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.

B

EFORE entering on our journey, let us examine the guide-books we have to direct us in our course. As 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 centuries 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.”'

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.

12 Tim. iii. 16, 17.

CHAPTER III.

IT

FIRST WRITING-FIRST WRITING-MATERIALS.

will be interesting now to examine into the origin and

1

the progress of the art of writing; which, next to speaking, influences the world. The writings of Moses are by far the most ancient of which we have any knowledge. In the book of Job, supposed to have been written by Moses, we read of Job's exclaiming : "Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were imprinted in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!" Job evidently had some idea of writing, although the word "written" might be rendered drawn, and the word "book" may signify any memorial in writing. Excepting this, no reference is made to writing prior to the time of Moses. We notice that the transfers of property before his day, instead of being made by written deeds placed on town records, were made by verbal acknowledgment before witnesses; as in the case of the purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah by Abraham;2 and we also find, that when Abraham sent to his relatives for a wife for his son, he did not write. Some think that the first writing was the Ten Commandments, written on stone by the finger of God. We know, however, that the earliest writing in the world was given by inspiration of Him who "giveth knowledge to man ;" and also, that it was in the Hebrew letter and language.

From the Hebrew alphabet came the Phoenician; from that the Greek; the Greek letters being evidently the Phoenician

1 1 Job xix. 23, 24.

2 Gen. xxiii. 17.