medan sect of Persia, followed by the principal tenets of their mysticism from the Dabistán of Mohsin Fáni* and other writers, to whom I have access; but, as this work is sufficiently extensive, and has occupied a much larger time than might have been wished in the publication, I shall reserve my materials on these subjects for a future work. We shall now proceed to our notices and extracts from the former controversy.

The books of this controversy which have come into my hands are three: One composed in the Persian language by Hieronymo Xavier, a Catholic missionary. Another, containing a reply to Xavier's work, by a Persian nobleman named

احمد بن زين العابدين ( Ahmed Ibn Zain Elabidin

written also in the Persian. And the third is a rejoinder in Latin, by Phillip Guadagnoli, one of the Professors attached to the College de propaganda fide, in defence of Xavier's work.

We shall first notice the book of Xavier, which has been preserved in the Library of Queen's College in this University, and which has been lent me by the kindness of the President and Fellows of that Society. Of this Xavier two

Although Mohsin Fáni is usually cited as the author of this work, it is extremely probable that he is not, &c. See Sir Wm. Ouseley's Travels in Persia, Vol. III. p. 564.

works were published by the learned Ludovicus de Dieu; * one entitled Christi, to which the learned editor added soÌ L

Historia داستان مسیح

His داستان سن پیرو sed contaminata; the other

toria S. Petri Persicè, to which the editor also took the liberty of adding sed contaminata. I shall merely remark, that our book was written after these, during the reign of the Emperor Jahangir; and shall refer the reader to the work of de Dieu for further particulars, as to the person of Xavier. The work in ques

بيان مي

A mirror shewing ، آینه حق نما tion is entitled در آن گذارش ,the truth." To which is added یابد آنچه دین عیسویان می آموزد واسرار خاص انجيل مي وا مي نمايد تصنيف شود و بطلان دیگر دينها وا پادري زيرونيمو شویر است از صحبت حضرت عيسي از کوره آمده در دار الملك لاهور ملازمت نمود در سال هزار و پانصد و نود وشش از تولد حضرت عيسي بنام جهانگیر خلد الله ملکه وسلطانه پیرانه اختتام یافت.

"In which the doctrines of the Christian religion are discussed, the mysteries of the Gospel explained, and the vanity of (all) other religions is to be seen, by Hieronymo Xavier of the Society of Jesus, who, coming from Goa to the capital

* Lugduni Batavorum, A. D. 1639.

Lahore, A. D. 1596, presented his services to the Emperor Jahangir, to whom this book is dedicated, may his reign be perpetuated."

We then have a preface filling eight pages,

-An attes اقرار باسرار خاص الهي بطور مناجات ,entitled

tation of the mysteries of God, by way of prayer." In this prayer the different attributes of the Deity are laid down; namely, his wisdom, power, mercy, and goodness, as visible in the creation. In the third page we have the doctrine of the Trinity

با وجود این که ذات الهي واحد حقيقي : thus stated القدس يك است سه شخص است پدر و پسر وروح انکه شخصها درهم امیزند وذات خداي حقيقي بي قسمت پذیرد و از وحدت بر آمده کثرت بگیرد و این خاصه خداي بیحد است که در غیر او نتوان یافت

"Although the essence is truly one, it consists, (nevertheless) of three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: one true God, without confusion of persons, or division of essence, or (such as) leaving the unity, should assume a plurality. This property of the Deity is infinite, and such as can obtain in no other." The following is a specimen of the prayer contained in this preface, which, pious and feeling as it certainly is, must be confessed to approach in some degree to the

اي صاحب ببخش اگر نارضایتو .effusions of mysticism میکنم بداخل کردن خویش در کارها و اوصاف تو مردم

در بحر عميق غواصی میکنند تا ازو کوهرهاي كرامي و چيزهاي خوب بر کشند پس اي درياي کمالات رخصت ده تا در تو فرو شوم و خود را و برادران خود را که بندگان تو اند دولتمند سازم و ایشان را به بیان کردن بزرگیها ورحمتهاي تو دستیاری نمایم که اگر من سزاوار آن نه ام که از تو بگویم تو لایق آنی که همکنان در رحمتهاي تو بکوشند چون خوبي وجمال بيحد داري :

گذاردن

"Pardon, O Lord, should I do what is unpleasing in thy sight, by obtruding myself into the things and properties which belong to thee. Men plunge into the deep ocean thence to fetch pearls and other precious things. Therefore, O Sea of perfections, suffer me to sink deep in thee, and thence to enrich myself and brethren, who are thy servants; and, by describing thy greatness and mercies, may help them. For, although I am unworthy to speak of thee, thou art worthy that all should endeavour to praise thee; since thou art possessed of infinite goodness and beauty.”

The following is the conclusion of the prayer:

بي

اي خدا صاحب من بیفایده خواهد بود اگر تو برحمت حد خويش مرا و ایشان را دستگيري ننموده باشي مارا اي خداوند کلید شناسایی خویش ده وعقلهاي مارا نيروي يزركي بخش تا بزرگي تو وعنايتهاي تو مارا سرمايه شك نباشد و ازین سبب از چندین خوبیها تو بی بهر نمانیم بر

ما آن نیاید که بر خفاش که بافتاب کور میشود وبروشنائي تاريكي بده ما را چشمان دوربین وروشن تا اعتقاد کنیم از تو آن بسياري كه هستي وبراي ما كردي وباين كفتار وکردار ترا پیروی کنیم تا خداییت ترا که درینجهان بغیر با ایمان و تاریکی در نمی یابیم در بهشت باتيني (باينه) O Lord my God (this will“ روشن به بینیم آمین.

be fruitless, unless thou assist both me and them with thine infinite mercy. Give unto us, O Lord, the key of the knowledge of thee. Grant to our understandings the power of comprehending thy greatness, that thy majesty and grace may not be to us an occasion of stumbling, and hence remain unblessed by thy many favours. Let not that come upon us which happens to the bat, which is blinded by the light of the Sun; and which, in the midst of light, remains in darkness. Give us enlightened and far-discerning eyes, that we may believe in that greatness of which thou art, and which, for our sakes, thou hast revealed. And, that by these words and actions, we may so follow thee, that in Paradise we may see thy Godhead, in the mirror of light, which, in this world, we can only contemplate by faith, and (as in a glass) darkly. Amen."

We then have the dedication to the Emperor Jahangir, covering about ten pages. The following are a few extracts from it. The title is