WH CHAPTER XXV. On the World of Spirits. HEN the frog ceased from speaking, a sage from among the Jins said, "Oh ye parties of men and beasts, ye are circumscribed in your knowledge of the great variety of creatures. You do not know those beings which are spiritual and ethereal, and have no affinity with corporeal forms. They are incorporeal souls and elementary spirits, which dwell in the regions of the sky. Some of them which belong to the angelic class are placed in the highest zone of the heavens, aud those who dwell in the broad expanse of the cold sphere are the Jins and the tribe of devils. "So if you could but conceive the full amplitude of created beings, you would know that, as opposed to them, men and beasts have no (appreciable) existence. Because the extent of the cold sphere is ten times greater than the (terrestrial) sea and land; and in the same way the lunar sphere is ten times larger than both these spheres; and each superior sphere bears the same relation in its extent to the one beneath it. All these spheres are filled with spiritual beings-not one span of space is left. All the incorporeal souls dwell there, as the Prophet (may the peace of God and rest be upon him!) has declared: 'In the seven heavens not one span is empty in which the angels are not either standing, bending, or lying prostrate in the worship of God.' Therefore, ye men, if ye could but see their hosts, ye would know that your race, as compared with them, is of no account, and that your num ber and aggregate afford no proof of your being the masters and all others your slaves. All the servants of God are his soldiers and subjects, but some are subject and subordinate to others. In fine, he has issued the orders for their regulation among them according as he in his supreme wisdom deemed right. Praise and glory are due to him under all circumstances." When the Jin sage finished his speech, the King turned towards the men and said, "The animals have given an answer to the thing you were boasting about: if you have anything left to say, speak." An orator of Hijjáz then said, "There are yet many excellences in us by which it is proved that we are masters, they slaves." The King directed him to speak, and he said, "God Almighty has promised us many blessings resurrection from the grave; spreading over the whole face of the earth; the reckoning in the day of judgment; the passage over the bridge of Sirát; entrance into paradise; heaven; the garden of delights; the garden of eternity; the garden of Eden; the garden of refuge; the mansion of peace; the mansion of permanence; the home of rest; the glorious abode; the Túba tree; the fountain of Salsabíl; streams running with wine, milk, honey, and water; elevated dwellings; the society of the húrís; nearness to God. These and many other blessings, which are mentioned in the Kurán, God has prepared for us. Can the animals anywhere attain to these things? This is a proof that we are the masters, they our slaves. Besides these blessings and excellences there are many other great qualities in us which I have not mentioned." The nightingale, the representative of the birds, said, “In the same way as God has made you many excellent promises, so has he passed upon you many denunciations of punishment. Thus, there is the suffering of the grave, the interrogations of the two recording angels, the dread of the day of judgment, the terrors of the account, the going into hell, the tortures of hell, the hells called Jahím, Sakar, Laza, Sa'ír, Hutma, and Hawiya, wearing the garments of liquid pitch, the drinking of foul matter, eating of the zakkúm tree (the fruit of which is the heads of devils), dwelling near the ruler of hell, liability to tortures in the companionship of devils; these are all prepared for you. And, besides these, there are many more punishments and tortures mentioned in the Kuran, from which we are exempt. God has made us no promise of reward, and so he has made us no threat of punishment. We are satisfied with and are grateful for the commands of God. No benefit or injury accrues to us from any of our works or actions. Thus we are equal to you in evidence, and you have no superiority over us.” The Hijjází replied, "How are you equal to us? For we at all events shall exist for ever. If we show obedience to God, we shall dwell with the prophets and saints, and shall be associated with the great, and learned, and pious, and just, and eminent, and