6
vance in civilization, there remains no room to doubt. He who
has d(welt muc hi on such subjects, may consider this as in no way
diflerent from the ordinary course of events, and as accounting
well enough for many of thee calamities whi(h have befallen them
in subsequent ages. I dispute not with philosophy; but there
is another view of the imatter-and I would that philosophy
were more frequently etiti(ed to such contemplations-which
has appeared to tne zuost solemn andl striking. Egypt was the
most powerful of the kingdoins of Africa for many ages. As it
stood on tie threshhold of the only entrance to that continent
accessible to the ancients, algal was itself the mediumn of all inte-
rior communication with it; as its boundaries, if well defined
at all, were not accuratelh knowni to the nations of Asia and Eu-
rope; as their knowledge of her surrounding, tributary and al-
lied states was still less accurate; as it was the uniform habit of
all ancient conquerors, of whom Egypt produciCed many, to man-
ifest the most extravagant pretensions to granideur and empire;
in fine, from a variety of such considerations, it is mnanifrst to
every scholar, that wvhen the ancients speak of Egypt, their
meaning is inost generally to be understood as of a country vast-
ly more extensive, than we, with our better knowledge, would
attach to that ten in. If indce(l we should frequently understand
themt as mearinig all Africa kitown to them, we should not, per-
haps, be far from the correct view of the subjects
  At a period in her history scarcely less prosperous than any
that had precetled it, and wvhen she stood forth famous in arts
and arms, the queen of nations; when there appeared before-
hand, no probability of great reverses, and the Prince who fil-
led her throne, b)oasted, as we are informed by Herodotus, "that
no God could deprive him of his kingdomn;" just then, when it
would appear to human observation that the mercies of God
were powred out profusely on Africa, his decree went forth a-
gainst her: "Fromt the tower of Svene, even unto the border of
Ethiopia," the curse of the Most -ligh clave unto the land. The
seed of his chosen had been enticed and betrayed; they had re-
posed upon her, and been pierced with many sorrows. "Thou
art like a younl lion of the nations'"-"'I will spread my net o-
ver thee"-"I vwill scatter the Egyptians among the nations"-
"I will make manu people aiiiazed at thee"- Ashur is there
and all her comupany"-"'T' here is Elati and all her multitudlc"
-'There is Meshieck, Tubal, and all her intiltitude"-"'There
is Edow, her kings, anti all her prinizes"-,Tbiere be the prin-
ces of the North, all of them, and all the Zidonians"-"It shall
be the basest of the kingrdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any
more above the nations; for I will (iinunish them, that they shall
no miore rule over the nations." For mnore than two thousand
years the annals of every people attest the fulfilmelnt of this re'