CHRONOLOGY Chap. I. Definitions Page 1. Chap. II. The Grounds of Chronology 9. The Testimony of Authors 9. Reasons of the uncertainty of Chronology 13. Certain means of Computing Times as 9. 1. By the Testimony of Authors 18. 2. By Eclipses and Aspects of the Planets 18. 3. Vndisputed Epochas 21. Chap. III. Of the Uncertainty Chronologers are at concerning the Year wherein our Saviour was Born 23. A Catalogue of Authors disagreeing in this point 25. Chap. IV. The Usefulness of Chronological Tables to Beginners Different Divisions of Times in order to help the Memory 34. § 1. First Division of the Times into two Parts 37. § 2. Second Division into three Parts according to Varro 38. § 3. Third Division into four Parts according to the Poets 40. § 4. Fourth Division according to the several Ages of the World 42. § 5. Fifth Division of Times into thirteen Parts 43. Chap. V. A New Division of Times or the 14 Royal Epocha's of Universal Chronology 44. Epocha 1. Adam or the Creation of the World 45. Epocha 2. Noah or the Vniversal Deluge 47. Epocha 3. The Vocation of Abraham 49. Epocha 4. Moses or the Written Law 51. Epocha 5. The Taking of Troy 53. Epocha 6. Solomon or the Temple finished 54. Epocha 7. Romulus or Rome Founded 56. Epocha 8. Cyrus or the Iews restor'd 58. Epocha 9. Scipio or the Carthaginians Conquer'd 62. Epocha 10. The Birth of IESUS CHRIST 65. Epocha 11. Constantine or the Peace of the Church 69. Epocha 12. Charlemaign or the Establishment of the new Empire 74. Epocha 13. Constantinople taken by the Turks and the Christian Empire of the East terminated 83. Epocha 14. King Charles II. Restor'd the ancient Government and Laws of England re-establish'd and Europe in a profound Peace 91. PART II. Introduction to History and a Character of Historians Chap. I. Of the several Benefits of History 97. Chap. II. Rules to be observ'd in Writing History 107. Chap. III. The manner of Studying History Of the Four ancient Monarchies and of the different kinds of Political Government 112. Chap. IV. Divisions of History 121. Art 1. The Authority of the History of the People of God contain'd in the Books of the Old and New Testament 126. The Order of the Books of the Old and New Testament 131. Art 2. Of Civil History 〈…〉 145. Chap. V. The most Celebrated Authors that have written of Church History 150 An Account of the Qualities Lives and Writings of each particular Author 151 c. Chap. VI. Of the most considerable Greek and Latin Authors of Civil Histoâ—y 175. § 1. Greek writers of History Their Qualities Lives and Writings and the Iudgments of Criticks upon them 177 c. § 2. Latin Writers of ancient History an Account of each Author and his Works with the Opinions of Criticks upon them 197 c. PART III. An Account of the Ancient Monarchies which preceeded the Birth of JESUS CHRIST Chap. I. An Account of the Church of God under the Old Testament 225 Sect. 1. The State of the People of God under the 22 Patriarchs 228. A Remark concerning the Origine of Nations 230. A Remark concerning the Heads of Families of the People of God 235. Sect. 2. The State of the People of God under the 22 Iudges or Leaders 236. Sect. 3. The State of the People of God under 22 Kings 239. The Succession of the Kings of Israel 244. Sect. 4. The State of the People of God in the Time of the 22 Ancestors of Iesus Christ 249. Chap. II. An Account of the Assyrian Monarchy 254. The State of the Assyrian Monarchy from Nimrod it's first Founder down to Sardanapalus which is about 1360 years 2â—â— The State of that part of the Assyrian Monarchy which was under the Babylonians from Belochus the first King to the Death of Belshazzar the last King which lasted 271 Years 260 The State of that part of the Assyrian Monarchy which was Govern'd by the Medes from Arbaces their first King to Cyaxares or Darius the Mede 261 Chap. III. Of the Persian Monarchy 262. The Succession from Cyrus to Alexander's Conquest 262 c. Chap. IV. Of the Grecian Monarchy 267. The History of Alexander's Conquests 267. to 279 The Kingdom of the Syrians under the Successors of one of Alexander's Captains 280 The Kingdom of Pergamos or Asia Minor erected by Antigonus one of Alexander's Captains 288 Chap. V. Of the Empire of China 291 Chap. VI. Of the Kings of Egypt 297 Sect. 1. The State of Egypt under 47 Kings surnam'd Pharaohs which lasted 1220. Years till it was conquer'd by Cambyses 299 Sect. 2. The State of Egypt under 11 Kings of Persia which lasted 193 Years viz. to the time it was subjected to Alexander 305 Sect. 3. The State of Egypt under the Greeks viz. Alexander the Great and the 12 Ptolomy's which lasted 301 Years that is till Augustus made Egypt a Roman Province 308 Chap. VII Of Sicyonia The Succession of its Kings c. 314 Chap. VII Argos The Succession of its Kings from Inachus to Perseus 316 Chap. IX Athens 317 Sect. 1. The State of Athens under 17 Kings for 488. Years 319 Sect. 2. The State of Athens under 13 perpetual Archontes which lasted 316 Years 321 Sect. 3. The State of Athens under 8 Decennial Archontes 322 Sect. 4. The State of Athens under annual Archontes which lasted 751 Years 322 Chap. X. Of the Kings of Troy 330 Chap. XI Of the Spartans or Lacedemonians 332 Sect. 1. The State of Lacedemonia under 14 Kings for 397 Years that is from Lelix to the Heraclides 333 Sect. 2. The State of Lacedemon under the Kings called Heraclides 334 Sect. 3. The State of Sparta under the Kings whose Power were restrain'd by the Gerontes 335 Sect. 4. The State of Sparta under the Kings with the five Ephori 336 Chap. XII Of Corinth The Succession of its Kings c. 343 Chap. XIII Of the Kings of Mycene 346 Chap. XIV The Kings of Thebes 348 Chap. XV. Of the Macedonians 352 Sect. 1. The State of Macedon under 20 Kings from Caranus to Philip the Father of Alexander 352 Sect. 2. The State of Macedon under Alexander 355 Sect. 3. The State of Macedon under 17 Kings after Alexander 355 Chap. XVI Of the Kings of Lydia to Croesus 361 Chap. XVII The Kings of Tyre till it was conquer'd by Alexander 363 Chap. XVIII Of the Italians Latins Romans and of the Fourth or Roman Monarchy 367. Sect. 1. The State of Italy under the Janigenae or Siculi which lasted 557 years 368 Sect. 2. The State of Italy under 15 Kings called Aborigines which lasted 577. from Janus to Romulus 369 Sect. 3. The Regal State of Rome which lasted 245 years 371 Sect. 4. The Consular State of Rome from Brutus the first Consul to the perpetual Dictatorship of Julius Caesar which took up the time of 464 Years divided into fifteen Periods 378 Period 1. From the Banishment of Tarquin to the first Dictator 379
which Iesus Christ had founded and Rome became thenceforward Metropolis of the Spiritual Empire Also when the time was come that the Roman Power which had vainly boasted it self of Eternity was to undergo the Fate of other Empires Rome tho' become a Prey to Barbarians yet preserv'd its ancient Grandeur by means of Religion for those Nations who had Conquer'd the Romans having by little and little softned their Manners by the observation of Christian Piety their Kings thought none of their Titles so glorious as that of being Protectors of the Christian Church Thus the Empires of the World have been serviceable to Religion and have preserv'd the People of God wherefore that same God which had caus'd his Prophets to foretel the divers Conditions of his People made them also Prophecy of the Succession of Empires You are acquainted with those places where Nebuchodonosor was mark'd out to Punish the Pride of the People especially of the Jews who approv'd themselves so ungrateful towards their Creator You have also no doubt observ'd Cyrus nam'd 200 Years before his Birth to re-establish the People of God and to chastize the Arrogance of Babylon The destruction of Nineveh likewise was not foretold with less certainty Daniel in his wonderful Visions has briefly but fully represented to us the Babylonish Empire together with that of the Medes Persians and Greeks The Blasphemies and Persecutions of Antiochus were also Prophesied of as well as the miraculous Victories the People of God gain'd over that cruel Tyrant In these Prophets you may find all these famous Monarchies come to nothing by little and little and the new Empire of Iesus Christ to be so expresly Characteriz'd that there is no reason to doubt of its being meant as by Name of the