Page:Alcoran of Mahomet 1649.djvu/450

 ''in gathering Hemlock for Parly? It is no for every many to meddle with Apothecaries drugs, he may chance meet with poyon as oon as an antidote; if all men were like Bees, to uck honey even out of Henbane, there might be no danger in reading the Alcoran, but mot men are like Spiders ucking poyon even out of the weetet of Roes; therefore they only may urely and without danger read the Alcoran, who are intelligent, judicious, learned, and throughly grounded in piety; and principles of Chritianity, but weak, ignorant, incontant, and diaffected mindes to the truth, mut not venture to meddle with this unhallowed piece let they be polluted with the touch thereof, as they were who came neer to a leprous body; and if we will not venture to into an infected houe without preervatives, much les hould any dare to read the Alcoran, that is not ufficiently armed with grace, trength, and knowledg againt all tentations. God grant we may walk in the light of the Gopel whilet we have it, that we may not be overwhelmed with the dimall night of Mahometane darknes, which God may jutly inflict up-upon; us for our ins, rents and diviions are not leer then thoe were of the Greek, and Aiatick Churches, and doubtles except we repent we hall all perih with them, who for despiing Gods acred Oracles, are not taught to reverence every piece of paper they finde, which they are made to believe hal be put under the oles of their feet when they walk over the burning to their fools Paradie, as Busbequius in his Epitle tells us, who lived long amongt them, and was well acquainted with their opinions; but what I have written here concerning the Alcoran, I ubmit to the judgment and widom of thoe who it at the Stern, and can ee more then the Paengers.''