from being pillaged But it was quickly after exposed by the Debauches of its Emperor Valentinian Maximus Years of J. C. 454. 455. whose Wife he had violated found a way to destroy him by dissembling his Griefs and thereby insinuating himself into his good Affections By his deceitful Councels the blinded Emperour caused Aëtius the only Bullwark of the Empire to be put to death Maximus the Author of this Murder stirs up Aëtius his Friends to revenge it and so the Emperor came to be killed By these Steps he got to the Throne and forces the Empress Eudoxia the Daughter of Theodosius the Younger to marry him To deliver herself out of his Hands she was not afraid to run into those of Genseric Rome now became a Prey to Barbary It was only S. Leo that prevented all there from being put to Fire and Sword The People tore Maximus to pieces and only received that sad Consolation in all their Miseries All is out of Order in the West several Emperors are set up there and pull'd down again almost at one and the same time Years of J. C. 456. 457. Majorianus made himself the most Considerable Avitus very scurvily preserved his Reputation and saved himself by a Bishoprick The Gaules were no longer to be defended against Merovius nor against Childerick his Son But the latter had like Years of J. C. 458 to have dyed through his Debaucheries If Years of J. C. 462 his Subjects banished him one faithful Friend in reserve made him be recalled His Valour gave a Dread and Terror to his Enemies and his Conquests reached very far into the Country of the Gaules The Eastern Years of J. C. 475 Empire was at Peace under Leo the Thracian Years of J. C. 476 Marcian 's Successor and under Zeno Leo's Son-in-Law and Successor The Revolt of Basiliscus which was soon quasht gave but a short disturbance to this Empire But the Western Empire went to decay irrecoverably Augustus who was called Augustulus the Son of Orestes was the last Emperor owned at Rome and immediately after he was deposed by Odoacres King of the Heruleans These were People come from the Euxine Sea whose Government was but of a short duration In the East the Emperor Zeno attempted to signalize himself in an unheard of manner He was the first of all the Emperors who concern'd himself in regulating the Questions of Faith Whilst the Demi-Eutychians opposed the Council of Years of J. C. 482 Chalcedon he published against the Council his Henotick that is to say his Decree of Union detested by the Catholics and condemned by Pope Felix the III. The Heruleans Years of J. C. 483 were quickly driven from Rome by Years of J. C. 490 Theodorick King of the Ostrogoths that is to Years of J. C. 491 say the Eastern Goths who founded the Kingdom of Italy and left though an Arian a pretty free Exercise to the Catholic Religion The Emperor Anastasius was some trouble to it in the East He followed the Years of J. C. 492 Steps of Zeno his Predecessor and heartened Years of J. C. 493 the Heretics By which means he lost the Peoples Affections which could never be retrieved no not by casing them of heavy and oppressive Taxes Italy was all obedient to Theodorick Odoacres pressed into Ravenna indeavoured to save himself by a Treaty which Theodorick did not at all regard and the Heruleans were forced to resign up all Theodorick besides Italy did likewise keep Provence In his time St. Bennet being in Italy retired into a Desart Years of J. C. 494 began from his most early years to put in Practice those Holy Maximes of which he afterwards composed that excellent Rule which all the Western Monks received with the same respect and deference which those of the East do pay to that of St. Basil The Romans compleated the Ruin of the Gauls by the Victories of Clovis the Son of Chilperick Years of J. C. 495 He gained also over the Germans the Battle of Tolbiac by the Vow he made of embracing the Christian Religion to which his Wife Clotilda never ceased her Persuasions She was of the House of the Kings of Buâ—gundy and a most Catholic Zelot tho' her Family and Nation were Arrian Clovis instructed by St. Vaast was baptized at Reims with his Franks by St. Remy Bishop of that antient Metropolis Of all the Princes of the Years of J. C. 506 World he alone maintained the Catholic Years of J. C. 507 Faith and deserved the Title of most Christian to be derived to all his Successors By the Battle in which with his own Hand he killed Alarick King of the Visigoths Tholoâ—se and Aquitain were joined to his Kingdome But the Victory of the Ostrogoths Years of J. C. 508 kept him from pretending to it all even up to the Pyrenees and the end of his Reign defaced somewhat the Glory of his great beginnings His four Sons divided the Kingdom Years of J. C. 510 and yet were continually making Inroads one upon another Anastasius dyed Years of J. C. 518 by the stroke of a Thunderbolt Justin of mean Extract but a Man of parts and a great Catholic was made Emperor by the Senate He and all his People submitted to the Decrees of Pope St. Hormisdas and so put an end to the Troubles of the Eastern Churches In his time Bâ—ëtius a Man famous for his Learning as well as his Birth Years of J. C. 526 and Symmachus his Father-in-Law both advanced to the highest Offices of Government were sacrificed to the Jealousy of Theodorick who groundlessly suspected them for conspiring against the State The King being afterwards troubled in his mind for this bloudy Fact he had done thought he saw the Head of Symmachus in a Dish which was brought up to his Table and soon after dyed Amalasonta his Daughter Mother of Alâ—ricus who succeeded to the Kingdom by the death of his Grandfather was hindered by the Goths from bringing up this young Prince in the Instructions which his Birth both challenged and deserved and being forced to abandon him to Persons of his own Age she foresaw his Ruin without being able to do any thing to prevent it The Year after Years of J. C. 527 Justin dyed after he had associated to the Empire his Nephew Justinian whose long Reign is celebrated by the Labours of Tribonianus the compiler of the Roman Law and by the Exploits of Belisarius and Years of J. C. 529 of the Eunuch Narses Those two famous Years of J. C. 530 c. Captains subdued the Persians defeated the Years of J. C. 533 Ostrogoths and the Vandals and rendered to Years of J. C. 534 their Master Africk Italy and Rome but Years of J. C. 552 the Emperor jealous of their Glory without Years of J. C. 553 ever being desirous to share with them Years of J. C. 532 their Labours every day studied how to embarass and intangle them more than ever he afforded them Assistance The Kingdom of France increased
the Kingdom of Argos After Abraham there was Isaac his Son and Jacob Grandson the Imitators and followers of his Faith and Simplicity in the same pastoral Life God did also to them reiterate the same Promises he had made to Abraham their Father Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1759 and as he had done him he conducted them Years of the World 2245 in all things Isaac blessed Jacob to the prejudice as well as grief of Esau his elder Brother and deceived in appearance in effect and reality he executes the Counsels and Determinations of God Jacob whom God protected was in all things to be preferred to Esau An Angel with whom he mysteriously fought gave unto him the Name of Israel from whence his Posterity were called Israelites From his Loins came the Twelve Patriarchs Fathers to the Twelve Tribes of the Hebrew People among others Levi from whence issued the Ministers of Sacred things Judah from whom came CHRIST the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and Joseph whom Jacob loved above all the rest of his Children In him were made manifest some new Secrets of Providence But above all things was seen the Innocence and Wisdom of young Joseph who was always an utter Enemy to Wickedness and Vice and careful to repress and hinder it in his Brethren his Mysterious and Prophetick Dreams his Brethren jealous and Jealousie twice the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1728 Cause of a Parricide the selling of this Years of the World 2276 their Great Brother his Fidelity to his Master and his most admirable Chastity the dangerous Calamities it brought upon him Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1717 his Prison and his Constancy his Predictions Years of the World 2287 his miraculous Deliverance that Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1715 Famous Interpretation of Pharaoh's Dreams Years of the World 2289 the Desert of so Great a Man required his Genius elevated and fitted for his Place and God's Protection which made him to Rule Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1706 where-ever he was his Foresight his wise Years of the World 2298 Counsels and his absolute Power in the Kingdome of the Lower Aegypt By this means here was the Safety of his Father Jacob and his Family This Family cherished by God was thus setled and established in that part of Aegypt whereof Tanis was the Capital and of which the Kings took Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1689 the Name of Pharaoh Jacob dies and a Years of the World 2315 little before his Death he delivers this most celebrated Prophecy where discovering to his Sons the Patriarchs the State of their Posterity he particularly points out to Judah the time of the Messiah's coming into the World who was to proceed from his Race This Patriarch's Houshold became a very great People in a little time and this prodigious increase and multiplying raised the Aegyptians Jealousie The Hebrews are unjustly hated and without any pity persecuted God raises up Moses their Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1571 Deliverer whom he preserved from the Years of the World 2433 River Nilus and made him fall into the Hands of Pharaoh's Daughter She brought him up as her own Child and instructed him in all the Wisdom of the Aegyptians At that time the People of Aegypt setled themselves in several Places of Greece The Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1556 Colony that Cecrops brought out of Aegypt Years of the World 2448 founded twelve Cities or rather Towns of which he made the Kingdom of Athens and where he established with the Laws of his Country the Gods that were to be worshipped there Marm. Arund seu Aera Att. A little after hapned the Deucalion-Flood in Thessaly confounded by the Greeks with the Universal Deluge Hellen the Son of Deucalion reigned in Phtie a Country in Thessaly and gave his Name to Greece The People which before were called Greeks ever since have born the Name of Helleneses tho' the Latins have called them by their old Name Moreover about this time Cadmus the Son of Agenor transported into Greece a Colony of Phoenicians and founded the City of Thebes in Boeotia The Syrian and Phoenician Gods came along with him into Greece In the mean while Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1531 Moses grew up in years and about the Fortieth Years of the World 2473 of his Age he despised the Riches of the Court of Aegypt and touched with the Wickedness of his Brethren the Israelites to appease and moderate them he ventured his own Life But these Men were so far from receiving any Benefit by his Zeal and Courage that they exposed him to the Fury of Pharaoh who was resolved on his Ruine Moses flies out of Aegypt into Arabia to the Land of Midian where his Virtue which was always ready to relieve the Oppressed made him find a safe Retreat Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1491 This Great Man without any hopes of delivering Years of the World 2513 his People or expectation of better Times had spent Forty years in keeping the Flock of Jethro his Father-in-Law when he saw in the Desart a Burning Bush and heard the Voice of the God of his Fathers who sent him back into Aegypt to bring forth his Brethren the Children of Israel out of Captivity There appeared the Humility Courage and Miracles of that Divine Legislator the Hardness of Pharaoh's Heart and the terrible Plagues which God sent upon him the Passover and the next day the Passing over the Red Sea Pharaoh and the Aegyptians drowned in those Waters and the absolute Deliverance of the Israelites IV. Epocha Moses or the Written Law The Time of the Written Law now begins It was given to Moses Four hundred and thirty years after the Calling of Abraham Eight hundred fifty six years after the Flood and the same year that the Hebrew Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1491 People came out of Aegypt This Date is Years of the World 2513 very observable because it is very useful for designating the whole time that has elapsed ever since Moses unto Jesus Christ All this Time is called the Time of the Written Law to distinguish it from the precedent Time which is called the Time of the Law of Nature wherein Men had only for their Guide and Rule of Governance Natural Reason and the Traditions of their Ancestors God then having freed his People from the Tyranny of the Aegyptians and brought them into the Land where he designed to be served and worshipped before ever he established it there he proposed to him the Law according to which he was to live He wrote with his own Hand upon two Tables of Stone which he delivered to Moses upon the top of Mount Sinai the Foundation of this Law that is to say the Decalogue or the Ten Commandments which contain the First Principles how God is to be worshipped and Humane Society preserved He dictated to the same Moses the other Precepts by which he established the Tabernacle Heh ix 9 23. the
whole Nations boast that they descend This Epocha therefore is proper to recollect whatsoever the Fabulous Times had that was most certain and most eminent But what is seen in the Sacred History is in all Points most remarkable Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1177 the prodigious Strength of Samson Years of the World 2887 and likewise his marvellous Weakness Eli Years of the World 1176 the High-Priest Venerable by his Piety Years of the World 2888 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1095 and unhappy by the Guilt of his Sons Samuel Years of the World 2909 an irreproachable Judge and a Prophet chosen by God to anoint Kings Saul the first King of Gods People his Victories his presumption to Sacrifice without the Priests his Disobedience pitifully excused under the pretence of Religion his Reprobation his fatal Fall About this time Codrus King of Athens gave up himself to death for the safety of his People and by his Death they got the Victory His Sons Medon and Nileus dispute for the Kingdom Upon this occasion the Athenians abolish all Regality and declare that Jupiter was their only King They created Governours or perpetual Presidents but they were subject to render an account of their Administration These Magistrates were called Archontes Medon the Son of Codrus was the first who exercised this Magistracy and it continued a long while in his Family The Athenians extended their Colonies into that part of Lesser Asia which was called Ionia The Aeolick Colonies were set up much-what about the same time and all the Lesser Asia was filled with Greek Towns Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1055 After Saul came David that admirable Years of the World 2949 Shepherd the Conqueror of the fierce Goliah and of all the Enemies of the People of God a great King a great Conqueror and a great Prophet worthy to sing out the Praises and wonderful Works of his great Creator in a word a Man after God's Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1034 own Heart as he himself stiles him and Years of the World 2970 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1014 who by his Repentance did even turn his Years of the World 2990 Offences to the Glory of his Maker To this Pious Warriour succeded his Son Solomon Wise Just Peaceful whose Hands Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1012 undefiled with Blood were accounted worthy Years of the World 2992 to build the Temple of God VI. Epocha Solomon or the Temple finished 5. Age of the World This was about the year 3000. of the World the year 488. since the Departure out of Aegypt and to adjust the Times of Sacred History with those of the Profane 180 years after the taking of Troy 250 years before the Founding of Rome and 1000 years before Jesus Christ when Solomon Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1004 finished that stupendious Edifice He Years of the World 3000 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 1003 celebrated the Dedication of it with an extraordinary Years of the World 3001 Piety and Magnificence And this famous Action was followed with several other Wonders of the Reign of Solomon which ended in shameful Weaknesses He gave up himself to the Love of Women which debased his Mind made his Heart grow wavering so that at last his Piety degenerated into Idolatry God tho' justly provoked yet spares him for the sake of David his Servant however he would not suffer his Ingratitude utterly to go unpunished he divides his Kingdom after his death under his Son Rehoboam The Brutish Pride of that young Prince causes Ten of his Years be ∣ fore J. C. 975 Tribes to be cut off from him which Jeroboam Years of the World 3029 separated from their God and from their King For fear lest they should return to the Kings of Judah he forbids them going to Sacrifice at the Temple of Jerusalem and he sets up his Golden Calves to which he ascribes the Name of the God of Israel that so the Innovation might appear less strange The same Reason made him retain the Law of Moses which he interpreted according to his own Will and Pleasure but almost all the Politie of it he caused to be observed as well the Civil as Religious so that the Pentateuch remained still in veneration among the separated Tribes Thus was the Kingdom of Israel set up against the Kingdom of Judah In that of Israel Impiety and Idolatry reigned and triumphed But Religion tho' it was several times clouded in that of Judah yet it was always preserved there About this Years be ∣ fore J. C. 971 time the Kings of Aegypt were very powerful Years of the World 3033 The Four Kingdoms had been re-united under that of Thebes It is believed that Sesostris that famous Conqueror of the Aegyptians is that Sesac King of Aegypt whom God made use of to chastise the Impiety of Rehoboam In the Reign of Abijah the Son of Rehoboam is observable that great and mighty Victory which the Piety of that Prince gained him over the Schismatical Tribes Hâ—s Son Asa whose Piety is commended Years be ∣ fore J. C. 917 in Scripture is taken notice of there Years of the World 3087 to be a Man who in his Sicknesses relied more upon the Humane Help of Medicines than of the Goodness and Power of God Years be ∣ fore J. C. 924 In his time Amri King of Israel built Samaria Years of the World 3080 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 914 where he established the Seat of his Years of the World 3090 Kingdom This Time is followed with the admirable Reign of Jehosaphat wherein flourished Piety Justice Navigation and the Military Art Whilst he appeared in the Kingdom of Judah another David Ahab and his Wife Jezabel who then reigned in Israel joyned to Jeroboam's Idolatry all the Impieties Years be ∣ fore J. C. 899 of the Gentiles They perished both of Years of the World 3105 them miserably God who had bore with their Idolatries was resolved to revenge upon them the Blood of Naboth whom they had caused to be slain because he had refused as the Law of Moses required to sell them the Fee of his Paternal Inheritance Their Sentence was pronounced by the Mouth of the Prophet Elijah Ahab was killeâ— some time after notwithstanding all Years be ∣ fore J. C. 987 his â—ircumspection to save himself About Years of the World 3107 this time we are to râ—ckon the Foundation of Carthage which Dido wâ—o was come from Tyre built in a Place after the Example of Tyre which was very convenient for Traffick as it was likewise for becoming Mistress of the Sea It is somewhat hard to assign the Time when it formed it self into a Republick but the mixing of the Tyrians and Africans made it become equally Warlike and Trafficking The ancient Hâ—sâ—orians who place its Origine before the Ruine of Troy seem to fancy that Dido rather enlarged and fortified it than that ever Years be ∣ fore J. C. 888 she laid the Foundations of it Affairs began
