l62 ORIGIN OP MONAcCHlSMi 



already a natural averfion to all the accommodations of 

 life. Thefe fplenetk phantafiafts were ever ftriving to 

 become fomething more than a follower of Chrift was 

 taught to be ; for only he was cailed a perfect chriftian, ' 

 who by the rigorous cxercifes of felf-denial, renounced 

 the obligations of humanity. Thefe over-righteous 

 Egyptians were named afcetics ; that is, perfons who 

 endeavoured and who made it the grand bulinefs of 

 their lives, by fuch methods to become more virtuous 

 in conduct ahd more perfect in temper than the reft of 

 mankind. 



The primitive chriftians were inconteftably fo fax 

 afcetics, as they attended to the honourable and fruit- 

 ful exercifes of devotion. But the above-mentioned 

 ecclefiaftical hiftorian, excellently obferves in another 

 place, that no condition in human fociety, no kind of 

 meats or drinks, were regarded by the apoftles as im- 

 pediments to piety ; for the great art of the chriftian 

 was to be, the ufe of the world without its abufe. 



The segj^ptian afcetics, on the contrary, were wild 

 enthufiafts, who were conftantly introducing additional 

 innovations, in good intentions but with little pru- 

 dence. Some wore the philofophic mantle. Num- 

 bers accounted it highly meritorious to cohabit with 

 their wives in fpirit alone. All of them exercifed 

 themfelves in whatever is painful to human nature, 

 that the charms of fenfuality might find lefs accefs to 

 their hearts. They prayed indeed, as it was but fitting 

 they fhould ; but therewith they did nothing but faft, 

 and w r atch and howl. They mortified their body, and 

 exercifed themfelves in the bondage of fuperftition and 

 fanaticifm, till they had totally perverted the religion 



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