The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated out of Arabick into French, by the Sieur Du Ryer, Lord of Malezair, and resident for the French king, at Alexandria. And newly Englished, for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities. To which is prefixed, the life of Mahomet, the prophet of the Turks, and author of the Alcoran. With A needful caveat, or admonition, for them who desire to know what use may be made of, or if there be danger in reading the Alcoran.

CHAP. XLII. The Chapter of Counsel, containing Fifty and three Verses, written at Mecca.

IN the Name of God, gracious and merciful. God is Prudent, Wise, Majestick; he under∣standeth 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 appertain∣eth

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 merciful, he be∣holdeth them that invoke Idols, and knoweth them all, but thou art not their Tutor. We have inspired into thee the Alcoran in the Arabick Tongue, to preach to the Inhabitants of Mecca, and such as dwell about that City; we have sent thee to preach unto them the day of Judgment; 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 and 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 Idols; but God is the true protector of the world: he reviveth the dead, and is omnipotent; he shall one day judg all the difficulties, and resolve all your doubts in your Religion, he is my Lord, I recom∣mend my self to his divine will; he created your wife of your selves, he created all beasts male and female, and caused you to multiply; there is not any thing like unto him, he keepeth the keys 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 Iesus, is that which I commanded thee to observe, viz. to believe in one God. The Infidels are an∣gry when thou preachest to them the unity of God, he teacheth it whom he pleaseth, and gui∣deth into the right way them that obey him; the wicked approve some points of his Law, and reject the rest, although they have knowledg of his Unity, and that through the envy that is risen a∣mong them; if thy Lord had not heretofore said that he would defer their punishment until the

day of Judgment, he had already destroyed them; many of those, who after them shall have know∣ledg 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 be∣lieve in the Book that God hath sent, I have re∣ceived 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 judg our differ∣ences, he is our refuge; such as dispute against the faith, after knowledg of the truth, are with∣out reason; their arguments shall be vain with God, they shall be the object of his wrath, and shall suffer exceeding great pains. God hath sent the Alcoran with truth and ballance; he will not instruct thee when the day of Judgment shall be: Such as have no faith in him, ask when it shall 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, and enricheth whom he pleaseth; he is strong and omnipotent, he increaseth the graces of him that desireth the riches of Heaven; he giveth the wealth of the Earth to them that affect it, and depriveth them of the riches of Heaven: Are there wicked ones among men that teach them a false Religion pro∣hibited of God? God hath not revealed it to them; had he not deferred their punishment un∣til the day of Judgment, he had already destroy∣ed them; they shall in the end feel grievous tor∣ments; ye shall see them fear their own deport∣ments, ye shall see them chastised after their de∣merits; and the believers that do good works, shall enjoy the delights of Paradise, where they

shall find whatsoever they shall desire; this is the great grace of God; this is that which he hath proclaimed to the faithful that believed, and have done good works: Say unto them, I require none other recompence for the pains that I take in preaching to you, than to love my kindred; he that shall do any good work, shall be rewar∣ded, God is merciful, and good works are plea∣sing to him. Will they say that thou hast blas∣phemed against God? If it please God, he shall hinder thee to hear this discourse, or will im∣print patience in thine heart; he abolisheth lyes, and confirmeth the truth through his words; he knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men; he accepteth the conversion of his Creatures, he par∣doneth their sins, and knoweth all their actions; he heareth the prayers of the faithful, that do good works, and augmenteth his grace upon them; but Infidels shall undergo the rigors of eternal pains. Had God equally enriched all his Creatures, they had been in confusion upon earth; he enricheth whom he pleaseth; he seeth and knoweth all; he sendeth rain when men despair of his grace, he is the Protector of believers, and praise is due to him eternally: the Creation of the Heavens, and of the Earth, and of all that moveth between them, is a sign of thine Omnipotency: If evil befal you, believe that ye have deserved it; nevertheless, he pardoneth you many things; ye cannot escape his punishment on earth, and none is able to pro∣tect you against him; the vessel that runneth up∣on the water, big as a mountain, is a token of his Omnipotency, to them that persevere in his Law, and acknowledg his graces. He shall reprove the wicked for their sins, and shall pardon many: They that dispute against his Command∣ments, cannot escape their punishment; the riches

that we possess are the riches of the earth; the ri∣ches that God bestoweth on them that trust in him, are eternal: They that depart from mortal sins, that repent to have committed them, that beg of God to be heard, and persevere in their supplica∣tions; they that take counsel, and consult among them what they ought to do, that employ in good works part of the wealth that God hath given them, that implore his help in their afflictions; such as do good, and such as commit evil, shall be recompensed, and punished according to their works. God abhorreth Infidels; ye have no po∣wer over them that implore his assistance in their affliction, and repent; your power extendeth o∣ver them that do injustice to the people, and diso∣bey on earth the Commandments of his divine Ma∣jesty; they shall suffer great torments. Such as per∣severe in well-doing, and pardon their neighbour, do what God hath Commanded. He whom God shall mislead, shall find none to guide him. Thou shalt see that the Infidels shall ask if they may re∣turn into the world, when they shall behold the fire of hell; thou shalt see them flie with extream fear of external ignominy; they shall look awry upon hell, and the believers shall see that the wicked, that have lost their souls, that have mislead their family, and all the impious, shall be eternally damned, none shall be able to save them, and he that God shall mislead, shall not find the right way. Say unto them, beg pardon of God before the day come, that ye shall find no way to return into the world, nor excuse for your sins. If they disobey thee, we have not sent thee to be their Tutor; thou art sent only to preach unto them. When we give to man any prosperity, he rejoyceth, and when affli∣ction befalleth him, he is ingrateful for the gra•…•…e of his Lord, King of the heavens and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. God

giveth children, sons and daughrers to whom he pleaseth, he knoweth all things, and is omnipo∣tent; he speaketh not to man but by inspiration, and parable, without being seen; he sendeth his Prophets and Apostles, into whom he inspireth what pleaseth him; he knoweth all things, and is omnipotent; Thus have we sent thee our spirit to teach thee our Commandments; thou knowest not before what was written in the Alcoran, neither thy mysteries of faith, we have sent it to thee to be a light to the world: I will guide into the way of Salvation whom I please. I will guide him in∣to the way of the Lord, to whom belongeth all that is in Heaven and Earth, and who disposeth of all things.