ors,
or that there was an _Assyrian_ Empire then standing; for he supposes that
the _Medes_ Reigned at that time, and that the _Assyrian_ Empire was at an
end above 250 years before it began.

However we must allow that _Nimrod_ founded a Kingdom at _Babylon_, and
perhaps extended it into _Assyria_: but this Kingdom was but of small
extent, if compared with the Empires which rose up afterwards; being only
within the fertile plains of _Chaldaea_, _Chalonitis_ and _Assyria_, watered
by the _Tigris_ and _Euphrates_: and if it had been greater, yet it was but
of short continuance, it being the custom in those early ages for every
father to divide his territories amongst his sons. So _Noah_ was King of
all the world, and _Cham_ was King of all _Afric_, and _Japhet_ of all
_Europe_ and _Asia minor_; but they left no standing Kingdoms. After the
days of _Nimrod_, we hear no more of an _Assyrian_ Empire 'till the days of
_Pul_. The four Kings who in the days of _Abraham_ invaded the southern
coast of _Canaan_ came from the countries where _Nimrod_ had Reigned, and
perhaps were some of his posterity who had shared his conquests. In the
time of the Judges of _Israel_, _Mesopotamia_ was under its own King,
_Judg._ iii. 8. and the King of _Zobah_ Reigned on both sides of the River
_Euphrates_ 'till _David_ conquered him, 2 _Sam._ viii, and x. The Kingdoms
of _Israel_, _Moab_, _Ammon_, _Edom_, _Philistia_, _Zidon_, _Damascus_, and
_Hamath_ the great, continued subject to other Lords than the _Assyrians_
'till the days of _Pul_ and his successors; and so did the house of _Eden_,
_Amos_ i. 5. 2 _Kings_ xix. 12. and _Haran_ or _Carrhae_, _Gen._ xii. 2
_Kings_ xix. 12. and _Sepharvaim_ in _Mesopotamia_, and _Calneh_ near
_Bagdad_, _Gen._ x. 10, _Isa._ x. 9, 2 _Kings_ xvii. 31. _Sesac_ and
_Memnon_ were great conquerors, and Reigned over _Chaldaea_, _Assyria_, and
_Persia_, but in their histories there is not a word of any opposition made
to them by an _Assyrian_ Empire then standing: on the contrary, _Susiana_,
_Media_, _Persia_, _Bactria_, _Armenia_, _Cappadocia_, &c. were conquered
by them, and continued subject to the Kings of _Egypt_ 'till after the long
Reign of _Ramesses_ the son of _Memnon_, as above.

_Homer_ mentions _Bacchus_ and _Memnon_ Kings of _Egypt_ and _Persia_, but
knew nothing of an _Assyrian_ Empire. _Jonah_ prophesied when _Israel_ was
in affliction under the King of _Syria_, and this was in the latter part of
the R