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has seen God the Almighty in the shape of a man,

sitting in his house. The author of this book fre-
quented the society of many contemplative pious
SiKis, and learned men of this sect, elevated in rank;
if he should relate all he knows of them, -he would
have to write a copious work.

To sum up precisely the creed of all these sects, it
may be said, that some do not agree upon beings
perceived and beings probable, but all acknowledge
i.he existence of appearances. These are called
Stifistdyah, and in Persian Samrddi. All those who
believe all ought to be comprehended in what is
perceived, and deny.any reality to things probable
(or to the subjects of reason), are named Tdbiayah,
" physiologists," in Persian, Mansi. The belief of
the latter is, that the world is composed of things
perceived, and of individuals, children of Adam, and
that animals are like plants: the one dries, the
other shoots up afresh, and this occurrence will be
repeated without end. Enjoyment is comprehended
in eating, drinking, women, vehicles, and the like,
and besides this world there is no other existence:
Some agree upon the existence of things perceived
and things probable, but differ upon the limits and
laws. These are entitled Fildsafa-4-dahriah, " seen-
" lar philosophers," in Persian Jaydkdri, "-attached
i4 to temporariness/' This sect establishes a world
of probabilities (composed) of nothing but things