©HI0IN OF MONACHISM. . 



this belief, at flrfr. confined to a few, might afterwards 

 become a general doctrine; as we readily recommend, 

 to others what we praclife ourfelves. Probably, this 

 mode of life, once adopted and admired, might be 

 agreeable to the jews even in better times ; and thence 

 grow up into that feci which blended the maxims of 

 Pythagoras with the law of Mofes. Certain it is, that 

 the EfTenes were a feci of jews who devoted themfelves 

 to folitude and contemplation, who borrowed mud* 

 from the heathens and mofrly from the pythagoreans, 

 and were perpetually extending themfelves over Syria, 

 Paleftine, and ./Egypt. 



The dogmas and opinions of the EfTenes were not 

 every where alike. But they all agreed in this, that 

 rational worfhip conflfts in fllenee and contemplation: 

 thatj by a fir id adherence to virtue, man renders 

 himfelf agreeable to the deity ; but to this virtue he 

 muft adapt himfelf by a feverity of regimen, and other 

 preparatives. One clafs of the EfTenes were called 

 Theoretics- ; thefe pafTed their days in retirement, and 

 continual meditation. Another fet of them were term- 

 ed Praclics ; and lived in fociety among themfelves. 

 Some of the latter were even not avcrfe to marriage. 

 But they flrft. put their wives for three years to the trial; 

 and then indulged themfelves in their embraces no 

 more than was necelTary for the procreation of children. 

 The marriage bed was therefore cbafte and undefiled. 

 The generality however remained in a fingle ftate, as 

 dreading the infidelity of their wives from fuch a be- 

 haviour ; and the domeftic broils that would naturally 

 enfue upon the breach of their vow. The moil aufiere, 

 though not the moft numerous part of the EfTenes, 



pined 



