tion, fuch a flattering circumstance may encourage me to publish several other Tracts and Differtations on various fub

jects, fome of which are already prepar ed for the prefs.

IN mean time, I hope the indulgent Reader will make candid allowances, for any mistakes or defects he

may discover,

in what is now with all humility presented

to his hand.

AN

HE study of history in general is agreeable, improving, and useful: By it we enter into human life, take a furvey of

human affairs, gratify the boundless curiofity of the foul of man, and enlarge the sphere of our knowledge. In it we learn, in a special manner, the science of mankind, and behold them in all their variety of characters and fituations.

This makes to pass in regular review before us, the origin, the progrefs, the establishment of states and kingdoms, the flourishing, the decline, the fubverfion of nations and empires, the various revolutions that have happened in the world, with their fprings, and movements, and effects.

Ecclefiaftical history may not only exhibit these occafionally in the courfe of narration, but is attended

A

tended with additional circumstances peculiarly interesting. The most splendid scenes of civil history are far fuperior to vulgar life, and are chiefly difplayed for the benefit of those who move in higher orbits, and who support public and distinguished characters.

The history of the Christian Church, in its feveral stages and periods, becomes an object to every Christian, of whatever rank or denomination. His facred profeffion is here more immediately concerned, his paffions are thereupon more deeply interested, and he may derive perfonal advantage from a review of his religion, not in theory, but in real life.

Ecclefiaftical history opens a wide and extenfive field, in which a vast variety of objects and events must occur. Thefe, if minutely traced and carefully delineated, may afford abundance of matter fufficient for many volumes.

My defign is only to take a curfory glance of this large region, without traverfing every particular part, and to exhibit to view material fcenes, the most instructive and entertaining. This I fhall attempt, aiming at great brevity, but not over-follicitous about all the minuter delicacies of arrangement and embellishment, which might perhaps be expected in a more full and formal history.

The duration of the world from the creation of it, to the appearance of JESUS CHRIST may be divided into fix ages.

The first, is from the creation to the flood, and confifts of 1656 years, 1 month, 26 days.

The fecond, from the end of the deluge till the calling of Abraham, contains 426 years, 4 months, 18 days. Then at the divine call did the Patriarch depart from Ur of the Chaldees to the land of Canaan.

The

The third period reaches from the calling of Abraham to the deliverance of the children of Ifrael out of Egypt, a space of 430 years.

The fourth, from the departure of the Jews out of Egypt till the building of Solomon's temple, is 479 years, 17 days.

The fifth, from the building of the temple to the end of the captivity of the Jews, extends to 476 years.

The fixth, from fetting of the Jews at liberty by Cyrus king of Perfia, till the birth of JESUS CHRIST, amounts to the number of 532 years.

All these together make up 3999 years, and 7 months; though fome computations of chronology fix it at 3987 years, and others, the exact number of 4000 years.

In this fulness of time, and when the proper period determined by the decrees of heaven arrived, JESUS CHRIST, the Son of God became incarnate. As the Son of man he fprang of the family of Abraham, and of the blood-royal of David, according to promife, and was at this time born at Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of the emperor Auguftus Cæfar.

It is a general opinion, that the temple of Janus was then fhut, and that a profound peace univerfally prevailed in the world. This pacific ftate of things favoured the propagation of the gofpel, and thereby the first preachers of it were enabled to execute their divine commiffion with more fafety and fuccefs. It likewife reflected a luftre upon christianity itself, and gave weight to its credibility, as it was not ushered into the world amidst scenes of war and bloodshed, of public diforder and general commotion, but when mankind enjoyed the fweets of ease and tranquillity, and were more at leifure to examine with exactnefs, and to weigh

with