i8 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book I. 



IN the preceding chapter, I think, I have proved, not only by 

 . arguments, but by fadis, that the natural ftate of man, or his 

 life when near to that ftate, is more beneficial to his body and his 

 animal life, concerning which the only queftion is at prefent, than 

 the civilifed life. But, as every intelligent reader will defire to know 

 what makes this difference, I will endeavour, in this chapter, to fa* 

 tisi'y him. 



The chief articles in which the natural life differs from the civilifed, 

 is in the ufe of houfes, clothes, fire, of flefh for food, and of wine» 

 or any other ftrong liquor, for drink. Of each of thefe particulars 

 I will fpeak, beginning with houfes and clothes. 



That houfes .are the invention of art, and do not belong to the 

 natural Hfe, is a fad that is not to be difputed. At firft, men ihel- 

 tered themfelves from the injuries of the weather by thickets, rocks, 

 and caves: Or, where nature did not furnilh them that protection, 

 they dug caverns in rocks, or lodged in the hollows of trees; and 

 it was not till later times that men eredled, above ground, thofe ar- 

 tificial coverings from the weather, which we call houfes^. But the 

 luxurious and indolent among us, not content with that covering 

 while they remain at home, go abroad in what may be called a little 

 houfe ; fo that at no time they enjoy the free airf. — Clothes are a 

 much clofer houfc than any thing we can make of ftones or cement; 

 and, indeed, they feparate the body entirely from the air. We are, 

 therefore, to confider, whether fo great an alteration of the natural 



life, 



* See what I have faid upon this fubjeifl in the preceding volume, p. 43. and fol- 

 iating; — aUb what I have faid at more length, on the fame fubjedt, in vol. 3. p. 



83. 



-i- Sec what I have faid at greater length, on this fubjc<ft, in the preceding volume 



cf this work, p. 52. & 53. 



