The foundations of history

Front matter

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Preface

\HE Board of Publication of the Reformed Dutch Church have recently commenced publishing a series of Christian School Books, designed to restore Christianity to its proper place in Education. The first books of that series, the Primer and Readers, expressly prepared by able men whose hearts were interested in the subject, have already been issued. The plan of the series embraced, among other works, a History of the World, on Christian Principles. Not finding a suitable person willing to prepare such a History as was needed, the writer was led to commit to paper some foundation thoughts, which he wished to be brought out prominently in it. His desire was that the student of history might learn, that the Creator had a purpose in view when he created the world : that the history of the world, in connection with divine revelation, is a development of that purpose : that everything that happens, from the minutest providence to tht overthrow of empires, is subservient to that purpose, and is part of it : and that all inventions, and all knowledge imparted to man, are for the same end : and that is, the revelation of Himself in the Lord Jesus Christ ; and the Quanifestation of Mis glory through His church.

These foundation thoughts, connecting the first facts in History with all the subsequent history of the world, and

with the world to come, have necessarily been extended.

(iii)

iV PREFACE.

The work was commenced as a History of the World, in chronological order, from the creation to the deluge. During its progress the plan was changed, so as to make it a Series of First Things in History to the Christian era.

In what he has written, the thoughts and writings of others have been freely culled from and used. " The Universal History on Scriptural Principles," by Bagster & Sons, has rendered aid. Bagster 's Comprehensive Bible, with the authorized various readings, marginal notes, parallel passages, etc., etc., he has found not only useful for this work, but also for many years an invaluable assistant in studying the Holy Scriptures. In the preparation of some of the later chapters he was assisted by Bishop Meade's learned and interesting work, entitled "The Bible and the Classics." Other acknowledgments will be found in the body of the work.

His hope is yet, that some sanctified heart and able head may furnish a history of the world, in sma;ll form, for schools and for general reading, which may benefit the reader by giving glory to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

New Tori, May, 1863. S. B. S.

Contents

CHAPTER L

P4GB INTRODUCTORY, .1

CHAPTER n.

Chapter I, Inteoductory

IN looking at a history of the world in a small compass, ^^e may well exclaim, A history of the world, in two or three small volumes ! The world ! composed of vast empires and of many nations ; why the history of the decline of a single empire has filled many volumes 1 The world ! having twelve hundred millions of inhabitants, and having had a hundred generations of hundreds of millions of people I Many volumes have been written on the life of one man. Enough books have been written on the world's history to make a large library.^ A full history of the world in all its bearings we shall have time to read only in eternity. It is all recorded. John says, "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God : and the books were opened : and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." ^

In such a history, therefore, we can do little more tha,n take a bird's-eye view of the world : soaring over it as if in a balloon, seeing plainly the great nations, and the great men, which rise up, here and there, like the mountain-tops ] dipping occasionally down to the valleys ; catching a glance at the cities ; and now and then at the gatlierings of men. We shall see the earth covered by a dark, heavy, moral cloud, like a funeral pall : through that cloud we shall see

^ More than half a century ago, Miiller, the Swiss historian, in laying the foundation of his Universal History, made extracts from the writings of one thousand seven hundred and thirty-three authors of ancient and modern times. ^ Eev. xx. 12.

tlie beams of tlie Sun of Righteousness breaking, growing brighter and brighter, and carryiug life to all nations. We shall hear an almost universal wail of woe, which has been going up continually for six thousand years from the earth's inhabitants. But gradually rising above this, we shall hear shouts of praise, growing louder and louder, as the " good tidings of great joy, to all people, that a Saviour is born, which is Christ the Lord," are spread through the earth.

As we soar through six thousand years, we shall see the lights and shadows of a beautiful picture both in nature and morals. While studying it, shall we forget the Great Painter and Architect? Him " who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance. That stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in : that bringeth the princes to nothing. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things." ^

In looking into the history of man and of nations, we behold a vast and complicated machinery in continued motion ; and the more we look into it, the more wonderful do we find it in all its parts. Its movements are beyond our comprehension. Who made it ? Why was it made ? Is it left to regulate itself ? Suppose we were looking at an immense piece of mechanism, made with admirable finish ; its parts fitting together, and moving with a velocity and a power which, if uncontrolled, would carry destruction to itself and to every thing near it. Could we believe it made itself ? Could we believe that it moved without having power communicated to it ? Could we believe that the Maker had no purpose in vieiv when he made it ? Let us endeavor, then, in studying the history of the world, to learn why it was made ; for we have a personal interest in knowing why.

INTRODUCTOET. 3

Our bird's-eye view, taking in the whole at a glance, will enable us to see everywhere the controlling hand of God ; and his providence, like a golden thread, running through all time, and interwoven in all the affairs of man. Let us follow that thread, or else we shall be lost in a labyrinth.

