PREFACE. The Usefulness of Profane History, especially with regard to Religion. THE study of profane history would little deserve What is to be ob the events to have a serious attention, and a considerable length served in of time bestowed upon it, if it were confined to the history, bare knowledge of ancient transactions, and an un- besides interesting enquiry into the æras when each of them and chrohappened. It little concerns us to know, that nology. there were once such men as Alexander, Cæsar, Aristides, or Cato, and that they lived in this or that period; that the empire of the Assyrians made way for that of the Babylonians, and the latter for the empire of the Medes and Persians, who were themselves subjected by the Macedonians, as these were afterwards by the Romans. 1. The causes of But it highly concerns us to know, by what methods those empires were founded; by what steps the rise they rose to that exalted pitch of grandeur which and fall we so much admire; what it was that constituted of emtheir true glory and felicity; and what were the pires. causes of their declension and fall. 2. The and of the It is of no less importance to study attentively genius the manners of different nations; their genius, laws, and chaand customs; and especially to acquaint ourselves racter of with the character and disposition, the talents, nations, virtues, and even vices of those by whom they great perwere governed; and whose good or bad qualities sons that contributed to the grandeur or decay of the states governed over which they presided. Such are the great objects which ancient history presents; causing to pass, as it were, in review before VOL. I. a them. 3. The origin and pro gress of arts and us, all the kingdoms and empires of the world; and at the same time, all the great men who were any ways conspicuous; thereby instructing us, by example rather than precept, in the arts of empire and war, the principles of government, the rules of policy, the maxims of civil society, and the conduct of life that suits all ages and conditions. We acquire, at the same time, another knowledge, which cannot but excite the attention of all persons who have a taste and inclination for polite learning; I mean the manner in which arts and sciences were sciences. invented, cultivated, and improved. We there discover, and trace as it were with the eye, their origin and progress; and perceive, with admiration, that the nearer we approach those countries which were once inhabited by the sons of Noah, in the greater perfection we find the arts and sciences; whereas they seem to be either neglected or forgotton, in proportion to the remoteness of nations from them ; so that, when men attempted to revive those arts and sciences, they were obliged to go back to the source from whence they originally flowed. 4. The connec tween sa I give only a transient view of these objects, though so very important, in this place, because I have already treated them at some length elsewhere. * But another object of infinitely greater importance, claims our attention. For although profane tion be- history treats only of nations who had imbibed all cred and the absurdities of a superstitious worship: and abanprofane doned themselves to all the irregularities of which history, is human nature, after the fall of the first man, beespecially to be ob came capable; it nevertheless proclaims universally the greatness of the Almighty, his power, his justice, and, above all, the admirable wisdom with which his providence governs the universe. served. If the inherent conviction of this last truth * Vol. III. and IV. Of the method of teaching and studying the Belles Lettres, &c. ↑ Pietate ac religione, atque hác und sapientiá quòd deorum raised, according to Cicero's observation, the Romans above all other nations; we may, in like manner, affirm, that nothing gives history a greater superiority to many other branches of literature, than to see in a manner imprinted, in almost every page of it, the precious footsteps and shining proofs of this great truth, viz. that God disposes all events as supreme Lord and Sovereign; that he alone determines the fate of kings and the duration of empires; and that he transfers the government of kingdoms from one nation to another because of the unrightteous dealings and wickedness committed therein. sided at flood. We discover this important truth in going back He preto the most remote antiquity, and the origin of pro- the disfane history; I mean, to the dispersion of the pos- persion terity of Noah into the several countries of the of men, earth where they settled. Liberty, chance, views after the of interest, a love for certain countries, and similar motives, were, in outward appearance, the only causes of the different choice which men made in these various migrations. But the Scriptures inform us, that amidst the trouble and confusion that followed the sudden change in the language of Noah's descendants, God presided invisibly over all their counsels and deliberations; that nothing was transacted but by the Almighty's appointment; and that he alone guided * and settled all mankind, agreeably to the dictates of his mercy and justice: The Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of earth. It is true indeed that God, even in those early ages, had a peculiar regard for that people, whom he was one day to consider as his own. He pointed immortalium numine omnia regi gubernarique perspeximus, omnes *The ancients themselves, according to Pindar, (Olymp. Od. vii.) had retained some idea, that the dispersion of men was not the effect of chance, but that they had been settled in different countries by the appointment of Providence. God alone has fixed the out the country which he designed for them; he caused it to be possessed by another laborious nation, who applied themselves to cultivate and adorn it; and to improve the future inheritance of the Israelites. He then fixed, in that country, the like number of families, as were to be settled in it, when the sons of Israel should, at the appointed time, take possession of it; and did not suffer any of the nations, which were not subject to the curse pronounced by Noah against Canaan, to enter upon an inheritance that was to be given up entirely to the Israelites. * Quando dividebat Altissimus gentes, quando separabat filios Adam, constituit terminos populorum juxta numerum filiorum Israel. But this peculiar regard of God to his future people, does not interfere with that which he had for the rest of the nations of the earth, as is evident from the many passages of Scripture, which teach us, that the entire succession of ages is present to him; that nothing is transacted in the whole universe, but by his appointment; and that he directs the several events of it from age to age. b Tues Deus conspector seculorum. A seculo usque in seculum respicis. We must therefore consider, as an indisputable principle, and as the basis and foundation of the study of profane history, that the providence of fate of all empires, the Almighty has, from all eternity, appointed the both with establishment, duration, and destruction of kingrespect to doms and empires, as well in regard to the general plan of the whole universe, known only to God, who constitutes the order and wonderful harmony of its several parts; as particularly with respect to the people of Israel, and still more with regard to his own people, and the reign of b Ecclus. xxxvi. 17. xxxix. 19. * "When the Most High divided the nations, and separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel" (whom he had in view). This is one of the interpretations (which appears very natural) that is given to this passage. Deut. xxxii. 8. |