Kingdom of the most High the Kingdom of the Son of Man c. being Pronounc'd to be a Kingdom that should subsist even in the midst of the Ruin of all others and to which alone Eternity was promised God therefore who made use of so many different Nations to Chastize Employ Enlarge or Protect his People having a mind to be known for the Author thereof discover'd the great Secret to his Prophets and caus'd them to foretel it before he put it in Execution Whereupon these Empires being made Partners with the Designs of God their Fate has been foretold by the same Oracles of the Holy Spirit which Prophesied of the Succession of the faithful People Nothing demonstrates better the necessary Relation between Sacred and Profane History than this excellent Discourse of the Bishop of Meaux where we may observe the proceedings of God in the Revolution of Empires and by what means the Almighty Wisdom brings his Ends about even in those Matters where we think either our Prudence or Policy has had the larger share I would gladly have all Youth learn by Heart as much at least of this admirable Discourse as we have just mention'd for thereby they may be able to unravel if I may so say all the Intrigues betwixt God and Man and discover the first Principles of all Affairs which History has handed down to us Profane Historians have always fill'd us with confus'd Ideas but the Bishop of Meaux has demonstrated the Hand of God to have set all the Springs of Causes at work and that for the peculiar end of Preserving and Sanctifying his People Men misguided by their Passions think all must be related in History that contributes to satisfy either their Avarice or Ambition but they are deceiv'd for like Children they only see the Wheels of the Movements without being able to guess at the Mechanism and Causes of them The Sanctification of the Church is the secret Spring of all that has hapned most considerable in the World from its Creation and the Fall and Rise of Empires is the Mechanism of the Almighty Altho' we cannot always discover what share God has had in certain Affairs yet it must never be deny'd that he has had any Who could ever have imagin'd that the Grandeur of the Roman Empire which we commonly look upon as an effect of the great Wisdom and Valour of the Romans should have ever contributed towards the publication of the Gospel and the glory of the Church In a word there might have been only one History which should have been that of the City of God where Empires and Dominions might have been brought in as so many Incidents and Episodes which have only collateral Relation to the History of the Church Nevertheless as the Devil will always have a share in humane Affairs and that S. Austin together with the Holy Scriptures attribute to him a Power over the Kingdoms of the World we divide History into Ecclesiastical for the Affairs of the Church and into Civil for the Affairs of Empires and Republicks We make no use of the Word Profane as being improper for the History of Christian Kingdoms whose Kings are the Protectors and Cherishers of the Church This I presume may be sufficient to justify my preferring this Division of History to that of all others which have treated on the same Subject ARTICLE I. The Authority of the History of The People of God contain'd in the Books of the Old and New Testament THE History of the Iews is contain'd in the Books of the Old Testament which is sufficient to convince any Christian that it is unquestionable and will never admit of any Doubt Yet it is not to my purpose to quote any Fathers hereupon or to shew what they have advanc'd in their Disputes against the Pagans to prove the Truth and Divinity of the Bible those Matters being to be met with in the Books of such Doctors as have writ upon that Subject Nevertheless as it is chiefly at Genesis that the Deists and Atheists level their Criticisms it would not be amiss to say something in vindication of that Holy Book and the rather because the History therein contain'd being once establish'd all the other parts of Religion necessarily follow on course 1. Then it is certain that Moses was Author of the Book of Genesis Nay more positive says du Pin in the first Tome of his History of Ecclesiastical Writers speaking of this Book than that either Homer was Author of the Iliads and Odysses or Herodotus or Thucydides of those Histories that are ascrib'd to them The Holy Bible continues he afterwards teaches me that Moses was Author of the Pentateuch Thus are the Five Books of Moses call'd of which Genesis is the First Iesus Christ proceeds Dupin and the Apostles have assur'd me as much ancient Authors concur in the same Opinion and all other People agree with them c. We may find in the same Book a number of Witnesses to evince this Truth of which some were Iews others Christians and others Pagans all which positively affirm that Moses writ the Book of Genesis and all the rest of the Pentateuch 2. Moses without dispute was a much more ancient Writer
than any of those Authors who have acquir'd so great Reputation in the World and procur'd Greece the Title of The Mother of Sciences and Arts for he liv'd near 500 Years before Homer 800 before the Philosopher Thales who writ the first concerning Nature 900 before Pythagoras and above 1100 before either Socrates Plato or Aristotle who have been the most celebrated and chief Masters of all the Wisdom of Greece Preface to the French Translation of Genesis 3. It is true that Moses writ the History of the Creation a long time after it since that he writ Genesis it may be about the Year of the World 2550. But this ought not to gravel any Man of Sense for when once he has conceived that Mâ—ses foresaw future Things through the Spirit of God which revealed them to him it will not be hard to believe that he was also Inspired with those that were past and before his Days This History also may be very well establish'd without having any recourse to Revelation for it is possible Moses might have said to those of his Time I am resolved to write of the Transactions from the beginning of the World to this Day and of which I believe no Body can be better inform'd than my self for Amram my Father has often said to me Son I will relate to you all the History of the World down even to us according as I have learnt it from Levi my Grandfather who had what he told me from Isaac his Grandfather with whom he liv'd 33 Years And as for what relates to Isaac he might have heard all what he told Levi from Sem with whom he liv'd also 50 Years Now nothing can be more probable than that Sem might say to Isaac after this manner You may safely believe what I tell you about the Deluge since I have been an Eye-witness of all I pretend to know And you ought likewise to believe me when I acquaint you about the Creation of the World and of all what relates to Adam since I liv'd near 100 Years with Methusalem my Great Grandfather who learnt all these Matters from Adam himself with whom he liv'd 243 Years So that between Isaac and Adam there are but two Persons Mathusalem and Sem and then between Isaac and Moses his Father there is only one more who is Levi. Insomuch that to speak plainly without having Recourse to Supernatural Proofs never any History deserv'd greater Credit than that of Genesis A TABLE Of the Hereditary and Domestick Traditions of the Patriarchs who might reasonably be presum'd to Instruct one another from Adam even down to Moses  Born in the Year of the World Liv'd Years Dy'd in the Year of the World Adam liv'd 143 Years with 1. 930. 930. Mathusalem liv'd 98 Years with 687. 969. 1656. Sem who liv'd 50 Years with 1558. 600. 2158. Isaac who liv'd 33 Years with 2108. 180. 2288. Levi who liv'd a long time with 2255. 137. 