Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/367

 XIV, 22-32. THE CHAPTER OF ABRAHAM. 24 1

you off and bring a new creation ; nor is that hard for God !

They all come out to God ; and the weak say to those who were big with pride, * We were followers of yours, can ye now avail us aught against God's torment ?'

[25] They say, 'If God had guided us we would have guided you. It is the same to us if we are agonized or if we are penitent, we have no escape/

And Satan says, when the affair is decided, ' Verily, God promised you a promise of truth ; but I promised you and failed you; for I had no authority over you. I only called you, and ye did answer me ; then blame me not, but blame yourselves ; I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I disbelieved in your associating me (with God) before; verily, the wrong-doers, for them is grievous woe V

But I will cause those who believe and do aright to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye by the permission of their Lord ; their salutation therein is 'Peace !'

Dost thou not see how God strikes out a parable ? A good word is like a good tree whose root is firm, and whose branches are in the sky; [30] it gives its fruit at every season by the permission of its Lord — but God strikes out parables for men that haply they may be mindful.

And the likeness of a bad word is as a bad tree, which is felled from above the earth, and has no staying place.

God answers those who believe with the sure word in this world's life and in the next ; but [6] R

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