iv The PREFACE. 



with Time : And tho' the Original Compaft 

 between God and Man was after that inva- 

 lidated and broke, yet we may gather from 

 After-Hiftory, how great a Share Gard ning, 

 and the Pleafures of the Country, had in the 

 Minds and Praftice of the moft Virtuous in 

 all the fucceflive Centuries of the World. 



The ancient Jttick and Roman Worthies 

 erefted magnificent Statues, and decreed 

 Annual Honours to be paid to their Rural 

 and HoYtmfidl Deities 5 and the Great Au- 

 giifius, after that long Scene of Mifery, and 

 the difmal Devaftation of his Country, 

 thought it a Matter worthy of a Publick 

 Infcription : 



Rediit Cnltus in Agris. 



And as he worthily efteemed it, fo he order- 

 ed it to be placed amongft the greateft Glories 

 of his Reign. 



But that Eternal Honour (Gardening') has 

 received from the peculiar Act, the fole and 

 manual Operation and Contrivance #f Omni- 

 potence, in the beautiful Portraiture and har- 

 monious Diftribution of Paradife^ carries 

 with it fuch a kind of Divine Revelation, as 

 is fufficient to lilence ks Enemies (were it 

 poffibly that fo innocent an Employ cou'd 

 have any) and to raife Idea's far above, and 

 never to be raz'd out of the Minds of that 

 part of Mankind who purfue Pleafures, and 

 expend their Time and Treafure in Matters 

 of a iefs refined Nature. 



And 



