The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended

Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms
Amended, The

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Kingdoms Amended
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Title: The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended To which is
Prefix'd, A Short Chronicle from the First Memory of Things in Europe,
to the Conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great
Author: Isaac Newton
Release Date: May 7, 2005 [EBook #15784]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE CHRONOLOGY OF ANCIENT KINGDOMS AMENDED.
To which is Prefix'd, _A SHORT CHRONICLE from the First Memory
of Things in Europe, to the Conquest of Persia by Alexander the
Great._
* * * * *
By Sir ISAAC NEWTON.
* * * * *
_LONDON_:
Printed for J. TONSON in the Strand, and J. OSBORN and T.
LONGMAN in _Pater-noster Row_.
MDCCXXVIII.
* * * * *
TO THE
QUEEN.
MADAM,
_As I could never hope to write any thing my self, worthy to be laid
before YOUR MAJESTY; I think it a very great happiness, that it
should be my lot to usher into the world, under Your Sacred Name, the
last work of as great a Genius as any Age ever produced: an Offering of
such value in its self, as to be in no danger of suffering from the
meanness of the hand that presents it._
_The impartial and universal encouragement which YOUR MAJESTY
has always given to Arts and Sciences, entitles You to the best returns
the learned world is able to make: And the many extraordinary Honours
YOUR MAJESTY vouchsafed the Author of the following sheets, give
You a just right to his Productions. These, above the rest, lay the most

particular claim to Your Royal Protection; For the Chronology had
never appeared in its present Form without YOUR MAJESTY's
Influence; and the Short Chronicle, which precedes it, is entirely owing
to the Commands with which You were pleased to honour him, out of
your singular Care for the education of the Royal Issue, and earnest
desire to form their minds betimes, and lead them early into the
knowledge of Truth._
_The Author has himself acquainted the Publick, that the following
Treatise was the fruit of his vacant hours, and the relief he sometimes
had recourse to, when tired with his other studies. What an Idea does it
raise of His abilities, to find that a Work of such labour and learning, as
would have been a sufficient employment and glory for the whole life
of another, was to him diversion only, and amusement! The Subject is
in its nature incapable of that demonstration upon which his other
writings are founded, but his usual accuracy and judiciousness are here
no less observable; And at the same time that he supports his
suggestions, with all the authorities and proofs that the whole compass
of Science can furnish, he offers them with the greatest caution; And by
a Modesty, that was natural to Him and always accompanies such
superior talents, sets a becoming example to others, not to be too
presumptuous in matters so remote and dark. Tho' the Subject be only
Chronology, yet, as the mind of the Author abounded with the most
extensive variety of Knowledge, he frequently intersperses
Observations of a different kind; and occasionally instills principles of
Virtue and Humanity, which seem to have been always uppermost in
his heart, and, as they were the Constant Rule of his actions, appear
Remarkably in all his writings._
_Here YOUR MAJESTY will see Astronomy, and a just Observation
on the course of Nature, assisting other parts of Learning to illustrate
Antiquity; and a Penetration and Sagacity peculiar to the great Author,
dispelling that Mist, with which Fable and Error had darkened it; and
will with pleasure contemplate the first dawnings of Your favourite
Arts and Sciences, the noblest and most beneficial of which He alone
carried farther in a few years, than all the most Learned who went
before him, had been able to do in many Ages. Here too, MADAM,

You will observe, that an Abhorrence of Idolatry and Persecution (the
very essence and foundation of that Religion, which makes so bright a
part of YOUR MAJESTY's character) was one of the earliest Laws of
the Divine Legislator, the _Morality of the first Ages, and the primitive
Religion of both Jews and Christians_; and, as the Author adds, _ought
to be the standing Religion of all Nations; it being for