WP 1.5 loop

In Wp 2 I used to put this:

<?php
$posts = get_posts(‘numberposts=4’);
foreach ($posts as $post) :
?>

to call only 4 posts in the loop.

What can I do to the loop in Wp1.5:

<?php if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>

to achieve the same effect. The old way works, but the <?php content() ?> gives a MySQL error so I can’t use it.