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ed but little attention at this time except through tae medium of the Romans. Their wealth tempted the masters of the world to attack them, and their luxury profligacy, and supineness, made them, in general, an easy prey.

Among the most distant nations of the east, even the Chinese, many of the arts of life were duly cultivated Concerning that people in particular, we know little except the fact, that they had a regular government under different dynasties, and that they were partly civilized, and together with an acquaintance with several useful arts, they were not strangers to certain sciences, particularly astronomy.

In the art of war, the Romans exceeded all the uations of antiquity. We have not time to give any account of it here, only we would remark that Julius Cæsar in particular was a great adept in it. The art of intrenchment he carried to perfection. Many important arts with which we are acquainted were, however, unknown to the ancients.

3. The system of education among the Romans was excellent. The utmost attention was bestowed in the early formation of the mind and character. The Roman matrons themselves nursed their children. Next to the care bestowed upon their morals, a remarkable degree of attention seems to have been given to the language of children.

The attainment of a pure and correct expression was a great object. The honours of the state were the prize of eloquence. The politeness which characterized the Romans showed itself particularly in their speech and gesture.

4. The manners and customs of antiquity were, in many respects, different from those which now prevail In the Bible we may perceive frequent allusions to habits and practices which appear very strange to us. During the period now under review, the Roman man. ners were well established. Their national character bad fully developed itself.

The day was spent at Rome briefly as follows:-The norning was passed in visiting the temples, or in at

tending the levees of the great. The clients waited on their patrons, and the patricians visited one another. From the levee they proceeded to the forum, either for business or pleasure.

When the hour of dinner arrived, which was at noon, they partook of a very slight repast. After din ner the youth repaired to the Cam'pus Mar'tius, where they were engaged in athletic exercises and sports till sunset. The elder class engaged in repose, literary conversation, theatrical amusement, or the shows of the circus and amphitheatre, according to their respective tastes and inclinations.

After these occupations it was customary to go to the baths. From these they went immediately to supper, which was their principal meal, and far exceeded modern luxury in eating and drinking. Cookery became a science: and the number and costliness of their dishes were scarcely credible. At table it was their practice to recline on couches.

5. The morality of nations is apt to decline with the increase of their wealth. This was eminently the case with the Romans. They became, at length, when their poverty and freedom had departed, a most vicious and abandoned people.

Among the Jews, the true religion had, for a long ume, run low. But it was at the extremest point of its degradation, immediately previous to the coming of our Saviour into the world.

By the favour of the Romans, the Jewish monarchy had been re-established. Herod the Great was placed on the throne of David. This prince rebuilt the temple in a very magnificent manner. His reign was splendid, but was stained with almost every crime At this time an event took place, than which none more important in its nature and consequences, was ever recorded in the history of religion, or of the world, viz THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST

MODERN CHRONOLOGY

EXTENDS FROM

THE NATIVITY OF JESUS CHRIST

TO THE PRESENT TIME.

This portion of Chronology may be divided also into Ten Periods.

General Division.

Period X. will extend from the Nativity of Jesus Christ to the reign of Con'stantine the Great, 306 years A. C. This is the period of the Ten Persecutions of Christians.

Period XX. will extend from the reign of Con'stantine, 306 years A. C. to the Extinction of the Western Empire, 476 years A. C. This Is the period of the Northern Invasions.

Period E. will extend from the Extinction of the Western Empire, 476 years A. C. to the Flight of Ma'homet, 622 years A. C. This is the period of the Justin'ian Code, and of the Wars of Belisa'rius.

Period XV. will extend from the Flight of Ma'homet, 622 years A. C. to the Crowning of Charlemagne' at Rome, 800 years A. C. This is the period of the Establishment of the Saracen Dominion.

Period V. will extend from the Crowning of Charlemagne' at Rome, 800 years A. C. to the First Crusade', 1095 years A. C. This is the period of the Nor Western Emprise.

Period VX. will extend from the First Crusade, 1095 years A. C. to the Founding of the Turkish Empire, 1299 years A. C. This is the period of the Crusades.

Period VM. will extend from the Founding of the Turkish Empire, 1299 years A. C. to the Taking of Constantinople, 1453 years A. C. This is the period of the Papal Schism.

Period VXXX. will extend from the Taking of Constantinople, 1453 years A. C. to the Edict of Nantes, (Nantz) 1598 years A. C. This is the period of the Reformation.

Period XX. will extend from the Edict of Nantes, 1598 years A. C. to the Death of Charles 12th of Swe'den, 1718 years A. C. This is the period of the English Commonwealth.

Period X. will extend from the Death of Charles 12th, of Swe'den, 1718 years A. C. to the final Restoration of the Bour bons, 1815, A. C. This is the period of the American ard French Revolutions.

Period XX. will extend from the Battle of Waterloo, 1815 A. C. to the treaty between England and United States and France on the one part, and China on the other, 1845, A. C. This is the period of Improvement of the People, &c.

PERIOD 1,

THE PERIOD OF THE TEN PERSECUTIONS OF CHRISTIANS,

EXTENDS FROM

THE NATIVITY OF JESUS CHRIST,

ΤΟ

THE REIGN OF CON'STANTINE THE

GREAT,

306 YEARS A. C.

The length of this period is 306 years.

Emportant Events in Period X.

We may notice six principal events in this period.

First, the Birth of Jesus Christ:

Second, the Commencement of the Persecution of the Christian Church:

Third, the Destruction of Jeru’salem by Titus:

Fourth the Victories of Tra'jan in Da'cia and the East:

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