may laugh at it of which even their own wise men are ashamed and are sorry it should be translated into any other language for they are unwilling that their grand Hypocrite should be unmasked or that the vizard of his pretended holinesse should be taken off whose filthy nakednesse must appear when he is devested they know that words and works of darknesse cannot endure the light Trepidántque immisso lumine manes the infernall Ghosts tremble at any glimpse of light and the wild beasts returne to their dens saith David Psal. 10.4 Vt jugulent homines surgunt de nocte latrones when the morning appeares not daring to seek their prey but in the dark night of ignorance this great thief Mahomet hath destroyed many thousand and under the Lions skin this Asse hath affrighted his beastly minded Saracens therefore let us take away the ring from this Giges by which he hath made himselfe invisible and let us with Hercules pull out this theeving Cacus out of his darke den where he useth to hide and shelter himselfe and expose his deformed carkasse to the publike view that we may wonder at it and in detecting his Errours wee follow the practise of CHIST who discovered to the world the damnable Tenets of the Scribes Pharisees Mat. 13. Hypocrites 14. The Turks are preposterously zealous in praying for the conversion or perversion rather of Christians to their irreligious Religion they pray heartily and every day in their Temples that Christians may imbrace the Alcoran and become their Proselytes in effecting of which they leave no means unassaied by feare and flattery by punishments and rewards Now is it fitting that they in charity and zeale should exceed us wee are bound to pray and endeavour heartily for their conversion from darknesse to light from error to truth but how shall we do this if we know not the dangerous and damnable estate they are in which we cannot know but by reading their Alcoran 15. In reading the Alcoran we shall see what is the force of superstition and with what violence men are carried head-long in the defence and maintenance even of the most absurd and impious opinions what Hecuba is more deformed then the Alcoran yet how do the Turks fight and struggle toil and care hazard life and liberty estates and all for it as if it were the most beautifull Helena in the world these men cannot endure the Image of Christ or of a Saint in their Temples calling this Idolatry and yet they are the greatest Idolaters in the world themselves for never was there such an Idol as the Alcoran no man must touch it till first he be washed and that being done he must not touch it with his naked hands but with a clean linnen cloth the Priest must kisse it and bow to it he must when he reads in it hold it up on high for it is a sin to hold it lower then his girdle Every piece of paper that a Turk findes he must use reverendly because the Alcoran is written in paper the Mule that carries it to Mecca is held in great veneration so that he or she is sanctified all the year after that can but touch him and that handkerchief which wipeth off his sweat is a holy relique thus do they strain at a gnat and swallow a Camell Rev. 20. 16. In reading the Alcoran and Turkish Story we shall see who were Gog and Magog that made warre against the Saints even the Turks an obscure people of Scythia therefore called Gog because they were hid and unknown a long time and the Saracens who were a known people and the open enemies of the Church therefore called Magog these treacherously combined together oppressed first the Persians and afterward the Greek Empire with the famous Churches of Asia Greece and Egypt we shall also find that by