Years of the World 3116 to change Figure in the Kingdom of Judah Athaliah the Daughter of Ahab and Jezabel carried Impiety along with her into the House of Jehosaphat Jehoram the Son of so pious a Prince chose rather to imitate his Father-in-Law than his own Father Years be ∣ fore J. C. 885 The Hand of God was upon him His Years of the World 3119 Reign was short and his End dreadful In the midst of his Chastisements God wrought unheard-of Prodigies even in favour of the Israelites whom he would now recaâ—l to Repentance They saâ— without ever being converted the Wonders of Elijah and Elisha who prophesied during the Reign of Ahab Mâ—rrâ— Aâ—â—na and five of his Successors At this time Hâ—mer flourished as Hesiod had done Thirty years before The Ancient Manners aâ—d Customs which they represent to us and the Vestigia that they still keep with much Grandeur and with the ancient Simplicity does not a little serve to let us understand the Antiquities that are a great deal more remote and the Divine Simplicity Years be ∣ fore J. C. 884 of the Scripture There had been terrible Years of the World 3120 Spectacles in the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel Jezabâ—l was thrown down out of a Tower-window by the command of Jehu who valued not the painting her Face and tyring her Head but fulfilled the Word of the Lord in causing his Horses to tread her under their Feet He killed Jehoram King of Israel the Son of Ahab even all the House of Ahab was destroyed and it wanted but a little of drawing that of the Kings of Judah into its own Ruine King Ahazia the Son of Joram King of Judah and of Athaliah was slain in Samaria with his Brethren as an Ally and Friend to the Children of Ahab As soon as this News was brought to Jerusalem Athaliah resolved to cut off all that remained of the Seed-Royal without sparing her own Children and so to reign and govern by the loss of her own Only Jehoash the Son of Ahaziah a Child that then hung at the Breast was stole away from her Fury by Jehosheba his Aunt Jehosheba the Sister of Ahaziah and Wife of Jehoiada the High-Priest hid him in the House of the Lord and saved that only precious Remainder of the House of David Athaliah who thought him dead with the rest lived without fear Plat. de Repâ—◠〈…〉 Arist â—olit l. 2. c. 9. Lycurgus prescribed Laws to the Lacedemonians He is rebuked for having made them all Martial after the Example of Minos whose Institutions he had followed and for having but little provided for the Womens Modesty for that so he might make all his Men Soldiers he obliged them to a very laborious and temperate Life Nothing was stirring in Judah against Athaliah and therefore she thought her self established during a six years Reign But God raised her up an Years be ∣ fore J. C. 678 Avenger in the holy Sanctuary of his Temple Years of the World 3326 When he was come to be seven years old Jehoiada made him known to some of the Rulers over Hundreds with the Captains of the Guard and the Royal Army whom he had carefully managed and being assisted with the Priests he anointed the young King in the Temple Easily were the People persuaded to acknowledge the Heir of Davâ—d and of Jehosaphat At the noise whereof Athaliah ran to dissipate the Conspiracy but being forced without the Ranges of the Temple she there received the Reward of her Crimes As long as Jehoiada lived Joash reigneth well keeping to the Law of Moses After the Death of this holy Man of God corrupted by the Flatteries of his Courtiers he falls in with them to downright Idolatry The High-Priest Years be ∣ fore J. C. 840 Zacharias the Son of Jehoiada was resolved Years of the World 3164 to reprove him for it but Jehoash without ever being mindful of what he owed to his Father caused him to be stoned But Vengeance followed close at the heels of Years be ∣ fore J. C. 839 this for the next year Jehoash being beaten Years of the World 3165 by the Syrians and fallen into contempt was assassinated by his own Subjects and Amaziah his Son a better Man than himself was set upon the Throne Years be ∣ fore J. C. 825 The Kingdom of Israel being wasted and Years of the World 3179 depressed by the Victories of the Kings of Syria and by Civil Wars re-assumed its Forces under Jeroboam II. who was more pious than his Predecessors Hoziah otherwise called Azariah the Son of Amaziah also governed the Kingdom of Judah with no less Honour and Glory This is that Years be ∣ fore J. C. 810 Famous Hoziah that was smitten with Leprosie Years of the World 3194 and often reproved in Scripture for having towards his latter days presumed to take upon him the Priestly Office and against the Prohibition of the Law had himself offered up Incense upon the Altar of Perfumes He was to be set aside though he was a King according to the Law of Moses and Jotham his Son who was afterwards his Successor did wisely govern the Kingdom Under the Reign of Hoziah the Holy Prophets the Chief of whom at that time were Hosea and Isaiah began to publish their Prophecies in Writing and in particular Books the Originals of which they deposited in the Temple to serve as a Monument to Posterity The Lesser Prophecies which were given only vivâ voce were as was usual registred in the Rolls of the Temple with the History of the time The Years be ∣ fore J. C. 776 Olympic Games instituted by Hercules and Years of the World 3228 long discontinued were re-established and from that re-establishment came the Olympiades by which the Grecians counted their Years Aboâ—â— this time ended that which Varro calls thâ— Fabulous because the profane Histories then were full of confusion and falsities and the Historical times began wherein the affairs of the World were reported with more exactness and fidelity The first Olympiad is marked out by the victory of Corebus They were renewed every five years and after four years Revolution There in the Assembly of all Greece at Pisa first and afterwards at Elida those famous Combats were celebrated where the Conquerors were crowned with incredible Applauses The Exercises likewise were in great honour and Greece every day became more strong and more cultivated Italy as yet was almost all over savage The Latin Kings of Aeneas's Race reigned at Alba. Phul was King of Assyria 'T was believ'd he was the Father of Sardanapalus called according to the Eastern Custom Sardan Pul that is to say Sardan the Son of Phul. 'T was also thought that this Phul or Pul had been King Years be ∣ fore J. C. 771 of â—ineveh who joined with his People in Years of the World 3233 Repentance at the Preaching of Jonas That Prince invited by the Confusions of the Kingdom of Israel went to invade it but
being come to an Agreement with Manahem he established him in the Throne that he went to Usurp by Violence and received by way of acknowledgment the Tribute of a thousand Talents Under his Son Sardanapalus and after Alcmaeon the last perpetual Archon of the Athenians that People whom his humour led insensibly to affect a popular Estate lessened the Power of their Magistrates and in ten years wholly overthrew the Archontick Administration The first of this way was Charops Romulus and Remus sprung from the antient Kings of Alba by their Mother Ilia re-established in the Kingdom of Alba their Grandfather Numitor of which his Brother Amilius had dispossest him and presently after they founded Rome whilst Jotham Reigned in Judah VII Epocha Romulus or Rome founded That City which was to be the Mistress of the World and in futurity the chief Seat of the Romish Religion was founded toward the end of the third year of the sixth Years be ∣ fore J. C. 754 Olympiad 430 years after the taking Years of the World 3250 of Troy from whence the Romans believed their Ancestors to be sprung and 753 years before Jesus Christ Romulus being bred up hardly with Shepherds and always Years of Rome 1 engaged in Warlike Exercises consecrated this City to the God of War who he Years be ∣ fore J. C. 748 said was his Father About the time of Years of Rome 6 Rome's Birth through the effeminate Luxury of Sardanapalus happened the Fall of the first Empire of the Assyrians The Medes a warlike People animated by the Discourses of Arbaces their Governour set an Example to all his Subjects of contemning and scorning him All were up in a general revolt against him and at length he perished in his chief City where he saw himself constrained to fling himself into the Fire with his Concubines his Eunuchs and his Riches Out of the Ruins of this Empire were seen to come three great Kingdoms Arbaces or Orbaces whom some call Pharnaces freed the Medes who after a very long Anarchy had three most puissant Kings Moreover presently after Sardanapalus there appeared a second Kingdom of the Assyrians Years be ∣ fore J. C. 747 of which Nineveh was the chief City Years of Rome 7 and a Kingdom of Babylon These two last Kingdoms are not unknown to prophane Authors and are much celebrated in the sacred History The second Kingdom of Nineveh is founded by Tilgath of Tiglath the Son of Phalaser called for this reason Tiglathphalesar to whom was also given the name of Ninus the younger Baladan whom the Greeks called Belasis established the Kingdom of Babylon which is known by the name of Nabonassar From thence the Aera of Nabonassar famous with Ptolomy and the antient Astronomers who reckoned their years by the Reign of that Prince It is fit to explain here the signification of this word Aera which is a number of Years began at a certain point of Time which some extraordinary Accident makes remarkable Wicked Years be ∣ fore J. C. 740 and Sinful Ahaz King of Judah oppressed Years of Rome 14 by Rezin King of Syria and by Pekah the Son of Remaliah King of Israel instead of having recourse to God who stirred him up those Enemies to punish him called Tiglathphalesar the first King of Assyria or Nineveh who brought the Kingdom of Israel to its last extremity and utterly destroyed that of Syria and at the same time he ravaged that of Judah which had desired his Assistance Thus the Kings of Assyria took Years be ∣ fore J. C. 721 the way to the Holy Land and resolved Years of Rome 33 upon the Conquest of it They began with the Kingdom of Israel which Salmanasser the Son and Successor of Tilgath Pilneser utterly destroyed Osee King of Israel relied upon the succour of Sabacon otherwise called Sua or Soü◠King of Aethiopia who had invaded Aegypt But that mighty Conqueror could not get it out of the hands of Salmanassar The ten Tribes with whom the Worship of God was quite worn off were transported to Nineveh and being dispersed among the Gentiles they so lost themselves there that no farther tracing of them can be discovered There remained some of them who were mixed among the Jews and made a small part of the Kingdom Years be ∣ fore J. C. 715 of Judah At this time happened the Years of Rome 39 Death of Romulus He was always fighting and always victorious but in the midst of his Wars he notwithstanding laid the Foundation of Religion and Laws A Years be ∣ fore J. C. 714 long Peace gave Numa his Successor a good opportunity to finish that Work He formed Years of Rome 40 Religion and qualified the wild and extravagant Manners of the Romans In his time the Colonies that came from Corinth and several other Towns of Greece founded Syracuse in Sicily Crotona Tarentum and perhaps some other Towns in that part of Italy to which the most antient Greek Colonies which were spread over all the Country had already given the name of Great Greece In the mean time Hezekiah the most Pious and the justest of all the Kings Years be ∣ fore J. C. 710 ever since David reigned in Judah Sennacherib the Son and Successor of Salmanassar Years of Rome 44 besieged him in Jerusalem with a vast and prodigious Army which was in one night destroyed by the Hand of an Angel which went out and smote in the Camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five Thousand Hezekiah being delivered in so wonderful a manner served God with all his People more faithfully than ever But Years be ∣ fore J. C. 698 after that Prince his Death under his Son Years of Rome 56 Manasseh the ungrateful forgat their God and so disorders and calamities were multiplied Years be ∣ fore J. C. 687 upon them A popular State or commonwealth Years of Rome 67 was then formed among the Athenians and they began to elect annual Archontes or Governours the first of whom was Creon Whilst wickedness increased in the Kingdom of Judah the Power of the Kings of Assyria which were to be their avengers grew daily stronger under Esarhaddon Years be ∣ fore J. C. 681 the Son of Sennacherib He re-united the Years of Rome 73 Kingdom of Babylon to that of Nineveh and equalled in Great Asia the Power of the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 677 first Assyrians 2 Kings xvii 24. 1 Esd iv 2. In his Reign the Cuthians Years of Rome 77 People of Assyria since called Samaritans were placed in the City of Samaria instead of the Children of Israel These joined to that of Idolatry the Worship of God and obtained of Esarhaddon an Israelitish Priest who taught them the manner of the God of the Land that is to observe the Law of Moses God resolving not to have his Name utterly abolished in a Land that he had given to his People he left there his Law as an earnest and testimony 2 Kings xvii 27
28 c. But their Priest gave them only the Books of Moses which the revolted ten Tribes had retained during the time of their Schism The Scriptures composed by the Prophets who sacrificed in the Temple were by them detested and therefore the Samaritans have received no other than the Pentateuch even down to this day Whilst Esarhaddon and the Assyrians so firmly were setling themselves in greater Asia the Medes likewise began to be considerable Dejoces their first King named Arphaxad in Scripture founded the Great City Ecbatana and laid the Foundations of a great Empire They had set him on the Throne to reward his vertues and to put an end to the disorders which Anarchy had caused among them Conducted by so great a King Herod l. 1. c. 27. they supported themselves against their Neighbours but they did not enlarge their Years be ∣ fore J. C. 671 Dominions Rome daily grew but it was weakly Under Tullus Hostilius the Third Years of Rome 83 King and by the famous Battle between the Horatii and the Curatii Alba was conquered and ruined Its Citizens incorporated in that victorious Ville did mightily greaten and fortify it Romulus was the first who took that way to make it more flourishing where he received the Sabins and other vanquished People And they forgat their Overthrow and became most Faithful and Affectionate Subjects Rome in extending it's Conquests regulated it's Militia and it was under Tullus Hostilius that it began to learn that Noble Discipline which made it to be at last the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 670 Mistriss of the Universe The Kingdom Years of Rome 84 of Egyyt weakned by its long Divisions was re-established under Psammeticus That Prince who owed his Safety to the Ionians and Carians established them in Egypt then shut to Strangers About this time the Aegyptians began to commerce with the Greeks and since that time also the History of Aegypt down to the mingling of pompous Fables by the Artifice of the Priests began as Years be ∣ fore J. C. 657 Herodotus tells us Herod l. 2. c. 95. to have some certainty In the mean time the Kings of Assyria became more and more terrible to all the East Years of Rome 97 Saosduchin the Son of Esarhaddon called Nebuchadonosor in the Book of Judith in battle array defeated Arphaxad King the Medes Years be ∣ fore J. C. 656 Flushed with this Success he attempted to Years of Rome 98 conquer all the Land To compass this his design he passed the Euphrates and ravaged all as far as Judah The Jews had provoked God and given themselves up to Idolatry after the Example of Manassâ—h but they had repented with that Prince and God took them into his Protection The Conquests of Nebuchodonosor and Holofernes his General were upon a suddain stopt by the hand of a Woman Dejoces although he was beaten by the Assyrians left his Kingdom in a condition of growing greater under his Successors Whilst Phraortes his Son and Cyagorus the Son of Phraortes subdued Years be ∣ fore J. C. 643 Persia and pushed on their Conquests to lesser Years of Rome 111 Years of Rome 641 Asia even to the borders of Halys Judah Years of Rome 