HISTORY. ANCIENT 66 former one," whose loss they deplored *; and in finally making good that promise, to the full conviction and infinite joy of all those pious Jews who were " waiting for "the consolation of Israel." When the infant Messiah was presented within that temple; and when HIS PRESENCE called forth that beautiful utterance of joy and conviction: "Lord! Now lettest "thou thy servant depart in peace, ac"cording unto thy word! for mine eyes "have seen THY SALVATION, which thou "hast prepared, before the face of all peo ple: a LIGHT to lighten THE GENTILES, "and THE GLORY of thy people ISRAELT!" PROFANE HISTORY. Q. And what are the characters which appertain to, and which chiefly distinguish, the THREE PERIODS of PROFANE History? * Haggai, ii. 9. Luke, ii. 22, 29-32. HISTORY. A. The FIRST period of profane his- ANCIENT tory, or the time of the first great empire, as it relates to heathen affairs, is chiefly important to us, at the present day, and is therefore chiefly to be distinguished by us, for being the age of the infancy of the TWO EXEMPLAR STATES of GREECE and ROME; of the poetical and philosophical genius of the one; of the military and legislative spirit of the other. Also, for being the age of the introduc tion of the Chaldean and Egyptian sciences into Europe. The SECOND period, or the time of the second Empire, is chiefly distinguishable for being the age of the vigour and maturity of the Grecian genius, in letters, arts, and science; and for the heroic examples of patriotism and valour, in opposition to the usurpations of the second or Persian Empire, which so splendidly adorn this period of the Grecian history. The THIRD and LAST period, or the time HISTORY. ANCIENT of the third Empire, is distinguished by two of the greatest and most eventful revolutions which have yet taken place upon the earth. 1. The commencement of this period is distinguished by the general revolution in Greece and Asia, effected by the ambition and enterprise of ALEXANDER the GREAT; by means of which, the arms, arts, and language of GREECE, were spread over the greater part of the continent of Asia, and the Grecian name and power permanently enthroned in Egypt. 2. The decline and end of this period are still more eminently distinguished, by the rapid growth of the Roman power, and by that more extensive revolution, finally consummated by AUGUSTUS CESAR; by which, not only the Roman arms triumphed over all Greece, and the Grecian conquests in the East; but the laws, language, and name of ROME, were spread over, and at length became in a manner identified with, the continent of EUROPE; "The HISTORY. "(says Pliny,) and by far the fairest por- ANCIENT ❝tion of the earth:-EUROPA, altrix vic"toris omnium gentium populi, longèque "terrarum pulcherrima*:" which thenceforth became incorporated, as the proper body of the LAST or ROMAN EMPIRE, and the future theatre of all the PRIMARY EVENTS of the world. The rise of THIS EMPIRE was the predetermined and predicted signal of the appearance of the Messiah: WHOSE BIRTH, as we have already seen, concludes the general division of ANCIENT HISTORY, both SACRED and PROFANE. *Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. iii. c. 1. § 4. OF THE 24 POLITICAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE FOUR GREAT HEATHEN THE JEWS. ANCIENT HISTORY. Q. DID any relation or correspondence subsist between the FOUR GREAT HEATHEN EMPIRES, and that one PARTICULAR NATION which forms the exclusive subject of SACRED history? or, were those four empires known to the Jewish people? A. Yes a very intimate relation subsisted between each of those empires and the Jews; to whom they were doubly known; by PROPHECY, and by EXPERI ENCE. Q. How were those empires known to the Jews by prophecy? |