Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/57

47 himſelf, that he became at laſt ridiculouſly cautions, and would ſcarcely anſwer the moſt plain and familiar queſtion without previouſly aſking me—What would you infer from that? Hence he formed ſo high an opinion of my talents for refutation, that he ſeriouiſly propoſed to me to become his colleague in the eſtabliſhment of a new religious ſect. He was to propagate the doctrine by preaching, and I to refute every opponent.

When he explained to me his tenets, I found many abſurdities which I refuſed to admit, unleſs he would agree in turn to adopt ſome of my opinions. Keimer wore his beard long, becauſe Moſes had ſomewhere ſaid, Thou ſhalt not mar the corners of thy beard. He likewiſe obſerved the Sabbath; and theſe were with him two very eſſential points. I diſliked them both; but I conſented to adopt them, provided he would agree to abſtain from animal food. I doubt, ſaid he, whether my conſtitution will be able to ſupport it. I aſſured him, on the contrary, that he would find himſelf the better for it. He was naturally a glutton, and I wiſhed to amuſe myſelf by ſtarving him. He conſented to make trial of this regimen, if I would bear him company; and in reality we continued it for three months. A woman in the neighbourhood prepared and brought us our victuals, to whom I gave a liſt of forty diſhes; in the compoſition of which there entered neither fleſh nor fiſh. This fancy was the more agreeable to me, as it turned to good account; for the whole expence of our living did not exceed for each eighteen-pence a week.

I have ſince that period obſerved ſeveral Lents with the greateſt ſtrictneſs, and have ſuddenly returned again to my ordinary diet, without experiencing the ſmalleſt inconvenience; which has