The Second Part of the Treatise about the Planting of Noah.

 I. (1) In the former part of this treatise we have spoken of the art of husbandry as to its genus, dwelling on it at as great a length as the time adm

 II. (5) We must now therefore consider where God placed its foundations, and in fact, what foundation it has on which it is supported, as a statue is

 III. (11) Thus then the plant which bears all things was rooted, and when it was rooted was made strong. But of the particular plants, and those of sm

 IV. (14) But the Creator made two different races on the earth and in the air. In the air, he made the winged animals capable of being perceived by th

 V. (18) But the others who say that our mind is a portion of the ethereal nature, have by this assertion attributed to man a kindred with the air but

 VI. (23) On this account, those persons who are insatiable in their desire for wisdom and knowledge are said in the sacred oracles to be called Up.[

 VII. (28) Having therefore gone through all the larger plants in the universe, let us see in what manner the all-wise God made the trees which exist i

 VIII. (32) Now the account of the planting of Paradise is consistent with what has been already said. For it is stated, God planted a Paradise in Ede

 IX. (36) We must therefore have recourse to allegory, which is a favourite with men capable of seeing through it for the sacred oracles most evidentl

 X. (40) And the statement that the Paradise was in the east, is a proof of what has been here said. For folly is a thing of darkness and setting, an

 XI. (43) We cannot therefore raise any question as to why it was ordained that all the different species of animals should be collected in the ark whi

 XII. (46) Such then are the trees which the only wise God has planted in rational souls. But Moses, pitying those who were exiled and compelled to qui

 XIII. (54) In many people perhaps an inquiry may suggest itself as to what is the meaning of the expression, In the mountain of thy inheritance. It

 XIV. (59) And on this account, indeed, it is said in the greater prayer, Inquire of thy father, and he will tell thee of thy elders, and they will r

 XV. (62) Moses, therefore, has such intimate connection with God, that, relying upon this in a very great degree, he is in the habit of using more fer

 XVI. (65) They tell an old story, that some man in ancient times, who had fallen madly in love with the beauty of wisdom, as if it had been the beauty

 XVII. (69) Therefore, some people considered, that they who said that everything was the property of the one good Being, were speaking in an unreasona

 XVIII. (73) Having, therefore, now said what is proper concerning the original planter and the original plant, let us next proceed, in due order, to t

 XIX. (79) Those who investigate the nature of things as they actually exist, and who conduct their examinations of each individual matter in no neglig

 XX. (85) Having now, therefore, discussed the place sufficiently in which the tree flourishes, let us now, in conclusion, examine also the subject of

 XXI. (90) This also Jacob, the practiser of virtue, asked at the end of his most holy prayers. For he said, And the Lord shall be to me as God. Whic

 XXII. (93) What, therefore, we originally undertook we have now nearly fulfilled, namely, to demonstrate that the fact spoken of must be taken to mean

 XXIII. (100) These duties which are as it were in the middle, appear to me to be properly looked upon in the same light as those trees, which admit of

 XXIV. (104) And in the case of the tree of friendship, it is necessary to cut down and eradicate these things which shoot up by the side of it for the

 XXV. (107) The due attention to sacred rites, and good faith in the matter of sacrifices, are the most excellent of trees but along-side of them an e

 XXVI. (110) But we, even after we have been instructed, make no progress in learning but some persons, having a self-taught natural instinct, purify

 XXVII. (113) And again Moses says, Its fruit shall be impure for three days, it shall not be Eaten [Le 19:23.] as if in fact it were customary for i

 XXVIII. (117) But in the fourth year, says the scripture, all the fruit of the tree shall be sacred, being praised by the Lord.[Le 19:25.] The pro

 XXIX. That is comprehends all the numbers up to itself is manifest to every one but that it also comprehends the numbers which come after it, is very

 XXX. (126) And Moses very appropriately says that the fruit of education is not only holy but also praised for every one of the virtues is a holy thi

 XXXI. (130) This is then the purport of that legend of the ancients, and we in accordance with that story say, that it is the most appropriate work of

