* * * * * INSCRIPTION ON MR. BRYANT'S MONUMENT, IN CYPENHAM CHURCH. * * * * * M--S JACOB BRYANT Collegii Regalis apud Cantabrigienses Olim Socii Qui in bonis quas ibi hauserat artibus excolendis consenuit. Erant in eo plurimæ literæ nec eæ vulgares, Sed exquisitæ quædam et reconditæ, quas non minore Studio quam acumine ad illustrandam S.S veritatem adhibuit: Id quod testantur scripta ejus gravissima, tam in Historiæ sacræ primordiis eruendis quam in Gentium Mythologiâ explicandâ versata. Libris erat adeo deditus Ut iter vitæ secretum iis omnino deditum; Præmiis honoribusque quæ illi non magis ex Patroni nobilissimi gratiâ quam suis meritis abunde præsto erant, usq; præposuerit. Vitam integerrimam et verê Christianam Non sine tristi suorum desiderio, clausit Nov. 13. 1804. Anno Ætatis suæ 89. * * * * * PREFACE. Ναφε, και μεμνασ' απιστειν· αρθρα ταυτα των φρενων.----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.