Greece Pericles an Athenian began the Peloponnesian Years be ∣ fore J. C. 431 VVar during which Theramenes Thrasybulus Years of Rome 323 and Alcibiades Athenians made themselves famous and considerable Brasydas and Mindarus Lacedemonians dyed there in fighting for their Country This VVar lasted seven and twenty years and ended to the advantage of the Lacedemonians who had brought on their side Darius sirnamed the Bastard the Son and Successor of Artaxerxes Years be ∣ fore J. C. 404 Lysander General of the Lacedemonians Years of Rome 350 Fleet took Athens anc chang'd it's Government But Persia soon was sensible that it had made the Lacedemonians too powerful and therefore the Persians upheld the young Cyrus in his Revolt against Artaxerxes Years be ∣ fore J. C. 401 his eldest Brother called Mnemon because of Years of Rome 353 his great and admirable memory the Son and Successor of Darius This young Person being delivered both from prison and death by his Mother Parysatis resolves upon revenge gains the Noblemen to him by his infinitely obliging carriage traverses Asia the less and goes and offers battle to the King his Brother even in the heart of his Empire wounds him with his own hand and believing himself too soon a Conqueror he perished by his own rashness The ten thousand Greeks that served him make that astonishing retreat where at last commanded Xenophon that great Philosopher and great Captain who hath written the History of it The Lacedemonians continued their attacques Years be ∣ fore J. C. 396 upon the Persian Empire which Agesilaus the Years of Rome 358 King of Sparta made to tremble in the lesser Asia but the Divisions of Greece called him back into his own Country About this time the City of the Veji which almost equalled the glory of Rome after a ten years siege and a great many good Successes was taken by the Romans under the Conduct of Camillus His generosity gained him yet another Conquest Years be ∣ fore J. C. 394 The Falisci whom he besieged rendred Years of Rome 360 themselves to him being touched at what he had done in sending them back their Children whom a School-Master had delivered to him but Rome would not conquer by Treacheries nor take advantages from the perfidiousness of a wretch that turned the Obedience of an innocent Age into such an Abuse A little after the Gauls Senonians came into Italy and besieged Clusium Years be ∣ fore J. C. 391 and the Romans lost against them the famous Years of Rome 363 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 390 battle of Allia Their City was taken and Years of Rome 364 burnt And whilst they were defending themselves in the Capitol their Affairs were re-established by Camillus whom they had banished Polyb. l. 1. c. 6. l. 2. c. 18 22. The Gauls continued seven months Masters of Rome and being called away by other affairs they drew off but it was not without carrying away with them good store of Years be ∣ fore J. C. 371 spoil During the Commotions of Greece Years of Rome 383 Epaminondas a Theban made himself signal by his equity moderation and temper as much as by his Victories It was observed he held this for a constant Rule never to tell a Lye so much as in jest His Actions became dazling and illustrious in the last years of Mnemon and in the first of Ochus Under this so great a Captain the Thebans were victorious and the Power of Lacedemonia abated Years be ∣ fore J. C. 359 and grew less That of the Macedonian Years of Rome 395 Kings began with Philip the Father of Alexander the Great And notwithstanding all the oppositions of Ochus and Arses his Son Kings of Persia and the greater difficulties still which the Eloquence of Demosthenes that mighty Defender of Liberty raised against him in Athens the victorious Prince for twenty years together kept all Greece in Years be ∣ fore J. C. 338 subjection where the Battle of Cheronea Years of Rome 416 which he gained over the Athenians and their Allies gave him a most absolute Power At this famous Field whilst he was breaking the Athenians he had the joy and happiness to see Alexander at eighteen years of age rushing in upon the Theban Troops and among others upon that which they called The Sacred Troop of Friends which they look'd on as Invincible Thus being Master of Greece and supported by a Son of such great hopes his Designs must needs be high and he resolved on nothing less than the absolute Ruine of the Persians against whom he had declared himself Generalissmo But this was reserved for Alexander For in Years be ∣ fore J. C. 337 the midst of the Solemnities of a new Marriage Years of Rome 417 Philip was assassinated by Pausanias Years be ∣ fore J. C. 336 a young Man of a good Family to whom Years of Rome 418 he had not done Justice The Eunuch Bagoas the same year killed Arses King of Persia and caused Darius the Son of Arsames sirnamed Codomannus to succeed him in the Kingdom He deserves bv his Valour to be ranked according to the otherwise most probable Opinion which gives him his Extraction from the Royal Family So that there were two Couragious and Magnanimous Kings began their Reigns