104 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book If. 



paration from the animal. — But of this more hereafter, when I come 

 to deduce the Philofophy of Man from his Hiftory, which is my fub- 

 je6l at prefent. 



After what I have faid of the State of Nature in the preceding Chap- 

 ter, and of the difference betwixt the Savage and Civilized Life, it is, 

 I think, very difficult to believe that fuch a difference in the manner 

 of life fhould have made no difference at all upon the Body, with re- 

 fped to fize, health, ftrength, or longevity. What greater difference 

 can there be in the food of the fame Animal, than betwixt vegetables, 

 flefh, or fifh, — betwixt raw vegetables, and vegetables, flefh, or filh, 

 prepared by fire ? What a difference betwixt water, the only drink 

 of Savages, and beer, wine, or fpirits ? And, again, What a dif- 

 ference clothing, houfing, and the ufe of fire, muft make ? and how 

 greatly that differance muft be increafed, when the ufe of thofe un- 

 natural things is continued for hundreds and thoufands of years, 

 with all the refinements that art and luxury can make upon them ? 

 Is it poiTible to believe that fo unnatural a life, continued from gene- 

 ration to generation for fuch a number of years, will have no effed 

 upon the race ? 



When I confider all thefe things, I cannot help thinking that it is 

 much more probable, though it be an opinion, as I have faid, main- 

 tained by nobody, that, by civilization, we are much improved in 

 Body, as well as ifi Mind, and are bigger, flronger, healthier, and 

 longer lived, than Men in the Natural State ; whereas the opinion, 

 which maintains that weeontinue the fame in all thcfe articles, ap- 

 pears to me the moft improbable opinion that ever was ferioufly 

 maintained : But we live in afa age of paradox and great difcove- 

 ries. I fliall tliercfore, in compliance with the tafte of the age, exa- 

 mine thi<^ opinion as ferioufly as I would do the mcft plaufible opi- 

 nion, though 1 am perfuaded that a Man, learned in the hiftory and 



pliilofophy 



