98 UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



dodtrine, which may be faid to be grafted on that 

 of the Hebrews, called themfelves, after his 

 name, Chriftians , and dated the epoch of their 

 hiftory from the birth of Chrift. This epoch, 

 as we have faid, began about the year of the 

 world 4000 , and, to the time of writing this 

 work, it has continued 1765 years. So that, 

 without entering into a minute chronology, the 

 world, according to common opinion, has fub- 

 fifted, from the epoch of the creation to the pre- 

 fent time, 5765 folar years of 365 days. 



IX. The hiftory of the Jews, as we find it in 

 the holy fcriptures, and as it is confirmed by Jo- 

 fephus, one of the beft hiftorians the world has 

 produced, ferves alfo to diffufe great lights over 

 the hiftories of thofe ancient people with which 

 this firft nation had wars, alliances, or connec- 

 tions : and in thefe hiftories, fable is confe- 

 quently lefs mixed with truth, than in thofe of 

 other ancient nations, which are founded entirely 

 upon doubtful traditions and monuments. We 

 are, however, to draw, from profane authors alfo, 

 all information that can be of any ufe in eluci- 

 dating the hiftories of thefe nations, and of re- 

 ducing them into the form of a fyftem, however 

 imperfect it may be. But, notwithftanding thefe 

 aids, and all the pains that have been taken, there 

 are ftill many chafms to be fupplied in thefe 

 hktories. 



X. Of 



