<?php $the_query = new WP_Query( 'showposts=4' ); ?>

<?php while ($the_query -> have_posts()) : $the_query -> the_post(); ?>
<li><a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>"><?php the_title(); the_date() ?></a></li>

<li><?php the_excerpt(__('(more…)')); ?></li>
<?php endwhile;?>
</ul>