Sketches of universal history, sacred and profane, from the creation of the world, to the year 1818 of the Christian era: in three parts

Front matter

s

Part J„ FfJffe

J^^ SKETCHES

Preface

WTO shew that one supreme, cronipotent, eternal God created the iinivers';, that hi3 superintending providence preserves and ;^overns all thiols ; that his wisdom regulates and controls all events ; that the smallest as well as the largest are equally the objects of his care ; that " not a sparrow falleth to the ground without his Notice, and even the hairs of our heads are alUiiimbered," is the great object of this work — but noore particularly of (he first part. ^

• To accomplish this object with ihe most forcible demonstration I have shewn the , great designs of God in the government of men, by unfolding a succession of prophecies, by s^'hich he announced a grand succession of events, from the fall of man down to this day, and to the t^nd of the world,

'i'o enfJjrce conviction, I have recorded a narrative of the most important events which have fulfilled these prophecies, in regular succession, from the first promise of God to Adam, down to this day, as they stand recorded by the most approved historians. In thi.s narrative it clearly appears, that all the historians, through all ages of the world, have done no more than record the will and srovernment of God, as predicted by his inspired prophets, hundreds and thousands of years before they were accomplished

To render the design of this narrative as clear and forcible as possible I have not only confined it to tho.^e nations "who were the immediate subjects of the prophecies, but to such parts of their hittory a- immediately regard the accomplishment of these great events That part of the 'history of the four great empires, noticed in the great image of IVebuchadnezzar and Daniel's four beasts, as regards thuir governments, laws, manners and customs, together with a sketch of the history of the othtjr great kingdoms and empires not immediately connected with the proptiecies, I have noticed separately bv way of Appendix.

All prophecy was given by inspiration of God, and all ancient prophecy through the prophets of the ancient .Jewish iMiiirch, which sprang from the family of Abraham, and regarded those nations only which were connected with the .Jewish hi'itory. This wa.-. ail that was necessary. — both in its extent and duration— to shew that the government of God is both universal and eternal

The history of the other great nations is of importance to be known and studied, as ancient monumenls of wisdom, virtue, patience, fortitude, industry, arts and arms — and their syjtemsa:d maxims of government have proved useful and impomant models to after ages ; have led to the improvements of the age in which we !iv-e, and to the perfection of that well balanced systemof government which we enjoy.

The luxury and corruptions which followed all the great conquests ; the prostration of the virtues by tho-^e very corruptions, and the general licentiousness which followed in their train, togeth.-r with factions, discord, weakness and ruin, whichever closed the political scene, ought to serve as so many beaeons, to guide us and all after ages, in the way of wisdom, virtue, and duty, and to guard us against the calamities of licentious ambition, which have invariably proved their ruin

The economy of the governments of the Assyrian , Chaldean, Median' and Persian Monarchies, are very partially known tons — Ihey were not only absolute monarchies, but from the rude and barbarous ages in which they were founded, we have reason to coiK-1'ide their systems were very limited, and that the whole depended very much upon the will of the king, with this exception, that the king could not change even bis own will when pn<;e U became a law.

The union of all these kingdoms stood upon the same basis, under the Medo-Persian Empire. This system was -ufficient to protect a ii*inj state whilst virtue ruled, but Lad no powers to save a nation when sinking under licentiousness and corrupt ambition

All the renowned wisdom of the philosophers and legislators of Greece and Rome could do no more, with all their boasted svstemsof liberty. They in their turn all fell a prey to licention- ambition. The kin^'domof P'.gypt with all the boasted wisdoni jrad virtue of her ancient institutioag, fell a prey to all-conquering lust and ambition.

^y- PREFACE.

As we trace this great sabject through the two succeeding parts of this work, we shall find that all the kingdoms of Europe are under the same condermation, together with the Turkish Empire, whose broad basis stands upon the ruins of all the ancient states and empires.

How far that true balance of power, which constitutes the basis of the English and American governments, may be able to control ambition, licentiousness and corrup- . tion, andjireserve the ^orcrnmonls and liberties of the nations ; remains to be tested by experience.

