rance of events, joined to military power, did more towards promoting the religion of Mahomet, than any thing else of which we can form a proper no

tion.

'The Alcoran of Mahomet.

We have already taken notice, that the Alcoran, considered as a composition, is extremely beautiful, and contains some fine moral sentences, many of which are extracted from the law of Moses, but the greater part from the writings of the Christian fathers. And here it is necessary that we should attend to one circumstance of great importance, namely, that in all ages and nations there always has been some or other system, upon which the established religion of the country was founded. Before the use of letters was known in the world, the principles of those systems were conveyed down from one generation to another by oral tradition, and such is the practice at present in many of the heathen nations. But the use of letters gave a new and more lasting form to the stability of systems, and we will join with the learned Mr. Parkhurst, in asserting that the law of Moses is the most ancient composition in the world.

At the same time it is beyond dispute, that in China, and in many parts of the East Indies, there are written systems of religion, which undoubtedly are of a much later date than the law of Moses, and the errors contained in them many serve to shew that they were not the result of divine inspiration. The gospel of Christ as contained in the New Testament, and which illustrates and proves the truth of the Old Testament Dispensation, is far superio to all others, and it may be justly called the image of God himself. It contains all that man should know, all that he should believe, and it lays down. an unerring rule for his conduct. It does not extol the virtues of the pious beyond their proper bounds, nor does it conceal the faults of those who are held up as objects of imitation. This is the grand distinguishing characteristic of Divine Revelation, by these marks we know it came from God, and we are encouraged to trust in what appears to us as the naked truth, without any deceit or false colouring.

Mahomet, one of the most artful impostors that ever lived in the world, was sensible of this, and therefore he endeavoured to transplant into his system every thing of a moral tendency which he found in the sacred scriptures. But still it was his conduct in the compiling of his Alcoran to mix No. 17.

things together, so as to comprehend a jumble of sentiments as should include, as proselytes to his doctrine, both Jews and Christian heretics, well knowing that the Heathen Arabians would not be averse to any thing that gratified their ambition, and satisfied their lusts.

The manner in which this work was compiled has been already taken notice of, we must now pre. sent the reader with the matter; and here it is not necessary that we should transcribe the whole, Lut only the leading principles, so far as to contain all the doctrines in that famous system of imposture. The whole is divided into one hundred and fourteenchapters, some being long and tedious, others short and comprehensive, but to understand them properly; we shall abridge them in the manner they follow in the book, and insert every one of the sentinents upon which that false system is founded. Every chapter begins with an address to the Divine Being, constantly in the same words, but a single specimen of that will be sufficient, so that there will be no necessity for repeating any of the others.

"In the name of God, gracious and merciful : praised he God, gracious and merciful: King of the day of judgment. It is Thee whom we adore; it is from Thee we require help. Guide us in the right way, in the way of them that thou hast gratified; against whom thou hast not been displeased, and we shall not be misled."

There is no error in this book, it guideth into the right way, those that are righteous, who believe what they see not, who make their prayers with affection, and dispense in alms a part of the goods that we have given them. Such as believe the` things that are inspired into thee, in those that have been preached before thee, and at the end of the world are not ignorant, they are guided by their Lord, and shall be blessed. Misery is upon unbe-lievers. Whether thou reprove them, or do not reprove them, they will not be converted, God hath shut up their hearts, their ears, and eyes, and they shall suffer great torments. Many men say, we believe in God, and the day of judgment, and do not believe; they think to deceive God, and them that believe in God; certainly they deceive themselves, and know it not. God will augment the infirmity which they have in their heart, and they shall undergo the rigours of an infinite pain, by reason of their lying. When it was said to them pollute not the earth, they said, we are true observers of the law of God; notwithstanding, they were they that polluted the earth, but they knew it

not.

