326 



A DISCOURSE 



groves is so express, it is frequently to be taken but catachrestically, from 

 the wooden image or statue called by that name, as our learned Selden 

 makes out by sundry instances in his Syntagma de DHs Syris. Indeed 

 the use of groves upon account of devotion, was so ancient, and seemed 

 so universal, that they consecrated not only real and natural groves, but 

 lucos pictos, artificial boscage, and representations of them. 



The sum of all is, Paradise itself was but a kind of nemorous temple, 

 or sacred grove, planted by God himself, and given to man, tanquam 

 • Gen, ii. 15. primo sacerdoti ; the word is 12V *, which properly signifies to serve or 

 administer 7'es dwinas ; a place consecrated for sober discipline, and to 

 contemplate those mysterious and sacramental trees, which they were not 

 to touch with their hands ; and in memory of them, I am inclined to be- 

 lieve, holy men (as we have shewed in Abraham and others) might plant 

 and cultivate groves, where they traditionally invoked the Deity ; and St. 

 Hierom, Chrysostom, Cyprian, Augustin, and other fathers of the 

 church, greatly magnified these pious advantages ; and Cajetan tells us, 

 that from Isaac to Jacob, and their descendants, they followed Abraham 

 in this custom. Solomon was a great planter of groves, and had an 

 house of pleasure, or lodge, in one of them for recess. In such places 

 were the monuments of their saints, and the bones of their heroes depo- 

 sited. David celebrated the humanity of the men of Gilead, for burying 

 the bones of Saul and his sons under a tree at Jabesh. In such a place 

 did the angel appear to Gideon ; Judg. vi. And the rabbins had a rea- 

 son why they were reputed so venerable ; because being more remote 

 from men and company, they were more apt to compose the soul, and 

 fit it for divine actions ^ 



BOOK IV. 



Vid. Sanc- 

 tium, Piscat. 

 tirotium. 



•= It is natural for man to feel an awful and religious terror when placed in the centre of 

 a thick wood ; on which account, in all ages, such places have been chosen for the celebra- 

 tion of religious ceremonies. " Lucos, et in iis silentia ipsa adoramus." Seneca says. 

 Si libi occurrit vetustis arhoribus, et soUtam alliludinem egressis frequcns lucus, el conspeciian 

 cceli densitate ramorum aliorum alios protegentium submovens ; ilia proceritas sylvae, et secretum 

 loci et admiratio umbrce, in aperio tam densce atque continuce,Jidem libi 7iuminis facit. Epist. xli. 



All pale with sacred horror, they survey 'd 

 The solemn mountain and the reverend shade. 

 Some god, the monarch said, some latent god 



Dwells in that gloom, and haunts the frowning wood. fitt's virgil. 



