The history of the Old and New Testament extracted out of sacred Scripture and writings of the fathers : to which are added the lives, travels and sufferings of the apostles : with a large and exact historical chronology of all the affairs and actions related in the Bible : the whole illustrated with two hundred thirty four sculptures, and three maps, delineated and engraved by good artists / translated from the Sieur De Royaumont, by several hands ; supervised and recommended by Dr. Horneck, and other orthodox divines.

The Contents of the PROVERBS of Solomon.

THis Book, as the Title of it imports, con∣tains a great number of exquisite Sen∣tences, Holy and full of Instruction, Pen'd by King SOLOMON, from the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit (who had adorned him with an extraordinary Wisdom, as well in Divine as Human matters) and which GOD, of his great Goodness, has been pleased should be preserv'd in Writing, for the common and perpetual Instruction of his Church. It treats of the Divine and True Wisdom; of the Fear of GOD, and of the Supream good of Man. In it we find many excellent Lessons concern∣ing our Duty to GOD, to our Neighbour, and our Selves, in whatsoever state or condition any may be in the World, together with con∣siderable Promises of Happiness and Life in this present World, as well as in that which is to come. And all this interlaced with faithful Warnings against all sorts of Sins contrary to the first and second Table of the Law of GOD and particularly against Whoredom and Adul∣tery. So that this Book may with good Rea∣son be accounted, An overflowing Fountain with saving Instructions, about all things that may serve to conduct and form us to a Life and Conversation, Wise, Religious, and Well-pleasing to GOD, in any Calling whatsoever, whether common or particular, publick or pri∣vate. Wherefore also this Book ought to be

highly and carefully recommended to all Chri∣stians, as containing the most perfect and ful∣lest Moral Instructions they can have, as infi∣nitely transcending whatsoever the Heathen Philosophers, and Wise Men of the World, have ever been able to comprize or set down in Writing concerning Wisdom, the Nature of Man, the Supream Good, Vertue and Vice, &c.

As to what concerns the Collection of all these Sentences into one Book, it seems that Solomon, according as appears from the excel∣lent Introduction and Preface compriz'd in the 9 first Chapters, which contain little else but the Praises of the Divine Wisdom in general, and in particular of our LORD Jesus Christ, who is the Word and Eternal Wisdom of the Father, has Pen'd them himself as far as the 25th Chapter, and that the following Chap∣ters, from 25 to 30, were Collected and Transcribed by the Command of good King Hezekiah, whilst he was reforming Matters relating to Religion and Piety, which were fal∣len to decay during the Reign of some of his Predecessors, out of Solomon's own Memoirs, or of some other holy and famous Man, in∣spired by the Holy Spirit. The 30th Chapter contains the Words of Agur; and the last Chap∣ter, the Instructions which Solomon's Mother gave to him, which he not only received and approv'd of, but also thought fit to transmit them to the Church of GOD, for the general instruction of all.

And tho' this Book do not contain all the 3000 Proverbs uttered by Solomon, of which mention is made in the First Book of the Kings, Chapter 4. Verse 32; yet it contains the Sum and Marrow of them, and all that GOD thought fit should be consigned to the use and perpetual Edification of the Church through∣out all Ages.