113 indured the detestable Reign of Amon the Son of Manasseh and Josiah the Son of Amon wise and prudent from his Childhood endeavoured to repair the Disorders that were caused by the wickedness and impiety of his Predecessor-Kings Rome when Ancus Martius was King brought some Latines under it's subjection and government and continuing to make Citizens of her Enemies she shut them up within her Walls The Veienses already weakened by Romulus Years be ∣ fore J. C. 626 suffered new Losses Ancus pushed on his Years of Rome 128 Conquests as far as to the Neighbouring Sea and built the City of Ostia at the Mouth of the River Tyber At this time the Kingdom of Babylon was invaded by Nabopolassar That Traitor whom Chinaladan otherwise called Sarac had made General of his Armies against Cyagorus King of the Medes joyned himself with Astyages the Son of Cyagorus took Chinaladan in Nineveh destroyed that great City so long a time the Mistriss of the East and set himself upon the Throne of his Master Under this ambitious Prince Babylon grew in Pride and haughtiness Judah whose Impiety waxed more Years be ∣ fore J. C. 624 and more had every thing to fear The pious Years of Rome 130 King Josiah for some small time by his great humility suspended the punishment which his people had deserved but the evil increased under his Childrens Reign Nebuchadonosor Years be ∣ fore J. C. 610 II. more terrible than his Father Years of Rome 144 Nebuchadonosor succeeded him This Years be ∣ fore J. C. 607 Prince bred up in Pride and always ingaged Years of Rome 147 in War made prodigious Conquests both in the East and West and Babylon threatned to bring all the Land into subjection and vassalage His Menaces had soon their effect upon the People of God Jerusalem was left wholely to this proud and mighty Conqueror who took it three times The first at the beginning of his Reign and in the fourth year of the Reign of Joachim from whence begins the 70 years of Babylon's Captivity taken notice of by the Prophet Jeremiah the second under Jechonias or Joachin the Son of Joachim Jer. xxv 11 12. c. xxix 10. and the last under Zeâ—ekiah when the City was utterly destroyed the Temple burnt and the King Years be ∣ fore J. C. 599 carried Captive to Babylon with Serajah the Years of Rome 155 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 598 High-Priest and the bâ—t part of the people Years of Rome 156 The most eminent of those Captives were the Prophets Ezekiel and Daniel with them also are reckoned the Three Children whom Nebuchadnezzar could not make to worship his Golden Image nor consume by his Fiery Furnace Greece was flourishing and its Seven Wise Men made themsâ—â—ves illustrious Years be ∣ fore J. C. 594 Some time before the last desolation of Jerusalem Years of Rome 160 Solon one of the Sevâ—â— prescribed Laws to the Athenians and established Liberty Years be ∣ fore J. C. 578 upon Justice The Phocians of Ionia Years of Rome 176 brought their first Colony to Marseilles Tarquin the Antient King of Rome after he had conquered a part of Tuscany and adorned the City of Rome with his Pompous and Magnificent Works finished his Reign In his time the Gauls led on by Bellovesus possessed in Italy all the Suburbs round about Years be ∣ fore J. C. 566 Po whilst that Segâ—vesus his Brother Years of Rome 188 carried far up into Germany another swarm of the Nation Servius Tullius Tarquin's successour established the Census or the List of Citizens that were distributed into certain Classes whereby that great City was regulated and ordered as a private Family Nebuchadnezzar beautifyed Babylon which was mightily inriched by the Spoils of Jerusalem and the
Eastern Country But it did not enjoy them long For that King who had illustrated it with such magnificence when he was dying saw the approaching ruin of that famous City His Son Evilmerodac Years be ∣ fore J. C. 562 whose Debauches had rendred him odious Years of Rome 192 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 560 lived not long for he was killed by Neriglissor Years of Rome 194 his Brother-in-Law Abyd apud Euseb l. 9. Praep. Ev. c. ult who usurped the Kingdom Pisistratus also in Athens usurp'd the Soveraign Authority which he understood very well how to keep for thirty years amidst several vicissitudes and afterwards left it to his Children Neriglissor could not bear with the power of the Medes which grew very great in the East and therefore declared war against them Whilst Astyages the Son of Cyagorus I. was preparing to resist him he dyed and left the War to be maintain'd by his Son Cyagorus II. called in Daniel Darius the Mede He appointed for the General of his Army Cyrâ—s the Son of Mandana his Sister and of Cambyses King of Persia who was subject to the Empire of the Medes The Reputation of Cyrus which had been signalized in divers Wars under Astyages his Grand-father re-united most of the Eastern Kings under the Standards of Cyagorus He Years be ∣ fore J. C. 548 took in his Capital City Croesus King of Lydia Years of Rome 206 and possest himself with his vast Estate and Riches he brought down the other Allies Years be ∣ fore J. C. 543 of the Kings of Babylon and extended Years of Rome 211 his Dominion not only over Syria but also very far in the lesser Asia At last he marches Years be ∣ fore J. C. 538 against Babylon takes it and submits it to Years of Rome 216 Cyagorus his Uncle who being no less affected with his Fidelity than his great Exploits gave him his only Daughter and Heiress in Years be ∣ fore J. C. 537 Marriage In the Reign of Cyagorus Daniel Years of Rome 217 already honoured under the precedent Reigns with several Visions from Heaven in which he saw pass before him in such plain and manifest Figures so many Kings and Empires learnt by a New Revelation those Seventy famous Weeks by which the Time of Jesus Christ and the Destiny of the Jewish People are explained It was the Weeks of Years and contain'd 490 Years and this way of computation was ordinary and familiar among the Jews who observed the Seventh Year as well as the Seventh Day with a Religious repose Years be ∣ fore J. C. 536 Some time after this Vision Cyagorus dyed Years of Rome 218 as well as Cambyses the Father of Cyrus and this great Man who succeeded them joined the Kingdom of Persia till then obscure unto the Kingdom of the Medes so mightily greatn'd by its Conquests Thus was He the quiet and peaceable Master of all the East and founded the greatest Empire that ever was in the World But that which is most remarkable for the continuance of our Epochas is that this great Conquerour in the first Year of his Reign gave his Decree for the Re-establishing of the Temple of God in Jerusalem and the Jews in Judea Here we ought a little to make a stop because it is the most entangled place of all the Antient Chronology by reason of the difficulty in conciliating the Prophane History with the Sacred No question but your Highness hath already observed that this account I have given you of Cyrus is much different from what you have read of him in Justin that he speaks nothing of the second Kingdom of the Assyrians nor of those famous Kings of Assyria and Babylon so memorable in the Sacred History and in short this Relation of mine is very incongruous to that which is reported by the Author of the three first Monarchies of that of the Assyrians ended in the Person of Sardanapalâ—s that of the Medes ended in Astyages the Grandfather of Cyrus and this of the Persians began by Cyrus and destroy'd by Alexander Your Highness may be pleased to add to Justin Diodorus with most of the Greek and Latin Authors whose Writings are yet extant who give you these Histories after quite another manner than this I have followed As to what belongs to Cyrus Hieron in Dan. the Prophane Authors are in no agreement among themselves about his History but I thought it best to follow rather Xenophon with St. Jerome than Ctesias a fabulous Author whom most of the Grecians have copy'd and written after as Justin and the Latins have follow'd the Grecians and I have preferred him even to Herodotus himself tho' he is a most excellent and judicious Reporter And that which hath determined me to this choice is that Xenophon's History the most probable and likely in it self hath also this great advantage that it is the most conformable to the Scriptures which by reason of its antiquity and the Relation of the Jewish Affairs to those of the Eastern People deserves to be esteemed beyond all the other Greek Histories tho' one did not know that it had been dictated by the Holy Spirit Plat. in Tim. As to the three first Monarchies what most of the Greek Authors have written of them seems very doubtful to the Sages of Greece Plato in general shews us that under the name of Egyptian Priests the Greeks were extreamly ignorant of Antiquities and Aristotle hath ranged among the fabulous Reporters Arist â—olit v. 10. those that have written of the Assyrians The Greeks have written very negligently and because they had a mind to please and divert by their Historical relating of their Antiquities Greece which was ever very curious about them they have taken up Reports upon confused and dark Memorandums and so satisfied themselves with putting them into an agreeable and delightful order without being at any great pains or care to search whether they were true or not And certainly the way which was commonly taken to rank the three first Monarchies is most apparently fabulous For after the downfal of the Empire of Assyria under Sardanapalus next appear the Medes and after them the Persians as if the Medes had been Successors to the mighty Power of the Assyrians and the Persians had established themselves upon the ruin of the Medes Whereas on the contrary it is most certain that when Arbaces abandoned the Medes against Sardanapalus he did only deliver them without any submitting of the Assyrian Empire to them Herodotus Herod l. 1. c. 26 27. followed herein by the most approved Chronologers mentions nothing of their first King Dejoces until 50. years after their revolt and it is the more to be credited because of the concurrent Testimony both of this great Historian and of Xenophon not to trouble you now with any others that during the time that is allotted to the Empire of the Medes Herod 1. Xenoph. Cyrop â— vi c. there were in Assyria such
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
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
his Brother Jaddus would fain have obliged him he embraced the Schism of the Samaritans And several of the Jews to shun the like Censures joined themselves to him He was resolv'd at that time to build a Temple near Samaria upon Mount Gerizim which the Samaritans believed was blest and so to make himself the High-Priest of it His Father-in-Law a most intimate Friend of Darius assured him of this Prince's Protection and the effect and Consequence was so much the more favourable to him for Years be ∣ fore J. C. 332 Alexander raised himself Sanballat deserted Years of Rome 422 his Master and brought his Troops over to the Victorious at the Siege of Tyre Thus he obtained whatsoever he desired the Temple of Gerizim was built and the Ambition of Manasses was satisfied The Jews in the mean time being ever faithful to the Persians refused to give Alexander the succour he demanded of them He went to Jerusalem full of Resolution to take his Revenge but his Mind was alter'd when he beheld the High-Priest coming out to meet him with the other Priests that offered Sacrifices all cloathed with their proper Vestments for Ceremony and in Procession before the People in White They shewed to him the Prophecies that foretold his Victories out of Daniel So that he granted to the Jews all their Requests and they kept with him the same Fidelity as they had always done before to the Kings of Persia In the midst of these his Conquest Rome Years of Rome 428 was engaged with her Neighbours the Samnites Years of Rome 429 and were extremely put to 't to reduce Years of Rome 430 them notwithstanding the Valour and Conduct of Papyrius Cursor the most famous of her Generals After the Death of Alexander his Empire was divided Perdiccas Ptolomee the Son of Lagus Antigonus Sileuâ—us Lysimachus Antipater and his Son Years be ∣ fore J. C. 324 Cassanâ—eâ— in a word all his Captains that Years of Rome 430 were bred up in War under so great and mighty a Conqueror designed to make themselves Masters of it by their Arms They sacrificed to their Ambition all the Family of Alexander his Brother Years of Rome 430 Years of Rome 436 Years of Rome 438 Years of Rome 443 Years of Rome 445 his Mother his Wives his Children and even his Sisters so that there was nothing to be seen but Fields of Blood and dreadful Revolutions In the midst of so many disorders several of the People of lesser Asia and thereabouts freed themselves and formed the Kingdoms of Pontus Bithynia and Pergamus The Goodness of the Country made them afterwards Rich and Powerful Armenia likewise at the same time shook off the Macedonian Yoak and became a very great Kingdom The two Mithridates's Father and Son founded that of Cappadocia Years be ∣ fore J. C. 323 But the two most puissant Monarchies Years of Rome 431 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 312 that were then raised were that of Egypt Years of Rome 442 founded by Ptolomee the Son of Lagus from whence came the Lagides and that of Asia or Syria founded by Seleucus from whence proceeded the Seleucides This latter comprised besides Syria those vast and rich Provinces of higher Asia which made up the Persian Empire so all the East owned Greece and learned the Language of it Nay even Greece it self fell under oppression by the Captains of Alexander And Macedonia his antient Kingdom which gave Laws as well as Masters to the East was left a Prey to the first Comer Cassander's Children drive each the other out of that Kingdom Pyrrhus King of Epirus who had possessed one part of it was driven out Years be ∣ fore J. C. 296 by Demetrius Poliorcetes the Son of Antigonus Years of Rome 458 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 294 whom also he expelled in his turn Years of Rome 460 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 289 This is he who was likewise once forced out Years of Rome 465 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 286 by Lysimachus and Lysimachus by Seleucus Years of Rome 468 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 281 whom Ptolomee Ceraunus driven out of Egypt Years of Rome 468 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 280 by his Father Ptolomee the first killed like Years of Rome 473 a Traytor notwithstanding all his Kindnesses Years of Rome 474 That perfidious Man had no sooner invaded Macedonia but he was attacqued Years be ∣ fore J. C. 279 by the Gauls and was slain in a Fight he had with them During these troubles in Years of Rome 475 the East They came into lesser Asia led on by their King Brennus and setled themselves Gallo-Greece or Galatia called so from their own Name from whence they went to Macedonia which they ravaged and so made all Greece to tremble But their Army was destroyed in the Sacrilegious attempts on the Temple of Delphos This Nation was active and yet in every thing Years be ∣ fore J. C. 278 unfortunate some years before the business Years of Rome 476 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 283 of Delphos the Gauls of Italy whose continual Years of Rome 471 Wars Polyb. l. 2. 20. and frequent Victories had made them the dread and terrour of the Romans were animated against them by the Samnites the Brutians and Etrurians At first they returned back with a new Victory but the Glory of it was quickly sullied by slaying the Ambassadors The Romans being inraged marched against them defeated them entred into their Territories Years be ∣ fore J. C. 282 where they founded a Colony beat them also Years of Rome 472 a second time by subjecting one part of them and forcing the other to demand Peace After that the Gauls of the East had been driven out of Greece Antigonus Gonatas Years be ∣ fore J. C. 277 the Son of Demetrius Poliorceters who Years of Rome 477 reigned about twelve years before in Greece but very unquietly without any difficulty invaded Years be ∣ fore J. C. 280 Macedonia Pyrrhus was otherwise engaged Years of Rome 474 for being forced out of that Kingdom he was in good hopes to satisfie his Ambition with the Conquest of Italy whither he was called by the Tarentines The Battle which the Romans came to get over them and the Samnites afforded them only this Ressource Years be ∣ fore J. C. 279 that he carried away from the Romans those Years of Rome 475 Victories which would be his ruin Pyâ—rhus his Elephants affrighted them but the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 278 Consul Fabricius made the Romans soon see that Pyrrhus was not unconquerable The Years of Rome 476 King and the Consul seemed to dispute between the glory of Generosity rather than that of Arms Pyrrhus rendred to the Consul all his Prisoners without a Ransom saying It became him to make War with the Sword and not with Money and Fabricius sent back to the King his treacherous Physician who had offered to poison his Master for him About these times Religion and the Jewish Nation
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
