called upon by profeffional inducements to drink the facred ftreams at their fource, by reading the Scriptures in the original language, he may rest contented with tranflations; and it feems to be a well-founded opinion among the learned, that he may rely with confidence upon the general fidelity of our English version.

To perufe the holy Scriptures is one of the first employments of childhood. We cannot fail to congratulate ourfelves that our time has been thus occupied, when our judgment is fufficiently mature to form a comparative eftimate of the various productions of literature, and we are fully able to determine their usefulness. And it will be found, as life is verging towards its close-when every other book begins to be infipid and uninterefting, that the HOLY BIBLE, which includes the moft ancient records of time, the cleareft evidences of a divine revelation, and the joyful promifes of eternal happiness, will attract us more and more, as old age advances, and will afford us that divine folace and inexpreffible fatisfaction, which no other writings can give.

"I durft appeal to the judgment of a candid reader, that there is no hiftory fo pleasant as the facred. Set afide the majesty of the inditer, noue can compare with it for the magnificence and antiquity of the matter, the fweetnefs of compiling, the ftrange variety of memorable occurrences: and if the delight be fuch, what shall the profit be esteemed

of that which was written by God for the falvation of Men? I confefs no thoughts did ever more fweetly fteal me, and time away, than thofe which I have employed in this fubject: and I hope none can equally benefit others; for if the mere relation of thefe holy things be profitable, how much more when it is reduced to use":"

In conformity with these observations as to the excellence of the Scriptures, was the opinion of the late Sir William Jones, a perfon, as much distinguished by the foundness of his judgment, as by his extenfive and various learning. In the last leaf of his Bible these words were written: I have regularly and attentively read thefe holy Scriptures, and am of opinion that this volume, independently of its divine origin, contains more fimplicity and beauty, more pure morality, more important hiftory, and finer ftrains of poetry and eloquence, than can be collected from all other books, in whatever age or language they may have been compofed."

y Bishop Hall's Meditations.

Seward's Anecdotes, vol. v. p. 176.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER IV.

The Hiftory of Greece.

THE country of Greece presents a variety of the most pleasing profpects, as it is well watered by rivers and lakes, divided by lofty mountains and verdant vales, favoured by a happy temperature of climate, and enriched by fertility of foil. The fea, abounding with all kinds of marine productions, and affording the moft favourable opportunities for commerce, nearly furrounds its winding fhores. Such is the appearance of the country, which, according to the moft authentic records of hiftory, was made in very early times a fettlement of colonists from Egypt and Phenicia, who, mixing with the natives, built towns, and formed feveral communities independent of each other. These eastern emigrants brought with them many traditions, which, being afterwards blended with early Grecian history, became the copious fources of mythology. The various inventions and arts, which they introduced among the original inhabitants of Greece, contributed to augment their comforts, and civilize their manners. And as in the general outlines of their religion, government, and arts, the fimilarity of the political and reli

gious inftitutions of the Eaft may be traced, Greece furnishes us with an internal evidence of the origin of her colonifts.

In the early period of this hiftory there is fo great a mixture of Eaftern with Grecian ftories, and fo much confufion of chronology extending through a long feries of oral traditions, that an attempt to feparate truth from falfehood is as arduous as it is fruitlefs. Fully fenfible of this difficulty, and defirous of remedying it by a pleafing, although an imperfect expedient, Thucydides and Strabo, who are both remarkable for their accuracy and judgment, have confidered Homer in the light of an Hiftorian. That their confidence in the truth of the narrative parts of his Poems was not improperly placed, will appear from confidering, that in the rude ages of fociety the fong of the Bard was the only record of past events; and although many of his defcriptions may be fictitious, yet fome regard to truth, fome reprefentation of events and actions which really took place, muft have been the ground of the early reputation of the Iliad and Odyffey. The connexion, clearnefs, and confiftency of many anecdotes preferved in them, appear very great, when compared with the dark and uncertain traditions of thofe early ages. The finished picture of primeval inftitutions and manners, in the deline

2

Thucydides, vol. i. p. 7, 16, 18. Edit. Bipont. Strabo, lib. ii. p. 774

ation of which Homér defcends to many minute particulars, is no lefs pleafing than fatisfactory. He gives a complete view of the religion, government, and arts of his countrymen at the time of the Trojan war, which took place at the very remote period of more than eleven centuries before the Chriftian era b. A ftrong argument in favour of his fidelity may be drawn from the accuracy of his geographical deferiptions, which have been verified by the actual obfervation of many intelligent and inquisitive travellers. And it may incline us more readily to concur with Thucydides and Strabo in thinking, that he truly records the leading facts, and fairly represents the ftate of manners, at the time of the Trojan war, if we recollect, that in the unaffected energy of his defcriptions, and his account of the fimplicity of ancient manners, he agrees very remarkably with the writers of the Old Teftament, and fuggefts to us the fimilarity of character, which prevailed between the patriarchs of Canaan and the heroes of Greece.

Greece was divided into a variety of unconnected ftates, diftinguifhed by different forms of government, and remarkable for frequent revolutions. Yet as the political importance of them all was for the most part relative, and depended, efpecially in the later and more celebrated periods of their history, upon their connexion with Athens and Lacedemon, thefe diftinguished Republics

Homer flourished B. C. 907 years.

ought