it4 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book I. 



praElifed in Europe at prefent^from the example of Aiit'ient Nations. 

 Three Antient Nations mentioned^ the Egyptian^ the Grecian, and 

 the Roman. — The Egyptian^ the mojl Antient and Wifejl Nation in 

 the World, — Governed by Religion and Philo/ophy. — Their Nation 

 lajlcd longer than any other Nation, and died at lajl a violent deaths 

 that is, by Conquejl. — Their Families al/o lajlcd longer than the Fa- 

 milies of any other Country, — as it appears from the age of the Fa- 

 mily of the High Prieji of Jupiter in Thebes. — Of their manner of 

 living. — They indulged in the pleafures of the Table to a certain de- 

 gree, — did not pradice the Athletic exercifes of the Greeks, but pre- 

 fcrved their healths by bathing in cold water, — a?id by violent phy- 

 ficking every month. — The reafon they gave for this pradfice, a good 

 one. — Their bathing in cold water may he pradlifed by us, and is 

 praciifed by the People of Ottaheite. — Phjfic too, taken to a cer- 

 tain degree, proper for prefer ving our Health. — // was fo taken by 

 the People of Rank, in France, 30 years ago. — In fo variable a 

 Climate as ours, air and exercife abfolutely iieceffary. — The vicijji- 

 tudes of Weather and Climate, the Egyptians faid, were the chief 

 caufes of Difeafes. — In other Climates, as well as ours, great vicif 

 fitudes of Vieather, as in the South of France, in Italy, and in 

 South Carolina in North America. — The Health of Man, therefore, 

 not to be preferved in any Country, except Egypt, without exercife 

 in the open air. — Among the Greeks, two Arts relating to the Hu- 

 man Body praBifed, the Gymnaftic and Medicinal. — The Gyinnaflc 

 pra&ifed naked, and not only for prefer ving Health, but J or curmg 

 Dfeafes. — Thefc exercifes produced what they called svi^iu, or the 

 good order of their Bodies. — They gave ftrength to the Mind as 

 well as to the Body: — Exercifes fdoidd be praBifed in Britain as much 

 as they were formerly. — They made the Greeks enjoy very much all 

 the pleafures of the Table, parlicidarly Drinking.— The Roman 

 pleafures of the Table confjled chief y in eating.—^Of the Roman 

 exercife. — In the days of Augufus they had Palafras fuch as the 



Greeks. 