In the first part of this work I have endeavoured to shew the happy and prosperous «tate of the Jews under their theocracy .and that their wretchedness commenced with thf^ir kinjly government, in connection with their false religion I hat- e endeavoured to illustrate the character of the Grecian and Roman Republics, aoJ shew how a corrupt religion and a want of the trus balance of power in the third estate in the gov,- ernment ope.ied the way for factions, which proved their ruin

In the serond part, I have endeavoured to shew how the overbearing- ambition of Ibe Roman E.mpire proved its own rniu, and hjw the distresses .she had inflicted upon other nations recoiled back upon her.self, until iujcury and refinement were swallowed "p and lost in ig-norance and barbarism— also, whil struggles men had to endure to rise out of barbari.sm into a state of civil refinernent.

In the pursuit of this subject I have endeavoured to shew how mach the happiness and misery of men dapend upon individual character, and have illustrated this in the characters of Alfred the ^reat, contrasted with William I — ityled the conq:reror ; of Edward in. contrasted with Edward VI ; Q,ueen Elizabeth and Q,ueen Ann, contrasted with James il. and Charles I. aud If. ^nd in this way have shewn how England emerged from the Feudal syst.-iai, and acquired -'he supremacy of the three estates in her government— the exc'eljeucy of this government I have endeavoured to shew, in the wonderful display of wisdom, order, happiness, peace and prosperity in the Arifierican Republic.

In the third part I have enizwvjvei to shew the character of the republics of Poland and of France, atd to render it plain and intelligible, that repyolics without the balance of power in the three estates, •'ooa become tae nurssriis of factioas, and that the licentiousness of liberty cherishes the strife of party, until some idol chief strips the people of their rights, and becomtis their despot.

I have df*wn at full length the characters of Charles XII and B jnaparte, to illustrate the more strikingly the worth of the character of Peter the Great of Russia, of Frederick the Great of Prussia, and Alexander the Great of Russia— but more immediately the true worth of Washington.

It has been my firit object through the whole work to shew the inflaence and imparlance of religion — to contrast the pure religion of the Jews with the idolatry of the ages in which tiiey maiotaiaed the purity of their church. To contrast particularly the religion of Christ and his Apostles, with the religion of the Popes and Mahomet ; And to shew that Martin Luther wa^the angel of the gospel for the age in which he lived, and will continue to be the angel of the gospel until the raillenial day, through 'be iiiedium of the heralds of the cross, in the protestant cau.se.

As this work is designe^d immsdiately for the use of schools, instructors may avail ihemselves of the chronological table of contents to frame questions for examioatitUr Jiiftriiction by leetures upon the maps, oroth'^rwise.

Wetbersfield, Conn. Oct. 15, 18! P. •

SKETCHES OF

UNIVERSAL HISTORY

Part First

FROM THE CREATION,. TO THE SUBVERSION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, 145(X

GHAP. I.

History — its division's and use — -from the creation to the flood' — from thejlood to the building of Nineveh and Babylon,

History is the great medium by which we are enabled to perpeiuate the occurrence of events — and through which we may take a retrospective view of those that are past.

It may be divided into four great parts, history before the flood, termed antediluvian ; history since the flood, tenncd postdiluvian r hjstory from ihe flood to Christ, termed ancient, and since Chri?t, termed modern history. All that is v»^ritten by the immediate inspiration of God, is termed Sricred ; such isjthe history of the bibhi : all other history comes under the ojeneral denomination of profane*

It famishes a vast field of moral and religious instruction, and i'5 designed to ama- e the imagination, irapro' i; the iind.er; stan'iing, correct the judgment, and mend the heart by leadinii; us up to God, as the great author, preserver and governor of all things.

That which first claims our attentioo. in the annals of time, 1 * u THE CREATION.

is the history of the creation, as recorded by Moses in the book of Genesis. The most striking pirts of this narrative are ; the formation of the earth and heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, and stars innumerable, thatfill the vast expanse of heaven ; the creation of animate nature, with man for its head ; the covenant between man and his God ; man's violation of that covenant, which brought death into the world, and all our woe ; the early promise of God, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, and that man should be restored to the lo?t favour of his God ; the expulsion of man from paradise, the seat of innocence and bliss on earth; and the curse which was denounced by God, "in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread."

