Our bird's-eye view, taking in the whole at a glance, will enable us to see everywhere the controlling hand of God ; and his providence, like a golden thread, running through all time, and interwoven in all the affairs of man. Let us follow that thread, or else we shall be lost in a labyrinth.

And here, to help us on our journey, let us take a hint from an old negro, known as "The African preacher,"1 formerly a slave in Virginia. The old African, while exceedingly humble and respectful, was jealous of his heavenly Master's glory, and answered scoffers accordingly. An individual of large fortune, who was accustomed to treat the subject of religion rather sportively, and who at the same time prided himself on his morality, said to him, "I think, old man, I am as good as need be. I can't help thinking so, because God blesses me as much as he does you Christians, and I don't know what more I want than he gives me; and yet I never disturb myself about preaching or praying." To this the old preacher replied with great seriousness: "Just so with the hogs. I have often seen them rooting among the leaves in the woods, and finding just as many acorns as they needed, and yet I never saw one of them look up to the tree from which the acorns fell." As we journey through the world's history, let us not think too much of the acorns; nor have our attention taken up too much with the noisy, quarrelsome hogs, or those that have gathered the most acorns; such as Alexander the Great, Croesus, or Cæsar.

They are not the really great, whose influence and empires perish with their own short lives. The real conquerors of the world are those heroes of the Lord's hosts, who, although they have been dead thousands of years, are still assisting, by their example and writings, to extend the empire of the King of kings, with a power and influence which will be extending and increasing till the end of time.

1 The African Preacher. Presbyterian Board of Publication.

Let us seek, therefore, first to become acquainted with the Creator of the world, and he will give us the key to open its history; and also enable us to look at it with the eye of Him who controls it. Let us learn from Him why He made the world, and what is to be the end of it; we shall then the more readily understand its history, and shall be better prepared to fill the place which we must each occupy in that history.

CHAPTER II.

FIRST HISTORIES OF THE WORLD-FIRST HISTORIANS-FIRST POPULAR LECTURERS.

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EFORE entering on our journey, let us examine the guide-books we have to direct us in our course. regards creation, and the history of the world for the first thirty-five hundred years of its existence, the only reliable account that we have is that given by God himself, and contained in the Holy Scriptures. That history, written for the benefit of the people of God, is almost exclusively a history of the Church. As the Church, however, is in the world, and has always been in conflict with it, we find in that history accounts of persons and nations outside of the Church.

It is true those accounts are few and far between ; but we have the satisfaction of knowing that they are true: while most of the later histories written by man are doubtful, and many are false. And we may be sure, that as much of the early history of the world has been revealed to us as is for our good. The old world became so exceedingly sinful, that we may almost say the less we know about it the better.

So far as we can learn, the world was twenty-five centu ries without any written history. Moses, the first historian, wrote about B. C. 1500. From that time to about B. C. 445, the divinely inspired writers of the Bible are the only historians. There was not much need of written histories when men lived nearly a thousand years. It only required three or four persons to carry history, by word of mouth, from

Adam to Moses. That method of instruction, from father to son, is often referred to in the Bible.

The Old Testament history ends with the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The last of the Old Testament Books was written B. C. 445. The same year, the first authentic history written by any of the world's historians, viz., by Herodotus, is said to have been made public.

Herodotus of Halicarnassus is not only the first, but is the prince of heathen historians. His history is divided into nine books, called by the names of the muses. It was compiled while traveling through the then civilized world; and though it contains many marvelous and incredible stories, gathered from among the nations he visited, it still holds a high place among scholars, not only for the information it imparts, but for the beauty of its style, fascinating variety, and its noble simplicity.

historians, were the first Herodotus read his his

The first heathen poets, and popular lecturers in the world. tory, referring principally to the wars carried on between Europe and Asia, before an assembly of the people gathered at Athens at the festival of their tutelar goddess. While reciting his history, Herodotus observed a young man who betrayed marks of strong emotion: struck with his intelligent aspect, he advised the father of the young man to give him the education of a philosopher. The name of this youth was Thucydides. He became the second of the heathen

historians. His history, though comprising a short period only, displays such profound thought, such knowledge of men and of States, such majestic eloquence, and so noble a style, that as an historian and orator, Thucydides has retained a place among the most illustrious.

Herodotus represented the gods as so jealous of man's happiness, that if they favored any mortal, they did so only to render his fall more calamitous. Thucydides, like many of the present day who would feel affronted to be called heathen, would not allow that the gods interfered in human affairs, either for good or evil; making man's prosperity or adversity depend entirely upon himself.

It is well here to notice the difference between the inspired historians and those merely human, as regards the end they each had in view. The word of God says:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”1

Herodotus, the first of the world's historians, says:

"To rescue from oblivion the memory of former incidents, and to render a just tribute of renown to the many great and wonderful actions of Greeks and barbarians, Herodotus of Halicarnassus writes this historical essay."

Thus taught, that human history glorifies man, whilst the divine corrects and instructs man, and glorifies God; let us endeavor to bear the objects of the writers in mind, as we cull from their histories: so that what we gather may profit us and give glory to Him to whom it is due.

1 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17.