which stamp the character, and mark the destiny of a nation.

2. We should inquire, what has been the radical vice, or predominant virtue of the nation?

3. What have been its naval or military achievements? 4. What has been the improvement or deterioration of its trade and commerce?

5. Wherein consist the excellencies and the defects of its civil and municipal institutions?

6. The constitution, and the influence of its ecclesiastical establishments.

7. We should trace the introduction of arts and manufactures, and observe the changes which have taken place in manners and in laws.

These rules, of course, apply more especially to history as a study, when pursued through all its various divisions and arrangements :-from the limited nature of the present work, we shall confine ourselves, in Antient History, to a concise view of the Jewish, or Sacred History, and of the four great empires, the Assyrian, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman. In Modern History, our attention will be directed solely to the history of England. Select books, however, will be named, forming a complete guide to the remaining departments of modern history:a plan which has been considered superior to that of giving a meagre and unsatisfactory detail of names and dates.

Select Books on the Study of History.

Rollin's Belles Lettres, book IV. in vols. 3 and 4. and Priestley's Lectures on History, 2 vols. 8vo.

CHAP. I.-ANTIENT HISTORY.

SECT. I.-JEWISH HISTORY, TO THE SUBVERSION OF THEIR POLITY, AND DISPERSION OVER THE world.

THERE are several periods in the Jewish or antient sacred history. I. The age of the antediluvian patriarchs. II. The post-diluvian age. III. The state of the Jewish nation under the judges. IV. Under kings. V. Under high priests. VI. Under the Maccabees, princes, and kings. VII. Their state under the Herodian family.

1. The age of the antediluvian patriarchs.-This period is from the creation of the world to the deluge, consisting of 1656 years.

1. Adam lived 930 years.

2. Seth 912.

3. Enos 905.

4. Cainan 910.

5. Mahalaleel 895.

6. Jared 962.

7. Enoch 365.

8. Methusalem 969.

9. Lamech 777.

10. Noah, who lived before and after the deluge, in all 950 years.

The most remarkable of these persons, were, 1. Adam, whom God formed of the earth, and gave to him dominion over other creatures. But he, deluded by Satan, disobeyed the Divine command, by eating the forbidden fruit, and therefore, together with Eve his wife, was cast out of paradise. The most noted of their children, are Cain and Seth from the former, who slew his brother Abel, descended an impious race called by his name ;-from the latter, the patriarchs whose names are recorded.

2. Enoch, who, for the holiness of his life, was translated, white living, by God. The descendants of Seth lived under the patriarchal government. But among the posterity of Cain, various societies, empires, and tyrannies arose. To these, in scripture, is applied the name of Mephilim, or tyrants. The antediluvian fathers are thought to have been ignorant of arts and letters, but they no doubt excelled in the knowledge of nature, and in agriculture. The Bible also testifies that the first city was built by Enoch: it ascribes the invention of music to Jubal, and of working in brass and iron to Tubal Cain.

II. The post-diluvian age; i. e. the men who lived after the flood.-This period includes 857 years, from the deluge to the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. Impiety increasing every day among the posterity of Cain, and the 120 years granted them for repentance, not having produced that effect, Noah, the son of Lamech, by Divine command, constructed a large ark, whither he entered with his family, and two of every kind of animals, in the year of the world 1656, and they alone were preserved from the effects of the deluge. The waters, at length, decreasing, the ark rested upon Ararat, a mountain in Armenia. The whole surface of the earth is supposed to have undergone

an alteration by the violence of the waters. Shortness of life, diseases, and their concomitant train of evils, followed.

Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japhet, whose descendants peopled the whole earth. Europe, with a part of Asia, fell to the lot of Japhet, the rest of Asia to Shem, and Africa to Chain or Ham. The patriarchs after the flood were:

Of these patriarchs the most remarkable were:

1. Shem, greatly celebrated because his posterity continued in the worship of the true God.

2. Abraham, who for his piety and faith, is called the father of the faithful. He passed into Canaan with his brother Lot and his wife Sarah, by the Divine command, A. M. 2024. Thence he was driven by a famine, into Egypt; where he remained some years. The rite of circumcision was instituted in the 99th year of Abraham's life: this distinguished his posterity from other nations. A promise of the land of Canaan was made to him and his posterity, and in his seed all the nations of the world were to be blessed.

