The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated out of Arabique into French; by the sieur Du Ryer, Lord of Malezair, and resident for the King of France, at Alexandria. And newly Englished, for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities

CHAP. XLII. The Chapter of Counsell, containing fifty and three Verses, written at Mecca.

IN the Name of God, gracious and mercifull. God is pru∣dent, 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 im∣plore 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 dam∣ned; 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 om∣nipotent, he shall one day judge all the difficulties, & 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 selvs, he created all beasts male and female, and cau∣sed 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 punish∣ment untill the day of Iudgment, he had already destroy∣ed 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 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 neces∣sary 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 judg∣ment 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 er∣roneous 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 ef∣fect it, and depriveth them of the riches of Heaven: Are there wicked ones among men that teach them a false Re∣ligion 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 deme∣rits; 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, & have done good works; say unto them, I require none other recompense for the pains that I take in preaching to you, then to love my kindred; he that shall do any good work shall be rewarded; God is mercifull, and good works are pleasing to him. Will they say that thou hast blasphemed against God? If it please God, he shall hinder thee to hear this discourse, or will imprint patience in thine heart; he abolisheth lies, and confirmeth the truth through his words; he knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men; he accep∣teth the conversion of his creatures, he pardoneth their sins, and knoweth all their actions; he heareth the prayers of the faithfull, that do good works, and augmenteth his grace upon them; but Infidels shall undergo the rigours of eter∣nall pains. Had God equally enriched all his creatures, they had bin 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 betweene them, is a sign of thine omnipotency: If evil befal you, be∣lieve that ye have deserved it, neverthelesse he pardoneth you many things; ye cannot escape his punishment on earth, & none is able to protect you against him. The

Ves••el that runneth upon 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 Commandments, cannot escape their punishent; the riches that ye possesse are the riches of the earth; the riches that God bestoweth on them that trust in him, are eternal: They that depart from mortall sins, that repent to have committed them, that beg of God to be heard, and persevere in their supplications; they that take councel, 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 af∣flictions; such as do good, and such as commit evil, shall be recompensed, and punished according to their works. God abhorreth Infidels; ye have no power over them that implore his assistance in their affliction, and repent; your power extendeth over them that doin justice to the people; and d••sobey on earth the Commandments of his divine Majesty, they shall suffer great torments. Such as perse∣vere in well-d••i••g, and pardon their Neighbour, do what God hath Commanded. He whom God shall m••sl••ad, shall finde none to guide him. Thou shalt see that the In∣fidels shall ask if they may return into the world, when they shall behold the fire of H••l; thou shalt see them flie with ex••ream fear of eternal ignominy; they shall look a∣wry upon hell, and the believers shall see that the wicked, that have lost he••r Souls, that have misled 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 finde the right way. Say unto them, beg pardon of God before the ••ay come, that ye shall finde 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 p••osperity be rejoyceth, and when affliction befalleth him, ••e is ingrat••ful for the grace of his Lord, King of the hea∣vens and earth God giveth children, sons and daughters ••o whom he pleaseth, he knoweth all things, and is om∣nipotent;

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, nei∣ther the misteries 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 wil giude him into the way of the Lord, to whom belongeth all that is in Heaven and Earth, and who disposeth of all things.