THE GARDEN.

Its standing Pleasure, and intrinsick Wealth,

The Body’s Vertue, and the Soul’s good Fortune, Health.The Tree of Life, when it in Eden stood,

Did its immortal Head to Heaven rear jIt lasted a tall Cedar till the Flood ;

Now a small thorny Shrub it does appear; 1

Nor will it thrive too every where: ' ~ '

It always here is freshest seen ; '

’Tis only here an Ever-green. ^ '

If through the strong and beauteous Fence 1Of Temperance and Innocence,

And wholesome Labours, and a quiet Mind,

Diseases passage find,

They must not think here to assailA Land unarmed, or without a Guard;

They must fight for it, and dispute it hard,

Before they can prevail:

Scarce any Plant is growing hereWhich against Death some Weapon does not bear.Let Cities boast, that they provideFor Life the Ornaments of Pride;

But Vis the Country and the Field,

That furnish it with Staff and Shield.

IX.

Where does the Wisdom and the Power DivineIn a more bright and sweet Reflection shine?

Where do we finer Stroaks and Colours seeOf the Creator’s real Poetry,

Than when we with Attention lookUpon the third Day’s Volume of the Book?

If we could open and intend our Eye,

We all like Moses should espyEv’n in a Bulh the radiant Deity.

But we despise these his inferior Ways,

(Though no less full of Miracle and Praise )

Upon the Flowers of Heaven we gaze ;

The Stars of Earth no Wonder in us raise,•Though these perhaps do more than they,

The Life of Mankind sway.

. Although no Part of mighty Nature be

More ftor’d with Beauty, Power, and Mystery ;

, , Yet, so encourage human Industry,

God has so order’d, that no other Part •

Such Space, and such Dominion leaves for Art.

X.

We no where Art do so triumphant fee,

As when it Grafts or Buds the Tree;

In other Things we count it to excel,

If it a docile Scholar can appearTo Nature, and but imitate her well;

It oyer-rules, and is her Master here.

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