2392. Amram Grandson of Levi whom no doubt he had seen since this Amram was Father of Moses who was born only 41 Years after the Death of Levi. It is certain that Moses writ nothing but what was within the Memory of Man since he was only removed from Adam about Four or Five Generations Between Adam and Isaac there are but two Persons Methusalem and Sem and between Isaac and Amram the Father of Moses there is but one who is Levi. It follows therefore that Adam Methusalem Sem Isaac Levi and Amram the Father of Moses have successively convers'd with and instructed each other in the History of the World which was then only that of their several Families especially at a time when there were no other Histories which Men might apply themselves to or divert themselves with It is not my Design here to confute the several Objections which the Enemies both of the Iewish and Christian Religion have rais'd against the Pentateuch and other Books of the Bible That is altogether foreign to my purpose and would engage me so deep in Theological Disputes that I should quickly lose Sight of my Introduction to History Any one may be satisfied by Monsieur Huetius Bishop of Auranches his learned Treatise concerning Evangelical Demonstration or the famous Father Simon 's Book of the Inspiration of the Sacred Writers what might be answer'd to the frivolous Arguments which Spinosa who liv'd some short time in Holland brought in his trifling Treatise call'd Tractatus Theologico-Politicus against the Truth and Divinity of the Holy Bible This Author tho' born a Iew falls nevertheless very severely upon Judaism without shewing at the same time any great kindness for Christianity So that we may reasonably infer That his Design was to abolish all Religion particularly the Iewish and Christian and establish Atheism and Libertinism leaving every Body to their liberty of believing what they pleas'd providing at the same time they prov'd no Disturbance to the Common-wealth But Father Simon has sufficiently demonstrated That this Spinosa was a Blockhead and that he understood neither the Criticks of the Scripture nor the Learning of the Iews In a Word what I have said particularly of Genesis may suffice to Imprint in us a more than ordinary Idea of the Authority and Divinity of this Book which is the sole Foundation of all the rest of the Bible The Order of the Books of the Old and New Testament First the Old Testament consists of 45 Books I. Genesis comprehends the History of the Creation of the World the Lives of the Patriarchs the Deluge the Genealogy of the Offspring of Noah down to Ioseph and in short all the History of 2369 Years II. Exodus so call'd from its giving an Account of the coming of the People of Israel out of Egypt contains likewise the Transactions of Moses in the Desert how God gave the Laws of the Decalogue to the People and whatever hapned during the space of 145 Years from the Death of Ioseph to the building of the Tabernacle III. Leviticus which contains the Laws Ceremonies and Sacrifices of the Jewish Religion the perpetual Fire distinguishing Beasts clean from unclean and many other Things of which the Inspection and Management belong'd peculiarly to the Levites IV. Numbers where is to be found the numbering of the People of Israel after they came out of Egypt with their History of 39 Years till they went into the Desert V. Deuteronomy that is The Second Law not that Moses then gave a different Law from what he had before published on Mount Sinai but because he therein renewed it to the Children of such as dy'd in the Desert These are the Five Books of Moses call'd the Pentateâ—ch and which contain the History of 2552 Years and an half computed from the Creation of the World VI. Ioshua 'T is commonly thought Ioshua himself was Author of this Book It comprehends the History of 17 Years to be reckon'd from the death of Moses to that of Ioshua VII Iudges It is
Years which we interpose betwixt the Creation of the World and the Birth of our Saviour is sufficient to correct and explain the Successions of the Patriarchs Judges and Kings and all the History of the People of God 2. The space of 4000 suffices also to set in order and connect all that Prophane History tells us apparently true about the Antiquities of the Chaldeans Egyptian and Chinese as I shall shew anon when I come to speak of each Monarchy in particular 3. The eminently learned Archbishop Vsher after a long and laborious Study acknowledges That the space of 4000 is the most agreeable to the History 〈◊〉 the Bible which he demonstrates in his excellent Work called Annales Veteris Novi Testament That Book has been so generally approved of in thâ— World that People have been glad to see at the enâ— of S. Vitre's Bible the fine Chronological Tables dâ—â—gested according to Vsher's Scheme They have been abridged since and put into French and afterwards into English at the end of the History of the Bible-wiâ—â— Figures and in what manner soever they have appeared they have found a very kind acceptance Furthermore the Bishop of Meaux has followed it in his learned Lessons upon History to the Dauphin of France People do not agree says he upon the precisâ— individual Year wherein our Saviour came into the World but all agree That his true Birth was some Years befoâ—â— our Vulgar Aera which however we shall follow with thâ— rest for Conveniency-sake Without disputing any moâ—â— about the Year of our Saviour's Birth it is enough for us to know that it happen'd about the 4000 th Year of the World Some place it a little higher others a little lower and others in this very Year a Diversity which proceeds as much from the uncertainty of the Years of the World as that of the Birth of our Saviour Discourse upon Universal History 4. This Number of 4000 Years is also easy to retain for all round even Numbers leave a clear Image and make a distinct and deep Impression in our Mind which is very necessary in Chronology where Memory has so much to do that we can never use too many Helps to support it Now this Epocha has all the Advantages that can be desired For if from the 4000th Year where we place the Birth of our Saviour that is that Point of History that ought to be most dear and important to us we run back 1000 Years higher we meet precisely with the Dedication of the Temple of Solomon in the Year of the World 3000. If we go on still a thousand Years wanting eight higher we will find the Birth of Abraham in the Year 2008. Finally about the Year of the World 2500. the Law is given to Moses And all those bright and remarkable Points of Sacred History are express'd by round even Numbers which extreamly ease and help the Memory 5. There was in the first Ages of the Church an ancient Tradition That the World was to last but 6000 Years which popular Opinion is said to be originally derived from Eliah's House But however 't is certain that this Tradition was grounded upon Rules of Consonance and Agreeableness The chief of which was That God had made the World in Six Days and rested the Seventh To this they added That according to the Words of the 89th Psalm v. 4. A thousand Years before the Lord are like one Day and therefore that there were 6000 Years appointed for the Labours of this Life after which time the Saints would enjoy a Sabbath with God that is rest for ever with him They allowed 2000 Years before the Law 2000 Years under the Law at the end of which the Messiah was to come and whose Reign was to last 2000 Years more Finally they said That if the World did not endure all that Time 't would be because the Sins of Men should grow to such a height that God could no longer bear with them Thus the 6000 Years of the World are the Six Days of the Week before God and the eternal Sabbath of the Saints in the Repose of Glory will be the Seventh Sex millibus annorum stabit mundus Duobus millibâ—â— inane Duobus millibus Lex Duobus millibus Messiaâ—â— Isti sunt sex dies Hebdomadae coram Deo Septimus diâ—â— Sabbathum aeternum est Mille anni ante occulos tuâ— tanquam dies Psal. 89. This ancient Tradition of thâ— Iews which the first Fathers of the Church have wiâ—â—lingly received places with us the coming of thâ— Messiah in the Year of the World 4000. 