The history of the world

§. I. [unspec 10] That the Tree of Life was a materiall Tree: and in what sense it is to be taken, that man by his eating the forbidden fruit, is made sub∣iect to death.

FOR eating the forbidden fruit of the Trre of Know∣ledge was Adam driuen out of Paradise, in exilium vita temporalis, into the banishment of temporall life, sayth Be∣da. That these Trees of Life and Knowledge were ma∣teriall Trees (though Figures of the Law and of the Gospell) it is not doubted by the most religious and [unspec 20] learned Writers: although the wits of men, which are so volatile, as nothing can fix them, and so slippery, as nothing can fasten them, haue in this also deliuered to the World an imaginarie doctrine.

The Tree of Life (say the Hebrewes) hath a plurall construction, and is to be vnderstood, Lignum vitarum, The Tree of liues, because the fruit thereof had a propertie, to preserue both the growing, sensitiue, and rationall life of man; and not only (but for Adams transgression) had prolonged his owne dayes, but also giuen a durefull continuance to all posteritie; and that, so long, as a* 1.1 bodie compounded of Elements could last. [unspec 30]

And although it is hard to thinke, that flesh and bloud could bee immortall, but that it must once perish and rot, by the vnchanged Law of God imposed on his crea∣tures, Man (notwithstanding) should haue enioyed thereby a long, healthfull, and vngrieued life: after which (according to the opinion of most Diuines) hee should haue beene translated, as Enoch was. And as before the Floud, the dayes of men had the long measure of eight hundred or nine hundred yeeres; and soone after the floud, of two hundred yeeres and vpwards, euen to fiue hundred: so if Adam had not diso∣beyed Gods first and easie Commandement, the liues of men on Earth might haue continued double, treble, or quadruple to any of the longest times of the first age, as many learned men haue conceiued. Chrysostome, Rupertus, Tostatus, and others were [unspec 40] of beliefe, that (but for Adams fall and transgression) Adam and his Posteritie had beene immortall. But such is the infinite wisedome of God, as he foresaw that the Earth could not haue contained Mankind; or else, that Millions of soules must haue beene vngenerated, and haue had no being, if the first number, wherewith the Earth was replenished, had abode thereon for euer: and therefore that of Chrysostome must bee vnderstood of immortalitie of bodies, which should haue beene translated and glorified.

But of what kind or Species this Tree of Life was, no man hath taken on him to teach: in which repect many haue conceiued, that the same was not materiall, but a meere Allegorie, taking their strength out of Salomon, where Wisedome is compared [unspec 50] to the Tree of Life, and from other places, where also Christ is called the Tree of Life, and out of the Apocalypsis, I will giue to him that ouer commeth, to eate of the Tree* 1.2 of Life, which is in the Paradise of God. But to this place Saint Augustines answere may suffice, (which is) That the one doth not exclude the other, but that, as there was a

terrestriall Paradise, so there was a celestiall. For although Agar and Sara were Fi∣gures of the Old, and New Testament, yet to thinke that they were not Women, and the Maid and Wife of Abraham, were meere foolishnesse. And so in this place the sense of the Scripture is manifest. For God brought out of the earth euery tree faire to sight, and sweet to taste; the tree also of Life in the midst of the garden: which sheweth, that among the trees, which the Earth by Gods commandement produced, the tree of Life was one, and that the fruit thereof was also to be eaten. The report of this Tree was also brought to the ancient Poets: for as from the indigested matter or Chaos, Hesiodus, Homer, Ouid, and others, steale the inuention of the created world; so from the Garden of Paradise, they tooke the Plat-forme of the Orchard of Al∣cinous, [unspec 10] and another of the Hesperides: and from the tree of Life, their Nectar and Am∣brosia; for Nectar, according to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, signifieth making yong, and Ambrösia, im∣mortalitie; and therefore said to be the meate and drinke of the gods.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. sept. 2. l. 1. 174.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. 7.