the â—â—iâ—â—e â—râ—m thâ—nâ—â— proceeded th se great 〈…〉 Heâ—aclituâ— Dâ—mâ—crit â— Empeâ—â—cles Pâ—â—â—â—niâ—â—â— Anaâ—â—goras who a little 〈◊〉 the Pâ—lopâ—â—â—sian War discover'd the World tâ— be made by an Eternal Spiâ—â—â— Sâ—â—r t s in a short time after reduced Pâ—ilosoâ—hy to the study of good manners and was the Father of Moral Philosophy Plato his Disciple chief of the Academy Aristotle Plato's Disâ—iple and Master of Alâ—xander chief of the P ripatetick under the Successors of Alexander Zâ—nâ— sirnamed Citian from a Town in the Isle of Cyprus where he was born chief of the Stoicks and Epicurus the Athenian chief of those Philosophers that bear his name if likewise we may count those Philsophers who openly deny a Providence and who being ignorant what duty was defined Vertue by Pleasure We may also reckon among the greatest Philosophers Hippocrates the Father of Physick who was eminently famous amongst others in those happy times of Greece The Romans had at the same time another sort of Philosophy which did not consist in Disputes nor in Discourses but in Frugality in Poverty in the labours of a Countrey life and in those of War wherein they made their Glory to consist in that of their Countrey and of the Roman Name which made them at last the Masters both of Italy and Carthage IX Epocha Scipio or Carthage conquâ—â—ed In the Year 552. from the Foundation of Rome about 250 Years after the Foundation of the Persian Monarchy and 202 Years before Jesus Christ Carthage was made subject to the Romans Hannibal never Years be ∣ fore J. C. 202 ceased underhand to stir them up Enemies Years of Rome 552 wheresoever he could but he only ensnared all his old and new Friends in the ruine of their Countrey and his own too By the Victories of the Consul Flaminius Years be ∣ fore J. C. 198 Philip King of Macedonia an Ally of the Years of Rome 556 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 196 Carâ—haginians was overcome the Kings of Years of Rome 558 Macedonia brought to great straits and Greece freed from their Yoke The Romans attempted to destroy Hâ—â—â—nibal whom they found to be still feared notwithstanding his losses That Great Captain forced to Years be ∣ fore J. C. 15 save himself from his Countrey stirred up the East against them and brought their Years of Rome 559 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 193 Arms into Asia By his powerful Arguments Years of Rome 561 and Perswasions Antiochâ—s sirnamed the Great King of Syria became Jealous of their Forces and made War with them but in doing so he followed not the Counsels of Hannibal who had engaged him in it Beaten both by Sea and Land he receiv'd the Law which the Consul Lucius Scipio the Brother of Scipio Africanus imposed upon him and he was shut up in Mount Years be ∣ fore J. C. 182 Taurus Hannibal fled for refuge to Prusias Years of Rome 572 King of Bythinia escaped the Romans by Poyson They are feared by all People and will not suffer any other Power besides their own Kings were obliged to give them their Children as Hostages of their Faith Antiochus since called the Illustrious or Epiphanius the second Son of Antiochus the great King of Syria continued a long while at Rome in that Quality but about the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 176 end of the Reign of Seleucus Philopater Years of Rome 578 his elder Brother he was restored and the Romans would have in his Room Demetrius Years be ∣ fore J. C. 175 Soter the Kings Son then about ten years of Years of Rome 579 Age. In this time of Convulsion Seleâ—cus died and Antiochus usurped the Kingdom over his Nephew The Romans were taken up in the affairs of the Macedonians where Perseus was troubling his Neighbours and would no longer keep to those Conditions that were imposed upon King Philip his Father Then began the Persecutions of Gods People Antiochus the Mighty reigned Years be ∣ fore J. C. 173 like one inraged all his Fury was bent Years of Rome 581 against the Jews he endeavoured to destroy the Temple the Mosaick Law and indeed Years be ∣ fore J. C. 171 all the Nation The Roman Power kept Years of Rome 583 him from making himself Master of Aegypt They entred into a War with Perseus who Years be ∣ fore J. C. 168 being more ready to attempt than to execute Years of Rome 586 lost his Allies by his Covetousness and his Armies by his Baseness And being conquered by the Consul Paulus Aemilius he was forced to fling himself into his Arms. Gentius King of Illyria his Ally being utterly routed in thirty days by the Praetor Anicius had just then met with the same Fate The Kingdom of Macedonia which had continued for seven hundred years and for near two hundred of them had not only given Masters to Greece but also to all the East was now no more than a bare Roman Province The outragious Furies of Antiochus daily incrâ—ased against the Jews Then appeared the Resistance of Mattathias Years be ∣ fore J. C. 167 the High-Priest of the Race of Phineas Years of Rome 587 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 166 and an Imitator of his Zeal his dying Years of Rome 588 Orders for the Salvation of his People the Victories of Judas the Maccabee his Son notwithstanding the infinite number of his Enemies the Advance of the Family Years be ∣ fore J. C. 165 of the Asmonians or Maccabees the new Years of Rome 589 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 164 Dedication of the Temple which the Gentiles Years of Rome 590 had profaned the Prelacy of Judas and the Greatness of the Priesthood re-established the Death of Antiochus suitable to his Impiety and his Pride his pretended Coversion during his last Sickness and the fierceness of Divine Vengeance upon that I solent King His Son Antiochus Eupator tho' much under Age succeeded him under the Guardianship of Lysias his Governour During this his Minority Demetrius Soter who was under Hostage at Rome thought he might have been able to re-establish himself but he could not obtain of the Senate to be sent back into his own Kingdom The â—â—man Polity rather chose to have a young Infant Under this Antiochus Years be ∣ fore J. C. 163 Eupator the Persecution of the Jews and the Years of Rome 591 Victories of Judas the Maccaâ—ee continued Years be ∣ fore J. C. 162 A Division was set asoot in the Kingdom Years of Rome 592 of Syria Demetrius escapes from Rome is acknow edged by the People and the young Antiochus is slain with Lysias his Tutor But the Jews are nâ— better trâ—ated under Demerius than they were under his Predâ—cessors He takes the same Course his Generals are beaten by Judas the Maccabee and the Hand of the proud Nicanor whose Temple he had so often threatned is joyned with Years be ∣ fore J. C. 161 him But a little after Juâ—as overwhelmed Years of Rome 593 by the Multitude was killed as he was
fighting with an astonishing Courage His Brother Jonathan succeeded to his Charge and supported his Reputation Being reduced to extremity his Courage left him not The Romans overjoyed in their humbling of the Kings of Syria granted to the Jews their Protection and the Alliance which Judas had sent to demand of him was granted but yet it was without any Sâ—ccour But the Glory of the Roman Name was however a considerable Support to the afflicted People The Troubles of Syria daiâ—y grew greater and greater Alexander Balasus who boasted himself to be the Son Years be ∣ fore J. C. 154 of the Illustrious Antiochus was set upon Years of Rome 600 the Throne by Antiochus his Party The Kings of Aegypt who were the perpetual Enemies of Sâ—ria interessed themselves in those Divisions to make their own Advantages Years be ∣ fore J. C. 150 by them Ptolomee Philometor upheld Years of Rome 604 Balasus The War was bloody Demetrius Soter was slain in it and to revenge his Death left none but two young Princes a great deal under his Age Demetrius Nicator and Antiochus Sidetes So that the Usurper continued in peace and the King of Aegypt gave him his Daughter Cleopotra in Marriage Balasus who thought himself above all things plunged himself into Debaucheries and brought thereby upon himself the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 150 slight and scorn all his Subjects About Years of Rome 604 this time Philâ—mâ—tor judged that famous Cause which the Samaritans had with the Jews 2. Maccab. vi 2. Jos Ant. xii 7. Those Schismaticks who were ever opposite to God's peculiar People did not fail to joyn with their Enemies and to Years be ∣ fore J. C. 167 please the Illustrious Antiochus their Persecutor Years of Rome 597 they had consecrated their Temple of Gerazim to Jupiter Hospitalis Notwithstanding this Profanation these wicked Wretches desisted not from maintaining sometime after at Alexandria before Ptolomeus Philometer that That Temple ought to be preferred to that of Jerusalem The Parties disputed in the Presence of the King and both of them to the hazard of their Lives engaged to justifie their Pretensions by the Terms of the Law of Moses The Jews gain'd their Cause Josph Ant. lib. 13. c. 6. Ibid. and the Samaritans were punished with Death according to their Covenant The same King permitted Onias of the Sacerdotal Race to build in Aegypt the Temple of Heliopolis after the Model of that of Jerusalem An Enterprise condemned by all the Jewish Council and adjudged contrary to the Law In the mean while Carthage began to stir again being very uneasie in bearing with the Laws which Scipio Africanus had imposed upon her The Romans resolved on no less than her total Overthrow and therefore to that end was the third Punick War undertaken Years be ∣ fore J. C. 148 The young Demetrius Nicator now having Years of Rome 606 past over his Minority was contriving how to re-establish himself upon the Throne of his Ancestors the Softness and Effeminacy of the Usurper made him to hope every Years be ∣ fore J. C. 146 thing At his approach Balasus was troubled Years of Rome 608 his Father-in-Law Philometor declared against him because Balasus would not let him take his Kingdom The Ambitious Cleopatra his Queen left him to marry his Enemy and he was slain at last by the hand of one of his own Creatures after the loss of a Battle Philometer dyed a few days after the Wounds he received in it and Syria was delivered of two Enemies At the same time were two great Cities seen to fall Carthage was taken and reduced to Ashes by Scipio Aemylianus who by that Victory confirmed the Name of Africanus to his Posterity and shewed himself the worthy Inheritor of the Great Scipio his Grandfather Corinth had the same Destiny and the Republique of Achaia was destroyed with it The Consul Mummius did utterly ruine that City the most voluptuous and the most beautiful of all Greece He transported to Rome their incomparable Statues without ever knowing the Value of them The Romans being ignorant of the Arts of Greece contented tnemselves with the knowledge of War Politie and Agriculture During the Troubles of Syria the Jews fortifyed themselves Jonathan saw himself sought after by both Parties and Victorious Nicator treated him as a Brother He was quickly requited for Years be ∣ fore J. C. 144 it In a Sedition The Jews all in a Body Years of Rome 610 took him by force from the Hands of the Rebels Jonathan was overwhelmed with Honours but when the King thought himself most secure he took up also the Designs of his Ancestors and the Jews were as bad tormented as before The Troubles of Syria began again Diodotus sirnamed Tryphon raised up a Son Balasus whom he called Antiochus the God and made himself his Tut r during his Infancy The Years be ∣ fore J. C. 143 Pride of Demetrius flushed the People all Years of Rome 611 Syria was as it were on fire Jonathan knew how to take Advantage of this Conjuncture and renewed the Alliance with the Romans Every thing was prosperous to him when Tryphon by a breach of Promise caused him to be slain with his Children His Brother Simon the most prudent and happy of the Macâ—abees succeeded him and the Romans favoured him as they did his Predecessors Typhon was not less unfaithful to his Pupil Antiâ—chus than he had been to Jonathan He caused that Child to be made away by the meanes of the Physicians under pretence of having him to be cut of the Stone which he had nothing of and so made himself Master of one part of the Kingdom Simon joyned himself with Demetrius Nicator the Legitimate King and after he had obtained of him the Freedom of his Country he maintained and kept it by Arms against the Rebel Tryphon Years of Rome 612 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 142 The Syrians were driven out of the Cittadel which they kept in Jerusalem and a while after out of all the places of Judea Thus the Jews being freed from the Yoke of the Gentiles by the Valour of Simon they yielded the Kingly Rights to him and to his Family Demetrius and Nicator consented to that new Establishment There began the new Kingdom of God's People and the Principality of the Asmonians ever joyned to the Soveraign Priesthood About this time the Parthian Empire extended it self over the Bactrians and Indians by the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 141 Victories of Mithridates the valiantest of all Years of Rome 613 the Arsacidae Whilst He was advancing towards Euphrates Demetrus Nicator called by the People of that Country which Mithridates had newly brought into Subjection was in hopes of reducing the Parthians to Obedience whom the Syrians had always treated as Rebels He was happy in several Victories and near to retun into Syria to give Tryphon his absolute Overthrow there but unluckily sell into a Snare which one of Mithridâ—tes his Generals had laid
for him and so he became a Prisoner to the Parthians Tryphon who then thought himself safe by the Calamity of that Prince found of a sudden that he Years be ∣ fore J. C. 140 was abandoned by his own People They Years of Rome 614 could no longer bear with his insulting Pride During the Imprisonment of Demetrius their legitimate King they submitted themselves to his Wife Cleopatra and to his Children But however they were obliged to look out for one that might be a Guardian and Defender to those Princes being yet but young and under Age. That Care did naturally belong to Antiâ—châ—s Sidetes the Brother of Demetrius Cleopatra made him to be owned throughout all the Kingdom she also went further Phraates the Brother and Successor of Mithridates treated Nicator as a King and gave him his Daughter Roâ—ogâ—na in Marriage And in hatred to this Rival Cleopatra from whom she took away the Crown with her Husband married Antiochus Sidettes and was resolved to Reign tho by all the Crimes imaginable The new King set Years be ∣ fore J. C. 139 upon Tryphon Simon joyned with him in Years of Rome 615 that Assault and the Tyrant being in all places subdued met with that Fate in his Years of Rome 619 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 135 End which he justly deserved Antiochus now Master of the Kingdom soon forgat the Services that Simon had done him in that War and caused him to be killed Whilst he was collecting against the Jews all the Forces of Syria Johannes Hyrcanus the Son of Simon succeeded to the Pontificat of his Father and all the People yielded to him He sustained the Siege in Jerusalem with a great deal of Valour and the War which Antiochus was designing against the Parthians for the Delivery of his Captive Brother made him agree with the Jews upon very easy and supportable Terms At the same time that this Peace was concluding the Romans who began to grow mighty rich met with Enemies that were not a little to be feared in the vast Multitude of their Slaves Eâ—nus a Slave got them to make their first Insurrection in Sicily and to reduce them no less than the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 133 whole Power of Rome was employed A Years of Rome 621 while after the Succession of Attalus King of Pergamus who by his last Will made the Roman People his Heir put the City into an unhappy Division The Troubles of the Gracchi began The Seditious Tribunalship of Tiberius Gracchus one of the primier Citâ—zens of Rome became his Destruction For the whole Senate killed him by the hand of Scipio Nasica and they saw no other means whereby to prevent the dangerous distribution of Mony wherewith that Eloquent Tribune flattered the People Scipio Aemilianus re-established the Military Discipline and that great Man who had destroyed Carthage ruined Numantia in Spain the second Terror of the Years be ∣ fore J. C. 132 Romans The Parthians found themselves Years of Rome 622 weak against Sidetes His Troops though they were corrupted by a prodigious Luxury yet had most surprizing Successes Johannes Hyâ—canus who had attended him with his Jews in that War made there his Valour signally Famous and the Jewish Religion to be had in regard stopt a little to give himself the leisure to celebrate the * â—â—ur â—e â—â—â—e Sabbath-day Every one submitted and Pâ—raates saw his Empire reduced to its antient Bounds and Limits But yet he was so far from despaâ—ring at these disastrous Circumstances that he verily believed his Prisoner would be a means to set 'em right again and enable him to invade Syâ—ia Whilst things were in this pâ—sture Demetriis met with a very odd Adventure and Fate He was several times released and as often retained according to the Ascendant of his Father in Laws Hopes and Fears At last a happy Moment wherein Phraates found no other Refource than in the Divertion which he resolved to make in Syria by his means set him at absolute Liberty At this Crisis there was a new turn Years before J. C. â—3â— of things Siâ—etâ—s who could no longer Years of Rome 624 keep up his prodigious Expences but by Rapines insupportable was on a sudden overwhelmed by a general Rising of the People and he fell with that Army which he had found so oft Victorious In vain now did Phraates seek to o'retake â—emetrius that time was past and the Prince was got into his Kingdom His Wife Cleopatra who was resolved to reign did soon return with him and Roâ—oguna was as soon forgot Hyâ—â—nâ—â—s made use of his time He took Sicâ—em from the Samaritans and utteâ—ly destroyed the Temple of â—erazim two hundred Years after is had been built by Sanballat It s Ruine hindred not the Samaritans from continuing their Worship upon that Mountain and the two People remained irreconcileable The Year after all Years be ∣ fore J. C. 129 Idumea united by the Victories of Hyrcanus Years of Rome 625 to the Kingdom of Judea received Moses's Law with Circumcision The Romans continued their Protection to Hyrcanus and caused a Surrender of the Towns to him which the Syrians had dispossessed him of The Pride and the Violences of Demetrius Years be ∣ fore J. C. 128 Nicator left not Syria long in Repose The Years of Rome 626 People revolted And to keep up their Revolt the Enemy Aegypt gave them a King Years be ∣ fore J. C. 125 It was Alexander Zebina the Son of Balas Years of Rome 629 Demetrius was beaten and Cleopatra who thought to Reign more absolutely under her Children than under her Husband caused Years be ∣ fore J. C. 124 him to be taken out of the way And she Years of Rome 630 gave no better a Treatment to her eldest Son Seleucus who would needs Reign in spight Years be ∣ fore J. C. 121 of her Her second Son Antiochus called Years of Rome 633 Grypus had defeated the Rebels and was returned Victorious Cleopatra presented to him in Ceremony the poisoned Cup which her Son being advertised of her pernicious Designs made her to drink At her Death she left an eternal Seed of Divisions among her Children which she had had by the two Brothers Demetrius Nicator and Antiochus Sidetes Syria thus in Convulsions was not long in Condition to trouble the Jews Years be ∣ fore J. C. 109 Jâ—hannes Hyrcanus took Samaria tho' he Years of Rome 645 could not convert the Samaritans Five Years after he dyed Judea continued quiet under her two Children Aristobulus and Alexander Janeus who both Reigned one after the other without any Disturbance Years of Rome 650 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 104 from the Kings of Syria The Romans left Years of Rome 651 Years be ∣ fore J. C. 103 that rich Kingdom to waste and consume by it self and were content with inlarging themselves Years be ∣ fore J. C. 115 forwards to the West During the Years of Rome 629 Wars of Demetrius Nicator and of Zebina
