pious Anceſtors, and forſake Noveltics, and that they ſhould avoid that neglect of religious Performances which was ſeen in the vulgar Sort of Men, and the Love of the World, which he principally cautioned em againſt. For both he and his Friend Asal knew that this tractable, but de fective Sort of Men, had no other way in the World to eſcape, but only by this means; and that if they rais d above this to curious Spe-Culations, it would be worſe with them, and they would not be able to attain to the Degree of the Bleſſd, but would fluctuate and be toſ. ſed up and down, and make a bad End. But on the contrary, if they Alcoran, Cap. 24 and 9. "> OO — * » © contin in that State in which they were till Death overtook em de oni be happy, and ſtand on the right Hand: Bur as for thoſe erg went em, they ſhould alſo take place of em, and that they r dei 4 So they took their Leave and left them, and fought for: * ©} of returning to their Iſland, till it pleas God to heiß them-to-a Conveniency of paſſing. And Hai Ebz Tokdan eridea-,your'dtoattainto his lofty Station, by the ame means he hadſought | it at firſt, till he recoyer'd it; and Axa! follow'd his Steps, till he dame near him, or wanted but very little of it; and thus they comimu d ſerving God in this Iſland till they dien. 0 Set. 11 f. And this is that (God alt thee and us by his Spirit) © which we have receiv'd of the Hiſtory of Hal Ebn Lordan, Asal and Satamax; which comprehendsſuch Choice of Words; as are not found in any other Book, nor heard in common Diſcourſe. And it is a Piece of hidden Knowledge which none can xeceive, but thoſe which have the Knowledge of God, nor can be rant of it, but thoſe which _ have not. Now, we have taken a contrary Method to dur pious Anceſtors, as to their Reſervedneſs in this Matter, and Sparingneſs of Speech. And the Reaſon which did the more eaſily perſuade me to divulge this Secret, and tear the veil, was, becauſe of the corrupt Notions which ſome Pfetenders to Philoſophy in our Age have broach-23 Add an d:ſcatter'd y ſo that ey. pre diffus'd throu h feyeral Countries, aud the Miſchief which ariſes from thence is become Epidemical. _ Fearingthereforelcſt thoſe weak ones, who reject tlie Tradition ef the; Prophets (of bleſſed Memory) and make choice of that which is de- . -hverd em by Fools. ſhould imagine that theſe Opinions are that Se-= © cret, which oughtto be with-held from thoſe who are not worthy or 8 | <apable of it, and ſo their Deſire and Study of theſe Opinions ſhould be increas d. I have e to give them a Glimpte of this Se-Ferret of Segrets, that I might draw them into the right Way, and avert em from this other, Nevertheleſs, 1 have not ſo deliver'd the Secrets Which are comprehended in theſe few Leaves, as to leave em without t thin Veil or Cover over em, which will bc eaſily rent by thoſe who = re worthy of it; but will be fo thick to him, that is unworthy to paß beyond it, that he will not be able to get through it. And Ideſire =_ - __ of thole my Brethren who ſhall ſee this Biſcoutſe, that they would | excuſe me fox being ſo eaſily induc d to explain it, and ſo free in the x 8 of it; ſeeing I had not done ſo, if I had not been elevated dt ſuch Heights, as trauſcend the Reach of humane Sight. And I was Willing e expreſs it in eaſie Terms that I might diſpoſe Men, and raiſe A2 beſire in 'em to enter into the right Way. And I beg of God Pardon aud Forgivenels, and that he would pleaſe to bring us to the true And certain Knowledge, of himſelf, for he is gracious and liberal of huis Favours. Peace be to thee, my Brother, whoſe Promotion is decreed, and