These are the great outlines of that apostacy, which has bpen the origin of all the distress and wretchedness, which have been the inseparable companions of man, through the subsequent ages of the -world.

Driven from the presence of his God, man was left, unprotected by his own innocence or his covenant with his Maker ; weak, corrupt, depraved, to depend henceforth upon his own efforts ; not in the garden of E.len, but in the wild uncultivated earth ; which also was nnder the curse, for the disobedience of man— for God had said, " cursed is the ground for thy sake, in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life : thorns also, and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field, till thou return unto the gro-ind : for dust thou art,-^md unto du^::t shalt thou return."

Here is the origin of the calamities of man ; and his whole history from that time to this, is nothing more than a detail of the events, which hai'e arisen in consequence of the awful denunciations of heaven. Thus left to himself; this image of God, this child of bliss, this favored of heaven, began the employment of husbandry, upon this wide, solitary, uncuhivated earth. Alas, hovv changed ! Should I attempt to paint the contrast, bet'.veen this and his former state, imagination would fail, language would be inadequate.

Our task now is, to trace him through all the mazes of sin and error, wr?tchedn(iss and woe, in which he has wandered these rix thousand years ; and notice the displays of divine kindness, compassion, and b-enevolence, towards him.

Husbandry being the fir-t employment of man, the early state of society was such as is common to the tirst settlement

THE DELUGE. 7

of all new countries ; apart from the protection of the laws for the security of the rights of person, and property: in this respect, they were in a state of nature. Although they retained so much reverence for God, as to express some degree of worship, by SHcritice ; yet when Cain rose u[) against his brother and slew him, there was no avenger of blood : God himself denounced judgment upon Cain, and inflicted the punishment. Nothing ^'.ppears on record to shew that this was not the wretched state of man, for the space of 1636 years down to the flood.

If vvie examine the state of those nations since the flood, which have had lo commerce, cities, or intercourse with commercial nations ; we shall most probably, have a picture of man, from the creation to the flood. When the earth was full of violence, and man had filled up the measure of hi? iniquity, God came out in judgment again-^t him. He ordered- Noah to baild an ark, and collect hi? little family of eight' persons, with pairs of all kinds of animals, both birds, beasts and creeping things, and secure tliem from the overwhelming destruction, he was about to bring upon a guilty world.

When Noah had obeyed the command of God, and given warning to a profligate world, he entered into the ark. The tempest was poured out from heaven forty days and forty nights : the deluge covered the face of the whole earth, even the highest mountains ; and the whole family of man, together with all flesh, were swept ofl" the earth, except Noah and his family : these were preserved as God had a[>poiuted. At the end of one year, the waters were dried up, and the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat, in Asia, near the source of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris ; on which man was first created, and from whence God first began to people the earth.

Here a new scene was opened ,• here Noah reared an altar, and returned thanks to God. Here agnin began the employment of husbandry. The corruptiotis also of man were renewed. Here, Noah [)lanted a vineyard, and drank to excess of the fruit of the vine. Here re-commenced the s-ame state of society with which Noah had been conversant before the flood.

Men led the same wandering pastoral lives ; they were shepherds and hunters, f:)r the space of 130 years; they then assembled in the plains of Shinar, where tiiey buijt the impious Tower of Babel. This work was of the greatest

H NINEVEH AND BABYLON,

magnitude, of any that had been atteinpted since the flood. At this, they v.roiight uncheck^^d forty years, when God in judgment, suffered them to go no farther, but put an end to their work by coiifjunding their speech.

Here wai the origin of the confusion Oi tongues, from whence arose all the variety of language, which has appeared upon the earth. Here Nimrod, who was a mighty hunter before the Lord, laid trie foundations of the renowned city of Babylon, in the year of the v/orid 1771. This city stood at the confluence of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris : was walled in the year 1780, and became the famous capital of the Chaldean Monarchy. About the year 1770, Ninus .built Nineveh, the subsequent cajutal of th»*; Assyrian Monarchy. During this period, of about 1800 years, the employment of men, and the state of society, had probably continued the same.