together Darius the Son of Arsames and Alexander the Son of Philip. They looked upon each other with Eyes of Jealousie and they seem as born to dispute the Empire of the World betwixt them But Alexander resolved to strengthen himself well before he would engage with his Rival He revenged the Death of his Father reduced those Rebellious People that Years be ∣ fore J. C. 335 contemned his Youth he overcame the Years of Rome 419 Greeks that vainly attempted to shake off their Yoke and ruined Thebes where he spared none but the House and descendant Issue of Pindarus whose Odes were the Admiration of Greece Mighty and Victorious Years be ∣ fore J. C. 334 he marched after these famous Exploits Years of Rome 420 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 333 at the Head of the Greeks against Years of Rome 421 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 331 Darius whom he overthrew in three several Years of Rome 423 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 330 Battels in Array enters triumphantly Years of Rome 424 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 327 into Babylon and Susa destroys Persepolis Years of Rome 427 an ancient Seat and Palace of the Kings of Persia pushes on his Conquests as far as Years be ∣ fore J. C. 324 the Indies and at last returns to die at Babylon Years of Rome 430 being but Three and thirty years of age In his time Manasses the Brother of Jaddus Years be ∣ fore J. C. 333 the High Priest raised Commotions Years of Rome 421 among the Jews He had married the Daughter of Sanballat the Samaritan whom Darius had made a Nobleman of that Country Rather than he would repudiate that beautiful Stranger to which the Council of Jerusalem and
began to appear among the Greeks Those People being civilly treated by the Kings of Syria lived in tranquillity and Peace according to their Laws Antiochus the God Grandson of Seleucus sent them up and down into the lesser Asia Joseph Ant. 12.3 from whence they got themselves into Greece and every where enjoyed the same Rights Priviledges and Liberty as the other Citizens Ptolomee the Son of Lagus had already setled them in Egypt Years be ∣ fore J. C. 277 Under his Son Ptolomee Philadelphus their Years of Rome 477 Scriptures were turned into Greek and then came out that excellent Version called the Septuagint Version This was done by those Learned old Men whom Eleazer the High-Priest sent to the King who desired them Some would have only had the five Books of Moses translated Joseph l. 1. Antiq. c. 1. l. 12. c. 2. and the rest of the sacred Books might afterwards be turned into Greek for the use of the Jews that were scattered all over Egypt and Greece and who had forgot not only their own ancient Language which was the Hebrew but also the Chaldee which the Captivity had taught them They made themselves a Greek Mixture which they called the Hellenistick Tongue The Septuagint and all the New-Testament is written in this Tongue And during this dispersion of the Jews their Temple was made famous over all the Land and all the Kings of the East presented there their offerings The West was intent on the War Years be ∣ fore J. C. 275 of Rome and Pyrrhus In short this King Years of Rome 479 was defeated by the Consul Curius and so went back to Epirus But he was not there long at quiet but he resolved to make Macedonia recompence him for the ill successes Years be ∣ fore J. C. 274 he met with from Italy Antigonus Gonatus Years of Rome 480 was blocked up in Thessalonica and forced to leave to Pyrrhus all the rest of the Kingdom Years be ∣ fore J. C. 272 But he took heart again whilst that Years of Rome 482 the restless and ambitious Pyrrhus was making War upon the Lacedemonians and those of Argos The two hostile Kings were brought into Argos at one and the same time by two contrary Caballs and at two several Gates There was a mighty Combat in that City and a certain Mother who saw her Son pursued by Pyrrhus whom he had wounded knocked that Prince on the Head with a Stone Antigonus thus being defeated of his Enemy re-enters Macedonia who after some changes and Revolutions was at Peace with his Family The Confederacy of the Achaians kept him from growing Great It was the last Rampier of the Grecian Liberty and it was that which produced the last Heroes of it with Aratus and Philopoemen The Tarentines whom Pyrrhus fed with hopes called in the Carthaginians after his Death But that succour did them very little good for they were beaten with the Brutians and the Samnites their Allies These after seventy and two years continual Wars were forced to submit to the Roman Yoak Tarentum followed at the heels and the Neighbouring People could not hold out and so all the antient People of Italy were subjugated The Gauls often beaten durst not stir Polyb. lib. 1 2.1 And after 480 Years Warring the Romans saw themselves Masters of Italy and began to consider the affairs abroad They were not a little jealous of the Carthaginians who were grown very powerful in their Neighbourhood by the Conquests they had made in Sicily from whence they were coming