PROFANE HISTORY Will therefore ANCIENT stand thus divided, into THREE PRIMARY

PERIODS:

HISTORY.

1. From the origin of the CHALDEAN or BABYLONIAN power, about 750 years before Christ, to the subversion of its empire and the elevation of the PERSIAN EMPIRE, about• • •

2. From the elevation of the PERSIAN EMFIRE to its subversion, and the elevation of the MACEDONIAN EMPIRE..

3. From the elevation of the MACEDONIAN EMPIRE to its final dissolution, and to the elevation of the ROMAN EMPIRE in the person of AUGUSTUS..

Years.

Years before Christ.

16

3. OF THE PARTICULAR CHARACTERS WHICH MARK THESE SEVERAL PERIODS OF SACRED AND PROFANE HISTORY.

ANCIENT

SACRED HISTORY.

Q. Describe now the leading characters, HISTORY. which more particularly distinguish the

PRIMARY PERIODS into which Sacred History and Profane History are thus respectively divided. And, first, what are the characters which chiefly distinguish the SEVEN PERIODS of SACRED History?

A. The FIRST period of SACRED HISTORY, is distinguished; by God's first creation and probation of mankind; by man's failure under that probation; by the original general promise of a Saviour;

and by the first general execution of ANCIENT God's judgments upon the human race.

The SECOND period, is distinguished ; by a renewal of that gracious experiment of probation, upon a new race of men; by an awfully importing assurance, that God would not again destroy the earth by water*; and, by a miraculous dispensation, directing the general dispersion of the first families of men to those seats, in which they were to give origin to the different nations, that were thereafter to people the whole earth.

The THIRD period, is distinguished; by a specific promise of THE MESSIAH, or Universal Saviour," in whom all the fa"milies of the earth should be eventually "blessed;" and by a declaration, that HE should in due time be born, of the stock or family of ABRAHAM, and of the line of JUDAH.

* See 2 Peter, iii. 5, 6, 7.

HISTORY.

ANCIENT

The FOURTH period is distinguished;

HISTORY: by God's marvellous providences over the immediate descendants of Abraham; by HIS delivering them from slavery in Egypt; by HIS establishing them as an independent and sovereign people in Palestine and by the institution of HIS DIVINE LAW, for their government; the particular end of which was to determine and fix their prospect, by various figures, upon the future coming of their MESSIAH and King. Or, in the words of the great apostle to the heathens," to be to them as a Preceptor, "or Master, for directing their views to « the Messiah. παιδαγωγος εις χριςον *.

The FIFTH period is distinguished; by Gon's defining their prospect still more narrowly, and raising up to public honour and regal distinction, that "root of "JESSE," and "house of DAVID," by which the Messiah was peculiarly pleased that

Galat. iii. 24.

HISTORY.

HIS human origin should in all ages be ANCIENT described; and by the various fortunes, of prosperity and adversity, which attended that ROYAL HOUSE.

The SIXTH period is distinguished; by GOD's apparent rejection and abandonment of HIS selected people, and by the total overthrow of HIS chosen house; for the punishment of their reiterated rebellions; and in order to a signal, and most affecting demonstration of HIS fidelity . and omnipotence, in their subsequent deliverance and restoration.

The SEVENTH and LAST period is distinguished; by the actual demonstration of that signal and affecting proof of God's faithfulness and mercy towards HIS selected people; in recovering them from a condition of apparently remediless captivity; in causing their desolated Temple to be rebuilt; in giving them HIS divine promise," that the glory of the temple, so re"built, should be greater than the glory of the