image2 The Improvement of HUMAN REASON, Exhibited in the LIFE of Hai Ebn Yokdhan : Written in Arabick above 500 Years ago, by Abu Jaafar Ebn Tophail . In which is demonstrated, By what Methods one may, by the meer Light of Nature , attain the Knowledg of things Natural and Supernatural ; more particularly the Knowledg of God, and the Affairs of another Life. Illustrated with proper FIGURES, Newly Translated from the Original Arabick by SIMON OCKLEY , A.M. Vicar of Swanesey in Cambridgshire . Wit

Rector of MINAL , in Wiltshire . Reverend SIR, Hai Ebn Yokdhan returns to you again, in a Dress different from that which you sent him out in. Wherever he comes, he acknowledges you for his first and best Master; and confesses, that his being put in a Capacity to travel thro' Europe, is owing to your Hand. I could not in Equity send him to any other Person, you being the sole Proprietor. And as your Learning enables you to do him Justice, so your Candor will incline you to pardon what is by me d

When Mr. Pococke first publish'd this Arabick Author with his accurate Latin Version, Anno 1671. Dr. Pococke his Father, that late eminent Professor of the Oriental Languages in the University of Oxford , prefix'd a Preface to it; in which he tells us, that he has good Reason to think, that this Author was contemporary with Averroes , who died very ancient in the Year of the Hegira 595, which is co-incident with the 1198th Year of our Lord; according to which Account, the Author liv'd something

When I first undertook the Publication of this English Translation, I thought it would not be amiss to present the World with a Specimen of it first. But since the Introduction is such, that the Reader can no more by it give a Guess at what is contain'd in the Book itself, than a Man can judge of his Entertainment by seeing the Cloath laid; I have thought it necessary to give him a Bill of Fare . The Design of the Author (who was a Mahometan Philosopher) is to shew how Humane Reason may, by Obse

In the Name of the most Merciful God . [1] Blessed be the Almighty and Eternal, the Infinitely Wise and Merciful God, who hath taught us the Use of the PEN [2] , who out of his great Goodness to Mankind, has made him understand Things which he did not know . I praise him for his excellent Gifts, and give him thanks for his continued Benefits, and I testify that there is but One God, and that he has no Partner [3] ; and that MAHOMET is his Servant and Apostle [4] , endu'd with an excellent Spirit

[4] The whole Mahometan Creed consists only of these two Articles, 1. There is no God but God, [i.e. There is but One God] and 2. Mahomet is his Apostle. A very short Creed, but their Explications of it, make amends for its shortness. The Reader may see a Paraphrase of it out of Algazâli, in Dr . Pocock's Specimen Historiæ Arabum, p. 174. [5] The Learned Avicenna—This great Man was born in Bochara, a City famous for the Birth of a great many very Learned Men; it lyes in 96 Degrees, and 50 Minute

[21] Our Philosophers imitating the Heavenly Bodies in their Circular Motion, would seem indeed extreamly ridiculous, but that we are to consider that the Mahometans have a superstitious Custom of going several times round the Cave of Meccah, when they go thither on Pilgrimage, and look upon it as a very necessary part of their Duty. Now our Author having resolved to bring his Philosopher as far at least as was possible for one in his Circumstances, in the Knowledge and Practice of all those thi

In which the AUTHOR'S NOTION concerning the Possibility of a Man's attaining to the true Knowledge of GOD, and Things necessary to Salvation, without the Use of external Means, is briefly consider'd. By SIMON OCKLEY, M.A. Vicar of Swanesey in Cambridgshire. LONDON , Printed in the Year, 1708....

§ 1. Tho' the preceeding History, upon the account of the lively Image and Representation which it gives of unspotted Virtue, unfeigned Love of God, and Contempt of the Things of this Life, does very well deserve to be read: So, as it contains several things co-incident with the Errors of some Enthusiasts of these present Times, it deserves to be consider'd. Upon which Account, I had no sooner suffer'd my self to be perswaded to undertake the Translation of this Book, than I determin'd to subjoi

[36] Amos vii. 14. [37] By seeing all things in God, I have no regard to Mr . Malebranch 's Notion, but only to that of our Author. See Sect. 90, &c . [38] Maimonides in Pocockii Porta Mosis , p. 171. [39] See the letter concerning, the Quietists, printed with the B. of Sarum 's Letters . [40] John Chap. xiv, xv, xvi, xvii. [41] John xiii, 36. xiv, 2. [42] John xiv, 7. Rom. x, 17, 18. [43] Cor. xiii, 12, 9. [44] Heb . i, 1. [45] See Sect. 109 . [46] See Sect. 90 ....