A N FROM THE Beginning of the WORLD, TO THE EMPIRE of CHARLEMAGNE: cques Bénigne, BY M. BOSSUET, late Bishop of Meaux, formerly Tranflated from The Thirteenth Edition of the ORIGINAL. BY Mr. ELPHINSTON, In Two VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: Printed for DAVID STEEL, at the Bible and Crown, PREFACE. UR author having, in his introduction, fo beautifully fet forth the extenfive usefulness of biftory in general, and of a chronological abridgment in particular; and conSequently explained the defign of the following work; it were equally prefumptuous and unnecessary to fay any thing here on thofe fubjects. No lefs were it impertinent to offer any new intelligence to the learned world, about a performance which hath been fo long its admiration; or to recommend to it an author, whofe name passes all encomium. It is well known, that, whereas all other univerfal hiftori A 3 ans ans give rather a collection of particular hiftories, M. BossUET alone bath the glory of producing a true general history; which, like a general map, according to his own excellent comparifon, is only one, great, confiftent plan, collecting and arranging, with the jufteft fymmetry and fucceffion, from the beginning of time, every thing material in every nation; and exhibiting, in one view, that important fcene, which alone can convey a clear idea of the univerfal fituation, connexion, and order of things. We shall not, however, infift upon the extent and importance of the Jubject, or the dexterity and extent of the Genius, that could handle it in fo complete and concife a manner; that could fo admirably combine facred and profane things, the inAtruction of the head and the heart. But is it not matter of just furprize, that, notwithstanding the de Served |