After a long War Childebert and Clothaire the Sons of Clovis conquered the Kingdom of Burgâ—ndy and at the same time sacrificed to their Ambition the younger Sons of their Brother Clodomir whose Kingdom they divided between themselves Some time after and whilest Belisarius was so vigorously attacking the Ostrogoths what they had in the Country of the Gaules was left to the French France extended it self then a good way beyond the Rhine but the Partages of Princes which made up so many Kingdoms kept it from being re-united under one and the same Dominion It s chief parts were Neustria that is to say Western France and Austrasia Years of J. C. 553 that is to say Eastern France The same year that Rome was re-taken by Narses Justinian caused the fifth general Council to be held at Constantinople which confirmed those that went before it and condemned some Writings that seemed favourable to Nestorius That is what we call the three Chapters because of the three Authors long since dead whereof they then treated It condemn the Memory and the Writings of Theodorus Bishop of Mopsueste a Letter of Ibas Bishop of Edessa and among Theodoret his Writings those he had drawn up against St. Cyrill The Books of Origen which pestered all the East for one whole Age were also reprobated This Council which began with but ill designs yet had a happy Conclusion and was received by the Holy See which at first had opposed it Years of J. C. 555 Two years after the Council Narses who had taken Italy from the Goths defended it against the French and obtained an absolute Victory over Bucelin General of the Troops of Austrasia Yet notwithstanding all these Advantages Italy did not long remain under the Government of Emperors Under Justin II. Nephew of Justinian and Years of J. C. 568 after the Death of Narses the Kingdom of Lombardy was founded by Alboün He took Milan and Pavia Rome and Ravenna were scarce safe from his Hands and the Lombards put the Romans to extream sufferings Years of J. C. 570. 571. and calamities Rome was but poorly assisted Years of J. C. 574 by her Emperors whom the Covetous Nations Scythia the Saracens a People of Arabia and the Persians more than all the other grievously tormented on all sides in the East Justin who only believed himself and his Passions was always beaten by the Persians and by their King Chosroes His resentment of so many Losses put him into a Years of J. C. 579 Phrensie so that his Wife Sophia governed the Empire This unhappy Prince too late recovered into his good Senses and confessed as he was dying the Malice of his Flatterers After him Tiberius II. whom he had named Emperor repressed the Enemies comforted the People and enriched Years of J. C. 580 himself by their Alms. The Victories of Years of J. C. 581 Mauritius the Cappadocian General of his Armies broke the heart of the proud Years of J. C. 583 Chosroes Those were recompenced by the Empire which Tiberius gave him at his death with his Daughter Constantina At that time the Ambitious Fredegunda Wife to King Chilperick the first put all France into a Combustion and engaged all the French King in most bloudy and cruel Wars In the midst of the Miseries of Italy and whilst Rome was visited with a most Years of J. C. 590 dreadful Pestilence St. Gregory the Great was advanced maugre all his resistance to the See of St. Peter That great Pope stayed the Plague by his devout Prayers instructed Emperors and did absolutely make a just Obedience to be paid to them comforted Africa and fortified it confirmed in Spain the Visigoths converted from Arianisme and Ricardes the Catholic who was just got in again into the Bosom of the Church converted England reformed the Discipline in France whose Kings being always Orthodox he exalted above all Kings in the World He overcame the Lombards saved Rome and Italy which the Emperors could give no assistance to suppressed the growing Pride of the Patriarchs of Constantinople illuminated the Church by his Doctrin governed both the East and the West with as much resolution as humility and gave unto the World a perfect Model of Ecclesiastical Government The History of the Church hath nothing more glorious than the Monk St. Austin's Years of J. C. 597 Entrance into the Kingdom of Kent with forty of his Companions Beda l. 1. who going before the Holy Cross and the Image of the Great King our Lord Jesus Christ made solemn Vows for the conversion of England S. Gregory who had sent them instructed them by Letters truly Apostolical Greg. lib. 9. Ep. 58. ind 4. and taught S. Austin to tremble amidst the continual Miracles which God wrought by his Ministry Bertha a Princess of France brought King Edhilbert her Husband over to Christianity The Kings of France and Queen Brunehault protected the new Mission The Bishops of France did also engage in this Work and it was they who by the Order of Du Paga consecrated St. Austin The Supply which St. Gregory sent to the new Bishop was productive of new Years of J. C. 601 Fruits and the English Church assumed its Years of J. C. 604 Form The Emperor Mauritius having tryed the fidelity of the Holy Pontiff was corrected by his advice and received from him that commendation so worthy of a Christian Prince as the Heretics durst not open their mouths in his time However that pious Emperor was guilty of a great Fault A Years of J. C. 601 vast number of Romans were destroyed by the hands of the Barbarians for want of being ransomed by a Crown per head Immediately afterwards the good Emperor testifyed his remorse and he poured out a Prayer to God to punish him in this World rather than in the other and then was the revolt Years of J. C. 602 of Phocas who before his eyes cut the throats of all his Family Mauritius being the last that was killed amidst all this sad Scene of calamities was heard to say nothing but only that verse of the Psalmist Psal 119. I know O Lord that thy Judgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me Phocas being advanced to the Empire by so horrid and Years of J. C. 606 detestable a crime endeavoured to gain the Years of J. C. 610 People in honouring the Holy See whose priviledges he confirmed But his Sentence was pronounced Heraclius proclaimed Emperor by the African Army marched against him Then Phocas found that oft-times debauches do more ruin Princes than Cruelties and Photin whose Wife he had vitiated betrayed him to Heraclius who caused him to be killed France a while after beheld a much Years of J. C. 614 stranger Tragedy Queen Brunchault being delivered up to Clothaire II. was sacrificed to the ambition of that Prince her Memory was quite effaced and her virtue so much extolled by Pope S. Gregory was scarce able to be defended The Empire in the mean time was
came in Person to acknowledg it was from the Roman Church that the Faith came into his Isle and after he had received Baptism by the Hands of the Pope he dyed even according as he himself had wished The House of Clovis was fallen into a most deplorable Weakness Frequent Minorities had degenerated the Princes into such softnesses as they could not get out of when they were come to age From thence proceeded a long Succession of droaning Kings that only knew how to be content with the Name of King and delegated all their Power to the great Ministers of the Crown Under this Title Pepin Heristel governed all Years of J. C. 693 and raised up his House to the most exalted Years of J. C. 695 Hopes By his Authority and after the Martyrdom of St. Vigibert the Faith was established in Frieseland which France had then just added to her Conquests St. Swibert St. Willebord and other Apostolick Men spread abroad the Gospel in the neighbouring Provinces In the mean while the Minority of Justinian was happily got over the Victories of Leontius had brought down the Saracens and re-established the Glory of the Empire in the East But that Years of J. C. 694 valiant Captain unjustly arrested and unfortunately Years of J. C. 696 released cut his Masters Nose and drive him out That Rebel suffered a like treatment from Tiberius named Absimarus who himself did not long continue Justinian re-established was ungrateful to his Friends and in taking Revenge of his Enemies he raised himself up those that were more to be feared for they killed him The Images of Philippicus his Successor were Years of J. C. 702. 711. not received in Rome because he was a Favourer of the Monothelites and a declared Enemy to the sixth general Council At Constantinople they chose Anastasius II. a Years of J. C. 713 Catholic Prince and they pulled out Philippicus his Eyes At that time the Debauches of King Rodericus or Rodrigue caused Spain to be delivered up to the Moors So they called the Saracens of Africa Count Julian to be revenged for his Daughter whom Rodrigue had abused called those Infidels They came with vast Troops That King was ruined Spain submitted and the Empire of the Goths was brought to an end by it The Church of Spain was then put upon a new Proof and Tryal But as it had preserved it self under the Arians the Mahometans could not prevail over it They left it at first with Liberty enough but in the following Ages it indured great Combats and Chastity had its Martyrs as well as Faith under the Tyranny of a Nation as brutal as it was infidel The Emperor Years of J. C. 715 Anastasius continued not long The Army forced Theodosius III. to take up the Purple He was put upon fighting the new Emperor got the day and poor Anastasius was clapt into a Monastery The Moors being Masters of Spain hoped e're long to enlarge themselves beyond the Pyrenees But Charles Martel destined to suppress them was raised in France and had succeeded tho' a Bastard to the Power of his Father Pepin Heristel who left Austrasia to his House as a piece of soveraign Principality and the Command in Neustria by the charge of Grand Minister of the Crown Charles reunited all by his valour The Affairs of the East were embroyled Years of J. C. 716 Leo Isaurien Prefect of the East did not own Theodosius who without Resistance quitted the Empire which he had not accepted of but as it had been forced upon him and retired to Ephesus he spent the rest of his time about things that were truly great The Saracens received several cruel Shocks during the Empire of Leo. They shamefully raised the Siege at Years of J. C. 718. 719. Constantinople Pelagius who was canton'd in the Mountains of Asturia with the remains of those that were resolute among the Goths after a signalized Victory set up a new Kingdom in opposition to those Infidels whereby one day they were to be driven out of Spain Notwithstanding all the Efforts and the vast Army of Alderames their General Charles Martel gained over them the famous Battle of Toures There were killed there an infinite number of those Years of J. C. 725 Infidels and Abderames himself abode there upon the place This Victory was attended with other Advantages by which Charles put a stop to the Moors and extended the Kingdom even to the Pyrenees Then the Gauls scarce enjoyed any thing which was not in Obedience to the French and all acknowledged Charles Martel Powerful in Peace and in War and absolute Master of the Kingdom he reigned under several Kings with whom he fought and whom he conquered at his Pleasure but yet he durst never take upon him that great Title The Jealousy of the French Lords would have been thus deceived The Religion was established in Germany The Priest St. Boniface Years of J. C. 723 converted those People and was made Bishop thereof by Pope Gregory II. who had sent him thither The Empire was at that time pretty quiet But Leo began a trouble in it which lasted long before it ended He attempted to pull down as Idols the Images Years of J. C. 726 of Jesus Christ and of his Saints But tho' he could not come up to the Sentiments of St. Germane Patriarch of Constantinople he acted with his Authority and after a Decree of the Senate they saw him presently breaking an Image of our Saviour which was set up on the great Porch of the Church of Constantinople This began the Violences of the Iconoclasts that is to say of the breakers of Images Other Images which the Emperors the Bishops and all the Faithful had erected since the Peace of the Church both in publick and in private places went likewise all to wrack This Spectacle set the People into Motion The Statues of the Emperor were broke down in several places He look'd upon himself as being affronted in his Person and he was reproached for committing the like Affront upon Jesus Christ his Saints and that by his own Confession the Injury done to the Image reflected upon the Original Italy still went further the Impiety of the Emperor was the occasion that the common Taxes and Assessments were refused Luitprand King of the Lombards made use of the same Pretence to take Ravenna the Residence of the Exarchs So they called the Governors whom the Emperors sent into Italy Pope Gregory II. opposed the pulling down of Images but at the same time he opposed the Enemies of the Empire and indeavoured to retain the People Years of J. C. 730 in their Obedience Peace was made with the Lombards and the Emperor executed his Decree against Images more fiercely than ever But the famous John of Damas declared to him that in matters of Religion he knew no Decrees but those of the Church and he suffered much The Emperor removed from his Seat the Patriarch St. Germane who died in Exile being ninety years
Footstep of it to be found in him Pushed on by that blind Impression which absolutely swayed him he plunged himself into Idolatry and nothing could stay him So great a Mischief made a very strange Progress For fear lest all Mankind might be infected and the knowledg of God be utterly extinguished that great God called from on high his Servant Abraham in whose Family he resolved to establish his Worship and preserve the antient Faith as well of the Creation of the World as of the particular Providence with which humane things are governed Abraham hath always been celebrated in the East and it was not only the Hebrews that looked on him as their Father The Idumeans boasted of their Extract from him Ishmael the Son of Abraham is known among the Arabians as the Parent from whom they came Gen. 16.17 Gen. 17.25 Joseph Ant. l. 13. Circumcision still is used among them as the mark of their Original and they have received it at all times not only on the eighth day after the manner of the Jews but at thirteen years of Age as the Scripture informs us it was given to their Father Ishmael a Custom which continues still among the Mahometans There are other Arabian People who yet remember Abraham and Ketura Alex. Polyb. apud Joseph ant l. 16. and they are the same that the Scripture makes to come from that Marriage That Patriarch was a Chaldean and those People famous for their Astronomical Observations have reckoned Abraham for one of their most learned Observators Beros Hecar Eup. Alex. Polyb al. apud Joseph an t l. 8. Eus praep Ev. 9.16 17 18 19 20. 13.11 Nic. Damas lib. 4. Hist univ in excerpt Vales p. 491. ap Jos an t l. 8. Eus praep Ev. 9.16 Gen. 13. c. The Historians of Syria have made him King of Damascus though a Stranger and come from the Borders of Babylon and they report that he left the Kingdom of Damascus to settle himself in the Country of the Canaanites since called Judea But it will be best for us to observe what the sacred History relates to us of this great Man We have seen that Abraham followed that way of living which was led by his Ancestors before that all the World was reduced into Kingdoms He reigned in his Family with which he embraced the pastoral Life so much renowned for its simplicity and Innocence rich in his Flocks in his Slaves and in his Silver but without Lands and Demeans and yet he lived in a strange Kingdom but was respected and independent as a Prince His Piety and his Uprightness protected by God attracted that respect to him He treated as an Equal with Kings who sought his Alliance and it was from thence came that antient Opinion that he made himself a King But tho' his life was simple and peaceable yet understood he the Arts of War but then it was only to defend his opprest Allies Gen. 14. He defended them and revenged them by a most signal Victory He restored to them all their Riches re-taken from their Enemies without reserving any thing but the Tythe which he offered up to God and the Quota which belonged to the Auxiliary Troops which he had brought along with him to the Battle But after so great a service he refused the Presents of the Kings with an unparallel'd Magnanimity and could not indure that any man should boast he had inriched Abraham He would be indebted to none but to his God who had protected him and whom he solely followed with a most perfect Faith and Obedience Guided by that Faith he had forsaken his Native Countrey to come to a Land which God had shewn him God who had called him and made him worthy of his Alliance Articled it upon these Conditions He declared to him that he would be his God Gen. 12.17 and the God of his Posterity that is to say he would be their Protector and that they should serve him as the only God the Creator of Heaven and Earth He promised him a Land 't was that of Canaan to serve for a fixed habitation to his Posterity Ibid. and for a place for his Religion He had no Children and his Wife Sarah was barren God swore to him by Himself and by his Eternal Veracity Gen. 12 2.1â—.4 5.17.19 that from him and from his Wife should come a Race that for number should equal the Stars in the Firmament and the Sand on the Sea-shore But the most remarkable Article of all of the Divine Promise was this All the People should presently fall into Idolatry God promised to this Holy Patriarch that in him and in his Seed should all those blind Nations that had forgotten their Creator be blessed that is to say re-called to the knowledge of him Gen. 12.3.18.18 wherein the true Benediction is to be found By that promise was Abraham made the Father of all the faithful and his Posterity was chosen to be the source from whence the Blessing was to go upon all the Earth In that Promise was included the Advent of the Messiah so often foretold to our Fathers but always foretold as Him who was to be the Saviour of all the Gentiles and of all the people of the World Thus that blessed Branch promised to Eve became also the Branch and Cion of Abraham This was the foundation of the Covenant and these the Conditions of it Gen. 17. Abraham received the sign of it in Circumcision a Ceremony whose proper effect was to shew that that Holy Man belonged to God with all his Family Abraham was childless when God began to bless his Race And God left him for several years without giving him any Afterwards he had Ishmael who was to be the Father of a great People Gen. 12.15.2.16.3 4 17.20.21.13 but not of that chosen People so much promised to Abraham The Father of the chosen People was to proceed from him and from his wife Sarah Gen. 21.2 who then was barren At length when Ishmael was thirteen years old came this so much desired Son he was called Isaac that is to say Laughter a Son of Joy a Son of Miracle a Son of Promise who shewed by his Birth that the true Children of God are born of Grace He this Child of blessing was grown to some considerle statute and of an age from which his Father might hope to have other Children of him when of a sudden God commands him to offer him up as a Sacrifice Gen. 22. To what a tryal is Faith exposed Abraham carrys Isaac to the Mountain which God had shewn him and he went to sacrifice that Son in whom alone God promised to make him the Father both of his People and of the Messiah Isaac presented his naked Bosom to the Sword which his Father held out ready to strike him God being satisfied with the obedience both of Father and Son demanded no further of them After
