324 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK IV. refreshings of the forest ; and from the very infancy of the world, 

 ""■^"y"*^ in which Adam was entertained in Paradise, and Abraham (as 

 we noted) received his divine guests, not in his tent, but under a 

 tree, an Oak, (triclinium angeUcum, the angel's dining-room,) all in- 

 telligent persons have embraced the solace of shady arbours, and all 

 devout persons found how naturally they dispose our spirits to religious 

 contemplations. For this, as some conceive, they much affected to plant 

 their trees in circles, and gave that capacious form to the first temples, 

 observed not only of old, but even at this day by the Jews, as the most 

 accommodate for their assemblies ; or, as others, because that figure most 

 resembled the universe and the heavens : templum a templando, says a 

 knowing critic ; and another, templum est nescio quid immune, atque 

 amplum ; such as Arnobius speaks of, that had no roof but heaven, till 

 that sumptuous fabric of Solomon was confined to Jerusalem, and the 

 goodliest Cedars and most costly woods were carried thither to form the 

 columns and lay the rafters ; and then, and not till then, was it so 

 much as schism, that I can find, to retire to groves for their devotion, 

 or even to Bethel itself. 



In such recesses were the ancient oratories and proseuchas, built 

 See Tirinus. thcatrc-wise, suh dio, at some distance from the cities. Acts xvi. and made 

 ArnsworUi.^*^^' cvcu amongst the Gentiles as well as the people of God ; (nor is 



?03^h"xxiv, se! it always the less authentical for having been the guise of nations ;) hence 

 Mt.^ta\ib^2" ^^^t Philo, speaking of one who 'ndaaq I«5a!oov Tv^oavj-xai; £§ev5j3o7o/i-/)<7f, 

 E^seb' p^s^' felled all the trees about it ; and such a place the satirist means 



where he asks, In qua te qucero proseucha ? because it was the ren- 

 dezvous, also, where poor people used to frequent, to beg the alms of de- 

 vout and charitable persons ; so as it was esteemed piacular for any to 

 cut down so much as a stick about them, unless it were to build them ; 

 when, with the Psalmist, men had honour according to their forward- 

 ness of repairing the houses of God in the land ; upon which account 

 it was lawful to lift up axes against the goodliest trees in the forest. 

 But those zealous days are past : 



At nunc desertis cessant sacraria lucis : 

 Aurum onrines victa jam pietate colunt. propert. 



Now temples shut, and groves deserted lie : 

 All gold adore, and neglect piety. 



In the mean time, that which came nearest to the scenopegia of the 



