force of the Seed perform the work by degrees distinguishing the parts and rendering the form perfect Now as the life of every other Creature as it is testified in the 17 Chapter of Levitie is is in the Blood so the life of Man consisteth in the Soul the which although subject to passion by reason of the gross composture of the Body in which it has a temporary confinement yet it is immortal and cannot in it self corrupt or suffer change it being a spark of the divine mind and a blast of Almighty Breath that distinguishes Man from other Creatures and renders him immortal and that every man has a peculiar Soul it plainly appears by the vast difference between the Wit Judgment Opinion Manners Affections c. in men And this David observes when he says God hath in particular fashioned the Heart and Minds of all Men and has given to every one it s own Being and a Soul of its own Nature Hence Solomon rejoyced that God had given him a happy Soul and a Body agreeable and suitable to it It has caused many Disputes amongst the Learned especially Philosopers in what part of the Body the Soul chuseth to reside and some have given their opinion that its resident is in the middle of the Heart and from thence communicates it self to every part which Solomon in the Fourth of his Proverbs seems to assert when he says Keep thy Heart with all thy diligence because Life proceedeth therefrom but many curious Physicians scarching the Works of Nature in Man's Anatomy c. do give it as their Opinion that its chief Seat is in the Brain from whence proceed the Senses Faculties and Actions diffusing the operations of the Soul through all parts of the Body whereby it is enlivened with heat and force but it doth communicate particular force to be Heart by Arteries Catotides or sleepy Arteries that part upon the Throat the which if they happen to be broke or cut cause Barrenness and if stopped they become Apoplectick for there must necessarily be some ways through which the Spirits animal and vital may have intercourse and convey native heat from the Soul For although the Soul is said to reside in one place it operates in every part exercising every Member which are the Souls Instruments by which she manifesteth her pow'r but if it so happen that any of the Organical parts are out of Tune the Work is confuied as it may appear in the case of Idiots Madmen c. Though in some of them the Soul by forcibly working recovers her supernatural vigor they become right after a long dispondency of mind and in some it is lost in this life For as fire under ashes nor the Sun obscured from our sight by thick Clouds afford not their full lustre so the soul overwhelmed in moist or faulty matter is darkned and Reason thereby overclouded and although reason shines less in Children than in those that are arrived to maturity yet no man must imagine that the Soul is an Infant and grows up with the Child for then would it again decay but it suits it self to the weakness of Nature and the imbecility of Body wherein it is placed that it may the better operate And as the Body is more and more capable of receiving its influence so it shews it self in its prper lustre having its force and indowments at the time it enters the formed Child in the Womb for the Substance of it can receive nothing less And thus much to prove that the Soul comes not from the Parents Seed but is infused by God and the next thing now to be handled is its Immortality and thereby I shall demonstrate the certainty of the Resurrection That the Soul of Man is a divine Ray infused by God I have already made apparent and now come to shew you that whatever immediately proceeds from him must participate of his Nature and from thence consequently be as Immortal as it 's Original for although all other Creatures are indued with life and motion yet wnat they a reasonable Soul and from thence 't is concluded their life is in their Blood and that being corruptible they perish and after their expiring are no more But Man being endued with a reasonable Soul and stamped with the divine Image is of a different nature and tho' his Body be corruptible yet his Soul cannot perish but must when it is expunged its earthly Tabernacle return to God that gave it either to receive reward or punishment now that the body can sin of it self is impossible because wanting the Soul it cannot act nor proceed to any thing either good or evil for could it do so additional sins might be accumulated even in the Grave but 't is plain that after death there is a cessation for as Death leaves us so judgment finds us And St. John in the fifth Chapter of his Gospel tells us That the hour shall come that all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voice and they that have done well shall come forth to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Condemnation And Holy Job in the fourteenth and nineteenth Chapter speaking to the same purposes says For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth And though after my Skin Worms destroy my body yet in my Flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine Eyes shall behold and not another though my Reins be consumed within me By this 't is plainly proved that the Soul is made of immortal Essence incapable of death having a place assigned it after its separation from the Body till the day of the general Resurrection not in the Grave but in a Mansion prepared by the Almighty for its Reception and that through the mighty working of him that is able to subdue all things to himself