to fall upon them and Italy in the Relief of the Tarentines The Republic of Carthage had two sides of the Mediteranean Sea Besides that of Africa which she almost entirely possessed she extended her self towards Spain by the Straights Being thus Mistress of the Sea and of Commerce she had invaded the Isles of Corsa and Sardinia Sicily could scarce defend it self and Italy was too nearly threatned not to be concerned with some apprehension From thence proceeded the Punic Wars notwithstanding the Treaties Years be ∣ fore J. C. 264 which were ill observ'd on both sides Years be ∣ fore J. C. 490 The first taught the Romans to fight at Sea and they were presently Masters of an Art which before they knew little or nothing Years be ∣ fore J. C. 260 of and the Consul Duilius who was the Years of Rome 494 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 259 first that gave Battle at Sea gained it Regulus Years of Rome 495 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 256 got the like Reputation and landed in Years of Rome 498 Africa where he was forced to fight with that Prodigious Serpent which obliged him to employ all his Army against it But every thing yielded and Carthage being reduced Years be ∣ fore J. C. 255 to her last Extremity did just make a shift Years of Rome 499 to save herself by the assistance and seasonable Relief of Xantippus the Lacedâ—monian The Roman General is beaten and taken but his Prison renders him more great and illustrious than his Victories For being upon his Parole sent back to treat about the exchange of Prisoners he told the Senate the conditions which was all hopes and Grace to them that would voluntarily surrender themselves and so returned to a most certain Death Two dreadful Shipwracks forced the Romans to leave their new Empire of the Sea to the Carthaginians And the Victory hung a long while in dubious suspence between the two People and the Romans were just upon the point of yielding Years be ∣ fore J. C. 241 but they repaired their Fleet and one single Years of Rome 513 Battle decided the Business and the Consul Lutatius concluded the War Carthage was obliged to pay Tribute and to quit with Sicily all the Isles that were between Sicily and Italy The Romans got that Island entirely saving only what Hieron King of Syracusa their Ally kept of it After the War was ended the Carthaginians thought now only of Destruction by the rising of their Army They had according to their Custom made it up of Strangers who revolted to them for their pay Polyb. lib i. c. 62.63 lib. ii â— 1. Their cruel and severe Government forced them to join to those mutinous Troops almost all the Cities of the Empire and Carthage being closely besieged had utterly been lost if it had not been for Hamilcar sirnamed Barcas He alone maintain'd the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 238 last War And the Citizens are indebted Years of Rome 516 to him for the Victory Poly. lib. i. 79. â—3 â—3 which they got over the Rebels But it cost them Sarainia which the Revolt of their Garrison opened to the Romans And for fear of engaging with them in a new War Carthage was forced to surrender up that Island which was of such importance and also to inlarge her Tribute she designed in Spain to re-establish her Empire which had been so much shaken by this Revolt Hamilcar went
mighty puissant Kings as all the East stood in awe of and it was Cyrus that crushed the Empire by his taking of Babylon If therefore the generality of the Greeks and Latins that have followed them make no mention of those Babylonian Kings if they have given no place to that great Kingdom among the first Monarchies whose continuance and after-accidents they relate in a word if we can scarce find any thing in all their works of those famous Kings Tiglath-Pilesar Salmanasar Sennacherib Nebuchadnezzar and several others so renown'd in Scripture and in the Eastern Histories we may then surely attribute it either to the Ignorance of the Greeks who were more Eloquent in their Reports than studious and industrious in their Searches or else to the loss we have had of what was more exact and faithful in their Histories Indeed Herodotus had promised a particular History of the Assyrians Herod l. 1. c. 28 47. which we have not either by our sad misfortune of its being lost or of his not having had time to do it and we cannot imagine that ever so judicious and Historian would have forgotten the Kings Herod l. 2. c. 91. of the second Empire of the Assyrians especially since even Sennacherib who was one of them we find mentioned in the Books that we now have of this great Author as being King both of the Assyrians and Arabians tSrabo liâ— 15. Strabo who lived in the time of Augustus reports what Megastenes an Ancient Author near the time of Alexander had left in Writing concerning the mighty Conquests of Nebuchadnezzar King of the Chaldees whom he makes to run through Europe enter into Spain and extend his Arms as far as the Colonies of Hercules Aelian calls Tilgamus King of Assyria Aelian liâ— 12. Hist Anim. c. 21. that is to say Tilgath