The life and death of Mahumed, the author of the Turkish religion being an account of his tribe, parents, birth, name, education, marriages, filthiness of life, Alcoran, first proselytes, wars, doctrines, miracles, advancement, &c. / by L. Addison ... author of The present state of the Jews.

CHAP. VIII. (Book 8)

How Mahumed received from Gabriel the first Chapters of the Alcoran.

NOtwithstanding the great assurance wherewith Mahumed asserted the cer∣tainty of his Visions, Cadigha still remained incredulous, and esteemed them no better than the Enthusiasms of an over-heated fan∣cie, or the inspirations of a bad spirit. Which incredulity of his Wife, created him no small disturbance; and finding her so con∣stant in her Opinion, some say, he was so far moved therewith, as now to doubt himself, and to grow suspicious of what had hapned. Being in these dumps, and deeply musing how to proceed, his whole body was seized with an uncouth chilness, which cast him upon his bed, where his servants loaded him with cloaths to recover warmth. But as he was ruminating upon the froward carriage of Ca∣digha, and what had befaln in the Cave; and drooping under the resentments of his project, Gabriel, say his Parasites, brought him a Cordial, which was the second Cha∣pter of the Alcoran (now bearing the Cha∣pter of the Cow) containing 187 verses;

which Gabriel presented him in these words: Arise, Mahumed, thou that art covered with Praise (alluding to his being covered with cloaths) and abandon Idols. And having thus spoken, he gave him the Chapter. Hereupon, Mahumed instantly called for his Wife, to whom he read it. Who scornfully told him, it was but the old delusion. She told him likewise, that if Gabriel were his friend, he would not have been absent so long, seeing his presence would so quickly have resolved his doubts, and redeemed him from his anxieties. But Mahumed now finding his Wife to have so far reduced her refractoriness, as to cast it into an Objection; he soon foresaw that the Angels coming more early the next day, would certainly remove it. Which hapned accordingly; for the next morning betimes, Gabriel presented the Prophet with the Third Chapter of the Alcoran, (entituled The Linage of Joachim) and when he delivered it, he said; God swears to Mahumed, by the dawning which brings the day, and by the night which brings darkness, that his Creator hath not forgotten him, neither will forget what he hath pro∣mised. These words of Gabriel, though they quickly restored Mahumed, yet they could not convince his Wife, whose infide∣lity grew now so obstinate, that nothing could refute it, but a personal interview with

the Angel; from which Mahumed strongly disswaded her, urging the impossibility of seeing Angels, as being Spirits. And be∣like, his arguings had at last his desired effect upon Cadigha; for we hear no more of her, till we find her in the number of his first Proselytes. In which the Impostor at the beginning was not very fruitful; and those few who became his Sectaries, were moved there∣unto through meer temporal advantages; so that he may be said to have bought, rather than converted them. This was evident in the youth Zeydin; who being a Slave, be∣came his Proselyte, to gain his freedom; and who, 'tis like, would never have hearkened to the Doctrines of his Master, if upon his believing him to be a Prophet, he had not had the promise of a release. Now Mahu∣med finding how powerful this wrought up∣on Zeydin, he began to preach present free∣dome to all those Captives who would take him for their Apostle. By which means he now enlarged his train, and increased his credit: for all the Bond-men were so taken with this Doctrine of Freedom, that if Ma∣humed had had power to protect them, they all would quickly have emptied themselves into his musters. But because there (perhaps) may be a more convenient place to give an account of Mahumeds first Converts, we will return to his compiling of the Alcoran;

which, as he pretended, was given him from God, by the Ministery of Gabriel; who did not, as some have delivered, bring him it all at once, but one Chapter after another, and at several times. And when Mahumed had any project to carry on, or any difficul∣ty to be removed, or any villainous act to be cloaked, he presently pretended to receive from Heaven Revelations to that purpose. Now, because the sum and substance of all his Impostures are comprised in the Alcoran, we will give a short account thereof in the ensuing Chapter.