Some think the Fruits of the Earth were intended as Man’s sole Food, and that nothing but Necessity or Luxury first prompted to feed upon Flesh: And indeed, by the Structure of Man’s Teeth, it looks as if they were not proper to devour Flesh; and that Nature had rather intended and prepared them for cutting Herbs, Roots,——than, for tearing of Flesh. Yea, Children don’t affect Animal Food, till their Palates be vitiated by Custom; and, further, when we feed upon Flesh, it must be prepared by roasting or boiling, which makes it harder of Digestion, than all other Animal Food; and therefore forbid in Fevers, and other Distempers. ---------------------------------------------------------------- SECTION VIII. _That venemous Creatures have been made Instruments of divine and human Vengeance, is most evident._ The romantic Account given in Antiquity, of strange Feats done by a poisonous Breath—does not affect the Truth of this Proposition. The Antients divided Serpents, into good and evil Ministers; thus the _Egyptians_ looked upon some of them to be Administrators of Mercy, and others to be Messengers of Justice. _Osiris_[85] one of their Gods, is said to send out Serpents, to chastise Evil-Doers[86]. Footnote 85: ——δρακων επι νωτα δαφωινος Σμερδαλεος, του ῥ’ αυτος ολυμπιος ηκε φοως δε. Hom. Iliad. B. Footnote 86: _Ælian. Hist. Animalium._ When the Church of _Israel_ murmured against God in the Wilderness, and censured the Conduct of Providence, he employs an Army of Serpents as his Agents, to correct the Rebels.——Plagues, and other pestilential Diseases, were, in old times, reputed to be the Messengers of the Gods, and commissioned by them, to execute Wrath upon the Wicked. Some of the Heathens had exalted Notions of Virtue, and believed Men of Virtue to be the Favourites of the Gods, and that a vicious Life, being opposite to the Sanctity of their Nature, they could not let it pass with Impunity. An Instance to this purpose we have in the History of the Apostles, _Acts_ xxviii. 1-6. The _Island_ was called _Melita_. _And when Paul had gathered a Bundle of Sticks, and laid them on the Fire, there came a Viper out of the Heat, and fastened on his Hand. And when the Barbarians saw the venemous Beast hang on his Hand; they said among themselves, No doubt this Man is a Murderer, tho’ he has escaped the Sea, yet Vengeance_ (δικη, _Justice_) _suffers not to live——They looked when he should have swoln, or faln_ _down—And when they saw no harm come to him, they changed their Mind, and said he was a God._ _How_ came they to alter their Opinion? Because, according to their Divinity, none else could thus command, and controul a venemous Serpent, which was one of the _Messengers of the Gods_.