PREFACE. THE USEFULNESS OF PROFANE HISTORY, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO What is to be observed in his tory, besides the events andchro nology. RELIGION. 4. The connect ion between sacred and pro fane history, is especially to be observed. THE study of profane history would | But another object of infinitely greater little deserve to have a serious atten- importance, claims our attention. For tion, and a considerable length of time although profane history treats only bestowed upon it, if it were confined of nations who had imbibed all the abto the bare knowledge of ancient tran- surdities of a superstitious worship: sactions, and an uninteresting inquiry into the eras and abandoned themselves to all the irregularities of when each of them happened. It little concerns us which human nature, after the fall of the first man, beto know, that there were once such men as Alexander, came capable; it nevertheless proclaims universally Cæsar, Aristides, or Cato, and that they lived in this the greatness of the Almighty, his power, his justice, or that period; that the empire of the Assyrians made and, above all, the admirable wisdom with which his way for that of the Babylonians, and the latter for the providence governs the universe. empire of the Medes and Persians, who were themselves subjected by the Macedonians, as these were afterwards by the Romans. 1. The causes But it highly concerns us to know, of the rise and by what methods those empires were fall of empires. founded; by what steps they rose to that exalted pitch of grandeur which we so much admire; what it was that constituted their true glory and felicity; and what were the causes of their declension and fall. 2. The genius nations, and of the great persons that governed them. It is of no less importance to study and character of attentively the manners of different nations; their genius, laws, and customs; and especially to acquaint ourselves with the character and disposition, the talents, virtues, and even vices, of those by whom they were governed; and whose good or bad qualities contributed to the grandeur or decay of the states over which they presided. Such are the great objects which ancient history presents; causing to pass, as it were, in review before 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. If the inherent conviction of this last truth 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 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 unrighteous dealings and wickedness committed therein. God took a more immediate care of his own peo ple. and It must be confessed, that if we compare the attentive, beneficent, and evident manner in which the Almighty presided anciently over his people, with that which appeared in his governing all other nations of the earth, one would be apt to conclude, that the latter were foreign and indifferent to him. God looked upon the holy nation as his own domain and inheritance; he resided in the midst of it, like a master in his house, and as a father in his family. Israel was his son, his first-born. He had made it his delight to form him from his infancy, and to instruct him in person. He imparted himself to him by his oracles; appointed miraculous men to be his governors; displayed the amazing wonders of his power in his We acquire, at the same time, another protection. Who could forbear, at the sight of so knowledge, which cannot but excite many glorious privileges, to cry aloud with the prothe attention of all persons who have phet," Judah is his sanctuary, and Israel his domina taste and inclination for polite learn-ion," Solummodo ibi magnificus est Dominus nosing; I mean the manner in which arts and sciences ter. Nevertheless this God, although forgot by the were invented, cultivated, and improved. We there nations, and seemingly forgetting discover and trace as it were with the eye, their origin them, always retained and exercised and progress; and perceive, with admiration, that his supreme power over them, which, the nearer we approach those countries which were though concealed behind the veil of oronce inhabited by the sons of Noah, in the greater per- dinary events, and such a conduct and government as fection we find the arts and sciences; whereas they was merely human,was not therefore less real or divine; seem to be either neglected or forgotten, in proportion" the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof," says to the remoteness of nations from them; so that, when the prophet," the world and they that dwell therein." men attempted to revive those arts and sciences, they It would be an error highly injurious to the Alwere obliged to go back to the source from whence mighty, to suppose him the master only of one family, they originally flowed. and not of all the nations of the world. 8. The origin and progress of arts and sciences. 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.1 1 Vol. iii. and iv. Of the Method of teaching and studying the Belles Lettres, &c. But, at the same glect other na time, did not ne tions. |