I am sufficiently sensible how far, and to how little purpose I am gone on this Topic:  The Ply is long since taken, and our raw Sallet deckt in its best Trim, is never like to invite Men who once have tasted Flesh to quit and abdicate a Custom which has now so long obtain’d.  Nor truly do I think Conscience at all concern’d in the Matter, upon any Account of Distinction of Pure and Impure; tho’ seriously consider’d (as Sextius held) rationi magis congrua, as it regards the cruel Butcheries of so many harmless Creatures; some of which we put to merciless and needless Torment, to accommodat them for exquisite and uncommon Epicurism.  There lies else no positive Prohibition; Discrimination of Meats being [93]Condemn’d as the Doctrine of Devils:  Nor do Meats commend us to God.  One eats quid vult (of every thing:) another Olera, and of Sallets only:  But this is not my Business, further than to shew how possible it is by so many Instances and Examples, to live on wholsome Vegetables, both long and happily:  For so

[94]_The_ Golden Age, with this Provision blest, Such a Grand Sallet made, and was a Feast. The Demi-Gods with Bodies large and sound, Commended then the Product of the Ground. Fraud then, nor Force were known, nor filthy Lust, Which Over-heating and Intemp’rance nurst: Be their vile Names in Execration held, Who with foul Glutt’ny first the World defil’d: Parent of Vice, and all Diseases since, With ghastly Death sprung up alone from thence. Ah, from such reeking, bloody Tables fly, Which Death for our Destruction does supply. In Health, if Sallet-Herbs you can’t endure; Sick, you’ll desire them; or for Food, or Cure.

As to the other part of the Controversie, which concerns us, [Greek:  aimatophagoi], and Occidental Blood-Eaters; some Grave and Learn’d Men of late seem to scruple the present Usage, whilst they see the Prohibition appearing, and to carry such a Face of Antiquity, [95]_Scripture_, [96]_Councils_, [97]_Canons_, [98]_Fathers_; Imperial Constitutions, and Universal Practice, unless it be among us of these Tracts of Europe, whither, with other Barbarities, that of eating the Blood and Animal Life of Creatures first was brought; and by our Mixtures with the Goths, Vandals, and other Spawn of Pagan Scythians; grown a Custom, and since which I am persuaded more Blood has been shed between Christians than there ever was before the Water of the Flood covered this Corner of the World:  Not that I impute it only to our eating Blood; but sometimes wonder how it hap’ned that so strict, so solemn and famous a Sanction not upon a Ceremonial Account; but (as some affirm) a Moral and Perpetual from Noah, to whom the Concession of eating Flesh was granted, and that of Blood forbidden (nor to this Day once revok’d) and whilst there also seems to lie fairer Proofs than for most other Controversies agitated among Christians, should be so generally forgotten, and give place to so many other impertinent Disputes and Cavels about other superstitious Fopperies, which frequently end in Blood and cutting of Throats.