These two great cities soon acquired a degree of wealth, influence and power, which produced the same eff"ects upon society and the world, as have been witnessed, in the history of all the great cities which have appeared : the same change of manners, habits and customs : the ferocity, barbarity and tincultivatvid state of the hunter^ and shepherds, began to receive a polish and reiinement, by their intercourse with the city. The same lust of pleasure, wealth and power, began to appear. Each, in their turn, extended their conquests over the neighboring countries, until they gave law to all the eastern world. During this whole period, men were without the knowledge of God, and were sunk in thamost barbarous and absurd idolatrv.

CHAP. n.

From the call of Abraham and his family, to the death of Joseph his Great-Gramlson in Egypt*

About 417 years after the flood, God saw the corruption of all that eastern world ; and that they had !o-;t the knowledge aad worship of the true G^^d. He then called Abraham from Vr of the Cbaldees, near the plains of Shinar ; and directed him to go out into a wild uncultivHted desert, lying to the westj near the borders of the Mediterranean sea, and

THE CALL Ol<* ABKAHAil. »

there settle. Abraham obeyed the command, went out into this remote land ; by permission, took with him Lot, his brother's son, and formed a new settlement.

Here God began to make a new display of himself to Abraham and to the world. Here he unfolded his promises to Abraham. 1st. That he would give to him and his posterij^tp the land, when as yet he had no children. 2d. That his se«d should sojourn in a strange land ; be evil treated 400 years, and then be restored to their own land. He gave him a son, in a miraculous manner : and although he was the heir of. promise, God ordered him to sacrifice the lad. When he had so fir obeyed the command, as to er^ct the altar, and raise the knife for execution ; the voice of God exclaimed ; " Lay not thine hand upon the lad." And Abraham caught a ram in the thicket and sacrificed it to the Lord.

Thus having tried the faith of Abraham, abolished through him the ancient custom of human sacrifice, which was common in the land of his fathers ; and having taught his people in all generations of the world, although he slay them to trust in him ; he prospered Abraham greatly in the land, gave him flocks and herds, and made him lord of great possessions.

When Isaac, the child of promise was born, Abraham drove out Hagar his maid, with Ishmael her son, to wander in the desert : that Ishmael, upon whom the angel had pronounced this prophecy before he was born, that " he should be a wild man, his hand should be against every man, and every man's against him, and yet he should dwell in the presence of all his brethren" — that Ishmael, for whose sake God gave this consolation to Hagar his mother, in her distress in the desert. •' Take the lad in thine hand, for 1 will make of him a great nation.'' Isfimael and Hagar his mothtir, went out accordingly ; and in him, and his posterity, the prophecy has been literally accomplished. The Arabs are a thieving, robbing, plundering race to this day, and have never been conquered.

When Isaac arrived at the age of manhood. Abraham sent out his servant to the land of his fathers, and took for him Rebecca, his brother's daughter to wife, by tl^ special direction of God. By her he had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Abraham lived to a good old age, died, and was buried in his own tomb, which he bought of Ephron the Hittite, for a family sepulchre. Esau married one of the daughters of the

10 ISAAC, JACOB AND JOSEPH.

land, and united the employnnient of hunting with that of husbandry ; but Jacob bee ime a hu-bandman, ai;(^ kept his father's flocks. To Esau were born .«ons and daughters ; and to Jacob twelve sons, who became heads of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Tiie history of Esau and Jacob, is recorded in the book of >Genesis. There also is recorded the art of Rebecca, to ob-. tain the blessing for Jacob her favourite son, in exciusiosk-of the rig tf il heir ; the death and sepulture of good old Isaac, and the strife and bitterness of E-au against Jacob.' As Jacob increased in his family and wealth, he increased in favor U'ith God ; and by wrestling with the angel, he obtained the blessing, with the name of Israel : also the mark of the withered thigh, by the hand of the angel ; which has ca';sed, the Hebrews, his desrendant^, to exclude the thigh of all animals, as improper food, to this day.

