Imatges de pàgina
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HE Design of this Un-
dertaking is to fet before

the Reader a View of the History of the World, from Adam to the Dif folution of the Affyrian Empire, at the Death of Sardanapalus, in the Reigns of Abaz King of Judah, and Pekah King of Ifrael: At this Period, the most Learned Dean Prideaux began his Connection of the Old and New Teftament, and I would bring my Performance down to the Times where his Work begins; hoping, that if I can

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fet the Tranfactions of these Ages in a clear Light, my Endeavours may be of fome Service towards forming a Judgment of the Truth and Exactness of the ancient Scripture-Hiftory, by fhewing how far the old Fragments of the Heathen Writers agree with it, and how much better and more authentic the Account is, which it gives of Things, where they differ from it. What is now published, is but a fmall Part of my Defign; but if this meets with that Acceptance, which I hope it may, the remaining Parts fhall foon follow.

Chronology and Geography being neceffary Helps to Hiftory, I have taken care to be as exact as I can, in both of them: And that I might give the Reader the cleareft View of the Geography, I have, here and there, added a Map, where I differ in any Particulars from other Writers, or have mentioned any thing, not fo clearly delineated in the Draughts already extant, And as to the Chronology, I have obferved, as I go along, the feveral Years in which

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the Particulars I treat of, happened; and where any Doubts or Difficulties may arife, I have endeavoured to clear them, by giving my Reasons for the particular Times of fuch Tranfactions, as I have treated of.

In the Annals, as I go along, I have chosen to make ufe of the Era of the Creation of the World, that feeming to me most eafy and natural. The Tranfactions I am to treat of, are brought down from the Beginning, and it will be often very clear at what Interval or Distance they follow one another, and how long after the Creation; whereas, if I had ufed the fame Æra with Dr. Prideaux, and computed by the Years before Chrift, it would have been neceffary to have afcertain'd the Reader in what Year of the World the Incarnation of Chrift happened, before he could have had a fixed and determinate Notion of my Chronology: However, when I have gone thro' the Whole, I shall add fuch Chronological Tables, as may adjust the feveral Years

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of the Creation both to the Julian Period and Chriftian Æra. Ndida ad: ભુત It is fomething difficult to fay, of what Length the Year was, that was in Ufe in the early Ages. Before the

Flood, it is most probable, that the Ci vil and Solar Year were the fame, and that 360 Days were the exact Measure of both. In that Space of Time, the Sun made one entire Revolution, and it was easy and natural for the first Aftronomers to divide the Circle of the Sun's Annual Courfe into 360 Parts, long before Geometry arrived at Perfection enough to afford a Reason for the choosing to divide Circles into that Number of Degrees. All the time of the Antediluvian World, Chronology was fixed and eafy; a Year could be more exactly measured than it now can.

At the Flood, the Heavens underwent fome Change: The Motion of the Sun was altered, and a Year, or annual Revolution of it, became, as it now is, five Days and almost fix Hours longer than it was before. That such a Change

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