Sacred Palaeography, or Discourses on Sacred Subjects

[cos]mogony The text begins mid-word, completing "cosmogony," which refers to a theory or story regarding the origin of the universe. recited in the first chapter of Genesis, we observe in how orderly and truly philosophical a view it proceeds, to the third day of creation; when the earth is separated from the ocean, and dry land appears. The same day is the earth clothed with the vegetable world. For on the next, or fourth day, the earth, along with the other planets, are set in their proper orbs The circular paths or orbits of celestial bodies., around the sun; and have performed a revolution, and constituted the fourth day.

Then was its surface sufficiently dry, to bear the animals; who were made on the fifth day. And then had the plants time to vegetate, and provide sustenance, for the animals next to be formed. The common father of the universe A reference to God as the creator. beneficently spread a sufficient, a various, a splendid table, for his infinite family; before he brought them into being. He opened his hand wide, and filled them with food, and gladness A paraphrase of Psalm 145:16: "Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.". That they might rejoice in their recent being; and each, and all in their way, praise the goodness of a kind maker, who had given them all things richly to enjoy; who bid them live, and be happy; and envied not Meaning God was not begrudging or stingy with His creation..

But to speak fully, and pertinently in general, of the beauty, the use of the vegetable world, requires the elocution The skill of clear and expressive speech. and the wisdom of a Solomon: Solomon the wisest of mortals, that ever was born! But how much does it enhance the glory of the vegetable world, that the wisdom of Solomon was not complete; till he wrote of trees, from the cedar tree that was in Lebanon, even unto the hyssop, that springeth out of the wall This refers to 1 Kings 4:33, describing Solomon's vast botanical knowledge, ranging from the grandest trees to the smallest plants..

These he studied in his exquisite garden, at a fountain of waters, between Bethlehem, and Jerusalem;