When the twelve sons of Jacob or Israel, grew into life, their fatl-er cherished an unguarded partiality towards Jor-eph, one of the younger sons, which excited a jealousy and resentment, on the part of his brethren. This, together with some extraordinary dreams, which Joseph imprudently rv^lated, increased t'^eir resentment <o hatred, and malice, which led them to revenge upOM Joseph, by selling him to the Ishmaelites, (or Arab-) and to deceive his father by a false report that he had been devoured by wild beasts*; this they confirmed hy chfwing his bloody coat ; a barbarous stratagem practised on their father, by dipping the coat in the blood of a kid.

These Isf)maelites carried Joseph down into Egypt, where they sold him as a slave. Here an impious attempt was made upon his virtue, by bis m jsler's wife ; which, to her severe diappointment, and mortification, he resisted. This led her falsely to accuse him to nis master, who threw him into prison. God permitted these daring acts of outrage and cruelty, to shew, for our instruction, that he always can, and often does, bring the greatf'st blessings out of the heaviest afflictions, and to increase our confidence in him.

H<:re, while immured in the wails of a prison, God opened the way for the deliverance of Joseph. When one of hisfello-v prisoners who was of the kin'g's household, related a singuhir dream, Joseph was instriicted by God in the interpretation — which was accomplished in a very extraordi-

PHARAOH, JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN. 11

nary manner. This came to the ears of the king, who soon had occasion to send for Joseph to interpret his own dream, ofthxt seven fat and «even lean kine.*

This interpretation procured for Joseph the favor, and confidence of the king : raised him to power, and brought hirii near the throne. Wiien the seven years of famine, represotitcd by the seven lean kine, had extended into the land of Canaan, \vjiere the father of Joseph dwelt, he sent ten of his sons into Egypt to buy corn.

The manner in which they were received ; the stratagem of Josrph, to punish them, and bring down his younger brother ; the second journey of his brethren, the severity of Joseph's treatment of them, the painful sensations of his own breast, the disclosure of himself to his brethren, his sending for his aged fither with all his houseliold, and supporting them in Egypt ; are all recorded in the close of the book of Genesis, in a striking and pathetic manner, not to "be expressed by any other pen. This interesting narrative, so full of moral and religious instruction, should be familiar to ill, at an early age.

When the fulness of time was come, that the good old Ja- ;ob should be gathered, as a shock of corn fully ripe ; he remembered the promise of God to his grandfather Abraham, :hat his posterity should sojourn in a strange land, and be 5vil entreated 400 years : he called together his sons, and ;ave them his prophetic blessing, t and charged them to concey his remains to the land of his fathers, and deposit them n the family tomb.

This command was faithfully executed, with all that soemnity and respect, due to the best of fathers ; and the fanily returned into Egypt, where they continued to increase md multiply, under all their former prosperity.

Here again, the interesting determination of Divine provi- Jence is acknowledged. The dream of Joseph, which was 10 offensive to his brethren, was accomplished. Their forner sin in selling him into Egypt,, now stared them in the ace : and they, fearing his power and vengeance, after the 3eath of their father, fell prostrate before Joseph, and pour- ;d out their confessions, and sought his protection. |

Again, the meekness, gentleness and benevolence of Joseph were displayed : again he drew a veiloverthe wicked-

12 JOSEPH AN^ HIS BRETHREN.

ness of his brethren, ascribed all to God, and taught tliemto notice his special providence in their deliverance : again, he restored them to his favor, «cd lived to seethe third generation of Be.^jamin, his beloved brother. And vvhen the fullness of time ivas come, that he should be gathered to his fathers, he caJled his brethren and said — " I die, and God vrill surely viirit you and bring vou out of this land, to the land which he sware unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." And when he had taken their oath, that they would carry his bones witfe them, he fell asleep.

CHAP. IIJ.

From the death of Joseph to the call of Moses — the plagues in Egypt, the departure of the Hebrews, under Moses and Aaron, and the destruction of Pharaoh at the Red Sea.

