the throne of God: In which passage, Mahomet says he went through water, snow, and such other difficulties, till he came where he heard a voice saying unto him, O Mahomet! salute thy Creator! From hence ascending still higher, he came to a place of vast extension of light, of such brightness as could not be endured, which, as Mahomet says, was the habitation of the Almighty, where his throne was: On the right side whereof, says he, was an Arabic inscription to the following purpose, “There is no God but God, and Mahomet is his prophet.” This is the Mahometan Creed, and he tells us, that this inscription was written on all the gates of the seven heavens.
The impostor adds, That approaching the presence of God within two bow shots, he saw him sitting upon his throne with a covering of seventy thousand veils before his face: that God put forth his hand, in token of his favour, and laid it upon Mahomet, which was of that exceeding coldness, that it pierced the very marrow of his back, and he could not bear it. That after this, God conversed familiarly with him, revealed to him a great many hidden mysteries, and made him understand his whole law, and how he would have the world instructed in the knowledge of it: And, in fine, gave him several privileges above the rest of mankind.
Being then dismissed, he returned to the angel Gabriel, who reconducted him through all the heavens the same way that he came, let him upon the beast Alborak, which they had left tied at Jerusalem, and from thence, with the bridle