Say not, that God hath a companion equal to 5 G him, ›

him, because you know the contrary. 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 infidels and idolators; and declare to true believers who do good works, that they shall enjoy the immense pleasure of Paradise, wherein flow many rivers; they shall there find all sorts of fair and savoury fruits, which God hath prepared for them; they shall consider, if they be like to such as had before in the world: They shall there have wives fair and delicate, and shall dwell in eternal felicity. God is not ashamed to compare a little thing to an extreme greatness.

Such as in their heart incline to depart from the truth, do often follow their inclination, desirous of sedition, and to understand the explication of the Alcoran; but none understand its explication but God, and such as are profound in learning; they say, we believe in God, all things proceed from his divine wisdom, nevertheless none remember but the wise.

Lord, cause not our hearts to err, after thou hast guided us into the right way, give us thy mercy, thou art most bountiful towards thy creatures. Lord, thou art he that shalt assemble the world at the day of judgment, at which day nothing shall be found doubtful, when thou wilt not go against thy promises, and when wealth and children shall no serve to the wicked, but to kindle the fire of hell. The infidel lineage of Pharaoh, and those that preceded him, blasphemed and abjured the law of God, but he surprised them in their sin; he is grievous in his chastisements. Say to the infidels, they shall be vanquished, and shall be gathered together into the fire of hell, that is prepared for them.

You have an example in the two troops that fought for the glory of God, they beheld with their eves, infidels become true believers, like unto themselves; God strengtheneth with his aid, whom it pleaseth him; this shall be for example to such as shall clearly see. The love and desire of women, of children, of riches, abundance ofgold, of silver and of horses, cattle, and of tillage, are pleasing to men; such are the riches of the life of this world, but the most assured refuge is in God. Say unto them, I will declare unto you things much better for them, that shall have the fear of God before their eyes: They shall dwell eternally in Paradise, where flow many rivers, with women, beautiful and lean, and all manner of content. God beholdeth them that adore him, and that say, Lord, we believe in thy law, pardon our sins, and deliver us from the torments of fire. The patient, the persevering, true

believers, the obedient, the good men, such as beg pardon of God in the morning, the angels, the learned that love justice, testify that there is but one only God. The law of salvation, is a law pleasing to his Divine Majesty; no man contradicteth this truth, among such as know the written law, but thro' envy. He that shall not obey the commandments of God, shall find his Divine Majesty very exact to call him to an account. If the impious dispute with thee, say to them, I am wholly resigned to the will of God, with all such as have followed me. Ask of such as know the written law, and them that know it not, if they resign themselves to God, if they do, they will follow the right way; if they go astray, thou hast none other obligation, buc to preach to them; God beholdeth, them that adore hin. Declare grievous torments to those that conceal his commandments, that kill the prophets, and jore them that instruct the people in justice; the good works that they do, shall be unprofitable to them on earth, and they shall be in the other world deprived of protection. Seest thou not a party of them that know the written law, how they were called to a lecture of the book of God, to the end they might judge with equity the differences that are among them? but many are returned to their sin: they contemned the scripture, in that they said, the fire shall not touch us, but for a certain number of days; they are deceived in their blasphemies, what will become of them, when we shall assemble them at the day of judgment, when nothing shall be doubtful, and every one shall be recompensed as he shall have merited? No injustice shall be done unto them. Say, Lord, thou possessest the kingdoms of the world, thou givest royalty to whom thou seest good; from thy hand, O Lord, proceedeth all good; thou art omnipotent; thou causest day to enter the night, and night the day; thou causest life to come out of death, and death out of life; thou enrichest without measure whom thou seest good.

The Jews conspired against Jesus, and God caused their conspiracy to turn against them, he knowth the designs of conspirators. Remember thou, how the Lord said, O Jesus I will cause thee to die, I will elevate thee to myself, and remove thee far from infidels, and prefer those that have obeyed thee, to infidels at the day of judgment. That day shall assemble you all before me; I will judge the differences between you, and will punish the impious, in this world, and in the other; none among them shall be of power to protect them, I will reward them that shall have believed in my law, and have done good works; God loveth not the unjust.

