Chap. III. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. loi 



CHAP. II r. 



Opinion ofthofa zvho think that Men have always been the fame in their 

 Bodies in all Ages of Society ^andeuen in a State of Nature, — Impro- 

 bability of this Opinion ivith refpecl to the State of Nature. — The 0- 

 pinion^ that ive are impronjed as to the Body^ much 'more probable. — 

 Wc mujl judge of Men in the State of Nature^ by Men in States of So- 

 ciety near to that State. — Of the Heroic Age in Greece. — Horner^ the 

 Hiforian of that Age: — His Poems not to be confidered as a mere Fable, 

 particularly as to Manners and Cufoms. — The Size and Strength of 

 his Heroes to be confidered as Part of thefe Manners. — No Allego- 

 ries in Homer. — The Heroic Age in Greece la/led for fome Genera- 

 tions ; — continued after the Trojan War, — particularly in Sparta. — 



The Greek Race much declined at the time of Xerxes'" s hi'vajlon. 



The Romans originally Greeks, — had their Heroic Age too. — 

 Though declined in later times, did ijuonderful things, — Of the Arts^ 

 they employed to preferve their Bodies firong and vigorous. — The 0- 

 pinion that Men have continued alvuays the fame, not reconcilable ei- 

 ther ivith Sacred or Profane Hiflory. 



THERE are certain philofophers in France and Britain, at prefent, 

 who cut this matter very {hort,by telUng us, that, in order to know 

 what Men were in the State of Nature, (if ever fuch a State exifted),> 

 or iQ the different Hates through which they have pafled fince they 



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