And here, to help us on our journey, let us take a hint from an old negro, known as "The African preacher,"^ formerly a slave in Virginia. The oTd African, while exceedingly humble and respectful, was jealous of his heavenly Master's glory, and answered scoffers accordingly. An individual of large fortune, who was accustomed to treat the subject of religion rather sportively, and who at the same time prided himself on his morality, said to him, " I think, old man, I am as good as need be. I can't help thinking so, because God blesses me as much as he does you Christians, and I don't know what more I want than he gives me ; and yet I never disturb myself about preaching or praying." To this the old preacher replied with great seriousness : " Just so with the hogs. I have often seen them rootinoamong the leaves in the woods, and finding just as many acorns as they needed, and yet I never saw one of them look up to the tree from which the acorns fell." As we journey through the world's history, let us not think too much of the acorns ; nor have our attention taken up too much with the noisy, quarrelsome hogs, or those that have gathered the most acorns j such as Alexander the Great, Croesus, or Csesar.

They are not the really great, whose influence and empires perish with their own short lives. The real conquerors of the world are those heroes of the Lord's hosts, who, although they have been dead thousands of years, are still assisting, by their example and writings, to extend the empire of the King of kings, with a power and influence which will be extending and increasing till the end of time.

^ The African Preacher. Presbyterian Board of Publication.

Let US seek, therefore, first to become acquainted witli the Creator of the world, and he will give us the key to open its history ; and also enable us to look at it with the eye of Him who controls it. Let us learn from Him why He made the world, and what is to be the end of it ; we shall then the more readily" understand its history, and shall be better prepared to fill the place which we must each occupy in that history.

Chapter II

FIEST HISTORIES OF THE WORLD — FIRST HISTORIANS — FIRST POPULAR LECTURERS.

'EFORE entering on our journey, let us examine the guide-books we have to direct us in our course. As regards creation, and the history of the world for the first thirty-five hundred years of its existence, the only reliable account that we have is that given by God himself, and contained in the Holy Scriptures. That history, written for the benefit of the people of God, is almost exclusively a history of the Church. As the Church, however, is in the world, and has always been in conflict with it, we find in that history accounts of persons and nations outside of the Church.

It is true those accounts are few and far between ; but we have the satisfaction of knowing that they are true : while most of the later histories written by man are doubtful, and many are false. And we may be sure, that as much of the early history of the world has been revealed to us as is for our good. The old world became so exceedingly sinful, that we may almost say the less we know about it the better.

So far as we can learn, the world was twenty-five centuries without any written history. Moses, the first historian, wrote about B. C. 1500. From that time to about B. C. 445, the divinely inspired writers of the Bible are the only historians. There was not much need of written histories when men lived nearly a thousand years. It only required three or four persons to carry history, by word of mouth, from

Adam to Moses. That metliod of instruction, from father to son, is often referred to in the Bible.

" Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations : Ask thy father, and he will shew thee ; Thy elders, and they will teach thee."

Deut. xxxii. 7.

" Tell ye your children of it.

And let your children tell their children, And their children another generation."

Joel i. 3.

The Old Testament history ends with ' the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The last of the Old Testament Books was written B. C. 445. The same year, the first authentic history written by any of the world's historians, viz., by Herodotus, is said to have been made public.

Herodotus of Halicarnassus is not only the first, but is the prince of heathen historians. His history is divided into nine books, called by the names of the muses. It was compiled while traveling through the then civilized world ; and though it contains many marvelous and incredible stories, gathered from among the nations he visited, it still holds a high place among scholars, not only for the information it imparts, but for the beauty of its style, fascinating variety, and its noble simplicity.

The first heathen poets, and historians, were the first popular lecturers in the world. Herodotus read his history, referring principally to the wars carried on between Europe and Asia, before an assembly of the people gathered at Athens at the festival of their tutelar goddess. While reciting his history, Herodotus observed a young man who betrayed marks of strong emotion : struck with his intelligent aspect, he advised the father of the young man to give him the education of a philosopher. The name of this youth was Thucydides. He became the second of the heathen

FIEST HISTORIES OF THE WORLD. 7

historians. His Mstory, tliougli comprising a sliort period only, displays such profound thought, such knowledge of men and of States, such majestic eloquence, and so noble a style, that as an historian and orator, Thucydides has retained a place among the most illustrious.

Herodotus represented the gods as so jealous of man's happiness, that if they favored any mortal, they did so only to render his fall more calamitous. Thucydides, like many of the present day who would feel affronted to be called heathen, would not allow that the gods interfered in human affairs, either for good or evil ; making man's prosperity or adversity depend entirely upon himself.

It is well here to notice the difference between the inspired historians and those merely human, as regards the end they ea,ch had in view. The word of God says :

" All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ; that the man of G-od may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." ^

Herodotus, the first of the world's historians, says :

" To rescue from oblivion the memory of former incidents, and to render a jiist ti'ihute of renown to the many great and wonderful actions of Greeks and barbarians, Herodotus of Halicarnassus writes this historical essay."

Thus taught, that human history glorifies man, whilst the divine corrects and instructs man, and glorifies God; let us endeavor to bear the objects of the writers in mind, as we cull from their histories : so that what ^'e gather may profit us and give glory to Him to whom it is due.

» 2 Tim. iii. 16, lY.