ADVERTISEMENT.

IT is well known that Bossuet intended to have written a continuation of this work to his own time; and a publication has made its appearance in France, purporting to be the memoranda he had collected and arranged for that purpose. But great doubts are entertained respecting its authenticity, and as it is very incomplete, the translation of it into English is for the present suspended.

Sixth Epoch-Solomon, or the Completion of the

-

76

92

Ninth Epoch-Scipio, or the Conquest of Carthage

Tenth Epoch-The Birth of Jesus Christ -

Eleventh Epoch-Constantine, or the Peace of the

Church

3. Moses, the written Law, and the Introduction of

7. The Descent of the Holy Ghost, the Establishment

of the Church: the Judgments of God upon the

Jews and Gentiles

297

8. Particular Reflections on the Punishment of the

Jews, and on the Predictions of Jesus Christ -

9. The memorable Predictions of our Lord explained,

and their accomplishment evinced from His-

tory

10. The series of the Jews errors, and the way they

explain the Prophecies

Page

316

330

345

11. Particular Reflections on the Conversion of the

Gentiles. The profound Counsel of God, who

was pleased to convert them by the Cross of

Christ. St. Paul's reasoning on this manner of

converting them.

12. Different forms of Idolatry; the Senses, Interest,

Ignorance, a false Veneration for Antiquity, Po

licy, Philosophy, and Heresies come to its aid :

the Church triumphs over all

13. General Reflections on the constant Progress of Re-

ligion, and the connection there is between the

Books of Scripture

PART III.

The Progression of Empires.

367

377

❤ 402

1. The Revolutions of Empires are ordered by Pro-

vidence, and serve to humble the Spirit of

2. The Revolutions of Empires have particular causes,

which Princes ought to study

3. The Scythians, Ethiopians, and Egyptians

444

447

4. The old and new Assyrians, the Medes, and Cyrus

475

5. The Persians, Grecians, and Alexander

48.3

6. The Roman Empire

504

7. The Progress of the Revolutions in Rome explained 541

AN

UNIVERSAL

HISTORY.

INTRODUCTION.

TO THE DAUPHIN.

If history were of no use to other men, it ought to be made the study of princes. There is no mean so capable of discovering to them what passions and interests, times and conjunctures, and good and evil counsels may effect. History is entirely composed of such actions as they are engaged in, and every thing in it seems to be made for their use. If experience is necessary for them to acquire that prudence which enables them to govern well, there is nothing more conducive to their instruction, than joining their own daily experience to the examples of past ages. They usually learn only at the hazard of their subjects, and of their own glory, to judge of the critical affairs that come before them; but by the aid of history they can form their judgment on past events, without any risk. When they

B