6. Those that are taken with the subtle Speculation of the Rabbi's will find something that will please theâ— in this Epocha of 4000 Years Among the Virtuoso's 〈◊〉 the Cabala one of the most mysterious ways of Interâ—preting the Scripture is that which they call Sephiroâ— which is properly an Explication of the Holy Text bâ— the Elements or Letters whereof every Word is comâ—posed Now as all the Hebrew Letters as well as thâ— Greek are Numeral all the Secret lies in considerinâ— the value of each Letter and finding out a mysteriouâ— Number in one or more Words and it cannot be deâ—nied but by this Method the Rabbi's have sometime hit upon very ingenious and subtle Explications Wâ— speak this without laying any Stress upon abundanâ—â— of minute and frivolous Inquiries wherewith all theâ—â— Books swarm Of all the Words upon which those Doctors have exercised their Brains in this sort of Analysis there none wherein they discover so many Mysteries as iâ— this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bereschith which begins the Book oâ— Genesis and serves for the Title according to the Custom of the Hebrews 'T would be impertinent in this place to relate all the Witticisms scattered up and down in the Books of the Cabalists about this Wordâ— I shall only mention a curious one which has a particuâ—lar relation to the Subject I treat of This Word Bereschith which signifies In Principiâ—â— In the Beginning not only contains the Promise God made of giving his Son since one may as well read Barschit Dabo filium I shall give the Son but it expresses also the Year of the World wherein the Eternal Father was to give his Son for the Salvation of Men. This is the Method they use to find out that Year 1. They take out of this Word all the Letters whose value exceeds 100. Thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 200. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 300. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 400. 2. In the Name of every Letter of the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they take again the Letters worth more than 100. Thus in the Letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beth is found the Letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that stands for 400. In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Resch there is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worth 200. and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worth
that he had re-establish'd the Royal Race of the Amali in their primitive Lustre and given an account of 17 Generations of them from their first swaying the Scepter and finally that he had Collected into one Body what was before scatter'd through many Books Thus Father St. Marthe speaks of this History in his Life of Cassiodorus XVI Evagrius say the Schools was Native of Epiphania a City of Syria and liv'd in the Sixth Century of the Church He writ an Ecclesiastical History which he begins where Socrates and Theodoret ended that is about the Year 431. when the impiety of the Nestorians was Condemn'd by the Council of Ephesus and concluded it about the twelfth Year of the Emperor Maurice which was in the Year 597. Photius says That this History is very plain and exact The Emperors Constantine and Maurice greatly recompens'd this Author for all his Works and of which he speaks himself XVII Gregory de Tours born in Auvergne of noble Parentage He was one of the most pious Bishops and celebrated Writers of his Time His Genius led him so much to Learning and Piety that after Euphronius Arch-bishop of Tours's death he was rais'd to that See in the Year 572. and dy'd in 594. The French are endebted to him for the Knowledge of our first Kings whose History he has written in X Books and continu'd it down to his own Time He wrote also a great many other Books XVIII Bede sirnam'd the Venerable was born in the Year 673. in a small Village upon the River Tine in England He was brought up in a Monastery of St. Benedict where his Parents plac'd him but when Seven Years old He there read Philosophy Divinity Mathematicks and other curious Learning but above all he imbib'd the Practice of Christian and Religious Virtues He dy'd the 26th of May in the Year 735. Amongst several of his Works we have his Ecclesiastical History of England in V Books which begins with Iulius Caesar's Descent upon this Nation and ends with the Year 731. He has also written a Chronicle of VI Centuries and some particular Relations of the Lives and Martyrdom of divers Saints XIX Paul the Deacon was by Birth a Lombard and liv'd in the Eighth and Ninth Centuries He was first Deacon of Aquilea and afterwards Chancellor to Desiderius the last King of the Lombards When as this Prince was Conquer'd by Charlemagne Paul the Deacon was carry'd Prisoner into France where his great Knowledge and Learning procur'd him a great many Friends After various turns of Fortune which he had undergone he became a Monk of Mount-Cassin where he dy'd in the Ninth Century but in what Year is unknown He has written the History of the Lombards in VI Books the Acts of the several Bishops of Mets and the Lives of St. Arnold St. Cyprian and St. Bennet c. XX. Eginard Secretary to Charlemagne had divers considerable Employments in that Prince's Court. He had a great deal of Wit and Merit and renounc'd the World to become a Monk He writ the life of Charlemagne who had honour'd him with so particular Esteem and Affection He compil'd the Annals of France from the Year 741 to 829. There are some other small Tracts of his He dy'd in the Year 844. tho' some say sooner and some later XXI Freculphus Bishop of Lisieux liv'd in the Ninth Century This Prelate who had been Educated under the Order of St. Benedict was greatly commendable for his Doctrin and Piety He compos'd a Chronicle of which the first Part begins at the Creation and reaches down to our Saviour this consists of VII Books The second begins with the Incarnation of Christ and extends to the coming of the Franks and the Lombards about the Year 600. This comprehends V. Books He Addresses this Chronicle to the Empress Iudith Wâ—fe to Lewis the Debonnaire and Mother to Charles the Bald. He dy'd about the Year 852. XXII Luitpraâ—d Sub-deacon of Toledo Deacon of Pavia and at length Bâ—shop of Cremona liv'd in the Tenth Century and was says Cardinal Bellaâ—min in very great Esteem on account of his Learning and Wisdom Berengerius II. King of Italy sent him in quality of an Ambassador to Constantinople in the Year 946. to the Emperor Constantine Porphiriginâ—tes whence he return'd at the Request of the Emperor Otho in the Year 968. who sent him likewise to Nicephorus Phocas Under the Name of this Luitprand we have VI. Books of History which comprehend all the most considerable Transactions in Europe from the Emperor Arnâ—lphus down to his Time The Learned pretend that what follows the Fifth Chapter of the VI. Book does not belong to Luitprand but was written by another Author of the same Time who had a mind to continue his History They also reject his Book concerning the Acts of the Popes from St. Peter down to Formâ—sus Father Labbe is of Opinion That this History was wrote by a Germâ—n Monk towards the Year 895. The Spaniads father upon this Author a Chronicle of a parcel of fabulous Princes which had never been in the World Also Father Labbe would have this Chronicle sent to the Kingdom of Vtopia Generally speaking nothing is more faulty than these Chronological Successions not excepting the Fables of the Poets the Stories of old Women and of Amadis de Gaul XXIII Witikind a Benedictine Monk of the Abbey of Corby in Saxâ—ny liv'd in the Tenth Century the Year of whose death is unknown The moâ—t remarkable of his Works is his History of the Saxâ—ns in III. Books together with that of Henry King of Germany surnam'd the Fowler and of his Son the Emperor Otho This Hisâ—ory extends to the Year 973. when Otho dy'd XXIV Frodoard Abbot of Rheims writ a Chronicle which began at the Year 919. and ended with the Year 966. 'T is thought he dy'd much about the same time XXV Glaber Rudolphe a Fryer of St. Germains of Auxerre flourish'd under the Reigns of King Robert the Good and Henry I. his Son He has written an History which includes the time between the Years 990. and 1045. Neither the time nor place of his Death is known neverthâ—less he is of great Repute and was Author of the Life of St. William Abbot of St. Benigne of Dijon This Person was a great restorer of the Monastical Discipline of his Time He dy'd at Fecamp in Normandy the first of Ianuary in the Year 1051. XXVI Iohn Curopalate so call'd for being an Officer of the Houshold to the Emperor of that Name He is a Greek Author who compos'd a History from the end of the Empire of Michael Curopalate where Theophanes ended his to the beginning of the Reign of Alexis Comnenes Emperor of the Greeks that is from the Year 813. to 1081. George Cedrenus was a Grecian Monk that liv'd towards the middle of the Eleventh Century He has made an Abridgment of History from the beginning of the World to the Reign of Isack Comnenes who in the Year 1057.
