HKB
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.
As to the Reason of this Prohibition, its favouring of Cruelty excepted, (and that by Galen, and other experienc'd Physicians, the eating Blood is condemn'd as unwholsome, causing Indigestion and Obstructions) if a positive Command of Almighty God were not enough, it seems sufficiently intimated; because Blood was the Vehicle of the Life and Animal Soul of the Creature: For what other mysterious Cause, as haply its being always dedicated to Expiatory Sacrifices, &c. it is not for us to enquire. 'Tis said, that Justin Martyr being asked, why the Christians of his time were permitted the eating Flesh and not the Blood? readily answer'd, That God might distinguish them from Beasts, which eat them both together. 'Tis likewise urg'd, that by the Apostolical Synod (when the rest of the Jewish Ceremonies and Types were abolish'd) this Prohibition was mention'd as a thing [99]necessary, and rank'd with Idolatry, which was not to be local or temporary; but universally injoyn'd to converted Strangers and Proselytes, as well as Jews: Nor could the Scandal of neglecting to observe it, concern them alone, after so many Ages as it was and still is in continual Use; and those who transgress'd, so severely punish'd, as by an Imperial Law to be scourg'd to Blood and Bone: Indeed, so terrible was the Interdiction, that Idolatry excepted (which was also Moral and perpetual) nothing in Scripture seems to be more express. In the mean time, to relieve all other Scruples, it does not, they say, extend to that [Greek: akribeia] of those few diluted Drops of Extravasated Blood, which might happen to tinge the Juice and Gravy of the Flesh (which were indeed to strain at a Gnat) but to those who devour the Venal and Arterial Blood separately, and in Quantity, as a choice Ingredient of their luxurious Preparations and Apician Tables.
But this, and all the rest will, I fear, seem but Oleribus verba facere, and (as the Proverb goes) be Labour-in-vain to think of preaching down Hogs-Puddings, and usurp the Chair of Rabby-Busy: And therefore what is advanc'd in Countenance of the Antediluvian Diet, we leave to be ventilated by the Learned, and such as Curcellaeus, who has borrow'd of all the Ancient Fathers, from Tertullian, Hierom, S. Chrysostom*, &c. to the later Doctors and Divines, Lyra, *Tostatus, Dionysius Carthusianus, Pererius, amongst the Pontificians; of Peter Martyr, Zanchy, Aretius, Jac. Capellus, Hiddiger, Cocceius, Bochartus, &c. amongst the Protestants; and instar omnium*, by Salmasius, Grotius, Vossius, *Blundel: In a Word, by the Learn'd of both Persuasions, favourable enough to these Opinions, Cajetan 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.