OF FOREST-TREES.

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those who innocently and with reluctancy are forced to cut down, and book rv.endeavour to supply the \yaste with their utmost industry: It is observed,that such planters are often blefsed with health and old age, according tothat of the prophet Isaiah , lx. 22. “ The days of a tree are the days of

my people.” Of their extraordinary longevity we have given abundantinstances 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 theplanting of many trees. IIjEC SCRIPSIOCTOGENARI1JS, and shall,if God protract my years, and continue my health, be continually plant-ing, till it shall please him to transplant me into those glorious regionsabove, the celestial paradise, planted with Perennial Groves and Trees,bearing immortal fruit ; for such is the Tree of Life , which they whodo his commandments have right to, Apoc, xxii. 2,. 14, 20. N’aphr mi Kt >fn ’inn' ’Auky.

Thus my reader sees, and' I acknowledge, how easy it is to be lost inthe wood, and that I have hardly power to take off my pen whilst I amon this delightful subject s for what more august, more charming and use-ful, 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 industriousWoodman,

When he his wearied limbs has laid”

Under a florid Platan’s shade, claudias

or some other goodly-spreading tree, such as we told you stopt the legionsof a proud* conqueror, and that the wise Socrates sware by ?;

But whilst we condemn this excefs in them, Christians and truePhilosophers 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-

a When the enlarged philosopher takes a survey of the structure of the heavens hismind is imprefsed with an awful idea of the power and majesty of the Deity , and he bends

P