328 On Scripiural and profane Accounts 
profane history is known to us only from its 
connexion with the Grecian. 
Before I take leave of this subject, I ama 
observe, that the existence of any such power 
in Assyria as the Ctesian account represents, 
at the period which it assigns for its existence, 
would have been incompatible with the de- 
signs of Providence, as far as we can judge 
of them by actual events. The nations in- 
habiting the Asiatic shores of the Mediter- 
ranean, have been made the instrument of 
communicating to the rest of the world three 
of the greatest blessings, civilization, litera- 
ture and pure religion. Had Pheenicia been 
enclosed within the dominion of an Assyrian 
despot, its inhabitants never could have gone 
forth, with the spirit of enterprize which 
freedom inspired by rendering its pursuits se- 
cure, to carry the knowledge of arts and 
letters to the barbarous nations of Europe. 
Had Tonian Greece fallen under the dominion 
of Ninus and Semiramis, instead of being 
reserved for the conquest of Greece, poetry 
and philosophy would have been stifled in 
their cradle, and Athens could never have 
become the instructress of all succeeding 
ages in literature and art. Had Judea been 
conquered by Assyrian monarchs, when the 
people of Israel had recently settled in it, 