or Tiglath which we find in the Holy Scriptures and in Ptolomy we meet with an Enumeration of the Princes of great Empires among whom there is a long succession of the Kings of Assyria who were unknown to the Greeks and whom it is easie to reconcile to the Sacred Hystory If I would bring in the Accounts of the Syrian Annals Berosus Abydenus Nicolas of Damascus Joseph Antiq l. 9. ult 10. c. 11. l. 1. cont Ap. Euseb Prap. Ev. 9. I could be too tedious even for a long-winded Reader Josephus and Eusebius of Caesarea have preserved the pretious fragments of all those Authors and indeed of an infinite many more which they had entire and perfect in those times whose Testimony is a confirmation to us of what we read in the Holy Scripture concerning the Eastern Antiquities and especially concerning the Assyrian Histories As to the Monarchy of the Medes which has the second Preference among the great Empires by most of the prophane Historians as separated from the Empire of Persia certain it is that the Scripture ever unites them both together And your Highness sees that besides the Authority of the sacred pages the bare order of Matters of Fact shews us that it is that we are still to look at The Medes before Cyrus though they were very powerful and considerable yet were much lessened by the greatness of the Kings of Babylon But Cyrus having Conquered their Kingdom by the collected Forces both of Medes and Persians of which he afterwards became the Master by a Legitimate Succession as we have observed from Zenophon it seems most probable that the great Empire of which he was the Founder as it ought indeed did take his Name to both Nations so that That of the Medes and Persians are but one and the same thing tho' the glory of Cyrus made the name of the Persians to be the more prevailing It may be also thought that before the VVar of Babylon the Kings of the Medes having extended their Conquests to the Greek Colonies in lesser Asia were by that means famous among the Greeks who attributed the Empire of greater Asia to them because they were only acquainted with them of all the Kings of the East And yet the Kings of Nineveh and Babylon who were greater and more puissant but more unknown to the Greeks have been near quite forgotten in those Bâ—oks that are remaining to us concerning the Grecian Histories and all the time from Sardanapalus down to Cyrus have been only given to the Medes And therefore we need not to trouble our heads so much in reconciling as to this point the prophane to the sacred History For as to what respects the first Kingdom of the Assyrians the Scripture gives us but a very slight touch by the Bye and neither mentions Ninus who was the Founder of that Empire nor excepting Phul any other of its Successors because their History was no way interfering with that of the People of God As for the second Kingdom of the Assyrians most of the Greeks are either quite ignorant of them or else because they have not throughly known them as they ought they have confounded them with the former VVhen therefore those of the Greek Authors sâ—all be objected to us who according to their own Caprice and Fancy range the three first Monarchies and make the Medes Successors to the antient Empire of Assyria without speaking a word concerning what the Scripture seems to be so strong in there is only this answer to be made that they were unacquainted with this part of the History and they are no less contrary to the more curious and best informed Authors of their own Nation than they are to the Holy Scriptures And that which in one word answers all the difficulty the sacred Authors who are nearer to the times and places of the Eastern Kingdoms writing moreover the History of a People whose affairs were so intermixed with those of these great Empires though they had no other advantage besides this it were enough to put the Greeks and Latins to Silence who followed them But if notwithstanding the obstinacy should go on still to maintain this celebrated order of the three first Monarchies and that to keep entirely to the Medes the second rank which is ascribed to them any are wilfully resolved to make the Kings of Babylon subject to them in affirming still that after an hundred Years Subjection these at last should deliver themselves by a Revolt yet in some manner it doth save the Câ—ntinuance of the sacred History but it doth very little agree with the best prophane Historians to whom the sacred History is more favourable in that it ever unites the Empire of the Medes to that of the Persians There is yet remaining to be discovered one of the Causes of the obscurity and darkness of these antient Histories And it is this that as the Eastern Kings took up several names or if you please several titles which in some length of time they espoused as their own Name and which the People either translated or pronounced variously according to the several particular Idioms of each
