victu usum esse, and needed no other Food.  Nor is it an inconsiderable Speculation, That since all Flesh is Grass (not in a Figurative, but Natural and Real Sense) Man himself, who lives on Flesh, and I think upon no Earthly Animal whatsoever, but such as feed on Grass, is nourish’d with them still; and so becoming an Incarnate Herb, and Innocent Canibal, may truly be said to devour himself.

We have said nothing of the Lotophagi, and such as (like St. John the Baptist, and other religious Ascetics) were Feeders on the Summities and Tops of Plants:  But as divers of those, and others we have mention’d, were much in times of Streights, Persecutions, and other Circumstances, which did not in the least make it a Pretence, exempting them from Labour, and other Humane Offices, by ensnaring Obligations and vows (never to be useful to the Publick, in whatever Exigency) so I cannot but take Notice of what a Learned Critic speaking of Mens neglecting plain and Essential Duties, under Colour of exercising themselves in a more sublime Course of Piety, and being Righteous above what is commanded (as those who seclude themselves in Monasteries) that they manifestly discover excessive Pride, Hatred of their Neighbour, Impatience of Injuries; to which add, Melancholy Plots and Machinations; and that he must be either stupid, or infected with the same Vice himself, who admires this [Greek:  etheloperiosothreskeia], or thinks they were for that Cause the more pleasing to God.  This being so, what may we then think of such Armies of Hermits, Monks and Friers, who pretending to justifie a mistaken Zeal and meritorious Abstinence; not only by a peculiar Diet and Distinction of Meats (which God without Distinction has made the moderate Use of common and [103]indifferent amongst Christians) but by other sordid Usages, and unnecessary Hardships, wilfully prejudice their Health and Constitution? and through a singular manner of living, dark and Saturnine; whilst they would seem to abdicate and forsake the World (in Imitation, as they pretend, of the Ancient Eremites) take care to settle, and build their warm and stately Nests in the most Populous Cities, and Places of Resort; ambitious doubtless of the Peoples Veneration and Opinion of an extraordinary Sanclity; and therefore flying the Desarts, where there is indeed no use of them; and flocking to the Towns and Cities where there is less, indeed none at all; and therefore no Marvel that the Emperour Valentinian banished them the Cities, and Constantine Copronymus finding them seditious, oblig’d them to marry, to leave their Cells, and live as did others.  For of these, some there are who seldom speak, and therefore edifie none; sleep little, and lie hard, are clad nastily, and eat meanly (and oftentimes that which is unwholsom) and therefore benefit none; Not