Here begins a new era in the history of the family of Abraham. The Patriarchs are gone ; Joseph is gone ; and their descendants are left unprotected in a strange land. God continued to increase and bless them, till a new king arose, who knew not Joseph. This king, unmindful of the protection the kingdom had received in the time of the famine ; and fired with ambition, began to exercise despotic power, and oppress the people.

WLen tiicy became numerous, fearing that his oppres?ion might excite them to revolt, he commanded all their male children to be destroyed at the birth : an art of cruelty and barbarity, not before recorded in the annuls of man. This order was executed, except in the instance of Mo«es, who was hid by his mother, in an ark of bulrushes, in the tiags of the river, where he was preserved by the special providence of Gf^d. The daughter of Pharaoh, in her walk discovered the child, and sent for a nurse, which, in the same providence proved to be the child's mother.

Nursed under the guardian care of the princess, Moses grew into life, and was educated in all the wisdom and science of the Egyptians ; and at the same time, was instructed by his mother, that he was an Hebrew, of the family of the

COMMISSION OF MOSES. IS

bondmen of the land. When he became a man, he weat into the field to vis5it his bretiiren ; and seeing an Egyptian offer to one of them violence and wrong, he slew him. When this act was known, Moses Rod into Midian, (a land on the east of Ejrypt,) where he married the daughter of Jethro, priest of Midian, and kept his fatlier's flocks.

Here began tihe diplays of the majesty of Heaven ! Here the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob began to have compassion on the distresses of his afflicted children in Egypt, Knowing that his prediction of 400 years of sojourning were nearly accomplished, here he appeared to Moses in the midst of a biirning bush ; and called and commissioned him. f oin the midst of ihat flame, which concealed the God, but consumed not the bush.

Here he charged Moses to go into Egypt, and deliver his people : and jiermitted him to take with him Aaron his brother. Here he confirmed the commission of Mos'es, by the special miracle, of turning his rod into a serpent; aiid predicted the manner in which his people should, at their departure, spoil tiie Egyptians of their tr^^asures of gold |ind silver, as some coAjpensaUon for thair painful service.

Empowered by this high commission, and the miraculous di«plays of divine power, Moses took with him Aaron, went down into Eiiypt, and stood before Pharaoh. When he had opened the comini^sion of heaven to the king, he received from Pharaoh thi* haughty reply, " Who is the Lord, that I should ohe}' his voice and let Israel go ? I will not let the people go." In reply to the insolence of this haughty king, Mojes cast down his rod, and it became a serpent.

Then Pharaoh, to try the strength of this miracle, sent for his magicians and sofcfereVs, who cast down their i*ods and they became' ?er[)ents';' hut the serpent of Moses' rod swallowed up all theirs. This did not open the heart of the king, but contirmr'd him in Ins purpose fiot to let them go. Then God came out in judgment against Pharaoh, by the ten successive plagues which he caused Mo.-es to if flict upon the land of E'vpt, fire, blood and de;'th. (Exod. 8th and ^th ch.)

in f^^^is auful manner the j'uigjr.eiits of heaven were displayed, through this impious king, upon his guilty land : to inspire the Hebrews with that confidence in God, and in Moses and Aaron, which should unite them in their departure. He caused Pharaoh, also to double the tasks of the Hebrews, that their oppressive bondage might constrain this union, and

14 DKSTllUiTION OF PHARAOH.

that he might make such a display of himself and his judgments, as ehoiild lead Pharaoh, and the world, to acknowledge, that " the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

When God had putfjrth his hand and touched all the first bora of the land ; when every hou?e was filled with moiirning, lamentation and wo : then the hard heart of this h sught}^ king; was subdued. Then the prince and people were ready to drive out th hn\^lites. Here commenced the solemn festival of the Jewish piissover in commemoration of their wonderful deliverance ; which continues to this day in the Jewish Crnirch. Here was f ilHiled ine proriiise, that tliey should be enriched i'-ith t\\e sp'oils of the Egyptians, by their jewels of gold and of silver.