I

relate

relate to thee these mysteries, and teach thee the Alcoran; Jesus is with God, as is Adam, God created him of the earth: he said, be thou, and he was: This truth proceedeth from thy Lord, of the number of them that doubt; If any one dispute with thee concerning thy doctrine, say to them, come, call together, your children and ours, your wives and ours, let us assemble and address our prayers to God; I will lay the curse of his Divine majesty upon liars. This discourse is most true, there is no God, but God alone the omnipotent and wise. If they depart from his commandments, he shall well observe the unbelievers; say to them, Oh he that knows scripture! come with words alike true between you and us: Do I worship other than God? I do not associate him with any one, and acknowledge no other Lord but him; but if they turn aside from the way of faith, God knoweth them that shall pollute the earth; say to them, be ye witnesses, that we believe in God. Oh ye that understand scriptures, dispute not the law of Abraham, to wit, if he observed the Old Testainent or the gospel, they were taught after him, perhaps you will acknowledge your error. Oh ye that have disputed what ye know not! Abraham was no Jew, nor Christian, he professed the unity of God, he was a true believer, and not of the number of infidels. The people, and particularly those that followed him, of his time, as also the prophet Mahomet, and all true believers have known the truth of his law. part of them, to whom heretofore was given the knowledge of the Scripture they desired, seduced from the right way, but they themselves erred, and they knew it not. O ye that know the scriptures!

you

I increase the wealth of Infidels to augment their pain, they shall in the end feel grievous torments. God will not leave the faithful in the state that you are in; he will one day separate the good from the evil; he doth not teach you what is to come; he, for that effect chuseth among the prophets whom he seeth good. Believe therefore in God, and his prophets; if you believe in God, fear to offend him, you shall be rewarded. Believe ye that such as are too sparing, and avaricious of the wealth that God hath given them, do well; on the contrary, they do very ill, what they spare without reason, shall strangle them at the day of judgment. The inheritance of heaven and earth is God's, he knoweth all things. Certainly God heard the speech of them that said, God is poor, and we are rich; he hath said, I will write what they have spoken, and keep an exact account of the murders they have unjustly committed on the pe: sons of the prophets; I will say to them at the day of judgment, taste of the torments of hell fire, which you have deserved. God doth not lead into darkness them that worship him. There be, that say, God hath commanded us not to believe the prophets, until their sacrifice be consumed by fire: say to them, there came to you prophets heretofore with miracles that you demanded, you had not slain them, had you been righteous; if they belie thee, know, they belied the prophets that were before thee, that came with miracles, the psalter, and the book of light. Every man shall taste of death, and your reward shall be paid at the day of judgment; he that shall depart from the fire of hell, and enter into Paradise, shall be happy. The wealth of this world is but a matter of pride, that

you may be tried in your riches and persous. Hear

ken not to the Jews and Christians, that have known the written law before you, neither to them that believe in many gods, they offend God through their blasphemies: if you have patience, and fear God, you shall make a very good resolution. God hath accepted the speech of them that know his written law, when they promised him to preach to the people his commandments, and not conceal them; nevertheless they have condemned them, and changed them for profit of little value, and have gained no

the evil they have done, and affect to be commended

wealth to the hands of many of them that know

the written law, they will faithfully restore it to

thee.

earth is God's, he is omnipotent; the creation of heaven and earth, the difference of day and night are evident signs of his omnipotence, to such as

have judgment. Such as have, remember God, standing, sitting, or lying down, and considered the creation of heaven and earth have said, Lord, thou hast not created these things in vain; blessed be thy name, deliver us from the torments of hell fire, thou wilt render miserable him that thou shalt thither precipitate, and the wicked shall be deprived of protection at the day of judgment. Lord, we have heard them that say, believe in your Lord, we believe in thy unity, pardon our faults, blot out our sins, and give us grace to die in the number of the just; bestow on us what thou hast promised by the prophets, and suffer us not to be miserable at the day of judgment; thou dost not contradict what thou dost promise.