the World it was that Man so much below Moses in all things and superiour only to him by his name it was He I say who was to bring the People of God into the holy Land By the Victories of that great Man before whom Jordan was driven back the Walls of Jericho fell down of themselves and the Sun stood still in the midst of Heaven God established his Children in the Land of Canaan out of which by the same means he drove the abominable People By the hatred which his faithful ones had against them he inspired them with an extreme indignation of their wickedness and impiety and the punishment which was inflicted by their Ministry filled them themselves with fear of the Divine Justice of which they executed the Decrees One part of those People whom Joshua drove out ot their Land Procop. lib. 2. de bel Vand. went and planted themselves in Africa where was found a long time after in an ancient Inscription the Monument of their Flight and the Victories of Joshua After those miraculous Victories had put the Israelites in the possession of the greatest part of the Land which was promised to their Fathers Joshua and Eleazar the High Priest Jos 13 14. seq Numb 26.53.34.17 Jos 14 15. with the Heads of the twelve Tribes divided it among them according to the Law of Moses and assigned to the Tribe Judah time the first and the greatest Lot From the time of Moses it was set above the others in Number in Courage and in Dignity Joshua dyed and the People continued the Conquest of the Holy Land God would have the Tribe of Judah to march at the Head Numb 2.3.9.7.12.10.14 1 Chron. 5.2 Judg 1.1 2.4.8 and declared that he had delivered the Countrey into their hands In fine it overcame die Canaanites and took Jerusalem which was to be the holy City and the capital City of the People of God it was the ancient Salem where Melchisedek had reigned in Abraham's time Melchisedek that King of Righteousness Heb. 7.2 for that is the meaning of his Name and at the same time too King of Peace for that is King of Salem whom Abraham had owned for the greatest High-Priest in the World as if Jerusalem had then been destined for a holy City and the head of Religion That City was at first given to the Children of Benjamin who being weak and few in number could not drive out the Jebusites the ancient Inhabitants of Jerusalem but they dwelt among them Judg. 1.21 Under the Judges the People of God were variously treated according as they did well or ill After the death of the old men who had seen Miracles from the hand of God the remembrance of those mighty Works decayed and the universal inclination and bent of Mankind warp'd the People to Idolatry As often as they fell into it they were punish'd and as often as they repented they were delivered The Faith of Providence and the Truth of the Promise and the Threatnings of Moses was confirmed more and more in the hearts of the true Believers But God prepared also greater Examples of them The People demanded a King and God gave them Saul quickly reproved for his sins he at last resolved to establish a Royal Family from which e Messiah should come and he chose it in Judah David 1 Sam. 16.11.12 c. a young Shepherd sprung out of that Tribe the youngest of the Sons of Jesse whose merit neither his Father nor his Family knew but yet whom God found to be after his own heart was anointed by Samuel in Bethlehem which was his own Country Here the People of God IV. David the Kings and the Prophets to take up a Form more August and Magnificent the Kingdom was setled in the House of David That House began by two Kings of different Characters but both were admirable David a warlike and conquering Prince subdued the Enemies of the People of God whose Arms were dreaded over all the East and Solomon famous for his Wisdom both at home and abroad made that People happy by a profound Peace But the Progress of Religion does here require some particular Remarks upon the Lives of those two great Kingâ— David reigned at first over Judah mighty and victorious and afterwards he was owned over all Israel 2 Sam. 5.6 7 8 9. 1 Chron. 11.6 7 8. 1 Chron 2.16 He took from the Jebâ—sites the strong Hold of Zion which was the Citadel of Jerusalem Being Master of that Fortress he established there by the order of God the Sea of the Kingdom and that of Religâ—on and there he lived He built round about it and called it The City of David Joab his Sister 's built the rest of the City and Jerusalem took up a new form Those of Judah possessed all the Country and Benjamin being few in number dwelt together with them The Ark of the Covenant built by Moses where God dwelleth between the Cherubims and where the two Tables of the Decalogue were kept had then no fixed place David brought it in Triumph 2 Sam. 6.2 16 17. c. with shouting and with the sound of the Trumpet into Zion which he had conquered by the Almighty help of God that so God might reign in Zion and that he might be acknowledged there as the Protectors of David 1 Chro. 16.39.21.29 of Jerusalem and of all the Kingdom But the Tabernacle wherein the People had worshipped God in the Wilderness was yet at Gibeon and there it was where they offered their Sacrifices upon the Altar which Moses had built It was but in expectation that there would be a Temple where the Altar should be re-united with the Ark and where should be performed all the Service When David had conquered all his Enemies and had extended his Victories even to Euphrates being at quiet and a mighty Conquerour he at all his thought upon the establishing of the Divine Worship and on the same Mountain where Abraham went to Sacrifice his only Son 2 Sam. 8.11 1 Chron. 18. 2 Sam. 24.25 1 Chron. 21.22 seq Jos an t 7.10 and was stopped by the hand of an Angel he designed by the appointment of God the place of the Temple He said down all his Designs he amassed mighty noâ— and precious Materials for it he dedicated all the Spoils of his conquered Kings and People to it But that Temple which was so designed by the Conquerour was not to be built but by his Son and Successor the peaceable Solomon He built it after the Model of the Tabernacle The Altar of the Holocausts 1 Kings 6,7 8. 2 Chron. 3 4 5 6 7. the Altar of Incense the golden Candlestick the Tables of Shew Bread and all the other consecrated Moveables of the Temple were taken from the like Pieces which Moses had caused to be made in the Wilderness Solomon only added magnificence and grandeur to them The Ark which the Man of God
stirring up the least Sedition among Men it will excite all the Earth He is neither violent nor impetuous and he who was hardly known when in Judea shall not be only the Foundation of the Peoples Covenant but also the Light of all the Gentiles Ibid. 6. Under his admirable Reign the Assyrians and the Egyptians shall be no longer but one and the same People of God with the Israelites Blessed be Egypt my People and Assyria the work of my Hands Esai 10.25 and Israel mine Inheritance All shall become Israel Ibid. 60.1 2.3 4 11.61.1 2.3 11.62.1 2.65.1 2 15 16.66.19 20 21. Malach. 3.10 Psal 110.2 all shall become holy Jerusalem is no more particular private City It is the Image of a new Society where all the People are gathered together Europe Africa and Asia received Preachers in whom God had put his Sign that they might discover his Glory to the Gentiles The Elect till then called by the Name of Israel shall be called by a new Name which shall signify the fulfilling of the Promises and an happy Amen The Priests and the Levites who till then came from Aaron shall for the time to come come from the midst of the Heathens that is the Gentiles A new Sacrifice more pure and agreeable than the old shall be substituted in its place and then shall be known the reason why David had consecrated a High-Priest of a new Order The Just shall descend from Heaven as the Dew the Earth shall bring forth her But and it shall be the Saviour with whom Righteousness shall be seen to arise Heaven and Earth shall joyn to bring forth as by a common Delivery him that shall be both Heavenly and Earthly together New Ideas of Virtues shall appear in the World in his Examples and in his Doctrine and the Grace which he will shed abroad will imprint them in their Hearts Every thing will be changed by his coming and God hath sworn by himself and the word is gone out of his Mouth in Righteousness and shall not return Isai 45.23 that unto him every knee shall how and every tongue shall swear and acknowledg his soveraign Power This is one part of the marvellous things which God hath shewn to the Prophets under the Kings the Sons of David and to David before all others All have written beforehand the History of the Son of God who was also to be made the Son of Abraham and of David And thus every thing hath fell out in the Order of the divine Counsels This Messiah shewn afar off as the Son of Abraham is yet shewn more near as the Son of David An eternal Empire is promised to him The Knowledg of God is spread abroad throughout the World is set to us as the certain sign and as the fruit of his coming The Conversion of the Gentiles and the Blessing of all the People of the World so long since promised to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob is anew confirmed and all the People of God lived in that expectation In the mean time God governed them after a most admirable manner He made a new Covenant with David and obliged himself to protect him and the Kings his Successors if they would walk in the Commandments which he had given them by Moses 2 Sam. 7 8 9 10 c. 1 King 9.4 5. 2 Chron. 7.17 c. 2 Sam. 11 12 c. if not he pronounced against them very severe Punishments David who had forgot himself for a little while was the first who felt them but having somewhat recovered himself by his unfeigned Repentance he has a confluence of Wealth poured upon him and is proposed as the model of an accomplished King The Throne is established in his House 1. Kings 11. Whilst Solomon walked in the Steps of his Father's Piety he was happy but in his old Age he was drawn aside and God who spared him for the Love of his Servant David declared he would punish him in the person of his Son Thus he lets Parents to know that according to the secret Decree of his Judgments he makes their Punishments to continuâ— after their Death and he keeps them in submission to his Laws by that Interest which is the dearest that is the Interest of their Family In the Execution of his Decrees the foolishly wilfull Rehoboam is given up to an extravagant Council his Kingdom is lessened and ten of the tribes revolt from him 1 Kings 12.16 17 c. Whilst those ten Rebellious and Schismaticall Tribes were departed from their God and their King the Children of Judah who were faithful to God and to David whom he had chosen continued in the Covenant and in the Faith of Abraham The Levites and the Tribe of Benjamin joined with them the Kingdom of the People of God subsisted by their union under the name of the Kingdom of Judah and the Law of Moses was strictly observed In spight of the lamentable Idolatries and Corruption of the ten separated Tribes God remembred his Covenant with Abraham with Isaac and with Jacob his Law was not quite extinct amidst those rebellious People he was continually calling them back to Repentance by innumerable Miracles and by the constant warnings he sent them by his Prophets Hardned in their Wickedness at such a rate he could no longer bear with them 2 Kings 17.7 8 9 10 11 12 c. but he drove them out of the Land of Promise without hopes of ever suffering them to settle there again The History also of Tobit happened at the same time and during the beginnings of the Captivity of the Israelites it discovers to us the Conduct of the Elect of God who still remained in the separated Tribes That Holy Man Tob. 1.5 6 7. c. dwelling among them before the Captivity knew not only how to keep himself Pure from the Idolatries of his Brethren but also how to put the Law in Practice and to worship God publickly in the Temple of Jerusalem without ever being drawn aside by their ill examples or perswaded to a Compliance through servile fear Id. 19 20 21. When he was a Captive and persecuted at Nineveh he and his Family still retained their Piety and that admirable manner with which both he and his Son Tobias had their Faith rewarded even here upon Earth shews that notwithstanding Captivity and Persecution God had secret ways of making his Servants sensible of the Blessings of the Law in raising them evermore by the afflictions they were to suffer to higher and more exalted thoughts By the Examples of Tobit and his Holy Admonitions those of Israel were stirred up to acknowledge at least under the Rod the hand of God which chastised them but yet they almost all continued in obstinacy those of Judah so far were they from taking warning by Israel's Chastisements that they followed their ill examples God did not cease admonishing them by his Prophets whom he sent one after
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
likewise their Conduct was meek and gentle tho' very regular and they lived among themselves in an extream Union The Rewards and Punishments of a future Life which they zealously asserted brought them very great honour At last Ambition got in amongst them They had a mind to govern Id. lib. 2. de Bell. Jud. 7. and indeed they ascribed to themselves an absolute Power over the People they made themselves the Arbiters of Learning and Religion which they insensibly turned to superstitious Practices advantagious for their Interest and the Dominion they would fain have set up over mens Consciences and the true life and spirit of the Law was almost lost To these Evils anâ—ther was added much greater to wit Pride and Presumption but such a Presumption as indeavoured to attribute to themselves the Gift of God The Jews accustomed to his Benefits and having been so many Ages since illuminated with his knowledge forgat that his bounty alone had separated them from all other People and so looked on his Grace as a Debt A chosen Race and always blessed for two thousand years they judged themselves only to be worthy to know God and believed themselves to be of a different Species from other Men whom they saw deprived of his knowledge Upon this ground they looked on the Gentiles with a disdain that was insupportable To be come from Abraham according to the Flesh seemed to them such a Distinction as raised them naturally above all others and being puffed up with so fine an Original they reckoned themselves Saints by Nature and not by Grace An Errour which continues still among them These were the Pharisees who seeking to glorifie themselves by their own Light and by the exact observance of the Ceremonies of the Law brought in this Opinion towards the latter end of the times As they only thought of distinguishing themselves from other men they multiplyed outward Ceremonies and Practices without any measure and they gave out all their fanciful Notions how contrary soever they were to the Law of God as Authentick Traditions Although those Sentiments had not by any Publick Decree passed into the Dogma's of the Synagogue yet they insensibly instilled them into the People which made them unquiet turbulent and seditions At last the Divisions which were to be according to their Prophets the beginning of their ruine and downfal broke out upon occasion of the Disorders that happened in the House of the Asmoneans There were scarce sixty years unto Jesus Christ Zach. 11.6 7 8. c. when Hyrcan and Aristoâ—ulus the Sons of Alexander Janneus fell out about the Priesthood to which the Royalty was annexed Here was the fatal Moment which the History takes notice of as the first cause of the Destruction of the Jews Joseph an t 14.8.20.8.1 Bell. Jud. 4.5 Appian bell Syr. Mithrid Liv. lib. 5. Zach. 11.8 Pompey whom the two Brothers called to regulate them subjected them both at the same time when he dispossessed Antiochus Sirnamed the Asiatick the last King of Syria Those three Princes degraded together and as it were at one effort were the Signal of the Destruction so exactly described by the Prophet Zachariah 'T is certain by the History