begins with the time of Nembroth and ends with the Year of Christ 1348. This Author was a Florentine XLVIII Flavius Blondus a Native of Forli in Romania was Secretary to Eugenius IV. and divers other Popes He compos'd several Historical Works whereof there are X Books Romae Triumphantis III Romae Restauratae VIII Italiae Illustratae III Decads of the Roman History and a Treatise of the Origin and Actions of the Venetians This Author was a Philosopher who regarded Worldly-acquisitions but little insomuch that Fortune which seldom takes care of those sort of People suffer'd him so far to support his Character as to die Poor the Fourth of Iune in the Year of Christ 1463. Romae Pauper at Philosophum decuit Obiit says Father Labbe XLIX St. Antoninus Arch-bishop of Florence and a Fryer of the Order of St. Dominic liv'd in the Fifteenth Century with all the Reputation and Respect that his great Piety and Learning could procure him Amongst the rest of his Works there is one call'd Summa Historica an Historical Abridgment which consists of three Parts The First is from the beginning of the World to the Reign of Constantin The Second contains all remarkable Passages from Constantin to the Year 1198. being the time of the Pontificat of Innocent III. And the Third begins from thence and ends with the Year 1459. which was the time when he dy'd under the Pontificat of Pius II. and the Empire of Frederic III. L. Aeneas Sylvius who was Pope by the Name of Pius II. He was Born at Corsignano a Village of the Territory of Siena the 18th of October in 1405. After having been employ'd in several important Negotiations wherein he sufficiently demonstrated his great Abilities he was first made Bishop of Siena and then Cardinal by Calistus III. in the Year 1456. and afterwards that Pope being dead he succeeded him under the Name of Pius II. He has compos'd several Works all which denote his great Learning and Judgment but we shall only take notice of those that relate to History He has compil'd the History of the Council of Basile in II Books He also Abridg'd the History of Flavius Blondas There is also a Cosmography of his or the History of the whole World There is likewise his Europaean History which contains several remarkable Transactions in his time 'T is also believ'd that he wrote his own Life tho' it goes under the Name of Iohn Gobelin his Secretary He dy'd the 14th of August in the Year 1464. when about 58 Years Old LI. Laonicus Chalcocondylas an Athenian who liv'd in the Fifteenth Century He has written in Greek an History of the Turks in X Books which he begins with Othoman Son of Orthogulus who liv'd in the Year 1300. and carries it on to the Year 1463. When Mahomet II. was in War with the Venetians and Mathias King of Hungary It has moreover an Appendix which reaches down to 1565. LII B. Platina Native of Cremona according to Father Labbe and of Verona if we may believe Moreri was born in the Fifteenth Century His Name was not Baptist as some have thought but Bartholomew His quick Parts occasion'd him to be universally Esteem'd especially at Rome whither he went under the Pontificat of Pope Calistus II. and was very Munificently receiv'd by Cardinal Bessarion But Pope Paul II. became very much his Enemy and kept him four Months in Prison after which his Successor Sixtus IV. who knew him better bestow'd on him the Care of his Library in the Vatican He wrote the Lives of the Popes down to Paul II. which Work Onuphrius Panvinius a Fryar of the Order of St. Austin at Verona who liv'd in the Sixteenth Century continu'd to his time which was about the Year 1568. when he dy'd at Salermo Platina dy'd at Rome of the Plague in the Year 1481. LIII Anthony Bonfinius a Native of Ascoli liv'd towards the Year 1495. He was a very honest and laborious Man and had learnt almost all Languages It was at the request of Mathias Corvinus King of Hungary and Bohemia that he undertook the History of Hungary which he carry'd on to the Year 1495. It consists of IV Decads and half that is XLV Books LIV. Robertus Gaguinus Head of the Order of the Trinity was very much in favour with Charles VIII and Lewis XII of France where he had the keeping of the Royal Library He has compos'd several Works but the most considerable is his History of France in XII Books which reach down to the Reign of Charles VIII LV. Marcus Antonius Sabellicus Son to a Poor Farrier in Italy was a great Lover of Learning in which he made a considerable progress in a very short time We have a History of his from the beginning of the World to the Year of Christ 1504. And a History of the Affairs of Venice Paulus Iovius says that he dy'd at Venice in the Year 1506. LVI Iames Phillip of Bergamos of the Order of the Hermits of St. Austin was a Person of singular Merit and whom Pope Innocent VIII honour'd with a particular Esteem He compos'd a Chronicle which began at the Creation of the World and ended with the Year 1503. which was the Seventieth Year of the Age of this Author He liv'd afterwards Fifteen Years and dy'd about Eighty five Years Old in the Year 1518. LVII Iohannes Rauclerus a Noble-Man of Germany Son to Iohn Vergehau was Provost of the Church of Subingen and afterwards Professor of the Canon-Law in the University of that City This University was Founded by Count Everard afterwards First Duke of Wirtemberg in his return from Ierusalem in the Year 1477. Nauclerus was made Vice-Chancellor of it He has written a Chronicle from the beginning of the World to the Year 1500. which Nicolas Baselius continu'd down to the Year 1514. and which Surius likewise carry'd on farther to the Year 1574. The time of this Nauclerus his Death is Unknown LVIII Albert Krantz Doctor of Divinity and Dean of the Church of Hambourg liv'd towards the beginning of the Sixteenth Century He was a Man of great Learning join'd with admirable Piety The chiefest of his Works is an Ecclesiastical History entituled Metropolis wherein he treats of the Churches Founded and Restor'd by Charlemagne He has also compil'd an History of the Saxons in XIII Books Another of the Vandals in XIV and a Chronicle of Sweden Denmark and Norway which begins with Charlemagne and is carry'd on to the Year 1504. This Author dy'd the 7th of December 1517. which was the Year that Martin Luther first publish'd his Doctrin LIX Iames Wimphelinge a Priest of the Church of Spire and Professor in the University of Heidelberg liv'd in the beginning of the Sixteenth Century He was both Divine Orator Philosopher Poet and Historian He compos'd these Books viz. Epitome Imperatorum Rerum in Germania Gestarum De Episcopis Argentirensibus c. I could never meet with the time of his Death only
Armies ready to engage in the Air How many Lakes and Rivers of Blood Monsieur Rapin speaks thus of him The Nobleness of Livy's Expression ravishes my Soul into extasy 't is about Two thousand Years since that Historian commands a respectful intention from all Nations by his Awful and Majestick way of speaking which has been the admiration of all Ages To speak the Truth nothing satisfies my Mind so well as his admirable choice of Words always proportioned to his Sentiments and his excellent manner of Expressiing the Sentiments always conformable to the things he speaks of In short he has hit best of any Man upon that sort of Stile which Cicero advises to Historians And it is by that great Pattern that Buchanan Mariana Paulus Aemilius Paulus Iovius and all those that have outlived the Times they flourish'd in have squared their way of writing History Livy has a very engaging way of telling a Story which is his admirable Skill of mixing little things with great ones because great things by themselves are fatiguing and require great attentions whereas little ones are pleasant and unbend ones Mind According to the same method he varies his Adventures makes sad things succeed those that are pleasant and mixes very discreetly the shining with the Dark that he may keep up the Reader 's attention by that agreeable Variety The most perfect Pattern we find in History of a great Action related with all the heightening and enforcing Circumstances is the March of Hannibal into Italy described in the 31st Book of Livy's Annals This in my Opinion is the most finished Piece in all his History and we meet with few things of that strength in all Antiquity Never was a greater Design framed by a more extraordinary Soul And never was any thing Executed with more Boldness or Resolution The Question was how to come out of Africa go through all Spain surmount the Pyrenees cross the Rhine a River so broad and so rapid near its Mouth and whose Banks were thick set with so many Enemies open ones self a Way through the ragged Alps a thing never attempted before March continually over Precipices dispute the Ground at every step with a People that lay in Ambush in a continued Defile and that too among the Snow the Ice the Rain and the Torrents brave the Storms and Thunders wage War against Heaven and Earth and all the Elements draw after one an Army of a Hundred thousand Men of different Nations and all dissatisfied with a Captain whose Courage they cannot imitate Fear seizes the Soldiers Hearts and Hannibal alone remains in an unconcern'd Tranquility the Danger that surrounds him on every side casts all the Army into Consternation while his great Soul is still composed and serene All things are described with the most dreadful Circumstances The Image of the Danger is expressed in every word and never was any thing in History either more finished or touched with deeper Colours and greater or bolder Strokes Quintilian declares that of all Historians Livy has signalized himself most by these render and delicate ways wherewith he has touched the softest motions of the Soul The Rape of the Sabinae and the tenderness they exprest to disarm both the Romans their Husbands and the Sabins their Fathers Lucretia's Death and her Body exposed to publick view to stir up the People to Rebellion against the Tarquins Vetturia prostrate at