And therefore although it be said that _Abel_ was a Shepherd, and it be not readily conceived, the first men would keep sheep, except they made food thereof: great Expositors will tell us, that it was partly for their skins, wherewith they were cloathed, partly for their milk, whereby they were sustained; and partly for Sacrifices, which they also offered. And though it may seem improbable, that they offered flesh, yet eat not thereof; and _Abel_ can hardly be said to offer the firstlings of his flock, and the fat or acceptable part, if men used not to tast the same, whereby to raise such distinctions: some will confine the eating of flesh unto the line of _Cain_, who extended their luxury, and confined not unto the rule of God. That if at any time the line of _Seth_ eat flesh, it was extraordinary, and only at their sacrifices; or else (as _Grotius_ hinteth) if any such practice there were, it was not from the beginning; but from that time when the waies of men were corrupted, and whereof it is said, that the wickedness of mans heart was great; the more righteous part of mankind probably conforming unto the diet prescribed in Paradise, and the state of innocency. [SN: _Eating of Flesh (probably) not so common before the flood._] And yet however the practice of men conformed, this was the injunction of God, and might be therefore sufficient, without the food of flesh. That they fed not on flesh, at least the faithful party before the flood, may become more probable, because they refrained the same for some time after. For so was it generally delivered of the golden age and reign of _Saturn_; which is conceived the time of _Noah_, before the building of _Babel_. And he that considereth how agreeable this is unto the traditions of the _Gentiles_; that that age was of one tongue: that _Saturn_ devoured all his sons but three; that he was the son of _Oceanus_ and _Thetis_; that a Ship was his Symbole; that he taught the culture of vineyards, and the art of husbandry, and was therefore described with a sickle, may well conceive, these traditions had their original in _Noah_. Nor did this practice terminate in him, but was continued at least in many after: as (beside the _Pythagoreans_ of old, _Bannyans_ now in _India_, who upon single opinions refrain the food of flesh) ancient records do hint or plainly deliver. Although we descend not so low, as that of _Æsclepiades_ delivered by _Porphyrius_ [SN: περὶ ἀποχῆς.], that men began to feed on flesh in the raign of _Pygmaleon_ brother of _Dido_, who invented several torments, to punish the eaters of flesh.