that that change of the Affairs of Syria and Judea was made at the same time by Pompey when after he had ended the War with Mithridates ready to return to Rome he adjusted the Affairs of the East The Prophet only observed what made towards the Ruine of the Jews who of the two Brothers whom they had seen Kings saw the one a Prisoner serving at Pompey's Triumph and the other the weak Hyrcan from whom the same Pompey took together with the Diadem a great part of his Dominion keeping only a vain Title of Authority which likewise he lost quickly after 'T was then that the Jews were made the Tributaries of the Romans and the Ruine of Syria brought on theirs because that great Kingdom reduced into a Province in their Neighbourhood augmented so much the Roman Power there that there was Safety but only in obeying them The Governours of Syria made continual Attempts on Judea The Romans made themselves absolute Masters of them and weakened their Government in several things By them at last the Kingdom of Juda. passed out of the Hands of the Asmoneans to whom it had been subject into those of Herod a stranger and an Idumean The cruel and ambitious Politie of that King who only in shew professed the Jewish Religion changed soon the Maxims of the antient Government The Jews were no longer Masters of their Fate under the vast Empire of the Persians and the first Seleucides where they lived only in an undisturbed Peace Herod who holds them in almost an absolute Slavery to his Power embroils all things confounds aâ—ter his own Humor the Succession of the High-Priests weakens the Pontificate whiâ—h he makes Arbitrary enervates the Authority of the Council of the Nation whiâ—h can no longer do any thing All the publick Power goes through the Hands of Herod and of the Romans whose Slave he is and he shakes the Foundations of the Jewish Commonwealth The Pharisees and the People who only hearkened to their Opinions bore this Condition very impatiently The more they thought themselves oppressed with the Yoke of the Gentiles the greater Hatred and Disdain they had for them They would no longer have a Messiah who should not be a Warrior and dreadful to the Powers that captivated them Thus forgetting so many Prophecies which so plainly and expresly spoke of their being humbled they had no long Eyes nor Ears but for those which proclaimed Triumphs to them though very different from such as they wished In the declension of the Religion VI. Jesus Christ and his Doctrine and the Affairs of the Jews at the end of King Herod's Reign and then when the Pharisees were bringing in so many Abuses Jesus Christ was sent upon the Earth to re-establish the Kingdom in the House of David after a more exalted manner than ever the carnal Jews understood it and to preach that Doctrine and good Tydings of Salvation which God was resolved all the World should be acquainted with This wonderful Son whom Isaiah calls the mighty God Isai 9.6 the everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace was born of a Virgin at Bethlehem and there he came to own the first Original of his Race Conceived by the Holy Ghost holy by his Birth being alone worthy to repair the wickedness of ours he was called Jesus Matth. 1.21 because he was to save us from our Sins Immediately after his Birth a new Star a Type of that Light he was to bring to the Gentiles was seen in the East and brought to our Saviour thus an Infant the First-fruits of the converted Gentiles A little after that Lord so much desired came to his holy Temple where Simeon sees him not only the Glory of the Poeple Israel Luke 2.32 but also as
Ghost to fortifie his Apostles and eternally to inspire and invigorate the Body of the Church This power of the Holy Ghost to declare it self the more was to appear in weakness Behold I send saith Jesus Christ to his Apostles Luke 24.49 the promise of my Father upon you that is to say the Holy Ghost in the mean time tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem be quiet do not concern your self about any thing until ye be indued with power from on high And to shew their submission and conformity to that Order they continued shut up for forty days at the prefixed time the Holy Ghost descended Acts 2.3 cloven Tongues like as of fire falling upon the Disciples of our blessed Saviour do shew the efficacy of their preaching and so being filled with the Holy Ghost Id. 4. they began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance the Apostles bore witness of Jesus Christ they were all ready to suffer for the Testimony that they had seen him rise from the dead Miracles followed upon their preaching At two of St. Peter's Sermons eight thousand Jews were converted and bewailing their Errour and Blindness they were wâ—shed in the Blood which they had spilt Thus was the Church founded in Jerusalem and amongst the Jews and notwithstanding the perverse incredulity of the Gross of the Nation yet the Disciples of Jesus Christ made known unto the World a Charity a Power but tempered with so much sweetness and condescension as never had been seen in any Society before Persecution arose the Faith increased the Children of God began more and more to aspire towards Heaven the Jews by their obstinate and inveterate Malice drew upon themselves the just Vengeance of God and hastened on them the sad Calamities and Desolation wherewith they had been threatned their Estates and their Affairs grew worse and worse Whilst God was setting apart a great number of them whom he placed among his Elect St. Peter was sent to baptize Cornelius a Roman Centurion He learned first of all by a Heavenly Vision and afterwards by Experience that the Gentiles were called to the Knowledge of God Jesus Christ who was willing to have them converted speaks from on high to St. Paul who was to be their Doctor and by a Miracle till then unheard of from a Persecutor he is made not only a Defender but a zealous Preacher of the Faith The profound Secret of the Calling of the Gentiles by the Reprobation of the ungratefull Jews who were still made more and more unworthy of the Gospel was discovered to him St. Paul reached forth his hands to the Geniiles and treated upon those important Questions with a wonderful force and power that Christ should suffer Acts 26.23 and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should shew unto the People and to the Gentiles He proved the Affirmative by Moses and the Prophets and called Idolaters to the Knowledge of God in the Name of Jesus Christ that was risen They were converted by Multitudes St. Paul shewed that their Calling was an effect of Grace which made no distinction betwixt either Jew or Gentile Fury and Jealousie transported the Jews so as they laid terrible Plots against St. Paul being chiefly incensed that he preached up the Gentiles and brought them to the true God At last he was delivered to the Romans as they had before delivered up Jesus Christ to them All the Empire was in commotion against the rising Church and Nero the Persecutor of all Mankind was the first Persecutor of the Faithful That Tyrant put both St. Peter and St. Paul to death Rome was consecrated by their Blood and the Martyrdom of St. Peter chief of the Apostles established in the Capital City of the Empire the Principal See of Religion In the mean time the time drew on when the Divine Vengeance was to fall upon the Impenitent Jews Disorders grew up amongst them a false Zeal blinded them and made them odious to all men their false Prophets infatuated them by the Promâ—ses of an imaginary Kingdom Thus being seduced by their deceitful tricks and artifices they could no longer endure any legitimate Empire and so they were unlimited in their attempts God gave them up to a reprobate Sence They revolted against the Romans who overthrew them Titus himself that destroyed them confessed he only lent his hand to that God that was provoked against them Adrian made a full end of them Philost vit Apoll Tyan lib. 6. Joseph de bell Jud. lib. 7.16 They were cut off with all the marks of the Divine Vengeance driven out of their own Land and made Slaves to all the World they no longer had either Temple or Altar or Sacrifice or Country and there was seen in Judah not so much as a form of People But God had notwithstanding provided for the Eternity of his Government The Eyes of the Gentiles were opened and they were united in Spirit to the converted Jews By that means they were joined to the Race and Stock of Abraham and became his Children by Faith and so inherited the promises which had been made to him A new People were formed and the new Sacrifice so much celebrated by the Prophets began to be offered throughout all the World Thus was that antient Oracle or Jacob fulfilled to a tittle Judah from the beginning was multiplied more than all his Brethren and having always kept a certain Preheminence he at last received the Kingdom as Hereditary to him Afterwards the People of God were reduced to his single Race and shut up in his Tribe they were called by his Name In Judah were continued that great People who were promised to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob in him the other promises were perpetuated the worship of God the Temple the Sacrifices the possession of the promised Land which was only called Judah Notwithstanding all their several States the Jews continued always in a body of a regulated People and Kingdom making use of their Laws There were always seen to arise either Kings or Magistrates and Judges even till the Advent of the Messiah he came and the Kingdom of Judah quickly fell to ruin It was utterly destroyed and the Jewish People were driven without hope from the Land of their Fathers The Messiah was the expectation of the Nations and he reigned over a new People But to keep the Succession and the Perpetuity it was necessary to have this new people engrafted as I may so say upon the former and as St. Paul speaks if thou being a wild Olive tree were grafted in amongst then Rom. 11.17 and with them partakest of the root and fatnâ—â—s of the Olive-tree So it happened that the Church which was first established among the Jews at length received the Gentiles to make up one and the same Tree with them one and the same Body one and the same People and to make them partakers of her Graces and Promises What
of his People hath also caused them to foretel the Succession of the Empires You have seen the places where Nebuchadnezzar hath been pointed out as he that was to come and punish the proud People and particularly the Jews so ungrateful against their Author You have heard Cyrus named two hundred Years before he was bâ—â—n as he that was to set up again the People of God and to punish the Pride of Babylon The Ruine of Nineveh was as clearly foretold Daniel in his admirable Visions hath caused to go before your Eyes in a moment the Empire of Babylon that of the Medes and Persians that of Alexander and the Grecians The Blasphemies and the Cruelties of Antiochus the Illustrious were there foretold as well as the miraculous Victories of the People of God over so violent a Persecutor We see there those famous Empires to fall one after another and the new Empire which Jesus Christ was to set up is there so expresly described by its proper Characters that there is no way to mistake it 'T is the Empire of the Saints of the most high the Empire of the Son of Man an Empire which was to subsist in the midst of the Ruine of all the rest and to which alone Eternity is promised The Judgments of God upon the greatest of all the Empires of this World that is to lay upon the Roman Empire have not been kept hid from us You have just now had it from the mouth of St. John Rome her self hath felt the Hand of God and hath been like others an Example of his Justice But its fate was happier yet than that of others for being purged by her Punishments from the remaining dreggs of Idolatry she now no longer subsists but by that Christianity which she declares to all the World Thus have all the great Empires which we have seen upon the Earth concured by several ways and means to the weal of Religion and the glory of God as God himself hath declared it by his Prophets When you read so often in their Writings that Kings in troops shall enter into the Church and be the Protectors and Nursing Fathers of it those words presently put into your mind the Emperours and other Christian Princes and as the Kings your Ancestors have more than any other signalized themselves in protecting and enlarging the Church of God I shall not be afraid to assure you that it is they who of all the Kings are most clearly foretold in those eminently remarkable Prophecies God therefore who was resolved to make use of divers Empires either to chastise or exercise or to enlarge or protect his People willing to make himself known for the Author of so admirable a Councel revealed the Secret of it to his Prophets and hath caused them to foretel what he had resolved to execute Wherefore as the Empires began the order of Gods Decrees on the People whom he had chosen so the fortune of those Empires were found declared by the same Oracles of the Holy Ghost which foretold the Succession of the faithful People The more you accustome your self to follow great things and to recal them to their Principles the more will you stand in admiration of those Councels of Providence It behoves you to take the Ideas of them betimes which will clear up every day more and more in your Minds and you will be the better able to refer humane things to the order of that eternal Wisdom on which they depend God doth not every day declare his Will by his Prophets concerning Kings and Monarchies that he sets up or destroys But having done it so often as to those Empires whereof we have been speaking he shews us by those famous Examples what he does in all others and he teaches Kings these two fundamental Truths First That it is he who forms Kingdoms to give them to whom he pleaseth And Secondly That he knoweth how to make them serve in the time and order which he hath decreed to the Designs he hath on his People This may it please your Highness ought to keep all Princes in an intire Dependance and to make them always careful of the Orders of God that so they may lend their Hand to what he purposes for his own Glory upon all Occasions that he offers them But this Succession of Empires if we will consider it more humanly hath very great Advantages especially for Princes seeing that Arrogance the ordinary Companion of so exalted a Condition is so very much quelled by such a Spectacle For if Men learn to moderate themselves by seeing Kings die how much more will they be struck by seeing Kingdoms themselves to perish and from whence can they receive a more plain Lesson of the Vanity of humane Greatness Thus when you behold as in an instant before your Eyes the Death and Downfal I do not say of Kings and Emperors but of those mighty Empires that have made the whole Universe to tremble when you behold both the antient and the new Assyrians the Medes the Persians the Grecians and the Romans all before you successively and all to fall as I may say one upon another this dreadfull Destruction presently makes you sensible that there is nothing solid among Men and that Inconstancy and Agitation is the proper Partage and Portion of humane things BUT that which will render to your Highness this Spectacle both more advantagious a more agreeable II. The Revolutions of Empires have particular Causes which Princes ought to study will be the Reflection you shall make not only on the Rise and Fall of Empires but also on the Causes of their Progress and on those of their Ruine For Sir that same God who hath made the Chain of the Universe and who as he is Almighty by himself hath resolved for the establishing of Order that the Parts of so great an All should depend one upon another that same God hath also decreed that the course of humane things should have its Issues and its Proportions I mean that Men and Nations have had Qualities commensurate to the Advancements to which they have been designed and that expecting some certain extraordinary Strokes wherein God hath been willing to manifest his own Hand in particular there are no very great Changes happen but what may deduce their Causes from precedent Ages And as in all Affairs there is that which prepares them that which determines to undertake them and lastly that which makes them have Success So the true Science of History is to observe in every time those secret Dispositions which have prepared and made way for great Changes and the important Conjunctures which have brought them to pass Indeed it is not sufficient to look only just before one that is to say to consider those great Events which all on a sudden do decide the fortune of Empires He that would reach to the Bottom of humane things ought to take them at their first Head and Spring and he must observe
