Sacred Palaeography, or Discourses on Sacred Subjects

He Referring to Thomas Fairchild (1667–1729), the gardener who founded this lecture series., like our once happy parent and forefather A reference to Adam in the Garden of Eden., lived in a garden—but he was far happier, for he kept possession of his home and maintained his innocence.

Not content with enjoying such happiness felicityDeep happiness or bliss. all his life long, he gave from his own wealth to ensure that others could continue to enjoy that same pleasure. It is this gift that calls us together annually, just as we are here this day.

To ensure there was no interruption in his praiseworthy and religious piousDevoutly religious or motivated by duty to God. purpose, I agreed to this task, though I am well aware of the difficulty of following after the one Likely referring to a previous long-standing lecturer of the Fairchild Trust. who, for so many years together, had performed it with such elegance and skill.

And it is also primarily thanks to Dr. Denne Dr. John Denne (1693–1767), the Vicar of St. Leonard’s, Shoreditch, who was instrumental in managing the Fairchild trust., the Vicar of this church, that the fund for supporting this lecture was established and increased.

I shall speak, first, of the beauty and the usefulness of the plant world in general.

Second, I shall address a specific aspect of its use from a religious perspective, and that from the most ancient times.

Third, I shall highlight one significant science derived from the plant world: the origin of architecture.

I. Regarding the beauty and the usefulness of the plant world in general.

Whatever proceeds from the shaping hand of the great and all-wise Creator must necessarily be highly beautiful and most exquisite! And in the ordered progression gradationA series of successive stages or degrees. of the Creation of the world original: "Cosmogony"; the study of the origin of the universe.—