ig6 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book IV. 



CHAP. II. 



Of the Brute Nature ^ mid its Variety : — He is Solitary, Gregarious, and' 



Political. — Comparifon of the Life of the Brute with that of Man 



in Civil Society, — Vindication of Providence -with refpe6l to the dc- 



, JlruHion of Brute Animals by one another. — Vegetables the firft food 



of Man — Then their Fruits, fuch as Barley and Wheat: — Thefe 



frjl difcovered and cultivated in Egypt, — and the art of Culti- 

 vating them carried to other countries.' — Next came the Flcfh diet — 



frfl thofe animals caught by hunting ; then tamed aud domejlicated 

 animals. — Agreement of the Author s Opifjion with that of Por- 

 phyry and Mofes. — Animal Food necejfary from the Multiplication 

 of Men. — The Vegetable diet more wholfome.- — Water the natural 

 drink of all Animals — but, as the drink of Man in Civil Society, it 

 is improved by a mixture of Wine, in the opinion of Solomon. — The- 

 Flefh diet lefs hurtful by being mixed with Vegetables, 



HAVING fhown the difference betwixt Man and Brute, I pro- 

 ceed now to treat of Brutes in particular, to fhow their va- 

 rious natures, and how they differ from one another as well as from 

 Man. 



The brutes may be faid to Hve in all the three different ways In 

 which men live ; for they live either folitary, as the wild beafts or 

 hearts of prey do j or they live in herds, as fheep, oxen, deer, and 

 horfes do in their natural ftate, in which ftate the laft are in the 



plains 