her Son Coriolanus's Feet to avert the Siege of Rome which he intended Virginia Stabb'd by her own Father the Consternation Rome was under after the Battle of Cannae and a thousand such other Strokes touched in his History in the tenderest and most delicate manner and with the most pathetick Expressions imaginable are fine instances of it And 't is principally in this Author that we ought to study the way of expressing the Passions as they ought to be touch'd in History For he never animates it but where a Heat is requisite The Description of the Place where Hannibal attack'd Minutius in the 22d Book of Livy's Annals is a Passage extreamly well touch'd Livy speaking of Lucretia who was so handsom in her Husband's Eye without mentioning her Face does only describe her Virtue and gives us in four Words the greatest Idea we can frame of an honest Woman Lucretiam nocte sera non in convivio luxuque sed deditam lanae inter Ancillas sedentem inveniunâ— Livy goes on his way without stopping any where he tells you what he knows about the things he speaks of and leaves the Reader at liberty to make what Reflections he thinks fit without preventing him by his own And if he does 't is but seldom and then too in few Words but Noble and Great as when he relates the Crime and Punishment of Appius who had ravished Virginia The only Model we ought to propose to our imitation in point of Digressions is Livy when he steps out of the Roman History to speak his Thoughts about the success which Alexander might have had if he had bent his Arms against Italy He is very cautious in speaking his Opinion and that too without labouring to prevent the Minds of People by a studied excuse His Reasoning upon that Subject is very curious and not at all out of its place There are Beauties that consist only in a turn of Eloquence or Wit They are very surprizing and look wonderfully well when artfully placed Here are some Examples out of Livy Porsenna King of Clusium besieges Rome Caius Mutius deeply touched with the Danger his Country is in by so pressing a Siege goes into Porsenna's Camp and kills the King's Secretary whom he mistakes for the King himself who stood then just by him The King Commands burning Coals to be brought to force him by the Torment of Fire to own his Accomplices This Couragious Youth without any manner of Concern puts his Hand into the Fire and lets it burn to the last without so much as turning Pale upon the Matter and thus bespeaks the King See what a Contemptible thing Life is to those who have true Glory in Prospect These Words spoken with Resolution presently change the face of things The Murderer as odious and abominable as he is casts the beholders into Wonder and Amazement They look upon him with respect and send him back with Commendation at the same time that they were preparing the most exquisite Torments for his Punishment 'T is only one Word that occasions this sudden change and this Word well placed is a very great Ornament in a Narration Thus Fabius having retaken Tarentum Hannibal the Vanquished spoke these fine Words which savoured still of the Conqueror praising himself to praise his Enemy The Romans said he have also at last their Hannibal This is a very proud way of being humble These Strokes are very frequent in that Historian and indeed nothing can give a greater Idea either of these we make thus speak when they do it well or of him that makes them
speak when he does it to the purpose Livy perswades more by his sound Morals than great Capacity For through the various Intrigues Interests Passions and other Disorders which he describes he gives a glimpse of an honest Mind which proclaims a better Man than Historian We see in them the inmost recesses of the Heart of those he describes the very bottom of his own and among the false Lights he discovers in their Conduct he is never out himself He judges well of all for his Soul is as Upright as his Wit is True Livy is the most accomplish'd of all Historians for he has all the great Parts requisite to write History a fine clear Imagination a noble Expression a true Judgment an admirable Eloquence He has none but great Ideas in his Mind he fills his Readers Imagination by what he says by that means he affects the Heart and moves the Soul He has the greatest Genius for History and is one of the greatest Masters of Eloquence that ever liv'd I don't understand what Asinius Pollio means by reproaching him with a Country way savouring of Padua which he calls Patavinity His great Talent is to make People feel what he says by ingaging those that read him in his own Sentiments by inspiring them with his Hopes and Fears and giving them all his Passions by his admirable Art of setting the most secret Springs of the Heart a going I hope the Reader will easily excuse me for dwelling so long upon Livy's History He is the great Master of this Art and deserves to be well known and since no Man can give us a better account of him than Monsieur Rapin I thought it proper to give you this long Abstract V. Velleius Paterculus was nobly born as he proves from those of his Name that had born the greatest Employments in the Army And he had himself been in the Wars with great Honour and Reputation He had been Tribune of the Soldiers and had Travell'd through the Provinces of Thracia Macedon Achaia Asia Minor and on both the Banks of the Euxin Sea so that both by his Employments and Travels he had great advantages to write History The two Books that remain of History for the greatest of his Works are lost begin about the Sixth Year of the Reign of Tiberius and are dedicated to Marcus Vinicius Consul who had Marry'd Tiberius's Grand-daughter His Style is pure clear elegant and such as is thought worthy of the best Age of the Roman Empire There are in his History some particulars not to be found any where else Never did any Man know better than he how to blame and how to commend yet in some Peoples Opinion he goes a little too far in the Praises he gives to the House of Caesar Augustus But how can a Man avoid that Fault when he writes his History before the Eyes of the reigning Family Therefore I easily forgive him the excessive Praises he gives to Tiberius but really he is guilty of too gross Flattery when he bestow'd so much Incense upon Sejanus his Favourite whom he endeavours to make pass for the honestest Man that Rome ever saw Velleius Paterculus is very exact in setting down the Times of the Events he speaks of he describes the Original of several Cities he makes the Eulogy of those that have been famous in the Wars in the Government of the State or in the Sciences in short there 's a great deal to be learnt from that Author Father Rapin speaks thus Paterculus and Florus are florid genteel delicate and agreeable in their mean way of Writing Let Paterculus be pretty trim and genteel in the Character he has pitch'd upon but let Livy be great and serious because small Beauties have need of Ornament to shew themselves whereas the great ones need no Addition to their natural Graces We must always speak within bounds let an Historian never diminish or exaggerate Things either as Tacitus who casts his Venom upon every Thing or Paterculus who makes every Thing look gay and pleasant VI. Quintus Curtius was a Roman Knight the Age he liv'd in is not well known but the most common Opinion is That he flourish'd under the Emperor Vespasian Quintilian who mentions all the Historians of Note in the Tenth Book of his Institutions written in Domitian's Time yet says not one Word of Quintus Curtius's History which induces us to believe That his Work might not have been Publish'd at that Time which Opinion is also confirm'd by the silence of the other Ancients Quintus Curtius has written the History of Alexander the Great in X Books but the two First with the end of the Fifth and some little places of the Tenth have been lost There is not a more excellent Author among the Latin Writers than Quintus Curtius He may be said to be among Historians what Alexander is among Conquerors and that the Panegyrist is to the full as great as his Hero So that Alexander would have now no Reason to complain that he had not like Achilles Homer to celebrate his Actions Some are for Livy's Style others for that of Tacitus but all agree upon the Excellence of that of Quintus Curtius which is beyond all dispute worthy of the Age of Augustus as Vossius speaks Imo vel Augustaeo aevo digna est dictio Iustus Lipsius says that he is the Author that Princes should make themselves most familiar with and that they ought to have him continually in their Hands Let us now consult Rapin's Judgment upon this Author Quintus Curtius says that Critick is shining and florid Nothing can be more Polite than Quintus Curtius he has a florid and gay Expression which extreamly pleases the Men of Wit Every thing ought to be grounded upon Reason and therefore Quintus Curtius is not always in the right When he endeavours to make his Hero so admirable he does not make him take the wisest Resolution but on the contrary the most Heroick and Perillous he always finds a Charm in Danger and cares not so much for Conquests as the Honour of Conquering It is in his Power to surprize Darius in the Night and by that means keep him from knowing how weak he was Darius having double the Men But this great Man who is less sollicitous of getting a Victory than making his Valour to be admired attacks the King of Persia in the broad Day being resolv'd rather to die with Honor than Conquer by a Surprise Darius after his defeat offers to divide Asia with him and proposes a Match between him and his Daughter but Alexander rather chuses to arrive at Glory thro' Dangers than become a Master so peaceably he will hear none of these Proposals and aims at nothing but what 's extraordinary His Historian I must confess does him a great deal of Honor but does not all this great Honor want a little probability Does he not make his Hero more Rash than Wise and more Venturesome than Ambitious He thought those Sentiments
