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)
deceived in gathering Hemlock for Parsly? It is not for every man to meddle with Apothecaries drugs, he may chance meet with poyson as son as an antidote; if all men were like Bees, to suck honey even out of Henbane, there might be no danger in reading the Alcoran, but most men are like Spiders sucking poyson even out of the sweetest Roses; therefor they only may surely and without danger read the Alcoran, who are intelligent, judicious, learned, and thought grounded in piety, and principles of Christianity, but weak, ignorant, inconstant, and disaffected minds to the truth, must not venture to meddle with this unhallowed piece lest they be polluted with the touch thereof, as they were who came neer to a leprous body; and if we will not venture to go into an infected house without preservatives, much less should any dare to reade the Alcoran, that is not sufficiently armed with grace, strength, and knowledg against all tentations. God grant we may walk in the light of the Gospel whilst we have it, that we may not be overwhelmed with the dismall night of Mahometane darkness, which God may justly inflict up upon; us for our sins, rents and divisions are no lesser then those were of the Greek, and Asiatick Churches, and doubtless except we repent we shall all perish with them, who for despising Gods Sacred Oracles, are now taught to revernce every piece of paper they finde, which they are made believe shal be put under the soles of their feet when they walk over the burning grate to their sools Paradise, as Busbequius in his Epistle tells us, who lived long amongst them, and was well acquainted with their opinions; but what I have written here concerning the Alcoran, I submit to the judgment and wisdom of those who sit at the Stern, and can see more then the Passengers.
