ASIA, one of the largest parts of the World1. The ancient Hebrews were strangers to the division of the Earth into three or four parts; and we never find the name of Asia in any books written in Hebrew. They seem to think, that the Continent consisted only of Asia Major and Africa. The rest of the world, and even Asia Minor, were comprized under the Gen. x. 5.name of the Isles of the Gentiles. We are unacquainted with the true etymology of the word Asia. We find it in no part of Scripture, excepting in the Books of Maccabees, and in some places of the New Testament. Asia is looked upon as that part of the world which of all others has been most particularly favoured. There the first Man was created, there the Patriarchs lived, the Law was given, and the greatest and most celebrated Monarchies were formed; from thence the first founders of Cities and Nations in other quarters of the world brought their Colonies. Lastly, in Asia Jesus Christ appeared; there it was that he wrought the Salvation of Mankind, that he died and rose again; and from thence it is that the light of the Gospel was diffused over all the world. Laws, Arts, Sciences and Religions, almost all had their original in Asia.
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Footnotes
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Translators’ note. The word Asia, when put alone, unless otherwise determined by the Context, signifieth one of the four quarters of the world. That part of it which lies between Mount Taurus on the East, and the Hellespont on the West, is called the lesser Asia; and that part of the lesser Asia which fell to the Romans by Attalus’s Will, was the proper Asia. See Prideaux’s Connection, &c. Part II. p. 236. ↩