many obscenities which the World would not much care to know and it were to be wished says Muret that Suetonius had not inform'd us so well of so much Lewdness as Tiberius Nero and Caligula have been guilty of For it is to be fear'd that when a Man relates so many Impurities he may seem to set up a School to Teach them There are some other Pieces of Suetonius but they do not concern History X. Iustin according to the most probable Opinion flourish'd in the time of Antoninus Pius He is the Abridger of Trogus Pompeius's History and so they charge upon him the loss of that great Work The History of Trogus Pompeius contain'd XLIV Books and Iustin has kept to the same Number in his Abridgment The Latin of Iustin is very fine and such as is thought worthy of the Age of Augustus As for Trogus Pompeius he was a Native of the Country of the Vocontii in the Gallia Narbonensis and flourish'd under Augustus His Grand-father was made Free of the City of Rome through the favour of Pompey the Great And his Father after having born Arms under Caesar became his Secretary and Keeper of his Seal The Loss of his History is one of the greatest Misfortunes that could happen to the Common-wealth of Learning It began at Ninus the Founder of the Assyrian Monarchy and came down as low as the Emperor Augustus In Iustine's Epitomy of this History there are many Chronological Faults which ought not to be imputed to Trogus Pompeius for he was a Person too skilful to be guilty of them THESE are the most considerable Writers of the Roman Story which was continued by those commonly call'd Augustan Writers whose Names were Spartianus Lampridius Capitolinus Vulcatius c. and afterwards by Amianus Marcellinus a faithful and judicious Historian who flourish'd in the Year of Christ 375. and Aurelius Victor who liv'd in 395. and was an Author of great Prudence But to give particular Accounts of these and the many other Historians who will claim the same Respect would too much swell our Volume and they may be the rather omitted because those that follow are abundantly short in excellence of those we have been speaking of which the learned Gerhard Vossius declares and confessed that the good Days of History were past and the doating Age of it began after the Antonines when he began his second Book of Latin Historians with these Words Transitur ad Historiae Senectutem It is exceedingly useful to a Reader to be made acquainted with the History of the Author's Person and Circumstances together with a Character of his Work before he begins to read it for whereas without being preinform'd perhaps half the Book shall be read before he discover it and many Excellencies and Beauties and it may be Faults of the Work pass'd by unobserv'd for want of such Knowledge The Reader is on the contrary very much enlightned and Studies the Author with a great deal more pleasure and true Profit when he is already taught wherein his excellency consists or where his Faults lie that he pass not by the one without proper Notice or be 〈…〉 'T is for this Reason that we have given the preceeding Account of Historians and have been so large in their Characters wherein we have not presum'd to give our own Judgment but only to set down that of such Criticks as are of approv'd Learning and Judgment And this we think is the properest Introduction to the Study of History We shall proceed now to a short but distinct and as exact as possible Account of the most considerable Ancient and Modern Monarchies and Governments of the World But in as much as we perceive that the finishing this Work so perfectly as it should be will take up greater space than we at first intended this Volume shall terminate at the Birth of our Saviour and therefore having in this gone through the Three great Monarchies of Assyria Persia and Greece together with the Chinese and Egyptain Monarchies and the several smaller Kingdoms and Republicks that were contemporary with and mostly swallow'd up by them I say having gone through these and the Roman History till the arrival of that Monarchy to its highest pitch of Grandeur under the Emperor Augustus we shall close this Volume and compose another which shall continue a General History down to these Times A SYSTEM OF Universal History PART III. CONTAINING A Compendious History and Chronology of the most considerable Transactions that happen'd in the World from the Creation to the time of our Saviour Exhibiting a Series of the History and Succession of the Governments of these Nations Viz I. The Church of God under Patriarchs The Israelites under the Judges and Kings and the Iews under the High-Priests and Captains II. The Assyrian Monarchy III. The Persian Monarchy IV. The Grecian Monarchy V. The Empire of China VI. The Kingdom of Egypt VII The ancient Governments of Greece viz. of Athens Lacedemon Macedon Corinth Sicyon Argos Troy Lydia Tyre c. VIII The Roman Monarchy from its Origine to its Establishment under Augustus Printed for Tim. Childe 1698. A Short SYSTEM OF Universal History PART III. An Account of the Ancient Monarchies which preceded the Birth of IESVS CHRIST CHAP. I. An Account of the Church of God under the Old Testament GOD created the Heaven and the Earth and all that in them is He created them out of Nothing by the sole Power of his Word for his own Glory He did not make them all at once as if it were out of Necessity but in Six Days time and according to the Order which he thought most convenient The first Day he made the Light the second he made the Heaven the third Day he divided the Heaven from the Earth and caused the Earth to bring forth Herbs Trees and all manner of Plants the fourth Day he made the Sun Moon and Stars the fifth Day he made the Fishes and the Fowls the sixth Day he caused the Earth to bring forth all the other Beasts and lastly he made Man to command all the rest of the Creation The seventh Day God rested having finished all his Works that is he ceased from producing new Creatures God made Man in his own Image and Likeness that is to say after he had formed a Body out of the Earth he breathed into it the Breath of Life 'T is this Soul which is the Image of God because it is a Spirit God having made Man made also Woman to be an help meet for him and he made her of one of the Man's Ribs that so the Man and the Woman might love each other entirely and be made one as being but one Flesh. The Man whom God called Adam and the Woman whom God called Eve were Innocent when they came out of the Hands of their Cteator but they fell into Sin by the Malice of the Devil and involved all their Posterity in their Guilt and in all the Miserie 's
wiser for they did not allow every Body to compile their Histories The Pontiffs who had the care of Divine Worship and the Ceremonial part of their Religion had likewise the Charge of making their Annals wherein they were to take notice of the most famous Occurrences in their State from Year to Year This Cicero acquaints us with when he says Erat Historia nihil aliud nisi Annalium confectio cui rei Memoriae Publicae causa ab initio rerum humanarum usque ad Publ. Mutium Pontificem Maximum res omnes singulorum Annorum mandabat literis Pontifex Maximus Lib. 2. de Orat. These Annals also were very plain They contain'd no more than a Summary Account of Matters without entring into many Particulars It was the Genius of the antient Romans to affect Plainness They were more intent upon deserving Praise than hearing it and they never complimented one Man with what was only due to the whole Place A Glimpse of this primitive Simplicity may appear in their Fasti Consulares which was scarce any more than a downright Catalogue of the Roman Consuls These Reasons which we have given to doubt of the Truth of History ought not nevertheless to extinguish in us all sort of Belief for what Historians have written There are Rules before prescrib'd to direct us in antient History which are the very Quintescence of Criticism that is whatever good Sense or a sound Judgment could invent to precaution a heedless Reader against either the Ignorance Negligence or Insincerity of a Writer Into how many Errors would a Man fall if he had not some sort of regard to these Rules But since it is absolutely necessary for every body to be acquainted with the worth of an Historian before they read him I shall proceed to draw some faint Sketches of those that have been most famous in the World since it is my Intention here to be exact but not tedious CHAP. V. The most Celebrated Authors that have written of Church-History THE History of the Church under the Law is contain'd among the sacred Writers which we are never to question as we have said before yet whatever Esteem we may have for these Historians we are by no means forbid to make use of our Reason when we read 'em but are allow'd to Condemn or Approve 'em as we think fit Over and above the Books of the Bible which treat of the old Iewish Church we have also the Writings of Philo and Iosephus both which we shall say something of by reason of the excellency of their Works 1. Philo was a Iew of Alexandria who liv'd under the reign of Caius Caligula and who was Head of an Embassy which the Iews dispatch'd to that Emperor Amongst other Things he writ the life of Moses and Ioseph as also a Relation of his Embassy to Rome wherein he did not succeed Caligula being extreamly offended that the Iews had refus'd to have his Statue in their Synagogue This Author is altogether Platonick for he imitates so exactly Plato's Style that he has been term'd by some The Iewish Plato 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aut Plato Philonem aut Philo Platonem imitatur In his Book he explains the Bible allegorically He is Eloquent and very Diffusive and his Moral comes very near that of the Christians 2. Iosephus surnam'd Flavius on account of the Emperor Vespatian was a Iew of the sacerdotal Race of the Asmonians He was born in the 37th Year of our Saviour and dy'd in the 93d He has written the History of the Iews from the