and Calvin only excepted, who hold, that as to Abstinence from Flesh, there was no positive Command or Imposition concerning it; but that the Use of Herbs and Fruit was recommended rather for Temperance sake, and the Prolongation of Life:  Upon which score I am inclin’d to believe that the ancient [Greek:  theraoentai], and other devout and contemplative Sects, distinguish’d themselves; whose Course of Life we have at large describ’d in [100]_Philo_ (who liv’d and taught much in Gardens) with others of the Abstemious Christians; among whom, Clemens brings in St. Mark the Evangelist himself, James our Lord’s Brother.  St. John, &c. and with several of the devout Sex, the famous Diaconesse Olympias, mention’d by Palladius (not to name the rest) who abstaining from Flesh, betook themselves to Herbs and Sallets upon the Account of Temperance, and the Vertues accompanying it; and concerning which the incomparable Grotius declares ingenuously his Opinion to be far from censuring, not only those who forbear the eating Flesh and Blood, Experimenti Causa, and for Discipline sake; but such as forbear ex Opinione, and (because it has been the ancient Custom) provided they blam’d none who freely us’d their Liberty; and I think he’s in the right.

But leaving this Controversie (ne nimium extra oleas) it has often been objected, that Fruit, and Plants, and all other things, may since the Beginning, and as the World grows older, have universally become Effoete, impair’d and diverted of those Nutritious and transcendent Vertues they were at first endow’d withal:  But as this is begging the Question, and to which we have already spoken; so all are not agreed that there is any, the least [101]_Decay in Nature_, where equal Industry and Skill’s apply’d.  ’Tis true indeed, that the Ordo Foliatorum, Feuillantines (a late Order of Ascetic Nuns) amongst other Mortifications, made Trial upon the Leaves of Plants alone, to which they would needs confine themselves; but were not able to go through that thin and meagre Diet:  But then it would be enquir’d whether they had not first, and from their very Childhood, been fed and brought up with Flesh, and better Sustenance till they enter’d the Cloyster; and what the Vegetables and the Preparation of them were allow’d by their Institution?  Wherefore this is nothing to our Modern Use of Sallets, or its Disparagement.  In the mean time, that we still think it not only possible, but likely, and with no great Art or Charge (taking Roots and Fruit into the Basket) substantially to maintain Mens Lives in Health and Vigour:  For to this, and less than this, we have the Suffrage of the great [102]_Hippocrates_ himself; who thinks, ab initio etiam hominum (as well as other Animals) tali