Alexander Ross, 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. (1649)

them into the way of mercy, and encrease the misery of unbelievers. We have exhorted men to abandon their impiety, they have not done it, and despaired when they were touched with affliction; Say unto them, each of us doth after his will, and God knoweth him that followeth the right way; they shall demand of thee concerning the Soul: Say unto them, the soul is an effect of God, he hath given you very little knowledge; assuredly, had it so pleased him, he could have deprived you of the knowledge he hath given you, you shall finde nothing that is able to protect you but his mercy: Say unto them, if the devils and men were all assembled against me, they should not be able to compose a Book like the Alcoran. We have taught in the Alcoran whatsoever is necessary for the salvation of men, nevertheless the greatest part of the people depart from the Truth, and say, we will not believe thee, unless thou cause fountains to spring out of the earth, and make in this place a garden, beautified with Date trees, and Vines, with rivers flowing in the midst, or unless we see descend from heaven a part of the pains which thou preachest; we will not believe thee, unless God and the Angels come to thy assistance, unless thy house be of fine gold, and that we see the Book of Truth sent from heaven; we will not believe in thy Parchment, unless we see descend from heaven a Book which we may be able to reade: Say unto them, praised be my Lord, am I any thing but a man sent from him? what hindereth men to believe, since there hath been sent to them a Pilot to conduct them into the way of salvation? They say, that thou art a man, and not an Angel: Say unto them, should the Angels have inhabited the earth, God would have sent an Angel to instruct them; it sufficeth, that he is the witness of mine actions between you and me, he knoweth and seeth all things; he whom God guideth, is well guided, and such as God shall cause to err, shall finde none to put them into the right way; he will assemble all of them at the day of Judgment, they shall be infamous, deaf, mute, and blinde, and condemned to the flames of hell, because they are wicked, and have said through derision, that they are bones, and flesh, and that they shall rise again as new creatures;