end of Polity which is to render Life commodious and the People happy The temperature of the Country being always uniform made their Judgments more solid and constant As Vertue is the Foundation of all Society so they carefully cultivated and improved it Their chief Vertue was Gratitude The Honour that was given to them for being the most generous and grateful Diod. lib. 1. Sect. 2. shews they were likewise the most sociable Kindnesses are the Bond both of publick and private Concord He that acknowledges Favours loves to Bestow them and in banishing Ingratitude the pleasure of doing Good remains so pure that there is no way for one to be insensible of it Their Laws were Simple full of Equity and proper to unite Citizens to one another He who being able to rescue a man assaulted did not do it was punished with as severe a Death as the Assassin himself Ibid. If we could not help the unfortunate at least we ought to impeach the Author of the Violence and there were punishments established on purpose for those that were failing in this duty Thus were the Citizens a Guard each to other and all the Body of the State was joyned against the wicked doer It was not permitted for any one to be unprofitable to the State The Law assigned to every one their Business which was perpetuated from Father to Son Ibid. They were not to have two nor could they change their Profession but then all Professions were honoured But it was necessary there should be some both Employments and Persons more considerable than others as it is but fit that Eyes should be in the Body Their Luster will not make the Feet and lower Parts to be ever the less despised So among the Egyptians the Priests and the Soldiers had their particular Marks of Honour but all the Traders even to the least were had in esteem and it was believed a Criminal Matter to despise and scorn the Citizens whose Labours whatsoever they were contributed to the weal Publick By this means all Arts came to their Perfection the Honour which cherished them was in every thing concerned they made greater Improvements in what they had always seen done and to what in particular they had been brought up from their very Infancy But there was one Occupation which all men were to be concerned in and that was the study of Laws and Wisdom Ignorance of the Religion and Polity of ones Country was no where excusable in any Government Now every Profession had its Canton to which it was particularly assigned There fell out no Inconvenience by it in a Country whose Extent was not very great and in so curious and exact an order Those that had a mind to be Idle knew not where to hide themselves Amidst these many good Laws that which was the best of 'em was that all People were brought up to observe them Hierod l. 2. Diod. l. 1. §. 2. Plat. delegib 2. A new Custom was a Prodigy in Egypt Every one did there always the same and the punctual Care they had to observe small things maintained the great So that never was there any People that had longer preserved their Customs and Laws The order of the Judgments contributed to the upholding of that Genius Thirty judges were chosen out of the principal Cities to make up that Commission to Judge the whole Kingdom They were accustomed to see in those high places only the most grave men of their Country and such as were of the clearest Integrity The Prince gave them certain Salaries that so they being freed from Domestick Entanglements might bestow the gross of their time in making the Laws to be the better observed They received no Advantage by Suits of Law for as yet they had never thought of making a Trade of Justice To avoid surprizes the matters were debated in those Assembly by Arguments in writing They were afraid there of false Eloquence which might dazle the Understanding and stir up the Passions Truth could not be told there in too plain a manner The President of the Senate wore a Collar of Gold and precious Stones from whence hung a Figure without any Eyes which they called Truth When he took it that was the Signal to begin the Court. He bowed it to the Party that was to gain his Cause and that was the form of pronouncing the Sentences One of the bravest Artifices of the Egyptians to make their ancient Maxims be preserved was to invest them with certain Ceremonies that imprinted them in their Minds These Ceremonies were observed with reflection and the serious Humour of the Egyptians did not suffer that they should be turned into simple Formula's Those who had no Affairs but their Lives were Innocent might avoid the Examen of that severe Tribunal But they had in Egypt one kind of Judgment which was very extraordinary which none escaped It was a Consolation at the time of Death of leaving their Names in esteem among all men and of all humane goods it is the only one that Death cannot ravish from us But it was not suffered in Egypt to commend all the Dead indifferently That was an Honour to be had by a Publick Judgment As soon as a man was dead they brought him unto Judgment The publick Accuser was heard If he proved that the Conduct of the Deceased had been bad then the Memory of him was condemned and he was deprived of Sepulture The People admired the power of their Laws which reached them even after death and every one being touched by the Example was afraid to dishonour his Memory and his Family But if the Defunct was not convicted of any Crime then he had an honourable Interment they made his Panegyrick but they medled not at all with his Birth All Egypt was noble and beside they received no further Commendations than what they had got by their own Merit Every one knows how curious the Egyptians were in preserving dead Bodies Their Mummies are to be seen at this day Thus their Gratitude to their Kindred was Immortal Children by seeing the Bodies of their Ancestors called to mind their Vertues which the Publick had paid such Acknowledgments to and they were incited to love those Laws which had so recommended them to them To prevent Borrowing which was the Parent of Idleness Frauds and Branglings the Decree of King Asychis did not suffer any to borrow Herod lib. 2. Diod. 1. Sect. but upon condition that he pledged the Body of his Father to him of whom he borrowed And it was both an Impiety and an Infamy together not to redeem as soon as ever one could so precious a Pledge and he that dyed before he had acquitted himself of that duty was denied Burial The Kingdom was Hereditary but the Kings were obliged more than all others to live according to these Laws Ibid. Some there were more particular that a King had digested and which made one part of the Sacred Books
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
dejected It is true likewise that that great Empire did not last long It was to fall some way or other A Divisioâ— was made in Egypt Under Anysis the blind the Ethiopian Sabacon invaded the Kingdom He treated the People of it as well and did there as great things as any of the natural Kings Never was there see a Moderation like to that of his since that after sixty years of a happy reign he returned into Ethiopia to obey the Advertisements which he believed came from Heaven The Kingdom thus left fell into the hands of Sethon Priest of Vulcan a Religious Prince after his way but a small Warriour and who absolutely enervated the Militia by his ill treating of his Soldiers From that time Egypt maintained her self only by strange Forces There was found in her a kind of Anarchy for there were twelve Kings chosen by the People who shared among them the Government of the Kingdom 'T was those who built the twelve Palaces that make up the Labyrinth Tho' Egypt could not forget her Magnificences yet she was weakned and divided under those twelve Princes One of them to wit Psammeticus made himself the Master by the assistance of Strangers Egypt was re-established and remained pretty powerful for five or six Reigns At length that antient Kingdom after it had continued about sixteen hundred Years weakened by the Kings of Babylon and by Cyrus became a Prey to Cambyses the most violent and outragious of all Princes Those who very well understood the Humor of Egypt Strab. l. 17. have confessed that she was not given to War You have heard the Reasons of it She lived in Peace about thirteen hundred Years when she brought forth her first Warrior who was Sesostris Also notwithstanding her Militia so carefully disciplin'd and kept up yet we see at last that her greatest Force consisted in strange Troops which is one of the most deplorable Defects that a State can have But no humane things are perfect and it is no easy thing to have in Perfection both the Arts of Peace and the Advantages of War 'T is a long Continuance to have subsisted for sixteen hundred Years Some Ethiopians Reigned at Thebes in that Interval among others Sabacon and as we may believe Taraca But Egypt gained this Benefit from the excellent Constitution of her State that the Strangers who conquered her rather took up her Customs than introduced any of their own there Thus changing of Masters she made no change of Government She could very hardly indure the Persians whose Yoke she would often shake But she was not martial enough to support her self by her own Force against so great a Power and the Grecians who defended her being engaged by other Diversions were forced to leave her So that she fell back again always to her first Masters but however she was resolutely tenacious of her old Customs and incapable of being brought off from the Maxims of her first Kings And altho' she retained many of them under the Ptolomy's yet the mixture of the Grecian and Asiatick Fashion was so great in her that she could scarce be any longer known for old Egypt We must not forget that the times of the antient Kings of Egypt are very uncertain Diod. 1. Sect. 2. even in the History of the Egyptians We hardly know where to place Osymanduas tho' we see so many magnificent Monuments of him in Diodorus and such glorious Signs of his Combats It seems the Egyptians knew not who was Sesostris his Father for neither Herodotus nor Diodorus have named him His Power however is more remarkable by the Monuments he has left in all the Earth than by the Memoires of his Country and those Reasons do shew us that we are not to believe as some do that what Egypt hath published of her Antiquities have been always so exact and punctual as she hath boasted seeing that she her self is so uncertain of the most signal time of her Monarchy THE great Empire of the Egyptians was as it were detached from all others IV. The Assyrianâ— both antient and modern the Medes and Cyrus and as you have seen had not a very long Continuance That which we have now to say is more supported and hath more particular Dates Nevertheless we have yet very few things certain concerning the first Empire of the Assyrians But let us place the beginning of it at what time we will according to the different Opinions of the Historians you will see that when the World was divided into several petty States which the Princes rather thought how to preserve than to enlarge Ninus who was more forward and undertaking Diod. lib. 2. Just 1. and withal more puissant than his Neighbours subdued them one after another and went on with his Conquests far up in the East His Wife Semiramis who together with the Ambition that is common enough to her Sex joined a Courage and a continued Series of Councels which is but very seldom found in it kept up the vast Designs of her Husband and finished the forming of that Monarchy It was doubtless very great and the greatness of Nineveh Strabo 16. which was set above that of Babylon Herod 1. Dion Hâ—l 1. App. init op sufficiently shews it But as the most judicious Historians do not make this Monarchie so antient as others represent it to us Gen. 14.1 2. Jud. 3.8 Plat. de lâ—g 3. so neither do they report it to be so great We have seen a very long Duration of the petty Kingdoms of which he must have composed it if it be as antient and as large as the fabulous Ctesias and those who have taken it upon his Word describe it to us 'T is true Plato a curious Observer of Antiquities makes the Kingdom of Troy in the time of Priam a Dependence of the Assyrian Empire But there is no notice taken of it in Homer who in the Design he had to advance the Glory of Greece would not have forgot such a Circumstance and we may think that the Assyrians were little known towards the West seeing so learned and so curious a Poet in adorning his Poem with every thing that was pertinent to his Subject has not any where made them to appear there Yet according to the Computation we have judged most reasonable the time of the Siege of Troy was the finest time of all the Assyrians had for it was that in which Semiramis made her Conquests But she only extended them Eastward Those who are the greatest Flatterers make her turn her Arms on that side She had had too great a Share in the Councels and Victories of Ninus not to follow his Designs otherwise so agreeable to the Situation of her Empire and I do not believe it can be doubted but that Ninus kept close to the East because Justin himself who favours him as much as is possible makes him to end his Enterprises on the West side at the Frontiers of
Libya Therefore I know not at what time Nineveh could extend her Conquests even to Troy because we see so little likelyhood that Ninus and Semiramis had undertook any such thing and that all their Successors to begin from their Son Ninyas have lived in such an effeminate Softness and with so little Action that scarce their Names have reached to our Ears and we might much rather wonder how their Empire was able to subsist so long than believe it could be so enlarged It was questionless much diminished by the Conquests of Sesostris but as they were of a short Continuance and but poorly kept up by his Successors we may easily believe that the Countries which they took from the Assyrians being used a long time to their Domination would naturally turn to them again So that that Empire kept it self in great Puissance and in great Peace until that Arbaces having discovered the softness of their Kings so long concealed in the Secrets of their Palaces Sardanapulus celebrated by his Infamies became not only contemptible but also insupportable to his Subjects You have seen the Kingdoms that came from the Ruines of that first Empire of the Assyrians among others that of Nineveh and that of Babylon The Kings of Niniveh retained the Name of Kings of Assyria and were the most puissant Their Pride quickly raised them above all Bounds by the Conquests they obtained among which is accounted that of the Kingdom of the Israelites or of Samaria It could be nothing less than the Hand of God and a visible Miracle that kept them from overwhelming Judea under Hezekiah and it was unknown what Bounds could be given to their Power when they were seen a little while after in their Neighbourhood to invade the Kingdom of Babylon where the Royal Family was decay'd Babylon seemed to be born to command all the World Xen. Cyr. 2.1.5 Her People were full of Spirit and Courage Always Philosophy reigned among them and the generous Arts and the East had not much better Soldiers than the Chaldeans Antiquity admired the rich Harvests of a Country which the negligence of its Inhabitants now leaves without Culture Herod 1. and its Abundance made the ancient Kings of Persia look on it as a third part of so great an Empire Thus the Kings of Assyria swoln with an Increase which added to their Monarchy so opulent a City formed new Designs Nebuchadnezzar the first thought his Empire unworthy of him unless he could add the whole Universe to it Nebuchadnezzar the second prouder than all the Kings his Predecessors after his unheard of Successes and astonishing Conquests rather chose to make himself be adored as a God than to command as a King What works did not he undertake in Babylon What Walls what Towers what Gates and what Circumvallations were there seen It seemed as if the old Tower of Babel was going to be renewed in the prodigious height of the Temple of Bel and that Nebuchadnezzar had resolved to storm Heaven anew His Pride although brought down by the hand of God did not cease to spring up again in his Successors They could not induce any Domination about them and resolving to bring all under the Yoke they became insupportable to the neighbouring People That Jealousie reunited against them together with the Kings of Media and the Kings of Persia a great part of the Eastern People Xen. Cyr. 3.4 Pride is easily turned into Cruelty As the Kings of Babylon did inhumanely treat their Subjects whole Countries as well as the Chief Lords of their Empire joyned with Cyrus and the Medes Babylon too much used to Command and Conquer to fear so many Enemies that were all languid against her whilst she thought her self invincible became Captive to the Medes whom she pretended to subdue and her Pride at last proved her utter ruine and destruction The Fate of this great City was strange seeing she fell by her own Inventions Euphrates had almost in her vast Plains the same effect as Nilus had in those of Egypt but to make it more commodious there was required more of Art and Labour than Egypt used for the Nile Herod 1. Euphrates was direct in its Course and never overflowed They were forced to make throughout all the Country an infinite number of Chanels that so it might water their Grounds whose fruitfulness by that means became incomparable To break the violence of its too impetuous Waters it was necessary to make it run thro' a thousand Turnings and to hollow it with great Lakes which a wise Queen filled up again with an incredible magnificence Nitocris the Mother of Labynithes otherwise called Nabonides or Belshazzar the last King of Babylon did those great Works But that Queen undertook a Business much more surprising and marvellous It was to build a Stone Bridge over Euphrates that so the two Quarters of the City which the vast largeness of that River separated at two great a distance might communicate together It was necessary therefore first to dry up so rap'd and so deep a River by turning those Waters into a most huge and unmeasurable Lake which yet that Queen caused to be digged At the same time they built the Bridge the solid Materials whereof were prepared before and they bricked up the two sides of the River to a most astonishing heighth making Descents from it likewise of Brick and of as good Work as the Walls of the City The Diligence that was used herein equalled he Grandeur of it But a Queen so discerning as she was yet never thought that she instructed her Enemies how to take her City Herod ibid. It was into that same Lake which she had hollowed that Cyrus turned Euphrates when despairing of his reducing Babylon either by Force or Famine he opened into it from the two sides of the City that Passage which we have seen so much pointed at by the Prophets If Babylon could have but believed she had been perishable as all other humane things and an extravagant confidence had not thrown her into downright blindness Ibid. she might not only have been able to foresee what Cyrus did seeing that the remembrance of such a Work as that was very fresh but also by guarding all the Descents she had overthrown the Persians in the Chanel of the River where they passed But they thought of nothing but their Pleasures and Entertainments they had neither order nor any regular command in them And so are destroyed not only the strongest Places but also the greatest Empires Dread and astonishment filled every place the Impious King was killed and Xenophon who gives that Title to the last King of Babylon Xenoph. 7. seems by that word to aim at the Sacriledges of Belshazzar which Daniel makes us to see punished by so surprising a fall The Medes who had destroyed the first and chiefest Empire of the Assyrians destroyed also the second as if that Nation had been designated to be fatal to the