OF FOREST-TREES. 



361 



endeavour to supply the waste with their utmost industry : it is observed, BOOK 

 that such planters are often blessed with health and old age, according to ^-^y^ 

 that of the prophet Isaiah, Ix. 22, " The days of a tree are the days of 

 my people." Of their extraordinary longevity we have given abundant 

 instances in this Discourse ; and it seems to be so universally remarked, 

 that as Paulus Venetus (that great traveller) reports, the Tartarian astro- 

 logers affirm, nothing contributes more to men's long lives, than the 

 planting of many trees. H^C SCRIPS I OCTOGENARIUS, and 

 shall, if God protract my years, and continue my health, be continually 

 planting, tiU it shall please him to transplant me into those glorious 

 regions above, the celestial paradise, planted with perennial groves and 

 trees, bearing immortal fruit ; for such is the tree of life, which they 

 who do his commandments have right to, Apoc. xxii. 2, 14, 20. Ncx> 

 £j3;i^oj!jiat Ta>;u* 'apivfv' va^ £pX**> Kupte 'Ir/as, 'Aji^vfv. 



Thus my reader sees, and I acknowledge, how easy it is to be lost in 

 the wood, and that I have hardly power to take off my pen whilst I am 

 on this delightful subject ; for what more august, more charming and 

 useful, than the culture and preservation of such goodly plantations 



That shade to our grand-children give. virgil. 



What affords so sweet and so agreeable refreshment to our industrious 

 woodman. 



When he his wearied limbs has laid 



Under a florid Platan's shade, claudian. 



or some other goodly-spreading tree, such as we told you stopt the legions 

 of a proud conqueror, and that the wise Socrates sware by ? 



But whilst we condemn this excess in them. Christians and true 

 philosophers may be instructed to make use of their enjoyments to better 

 purposes, by contemplating the miracles of their production and struc- 

 ture And what mortal is there so perfect an atomist, who will under- 



■n When the enlarged philosopher takes a survey of the structure of the heavens, his 

 mind is impressed with an awful idea of the power and majesty of the Deity, and he bends 



