eo deditus
Ut iter vitae secretum
iis omnino deditum;
Praemiis honoribusque
quae illi non magis ex Patroni nobilissimi gratia
quam suis meritis abunde praesto erant,
usq; praeposuerit.
Vitam integerrimam et vere Christianam
Non sine tristi suorum desiderio, clausit
Nov. 13. 1804.
Anno AEtatis suae 89.

* * * * *

PREFACE.

[Greek: Naphe, kai memnas' apistein; arthra tauta ton
phrenon.]----EPICHARMUS.

It is my purpose, in the ensuing work, to give an account of the first
ages, and of the great events which happened in the infancy of the world.
In consequence of this I shall lay before the reader what the Gentile
writers have said upon this subject, collaterally with the accounts given
by Moses, as long as I find him engaged in the general history of mankind.
By these means I shall be able to bring surprising proofs of those great
occurrences, which the sacred penman has recorded. And when his history
becomes more limited, and is confined to a peculiar people, and a private
dispensation, I shall proceed to shew what was subsequent to his account
after the migration of families, and the dispersion from the plains of
Shinar. When mankind were multiplied upon the earth, each great family had,
by [3]divine appointment, a particular place of destination, to which they
retired. In this manner the first nations were constituted, and kingdoms
founded. But great changes were soon effected, and colonies went abroad
without any regard to their original place of allotment. New establishments
were soon made, from whence ensued a mixture of people and languages. These
are events of the highest consequence; of which we can receive no
intelligence, but through the hands of the Gentile writers.

It has been observed, by many of the learned, that some particular family
betook themselves very early to different parts of the world, in all which
they introduced their rites and religion, together with the customs of
their country. They represent them as very knowing and enterprising; and
with good reason. They were the first who ventured upon the seas, and
undertook long voyages. They shewed their superiority and address in the
numberless expeditions which they made, and the difficulties which they
surmounted. Many have thought that they were colonies from Egypt, or from
Phenicia, having a regard only to the settlements which they made in the
west. But I shall shew hereafter, that colonies of the sam