Chaldees under which they were led captive For fear lest they should be surprized at the glory of the Wicked and of their proud Reign the Prophets have sufficiently told them of their short continuance Isaiah who saw the glory of Nebuchadnezzar and his mad pride long before he was born Isai 13 14 21 45 46 47 48. has foretold his sudden fall together with that of the Empire Babylon was scarce any thing when that Prophet saw its Power and a little while after its Ruine Thus the Revolutions of the Cities and Kingdoms which tormented the People of God or gained advantage by their destruction were written in his Prophecies Those Oracles were followed with a hasty Execution and the Jews tho' so severely punished yet saw to fall before them or with them or quickly after according to the Predictions of their Prophets not only Samaria Idumea Gaza Ascalon Damascus the Cities of the Ammonites and the Moabites their perpetual Enemies but the chiefest of the great Empires Tyre the Mistress of the Sea Tanais Memphis Thebes with its hundred Gates and all the Riches of its Sesostriâ— Nineveh also the Seat of the Kings of Assyria their cruel Persecutors and the proud and mighty Babylon victorious over all the rest and rich with their Spoils 'T is true Jerusalem by her sins was destroyed at the same time but yet God did not leave her without hope Isaiah Isai 44 45. who had foretold her Ruine had likewise seen her glorious re-establishment and had also named him Cyrus who was to be her deliverer tho' it was two hundred years before he was born Jeremiah Jer. 25.11 12. c. 29.10 whose Predictions had been so exactly particular in pointing out that ungrateful People's certain destruction had promised them a most sure Return after they had indured seventy years Captivity During all that time those vanquished People were respected by the Prophets and those Captives foretold both the Kings and the People their terrible Destinies Nebuchadnezzar who would fain be worshipped Dan. 11.46 47 4.1 26. himself worships Daniel being astonished at the Divine Secrets which he had discovered to him he understood from him the Decree that was gone out against him and which was soon after executed upon him That victorious Prince triumphed in Babylon the City whereof he made the greatest strongest and most beautiful that ever the eye of the Sun beheld 'T was there that God heard him thundering out his pride Tho' he 's happy and invulnerable if I may be allowed the phrase at the head of his Armies and throughout all the course of his Conquests yet he was to fall in his own House according to the Oracle of Ezekiel Ezek. 31.3 4 5 6 7. c. Whilst he was standing in admiration of his greatness and the beauty of Babylon and raising himself above Humanity Dan. 4.30 31. saying Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the House of the Kingdom by the might of my Power and for the honour of my Majesty God strikes him deprives him of his understanding drives him from men and gives him his dwelling with the Beasts of the Field Ibid. 34. At the time assigned by Daniel his understanding returned unto him and he blessed the most High and praised and honoured him who liveth for ever whose Dominion is an everlasting Dominion and whose Kingdom is from Generation to Generation in acknowledgment of his Almighty Power but his Successors received no benefit by his Example The Affairs of Babylon were embroyled and the time set forth by the Prophecies for the re-establishing of Judah happened amidst all those Troubles Cyrus appeared at the Head of the Medes and Persians all things yield and bow to that dreadful Conquerour Herod liâ— 1. Xenoph. l. 2 3. â—5â— â—aliâ— Jer. 41.46 〈◊〉 l. 7 â—adâ—g He made but slow advances to the Chaldeans and besides his march was often interrupted The news of his coming was spread from one end of the Earth to the other as Jeremiah had foretold at last it was determined Babylon which was often threatned by the Prophets and always proud and impenitent at last came to see her Conquerour whom she despises Her Riches her high Walls her People that were not to be numbred Ibid. her prodigious Extent which included a very great Country as all the Ancients do testifie and her infinite Provisions do swell her up with pride Having felt a very long and sharp Siege without any great Inconvenience she made a scorn and derision of her Enemies and at the Intrenchment which Cyrus made round about her Nothing was heard in her but Feasts and Rejoycings The King Belshazzar who was Nebuchadnezzar's Grandchild and as proud as he too but not so full of address Dan. 5.1 c. made a great Feast to a thousand of his Lords and drank Wine before the thousand That Feast was celebrated with unheard of Excesses Belhazzar sent for the Golden and Silver Vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the Temple of Jerusalem and so intermixes Prophaneness with his Luxury The wrath of God thereupon was declared and at the same time came forth fingers of a man's hand Ibid. 5. and wrote over against the Candlestick upon the plaister of the Wall of the King's Palace where the Feast was celebrated terrible words and the King saw the part of the hand that wrote Daniel interprets the meaning of it and that Prophet who had foretold