Creation of the World to the twelfth Year of them This Work he entitles The Iewish Antiquities He has also written an Account of the Iewish Wars with the Romans and of the Sacking of Ierusalem He has likewise written his own life two excellent Tracts against Appion a Pagan and one concerning the Martyrdom of the Maccabees Photius says that Iosephus writ Nicely that he knew how to charm his Readers and that he has all along judiciously embelish'd his History with florid Descriptions and eloquent Harangues St. Ierom calls him the Titus Livius of the Greeks and Erasmus says That his History of the Death of the Maccabees is a Masterpiece of Eloquence Authors of the Church-History I. Hegesippus was a Iew that embrac'd Christianity He came to Rome in the Pontificat of Pope Anicetus and continu'd there till the time of Elutherius that is from the Year of Christ 165 to 180. He is the first Author which has compos'd a Body of Church-History which he divided into V Books and in which he relates the most remarkable Occurrences in the Church from our Saviour's Passion to the time wherein he wrote We have only some Fragments of this Work now remaining which Eusebius has Collected and inserted into his History Under the Name of Hegesippus goes an History of the Iewish Wars and of the Destruction of Ierusalem divided into V Books But says Du Pin it is certain that this Work does not belong to Hegesippus but to an Author who liv'd since Constantin Some attribute this History to St. Ambrose because of a Manuscript of it which the famous Father Mabillon found in the Library given by that Saint at Milan and which was therefore suppos'd to have been a Translation of his II. Iulius Africanus was born in Palestine He was deputed by the Emperor Alexander Son of Mammeus to settle the City of Emmaus which was afterwards call'd Nicopolis He wrote a Chronicle from the beginning of the World to the 3d Year of the Emperor Heliogabalus which he divided into V Books and wherein he briefly relates all the memorable Occurrences down to his Time This Work we have not at present under the Name of Africanus but Eusebius has got it almost all in his Chronicle with some few Additions and Corrections III. Eusebius of Caesarea was born in Iudea towards the end of the Empire of Galienus He was chosen Bishop of Caesarea in the Year of our Lord 313 or 314. He has compos'd several learned Treatises but we shall mention none but those which relate to History 1. His Chronicle which is an Abridgment of Universal History from the Creation of the World to the time when he liv'd which was about the 20th Year of the Reign of the Emperor Constantin This Work contains a great deal of Learning and had no doubt a prodigious deal of Pains and Study bestow'd upon it St. Ierom translated it through tho' we have his first Part but very imperfect 2. His Ecclesiastical History divided into X Books is the chief of all his Works He has there taken notice of all the most memorable Things that have hapned in the Church from the time of our Saviour down to when he wrote He there gives you an exact Account of the several successions of the Bishops in the chieâ—est Cities of the World as likewise of the best Church-Authors and their Books He also reckons up all the Heresies that have crept
into the Church and particularly mentions what relates to the Iews He there describes the several Persecutions of the Martyrs their Contests and Disputes concerning Ecclesiastical Discipline and in a Word whatever else relates to the Affairs of the Church Without this History we could never have had the least knowledge of the first Ages of the Church for those who have writ after him have only began where he ended Du Pin after having affirm'd that this History of Eusebius was not so compleat as could have been Wish'd Adds moreover That his Defects have not been sufficient to obscure his Merit The Learned Henricus Valesius has translated him into Latin which he has join'd to the Greek Text. And some Learn'd Gentlemen of the University of Cambridge have made a Translation of him into English for the benefit of such as understand neither Latin nor Greek IV. St. Epiphanius was born in the Year of Christ 332. in a Village of Palestine He spent his Youth under the Monastick Tutelage of St. Hilarion and several other Monks of Palestine About the Year 366. He was elected Bishop of Salamis Metropolis of the Island of Cyprus The Book he wrote is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which being against Heresy is to be look'd upon as a Treatise belonging to Ecclesiastical History This Tract is divided into three Parts The First contains the Heresies that have been before Jesus Christ which St. Epiphanius has reckon'd up to be 46. The Second consists of 23. and the Third of 11. So that thus this Book comprehends in all 80 Sects or Heresies This St. Epiphanius was an Implacable Enemy of the followers of Origin V. Rufinus a Priest of Aquilea flourish'd at the same time with St. Ierom to whom after having been a great Friend he became an inveterate Enemy He had a more than ordinary Esteem for Origin He set himself to read and translate his Books and undertook his defence against all those that Accus'd him This Zeal of his towards Origin was the chief cause of his Disagreeing with St. Ierom who had taken the contrary side Amongst all the Books of his Composing we shall only take notice of those two of Ecclesiastical History which he has added to the Translation of Eusebius He there continues the History of the Church to the Death of the Emperor Theodosius These Books were Dedicated to Chromacius of Aquilea and were writ about the time that Alaric King of the Goths ravag'd Italy They are indifferently well Penn'd yet there are considerable Faults to be found in the History VI. St. Ierom was born in the City of Strigna or Stridon situate upon the Confines of Pannonia and Dalmatia in the Year of Christ 345. His Father Eusebius sent him to Study at Rome under the celebrated Donatus where he soon made a considerable progress in Letters He receiv'd the Orders of Priesthood at Antioch from the Hands of Paulinus then Bishop of that City He has writ a great number of Books amongst which is to be found A Catalogue of Ecclesiastical Writers from the time of Iesus Christ down to his own when he wrote He compos'd this Tract at the request of Dexter Prefect of the Pretorium and in imitation of Suetonius and other Prophane Authors who have compil'd the Lives of the Philosophers and other famous Men. We have also his Chronicle which we must not look upon as a bare Translation of Eusebius St. Ierom having therein alter'd and added many Things Nay he has moreover continu'd this Chronicle from the 20th Year of Constantin to the sixth Consulate of Valens and second of Valentinian that is down to the Year 378. VII Sulpicius Severus a Priest of Agen equally famous for his Birth Genius and Piety who flourish'd about the same time with St. Ierom and Rufinus He was a Disciple of St. Martin whose life he wrote The chief of his Works is his sacred History consisting of two Books both which contain a well penn'd Epitome of the most remarkable Occcurrences in the Jewish and Christian Churches from the Creation of the World to the Consulship of Stilicon and Aurelian that is to say to the Year of Christ 400. He has all along imitated Salust for Brevity but infinitely surpasses him in clearness and beauty of Expression We have not any Abridgment of History says Mounsiuer Du Pin so well Digested and elegantly writ as this Epitome yet its Author is not always exact for he has committed several Errors in the History especially in that of the Church This Author has enlarg'd very much upon the Priscillianists and of all Writers gives us the best Account of them VIII St. Austin was born in Tagasta a City of Numidia under the Empire of Constantius the thirteenth of November in the Year of Christ 354. He became a Convert in the 32d Year of his Age and was ordain'd Bishop of Hippo in 395. and afterwards Dy'd as piously as he had Liv'd the 20th of August in the Year 430. being about 76 Years old Altho' there be a great many things throughout his whole Works that relate to Ecclesiastical History Yet we shall here mention only his small Treatise of Heresies written in the Year 428. at the request of the Deacon Quovult Deus to whom also it is Dedicated This Tract is no more than a brief Account of the several Sects of Hereticks and their principal Errors He begins with the Sinonians and ends with the Pelagians there being in all 88 Heresies You shall scarce meet with any thing in this whole Book but what is taken either from St. Epiphanius or Philaster Monsieur Du Pin speaking of this last who has reckon'd up 20 different Heresies before the Incarnation of Christ and 120 since his Birth to the Year 380. says That his Stile is Mean and Groveling that he had little or no Learning that he has made several considerable Mistakes in this small Treatise which is written with no manner of exactness and wherein are abundance of Errors The same Opinion Cardinal Bellarmin has of him in his Book De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis Father Labbe would have this Author's Works read with a great deal of Caution and St. Austin says That St. Epiphanius had writ better than Philaster but that nevertheless he was a Person of singular Piety and good Morals IX Pallades a Native of Galatia left his Country about 20 Years old to retire among the Hermits of Egypt He was ordain'd Bishop of Hellenopolis in the Year 401. and afterwards chosen Bishop of Aspon a City of Galatia and dependent on the Metropolitan See of Ancira He was a great Friend of Rufinus a Defender of Origin an Allie with Pelagius and Enemy to St. Ierom. In the Year 421. He writ a History of the Lives Actions Miracles and Sayings of the most Holy Monks that he had met with in Egypt Lybia Thebais and Palestine This History was Addrest to one Lausus which gave occasion afterwards for Naming it The Lausian History In this