If you fear to do injury to orphans, fear also to do wrong to women; marry those that please you. Two, three, or four: if you apprehend you shall not be able to entertain them equally, marry but one, or the slaves that you shall have acquired; this is most necessary to the end that you offend not God. Give to women their dowry with a good will; if they give to you any thing that is pleasing to you, receive it with affection and civility. Bestow not on fools the wealth that God hath given you for subsistence; assist orphans, give to them the garments that shall be necessary for them, and entertain them honestly; instruct them until they have attained to years of discretion, and are capable of marriage; if you believe they demean themselves wisely, restore to them their faculties, and devour them not unjustly before they be of age. He that shall be rich, shall abstain from their goods, and he that is poor, shall take with honesty, according to the pains he shall undergo for them: when you make to them restitution for their goods, take witness of your actions: God loveth good accounts. The children shall have a good part of what their father, and mother, or parents left after their death, of little or of much there appertaineth to them a portion prefixed and limited. When they divide their goods, the kindred shall have care of the poor and orphans; do good to them, and honestly entertain them. Such as fear to leave after them a weak progeny of little children, ought to fear to wrong orphans, they must fear God, and courteously entertain them. Those who unjustly devour their substance, swallow fire into their bowels, and shall burn in a great furnace. God recommendeth to you your children, the son shali have as much as two daughters; if there be more than two daughters, they shall have two thirds of the sarcession of the dead; if there be but one, she shall have the moiety, and her kindred a sixth part of what shall be left by the dead: if there be no

children, and the kindred be heirs, the mother of the dead shall have a third; if there be brethren, the mother shall have a sixth, after satisfaction of the legacies contained in the testament, aud of the debts.

you

O ye that believe in God! it is not lawful for to inherit what is your wives by force, take not vio-lently away what you have given them, unless they be surprised in manifest adultery; see them with civility, if you have an aversion from them, it may chance that you hate a thing, wherein God hath placed much good; but if you desire to repudiate your wives, to take others, and that you have given them any thing, take not any thing that appertaineth to them. Will you take their wealth with a lie and a manifest sin? How shall you take it, since you have approached each other, and that you have promised to use them civilly? Marry not the wives of your fathers; what is past was incest, abomination, and a wicked way. Your mothers are forbidden you, your daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, your nurses, and your foster-sisters, the mothers of your wives, the daughters that your wives had by other husbands, of whom you shall have a particular care. The daughters of women that you shall have known, are also forbidden you: if you have not known them it will be no sin; the wives of your sons are also prohibited, and two sisters: for what is past, God is gracious and merciful: Married wives are likewise forbidden you, except the women slaves, that you shall have acquired. God hath so commanded you, except what is above forbidden, it is lawful for you to marry at your pleasure. If you desire women for money, and neither commit concubinage,nor adultery, give them their salary for which you shall agree, so you shall not offend God, he is omniscient, and most wise. He that shall not be able to espouse women of free condition, shall marry such women or maids, that are slaves, as shall please him. God knoweth the faith of the one, and the other. Marry your wives with the permission of their parents, and give them their dowry with honesty: If women of free condition, that have committed neither concubinage, nor adultery, secretly nor pubicly, fly into second nuptials, and come to commit adultery, they shall be doubly punished, more than the daughters of love. The marriage of slaves is for them that fear whoredom : If you abstain from marrying them, you shall not do amiss. God is gracious and merciful; he is willing to teach you his law, and direct you in the way of them that preceded you; he is gracious and merciful to his people.

