IG2 A N T I E N T METAPHYSICS, Book 11. 



left that ftate, we have no more ado, but to look about us, and 

 confider the Men of this nation at prcfent, and of the other nations 

 in Europe. According to them, Men have been alw^ays the fame in 

 all ages and nations, equally ftrong of Body, and of the fame fize ; 

 equally healthy, and equally long lived ; fo that, though ftates have 

 had their times of profperity and decay. Men have always continued 

 the fame ; — In fhort, that all the complaints of the degeneracy of 

 Men, which have gone on from the days of Homer down to the 

 prefent times, are altogether without foundation. 



Whether Men have always continued the fame in the feveral ftates 

 of Society, thro' which they have paffed, or whether they have not, 

 in one ftate of fociety, improved more, or degenerated lefs, than in 

 other ftates, we are not now to inquire. But the prefent queftion Is, 

 Whether Man, as we fee him now in Europe, is the fame Animal in 

 Mind and Body, that he was in the natural ftate ? Thofe who main- 

 tain the opinion above ftated, will readily admit that he is not the 

 fame animal with refpedt to the Mind : For they would be affronted 

 if they were to be told that their Mind was no better than that of a 

 mere favage ; and it is undoubtedly true, that, by Arts and Scien- 

 ces, and the intercourfe of Social Life, our Intellectual Part is won- 

 derfully improved, and, indeed, I think, created. The queftion, 

 therefore is. Whether or not our Animal Part, or, in other words, 

 our Body, is likewife improved, or if it only continues the fame ? 

 That it is improved, and that we are healthier, ftronger, larger 

 of Body, and longer lived, than we were in the natural ftate, I have 

 met with none who was fo great an admirer of modern times, as to 

 maintain ; all they pretend to is, that we are not degenerated in any 

 of thefe articles. 



It muft certainly give a man very great comfort to think, that, 

 while he is fo much improved in his underftanding, he is not fallen 

 off in his Animal Part : And, if he can further perfuade himfe'lf, 

 (which fome perfons find no great difiiculty to do), that he is like- 

 wife 



