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Thus Eden was of all the whole Creation
A Place moſt fit for divine Contemplation;
And for Enjoyments of a natural Kind,
The World its Equal never yet could find:
Rivers of Pleaſures pure without Alloy,
Did Adam in this Place and State enjoy;
For when he did his Maker's Image bear,
He from no Airth then needed Danger fear.
Then by all Creatures Adam was ador'd,
They all paid Homage to him as their Lord.
As the Reſult of Holineſs it flow'd,
The Happiness on Adam was beſtow'd;
While he from Sin was free and undefil'd.
Both Heav'n and Earth at once upon him ſmil'd.
Here laviſh Nature, bounteous of her Store,
Did fill his Cup, and made it to run o'er:
This Garden, which was ſtor'd with all Degrees
Of beſt and fineſt Kinds of fruitful Trees,
Load with all Kinds of ripe and pleaſant Fruit,
Could pleaſe the Eyes, or yet the Taſte could ſuit.
Of all which Fruit that in this Garden grew.
The Uſe of it the Lord did Man allow:
Of whate'er Tree it was he judged meet,
Excepting one forbidden, he could eat;
But this by him that gave him Life and Breath,
He was discharg'd to eat, on Pain of Death.
Should carnal Reaſon now object and ſay,
Why did the Lord with Adam deal this Way,
When Man was ſuch a Favourite of Heaven,
And all Things elſe into his Hand had given.
That
