THE FOUNDATIONS OF HISTORY, A SERIES OF FIRST THINGS. BY SAMUEL B. SCHIEFFELIN. "BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, JESUS CHRIST HIM- EPH. II. 20. NEW YORK: ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH, No. 683 BROADWAY. 100. 0. 140. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by SAMUEL B. SCHIEFFELIN, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of PREFACE. HE Board of Publication of the Reformed Dutch Church have recently commenced publishing a series of Christian School Books, designed to restore Christianity to its proper place in Education. The first books of that series, the Primer and Readers, expressly prepared by able men whose hearts were interested in the subject, have already been issued. The plan of the series embraced, among other works, a History of the World, on Christian Principles. Not finding a suitable person willing to prepare such a History as was needed, the writer was led to commit to paper some foundation thoughts, which he wished to be brought out prominently in it. His desire was that the student of history might learn, that the Creator had a purpose in view when he created the world that the history of the world, in connection with divine revelation, is a development of that purpose: that everything that happens, from the minutest providence to the overthrow of empires, is subservient to that purpose, and is part of it: and that all inventions, and all knowledge imparted to man, are for the same end: and that is, the revelation of Himself in the Lord Jesus Christ; and the manifestation of His glory through His church. These foundation thoughts, connecting the first facts in History with all the subsequent history of the world, and with the world to come, have necessarily been extended. The work was commenced as a History of the World, in chronological order, from the creation to the deluge. During its progress the plan was changed, so as to make it a Series of First Things in History to the Christian era. In what he has written, the thoughts and writings of others have been freely culled from and used. "The Universal History on Scriptural Principles," by Bagster & Sons, has rendered aid. Bagster's Comprehensive Bible, with the authorized various readings, marginal notes, parallel passages, etc., etc., he has found not only useful for this work, but also for many years an invaluable assistant in studying the Holy Scriptures. In the preparation of some of the later chapters he was assisted by Bishop Meade's learned and interesting work, entitled "The Bible and the Classics." Other acknowledgments will be found in the body of the work. His hope is yet, that some sanctified heart and able head may furnish a history of the world, in small form, for schools and for general reading, which may benefit the reader by giving glory to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. New York, May, 1863. S. B. S. |