Reflexions on History, 8sc, 377 



and third of -Priestley's Historical Lectures. — 

 If, therefore, a work unite the advantages 

 both of public and of private history ; if it 

 display not only the crimes but the virtues of 

 mankind ; if it delineate the progress of ci- 

 vilization, the advancement of the arts and 

 sciences; if, by its examples or warnings, it 

 tend to inspire the mind with the love of good- 

 ness, and with an abhorrence of vice ; if it 

 confirm the truth or shew the excellence of 

 natural or of revealed religion, it may effect 

 some of the most important purposes in human 

 life, and render men wise and benevolent, 

 holy and blessed for evermore. Since, then, 

 history may teach both, wisdom and virtue, and 

 since it undoubtedly displays what progress 

 men have made in improvement of various 

 kinds, it may justly be termed the volume of 

 providence, and may join with nature and 

 divine revelation ; in proving that all things 

 work together for good. 