 XXXII. (132) Since therefore all the fruit of the soul is consecrated in the fourth year and the fourth number in the fifth year we ourselves shall b

 XXXIII. (134) But the most correct example of what has been said, is afforded by the sons of Leah, that is of virtue, not all her sons, but the fourth

 XXXIV. (139) Therefore, concerning that most ancient and sacred husbandry, which the Cause of all things uses with reference to the world, that most p

 XXXV. (142) Now, among many philosophers, this question has been investigated with no slight degree of pains, and the question is proposed in this man

 XXXVI. (146) Having then learnt this beforehand, the wise man will never of his own accord think fit to enter upon a contest of hard drinking, unless

 XXXVII. (149) Such then are, as it were, the prefaces of this discussion or investigation. Let us now go on to the other parts of this question which

 XXXVIII. (154) The ancients called unmixed wine oinos, and also methy. At all events, this latter name is used in very many passages of poetry, so tha

 XXXIX. (160) And why do I mention these things? In order to show that the men of the present day do not use wine now as the ancients did. For now they

 XL. There is a third way of looking at this subject, which depends chiefly on the exceeding plausibility of an argument derived from etymology. For so

 XLI. But it is not lawful for a private individual to behold the divine instruction of the soul, but the king may behold it, as one with whom wisdom h

 XLII. (173) But if, like persons before a court of justice, one must bring forward not only such proofs as are in accordance with the rules of art, bu

XII. (46) Such then are the trees which the only wise God has planted in rational souls. But Moses, pitying those who were exiled and compelled to quit the paradise of the virtues, addresses a prayer to the absolute authority of God and to his merciful and propitious powers, entreating that in the place from which the earthly mind, Adam, was banished, there a people capable of seeing the truth might be planted. (47) For he says, "Bring them in and plant them in the mountain of thy inheritance which thou dost give them; thou hast made them to sit in thy seat, O Lord; in the sanctuary, O Lord, which they hands have made. The Lord shall be king of ages, for ever and Ever."[Ex 15:17.] (48) Therefore he had learnt, as plainly as any man that ever lived, that God, having fixed the roots and seeds of everything down in the earth, is the cause also of the greatest of all plants, namely this world, shooting up; which world he here seems to speak of enigmatically in the song which I have just quoted, where he calls it the mountain of his inheritance; since that which is made is the most appropriate possession and inheritance, of him who has made it. (49) Therefore he prays that we may be planted in it, not in order that we may become irrational and unmanageable in our natures; but that, in due obedience to the arrangement of the all-perfect governor, imitating his perpetual and undeviating consistency, we may live a temperate and innocent life. For to be able to live in a strict uniformity with nature, is what the man of old have defined as the end of happiness. (50) And accordingly what is said afterwards is in strict agreement with what is said before, namely, that the world is the beautiful and properly prepared house of God, appreciable by the external senses; and that he himself made it and that it is not uncreated, as some persons have thought. And he uses the word "sanctuary," as meaning a splendour emitted from holy objects, an imitation of the archetypal model; since those things which are beautiful to the external senses are to the intellectual senses models of what is beautiful. The expression that "it was prepared by the hands of God," means that it was made by his worldcreating powers. (51) But in order that no one may suppose that the Creator had need of any one of the things which he created, he adds the most necessary assertion, "Being King of ages for ever and ever." But a king is in need of nothing, but everything which is subject to him is inevitably in need of the king. (52) And some persons have said that God is and is properly called the inheritance of God, the use and enjoyment of which Moses has now prayed may be afforded to us. For, says he, representing us as children just beginning to learn by means of the doctrines and speculations of wisdom, and not leaving us destitute of the elements of knowledge, plant them in sublime and heavenly reason. (53) For this is the most thoroughly prepared inheritance; the house most completely ready, the abode most entirely suitable, which "thou hast made holy." For, O master, thou art the maker of all good and holy things, as, on the other hand, corruptible creation is of what is evil and profane. Reign thou throughout infinite eternity over the suppliant soul; not leaving it for a single moment without a governor. For an uninterrupted service under them is not only better than freedom, but even than the most extensive dominion.