the direful fall of the Grandfather makes also the Grandchild to see the Thunderclap that was coming to fall upon him for his overthrow In the execution of God's Decree Cyrus on a sudden makes an onset on Babylon Euphrates being turned off into the Trenches which he had so long before prepared discovers to him its vast Channel through which unforeseen passage he makes his Entry Isai 13.17.21.2.45 46 47. and so that proud Babylon as the Prophets had foretold was delivered as a prey to the Medes and to the Persians and to Cyrus So perished with her the Kingdom of the Chaldeans which had destroyed so many other Kingdoms Jer. 50.23 so was the Hammer of the whole Earth cut asunder and broken Jeremiah had plainly foretold it The Lord breaketh the Rod wherewith he had broken to pieces so many Nations Isaiah foresaw it The People accustomed to the Yoke of the Chaldean Kings Jer. 51.20 saw it themselves when they were under the Yoke Art thou also say they Isai 14.10 13 14. become weak as we art thou become like unto us Thou that saidst in thy heart I will ascend into Heaven I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God I will ascend above the heights of the Clouds I will be like the most High What the same Isaiah had likewise declared saying Babylon is fallen is fallen That great Babylon Id. 21.9 and all her graven Images are broken to the ground Bell boweth down and Nebo her great
that Egypt hath been very Martial She hath had a great many Troops well disciplined and kept she hath often exercised them for a Shew in Military Services and as it were had the Images and resemblances of Combats but it is only War and downright Fighting that makes Men Warriors Egypt loved Peace because she loved Justice and had only Soldiers for her Defence Beiâ—g contented with her own Country which had plenty of all things she never thought of enlarging it by Conquests She did it after another way by sending her Colonies all the World over and with them politeness and Laws The most celebrated Cities came to learn in Egypt their Antiquities Plat. in Tim. and the first beginning of their most excellent Institutions They consulted her on all sides in the Rules of Wisdom When those of Elis had set up the Olympick Games the most famous of all Greece they sought by a Solemn Embassy the approbation of the Egyptians and learnt from them new ways of incouraging the Combatants Egypt reigned by her Councels and that Government of Understanding appeared to her more noble and glorious than that she established by her Arms. Although the Kings of Thebes were incomparably the most puissant of all the Kings of Egypt yet they never attempted upon the neighbouring Dynasties which they only enjoyed when they had been invaded by the Arabians so that to speak truly they rather chose to get from Strangers than were willing to Lord it over their own natural Country-men But when they concerned themselves with being Conquerours they surpassed all others I do not speak of Osiris the Conqueror of the Indians probably that was Bacchus or some other Hero as fabulous Diod. l. 1. §. 2. The Father of Sesostris the Learned will have him Amenophis otherwise Memnon either through instinct or humour or as the Egyptians say by the Authority of an Oracle first thought of making his Son a Conquerour He followed the way of the Egyptians in it that is to say with great deliberation All Children that were born the same day as Sesostris were brought to Court by the King's Command He bred them up as if they were his own and with the same care as Sesostris near whom they were bred He could not give him either more faithful Ministers or more zealous Companions for his Battels When he was somewhat grown up he made him serve his Apprenticeship in a War against the Arabians That young Prince there learnt to be patient of Hunger and Thirst and brought that Nation into Submission which till then was untameable Being accustomed to Warlike labours by that Conquest his Father made him turn to the East of Egypt he attacked Libya and a great part of that vast Region was subjugated About this time his Father dyed leaving him in a condition of undertaking all things He formed no less a Design than that of the Conquest of the World but before he went out of his Kingdom he provided for his own security in it in gaining the affections of all his People by his Liberalâ—ty and Justice Diod. ibid. and also so by regulating the Government with an extream Prudence In the mean while he was making his Preparations he levied Soldiers and gave than for their Captaiâ—s those young men which his Father had caused to be bred up with him There were seventeâ—n hundred of them able to inspâ—re into all the Army Courage Discipline and the Love of their Prince That done he entred into Ethiopia which he made Tributary to him He went on with his Victories in Asia Jerusalem was the first that felt the force of his Arms. Rash and violent Rehoboam could not resist him so that Sesostris carried away the Riches of Solomon God by a just Judgment had delivered them into his hands He travelled into the Indies further