pure, and devout, and good, and holy. These beings are like unto the angelic cherubims, for they take the lead in good works, they long for the Divine presence, they devote their lives and wealth to God, and put their trust in him; they address their prayers to him; their hopes are in him, and they fear his wrath. If we are sinners and do not obey him, still our salvation will be effected through the intercession of the prophets; more especially will our sins be forgiven through the mediation of the true prophet, the chief of messengers and seal of the prophets, Muhammad the Pure, on whom be the blessing and peace of God! After that we shall all dwell in paradise in the society of the nymphs and youths, and the angels will say to us, 'Blessing on you, be happy, and enter into paradise, there to dwell for ever.' But all ye tribes of beasts are debarred from these blessings, for after your departure from this world ye will entirely perish, and no name or trace will remain of you." On hearing these words all the representatives of the animals, and all the Jin sages said, "Now you have advanced an effective argument, and have adduced a conclusive proof. Boasters may boast of such things. But now tell us what is the nature of the attributes, and excellences, and virtues, of those beings who have been the objects of your praise and eulogy; if you know, tell us fully." The men all reflected for a while, and kept silence; no one could tell. After a little while a holy person said, "O just King! the truth of the men's claim has been established in the royal presence; and it has also appeared that there is among them a class who are near to God, whose graces are laudable, whose virtues are estimable, whose characteristics are pleasing, whose tempers are angelic, whose habits are holy, and whose nature is wonderful and miraculous, so that no tongue can describe them. The mind fails to understand the nature of their qualities, and all the preachers and orators are engaged during their whole lives in following out the description of their excellences, and yet do not in reality arrive at a true knowledge. Now, just King, what order do you give in the matter of these foreign men whose slaves the animals are?" The King said, "Let all animals be submissive and obedient to man, and let none depart from their allegiance.” The animals consented, and being satisfied, they all returned in security and peace to their homes. A CATALOGUE OF IMPORTANT WORKS, IN ALL DEPARTMENTS OF LITERATURE AND SCIENCE, PUBLISHED BY TRÜBNER & CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. ADDRESS OF THE ASSEMBLED STATES OF SCHLESWIG TO HIS MAJESTY A Sermon delivered at the New Synagogue, Great St. Helen's, on the second day of Passover, 5628, by the Rev. Dr. Adler, Chief Rabbi. Printed by request. 8vo., pp. 16, sewed. 1868. 6d. 8vo. ADMINISTRATION (THE) OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES. Correspondence between Hon. J. A. Campbell and Hon. W. H. Seward, all of which was laid before the Provisional Congress, on Saturday, by President Davis. sewed, pp. 8. 1861. 18. Esop.-THE FABLES OF ESOP. With a Life of the Author, Illustrated with 111 Engravings, from Original Designs by Herrick, handsomely printed on toned paper. 8vo. pp. xiii. and 311. 1865. Cloth, extra gilt edges. 10s. 6d. Agassiz. AN ESSAY ON CLASSIFICATION. By Louis Agassiz. 8vo. pp. viii. and 381. Cloth. 1859. 12s. Agassiz. METHODS OF STUDY IN NATURAL HISTORY. By L. Agassiz. 12mo. pp. 319. Cloth. 1864. 5s. 6d. Agassiz.-GEOLOGICAL SKETCHES. By L. Agassiz. With portrait and numerous Illustrations. 1 Vol., crown 8vo. cloth, pp. iv. and 311. 1866. 10s. 6d. Agassiz.-JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. By Professor and Mrs. Louis Agassiz. In 1 large 8vo. vol. with numerous Illustrations, 8vo. pp. xx. 540. 1868. 21s. Agassiz.-SEA-SIDE STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY. By Elizabeth C. and Alexander Agassiz. With numerous Illustrations. 8vo. pp. vi. and 155. 1865. 12s. Agüero.-BIOGRAFIAS DE CUBANOS DISTINGUIDOS. Por P. De Agüero. I. Don José Antonio Saco. En 8vo. mayor, 88 páginas, con retrato. 1860. 6s. Agüero.-LA GUERRA DE ITALIA, y la Paz de Villafranca, con todos sus incidentes y sus complicaciones y consecuencias politicas hasta la nueva constitucion de la Peninsula. Coleccion de artículos publicados en varios Periódicos de Europa y América. Por P. de Agüero. Un tomo en 8vo. mayor, de |