SECT. X. There are many absurd things in the Mahometan books.
BUT, on the other hand, it would be tedious to relate bow many things there are in the Mahometan writings that do not agree to the truth of history;793793 and how many that are very ridiculous. Such as the story of a beautiful woman,794794 who learnt a famous song from angels overtaken with wine; by which she used to ascend up into heaven, and to descend from thence; who when she was ascended very high into the heavens, was apprehended by God, and fixed there, and that she is the star Venus. Such another is that of the mouse in Noah’s ark, that sprung out of the dung of an elephant;795795 and, on the contrary, that of a cat bred out of the breath of a lion.796796 And particularly that of death’s being changed into a ram,797797 which was to stand in the middle space betwixt heaven and hell; and that of getting rid of banquets in the other life by sweat;798798 and that of a company of women’s being appointed to every one, for sensual pleasure.799799 Which things are really all of them such, that 241they are deservedly given over to senselessness who eau give any credit to them, especially when the light of the gospel shines upon them.