Such as follow the appetite of the wicked, decline

extremely

ther.

you

extremely from the truth. God willeth that his law be a light unto you, for that man was created weak. that believe in God, devour not your substance among you with usury; but if you traffick, be peaceable in your affairs; slay not one anoGod is merciful to them that obey him: He that disobeyeth, through malice and injustice, shall burn in the fire of hell; it is an easy thing for God to punish them. If you depart from mortal sins, I will cover your faults, and cause you to enter into paradise covet not through envy, what God hath given to your neighbour; men and women shall have the wealth they have gained; beg grace of God, he knoweth all things. Give to your associates what appertaineth to them. We have ordained a portion, prefixed to the one and the other, in the succession of your father, mother, and kindred, God seeth all. The men shall have authority over the women; they shall have them in their keeping; they shall have in their power the wealth that God shall give them; and shall have care of what shall be convenient to be expended for them. Discreet and obedient wives observe, in the absence of their husbands, the commandments of God: make remonstrances to them that shall be disobedient, and remove them from your bed, chastise them.

pass it over your visage, and wipe therewith your hands. God enjoineth you nothing irksome, but willeth you to be clean, and desireth to accomplish his grace upon you; peradventure you will give ha thanks. O ye that believe in God! obey his commandments, and be true in your testimonies, take heed that no man move you to offend God, in diverting you from what is just; render justice to all, his fear inviteth you to it; have it before your eyes, he knoweth all your actions; hath promised his grace, and great recompences to the true believers, that shall do good works in this world and hath prepared hell to punish infidels. O ye that, believe in God! remember his favour towards you, when some persons would have extended their hands upon you, and how he delivered you from their malice; fear him; all true believers ought to resign themselves to his will. God received the promise of the children of Israel to observe his commandments; he established mong them twelve captains, and said, I will be with you when you shall make prayers; pay your tithes, believe in the prophets, defend them, and lend to me any alms; I will cover your sins, and cause you to enter paradise, wherein flow many rivers: and he among you that shall be an infidel, shall be entirely erroneous from the right path, When they swerved from what they had promised, we gave them our curse, and hardened their heart: they have altered the words of the scripture, and abjured what they had approved.

If any one be in necessity, and cateth of what is prohibited, without a will to sin, God shall be to him gracious and merciful. They will demand of thee, what is permitted them to eat? Say unto them it is lawful to eat all sorts of beasts that are not unclean, and whatever hath been taught you from God, touching beasts that hath been wounded by lions or dogs, eat the beasts you shall take, and remember God in blooding them; fear God, he is exact to

take account.

This day it is lawful that you eat what is not unclean, and the meats of them that know the written law, their meats are lawful for you, and yours for them. You are permitted to esponse maidens and women of free condition, that are of your religion, and maidens and women of free condition, that know the written law, giving them their dowry with civility; commit neither concubinage, nor adultery with them, neither secretly nor publicly; the good works of him that shall renounce your law, shall be unprofitable, he shall be at the day of judgment in the number of the damned. O ye that believe in God, when ye would make your prayers, wash your faces, your hands to the

elbow, and

We have sent to thee the scripture written in vellum, the unbelievers have handled it with their hands, yet say it is evident sorcery and enchantment, that they will not believe therein, unless they see an angel descend, to confirm it. Should we have sent an angel, they had perished by his presence, unless we had sent him under the figure of a man, like unto them, and clothed as they are. They derided the prophets and apostles, thy predecessors; derision is fallen upon such as contemned them. Say to them go thro' the world, and consider the end of them that abjure the law of God; say to them, to whom appertaineth whatsoever is in heaven and earth? It is God's. He will employ his mercy to save you; doubtless he will assemble all of you at the day of judgment. Nevertheless infidels believe not in his unity; they consider not, that whatsoever moveth by night, and by day, and whatsoever is in the world, belongeth to his divine majesty, who understandeth and knoweth all things. Say unto them, require you other protection than that of God the

Omnipotent, creator of heaven and earth, who nou

No.

17.

them, I have received a command to embrace the 5 II law