VIII. THE SENSIBLE PLANT.

I HEARD much of a sensible plant, and counted it a senseless relation (a rational beast, carrying as little contradiction), until, beholding it, mine eyes ushered my judgment into a belief thereof. My comprehension thereof is this. God having made three great stairs (vegetable, sensible, and reasonable creatures), that men thereby might climb up into the knowledge of a Deity, hath placed some things of a middle nature as half paces betwixt the stairs, so to make the step less, and the ascent more easy for our meditations.

Thus this active plant, with visible motion, doth border and confine on sensible creatures. Thus in Afric, some most agile and intelligent marmasites may seem to shake (forefeet shall I say, or) hands with the rudest savages of that country, as not much more than one remove from them in knowledge and civility.

But by the same proportion may not man, by custom and improvement of piety, mount himself near to an angelical nature. Such was Enoch, who, whilst living on earth, walked with God. [Gen. v. 22.] O may our conversation be in heaven. [Phil. iii. 20.] For shall a plant take a new degree and proceed sensible, and shall man have his grace stayed for want of sufficiency, and not whilst living here 169commence angel, in his holy and heavenly affections?