than Hercules or Bacchus Ibid. and further than ever was done since Alexander for he subjugated the Country beyond Ganges You may therefore judge if the more neighbouring Countries withstood him The Scythians obeyed him even to Tanais Armenia and Cappadocia became his Subjects He left a Colony in the ancient Kingdom of Colchos where the Customs of Egypt have always continued since Herodotus hath seen in lesser Asia from one Sea to the other the Monuments of his Victories with the proud Inscriptions of Sesostris King of Kings and Lord of Lords There were some of them even in Thrace and he extended his Empire from Ganges to the Danube The difficulty of getting Victuals kept him from entring any further into Europe He returned after nine years loaden with the Spoils of all the conquered People Some of them had very couragiously defended their liberty others yielded without resistance Sesostris took care to mark out in his Monuments the difference of those in Hieroglyphick Figures after the manner of the Egyptians To describe his Empire he found out Geographical Cards A hundred famous Temples erected to the honour of the Tutelary Goâ—s of all the Towns were the first as well as the most beautiful Tokens of his Conquests and he was very careful to publish in the Inscriptions that those great Works had been accomplished without any fatigue to his Subjects Herod 10. Diod. ib. He made it his glory to govern them discreetly and not to make any but his Captives to assist at the Monuments of his Victories Solomon had given him the Example of it 2 Chron. 8.9 That wise Prince imployed only his Tributary People in the great Works which rendred his Reign Immortal The Citizens were ingaged in more noble Exercises they were men of War and chief of his Captains Sesostris could not regulate himself by a more perfect Model He reigned thirty three years and a long time enjoyed his Triumphs Diod. 1. §. 2. much more worthy of Honour and Glory if his Vanity had not made him to be drawn in his Chariot by vanquished Kings It seems he scorned to meet Death as other men for being become blind in his old Age he was his own Executioner in giving himself death and so leaving Egypt rich for ever His Empire however did not exceed the fourth Generation But there remained yet in the time of Tâ—â—erius very magnificent Monuments which sufficiently shewed the Extent of it as well as the Quantity of his Tributes Egypt soon returned to her own peaceful Humour Ticit Ann. 2. It has been writ that Sesostris was the first that after his Conquests softened the Tempers of the Egyptians into the fear of Revolting If we may believe so it could only be a Precaution he took up for his Successors Nymphod l. 12. rer barb post Herod wise and absolute as he was what could be seen that might make him fearful of his Subjects who adored him Besides such a Thought as that was unworthy so great a Prince and it was an ill Provision for the Security of his Conquests to suffer the Courage of his Subjects to be weakned and
wise goes staggering reeling and as it were besotted because the Lord hath shed the Spirit of Dizziness and Confusion in all her Councils She no longer knows what she does she is lost to her self But that Men may not herein be deceived God repaireth when he seeth good the stragling Senses and he that insulted over the Blindness of others falls himself into more Egyptian Darkness and often times without any thing else to confound his Sence and Understanding than his too long Prosperities Thus it is that God Reigneth over all People Let us no longer talk of Chance or Fortune or speak of it only as a Name wherewith we conceal our Ignorance That which is Chance in respect of our uncertain Councils is a concerted Design in a higher Council that is to say in that eternal Council which circumscribes all Causes and all Effects in one and the same Order Thus all concurs to the same end and it is for want of understanding the all that we find of Chance or of Irregularity in particular Accidents and Emergencies By that is verified the Saying of the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.15 that God is the blessed and only Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Blessed whose Repose is unalterable who seeth every thing to change without changing himself and who makes all Changes by an Immutable Council who gives and who takes away Power who transfers it from one Man to another from one House to another from one People to another to shew that they have it only by way of Loan and that it is he alone in whom it naturally resides Wherefore all Governors find themselves the Subjects of a greater Power They aâ—t more or less than they think for and their Councils have ever more had unforeseen Effects They neither are Masters of the Dispositions which Ages past have made in their Affairs nor can they foresee what Coâ—rse the times to come will take so far are they from being able to force it He alone holds all things in his Hands who knows the Name of that which is and that which is not yet who presides at all times and anticipates all Councils