3. Isaac, the only son Abraham had by Sarah; he was the father of Jacob.

4. Jacob, called Israel, the parent of the Israelites. He left twelve sons, founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. He went into Egypt with his children, and died there in the 147th year of his age.

5. Joseph; who, envied by his brethren, was taken away, sold,, and carried into Egypt, where he was bought by Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's chamberlains. His fidelity and innocence were rewarded by three years imprisoninent, procured at the instigation of Potiphar's wife. He was released from confinement, that he might interpret the king's dream, and, foretelling seven years of

famine, and as many of plenty, he was made ruler over Egypt. Jacob in the third year of the famine, went into Egypt with all his family, and settled there. The offspring of Jacob increasing daily, and Joseph who protected them being dead, the king of Egypt, actuated by fear and envy, was resolved to break their strength, that they might not be in a condition to revolt ;-he therefore commanded every male infant to be killed and thrown into the river. But Moses being exposed in the water was saved and educated by Pharaoh's daughter. When forty years of age he slew an Egyptian for striking a Hebrew; and to escape punishment, fled to Midian, where he married Zipporah, daughter of Jethro, the priest. In his eightieth year, he was employed in executing the divine command, and delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Pharaoh would not permit their departure, till terrified by prodigies and calamities. He still pursued the Israelites, but by a great miracle, they passed through the Red Sea, the waters dividing, and standing on each side of them, till they had passed. Yet, not long afterwards, they rebelled against God, their benefactor, and were carried round the deserts of Arabia, till the whole of that rebellious generation died, except Joshua and Caleb, who continued faithful. In the fortieth year from the going forth, Moses died in mount Nebo, and Joshua was appointed to succeed him, who led the people of Israel into the promised land. This closes the second period.

The posterity of Shem continued in the worship of the true God, but about Abraham's time it began to be defaced. His father, Terah, was addicted to idolatry. Abraham restored the injured worship of the deity. Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph followed his steps, but, principally Moses, who promulgated that law to the Israelites, which was dictated by God himself. This law established the sacred and civil rights of the people.

III. The state of the Jewish nation under the judges. This period commences with the departure of the Israelites from Egypt in 2513, extends to the times of the kings, and includes 396 years. In this period, the people of Israel were governed first by their leaders, Moses and Joshua; then by the elders; and after that by the judges. These were extraordinary magistrates, whose duty it was to

defend the people of God against their enemies, to pronounce the law, and take care of Divine worship. The judges were:

1. Deborah, a prophetess, who, with Barak defeated Sisera, king Jabin's general.

2. Gideon, who succeeded in the war against the Midianites.

3. Abimelech, a famous tyrant, who having slain seventy brothers, reigned three years.

4. Samson, who was favoured by God with such great strength, that he tore a lion's mouth with his hand, and slew a thousand Philistines with the jaw-bone of an ass. Captivated at length, by the wiles of a woman, he was delivered up to his enemies. They put out his eyes, and brought him forth as a spectacle, when with his hands, he pulled down the pillars that sustained the edifice, in which the great men were assembled for festivity and sports, and buried them and himself in one general ruin. This happened in the twentieth year of his magistracy.

5. Samuel, a most excellent magistrate, and very famous for his prophecies. He was the last of the judges, for after his time the people grew tired of liberty, and would have a king to govern them.

The elders who had presided over the republic for some years, being extinct, the people of Israel fell off from the worship of the true God, to the adoration of idols; hence, having forsaken their God, they were oppressed by Chnshan, king of Mesopotamia, with eight years bondage. On their repentance, Othniel was given them, as an avenger, who having oppressed Chushan, restored the people to their liberty. But after the death of Othniel returning again to their impiety, they were severely punished for their ingratitude.