Alexander little thought he laboured for his Captains nor that he ruined his House when he gained his Conquest When Brutus animated the Romans with such an excessive Love of Liberty he as little thought he was casting into their Minds the Principle of that unbridled and masterless Licence by which the Tyranny he designed to destroy was one day to be re-established with greater Severity than under the Tarquins When the Caesars flattered the Souldiers they had no designs of giving Masters to their Successors and to the Empire In a word there is no humane Power but what do what it can serves for other Designs than it aims at at present God alone knows how to bring about all things according to his own Will Wherefore every thing is surprising if we only look to particular Causes and yet nevertheless every thing goes on in an orderly manner This Discourse makes you see it clearly and not to speak of other Empires you see by how many unforeseen Councils but yet always connected in themselves the Fortune of Rome hath been carried on from Romulus down to Charlemain Your Highness might perhaps have thought I should have told you somewhat more of your own Country and of Charlemain who was the Founder of the new Empire But besides that his History makes a part of that of France which you your self have wrote and which you have already so far proceeded in I reserve to make you another Discourse of that wherein I shall be necessarily obliged to speak to you of France and of that great Conqueror who being equal in Valour to those which Antiquity hath the most boasted of doth yet exceed them in Piety in Wisdom and Justice That some Discourse shall discover to you the Causes of the prodigious Successes of Mahomet and this Successors That Empire which began two hundred Years before Charlemain may find its place in that Discourse but I though it would be much better to shew you in one continued Series its beginning and its declension So that I have no more to tell you in this first Part of my Universal History You will discover all the Secrets of it and you will have nothing to do but to observe in it all the Progress of Religion and that of the great Empires down to Charlemain Whilest you will see almost all fall of themselves and Religion only support it self by its own Strength you will easily then discern what is solid Grandeur and where a wise and considerate Man is to place all his Hopes A TABLE TO THE FIRST PART OF THIS DISCOURSE I. EPocha Adam or the Creation First Age of the World Pag. 1. II. Epocha Noah or the Deluge Second Age of the World Pag. 4. III. Epocha The Call of Abraham Third Age of the World Pag. 7. IV. Epocha Moses or the written Law Pag. 11. V. Epocha The taking of Troy Fourth Age of the World Pag. 15. VI. Epocha Solomon or the Temple finished Fifth Age of the World Pag. 17. VII Epocha Romulus or Rome founded Pag. 25. VIII Epocha Cyrus or the Jews re-established Sixth Age of the World Pag. 43. IX Epocha Scipio or Carthage Conquered Pag. 71. X. Epocha The Birth of Jesus Christ Seventh and last Age of the World Pag. 89. XI Epocha Constantine or the Peace of the Church Pag. 110. XII Epocha Charlemain or the re-establishment of the new Empire Pag. 149. A Table to the Second Part. THE Course of Religion Pag. 155. I. The Creation and the first Times ibid. II. Abraham and the Patriarchs Pag. 178. III. Moses the Law written and the bringing of the People into the promisid Land Pag. 189. IV. David the Kings and the Prophets Pag. 209. V. The times of the second Temple Pag. 247. VI. Jesus Christ and his Doctrine Pag. 267. VII The Descent of the Holy Ghost the Establishment of the Church the Judgments of God both on the Jews and on the Gentiles Pag. 298. VIII Particular Reflections upon the Punishment of the Jews and upon the Predictions of Jesus Christ who had taken Notice of it Pag. 316. IX Two memorable Predictions of our blessed Saviour are explained and their Accomplishment justified by History Pag. 330. X. The Progress of the Jewish Errors and the manner how they explain the Prophecies Pag. 345. XI Particular Reflections on the Conversion of the Gentiles The profound Councils of God which resolved to convert them by the Cross of Jesus Christ The Arguing of St. Paul upon this manner of their Conversion Pag. 366. XII Divers ways of Idolatry Sense Interest Ignorance a false respect of Antiquity Policy Philosophy and Heresies came to its Succor but the Church triumphs over all Pag. 376. XIII General Reflection on the Progress of Religion and the Relation there is between the Books of the Scriptures Pag. 401. A Table to the Third Part. THE Empires Pag. 437. I. That the Revolutions of Empires are regulated by Providence and serve to humble Princes Ibid. II. The Revolutions of Empires have particular Causes which Princes ought to study Pag. 445. III. The Scythians the Ethiopians and the Egyptians Pag. 447. IV. The Assyrians both antient and new the Medes and Cyrus Pag. 475. V. The Persians the Grecians and Alexander Pag. 48â— VI. The Roman Empire Pag. 505. VII The Successive Changes of Rome Explained Pag. 543. FINIS