it shall again enter the same Body that was laid down tho' the dust thereof be scattered to the four Winds of Heaven nay such force and vigour shall it have that it shall as it were take up the Body for Job positively says I shall rise out of the Earth at the last day c. Which being applicable to the future Tense may be meant two ways I shall or will rise for plainly foreseeing the Resurrection he claimed it as the promise of his Creator Nay so far were the Heathens by the light of Nature from doubting the immortality of the Soul that Plato in his Phaedro thus reasons viz. What consists not of Elements saith he is immortal and can neve dye The Soul is not made of Elements nor of created matter but came from God and therefore it cannot dye c. Then may it be without difficulty granted that the body which has been a long Companion of the Souls will once again enjoy it never more to be separated for the Body at the Resurrection shall be incorruptible
discovered by many Symptoms as when Nature fringes the obscure parts and their Terms flow at the time appointed which is usually in the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Year of their Age when as the Seed increaseth in some sooner and in others later according to their Habits or Constitutions And the Blood which is no longer taken to augment their Bodies abounding incites their Minds and Imaginations to Venery And by the Retention of the Seed many times it falls out that they are cruelly afflicted with fainting Fits and strangling of the Mother for all learned Physicians are of Opinion that more harm comes by the Seed corrupting than by their Courses being unseasonably obstructed for the Seed derogates to a venomous quality and from the effects thereof arise the Swarth and weasel Colour in Maids when they begin to be in Love and desirous of Copulation as also their short Breathings Tremblings and Pantings of the Heart The Expulsive Faculties being moved to cast out the superfluous Humour But if they happen to be Married to their own Content these afflictions vanish and their native Beauty returns more gay than before nor is their eager gazing desiring to associate themselves with Men a lesser sign that Nature prompts them to desire what she ordain'd Their due of which sometimes being by obdurate Parents debarred in a lawful way breaking the bounds of modesty rather than enduring such violent Agitations and Conflicts within themselves they satiate their desire in unlawful Love The same may in all Particulars be observed in young brisk Widows whom Death that Enemy of sweet Conjugal Love has separated from the Bosom of their Husbands At fourteen Years of Age commonly the Terms in Virgins begins to flow and then they are capable of Conceiving and so continue generally till forty four at what time for the most part the Eflux being stayed they are no longer capable of Generation unless such as are exceeding healthful strong of body and have used themselves to Temperance who have appear'd to be delivered of Children till fifty five Years but such Prodigies rarely happen although the Terms extend sarther in some Women than in others but many times such Eflux proceeds not from any natural cause but by reason of some violent straining or other violence and does often endanger the life of the Party And therefore young Men that marry Women surmounting the Age aforesaid if they expect Children unless by Miracle must labour against the Wind though if an old Man that is not worn out by Diseases and Incontinency marry a brisk lively Lass there is hopes even to threescore and ten and some that are extraordinary lusty till fourscore Hypocrates that Famous and Learned Physician is of Opinion that a Youth at 16 years or between that and 17 having much vital strength may be capable of getting Children and that force and heat of Procreating matter continually increases till 45 50 65. and at the end of the latter begins to flagg the Seed by little and little becoming unfruitful the natural Spirits being extinguished and the humours dried up and in general most Physicians at this day do observe it but as to particulars as I have before mentioned it often happeneth otherwise nay 't is reported by a credible Author that in the Reign of Erecus King of Sweedland a Man was married at a Hundred years old to a Bride of Thirty and had many Children by her but looked so fresh that such as knew him not took him not to exceed half that Age. In Campania where the Air is temperate serene and calm men of 80 years usually marry young Virgins and have Children by them which argues that Age in men hinders not Procreation unless they be exhausted in their Youth and their Members shriveled up If any ask why a Women is sooner barren than a Man I answer the Cause is the natural Heat which is more predominant in the latter than in the former for since a Woman is more moist than a Man as her Courses do most evidently demonstrate as also the softness of her Body 't is also apparent that he doth exceed her in Native heat and as for that heat it is the chief thing that concocts the Humours and changes them into the substance of the Seed which Aliment the Woman wanting grows fat when a Man by reason of that heat melts his fat by degrees and his Humours are dissolved but by the benefit thereof they are elaborated into Seed and this may for the better Confirmation of what I propose be added That the Woman is not so strong as a Man nor so wise and prudent nor hath so much reason nor is so ingenious in contriving her Affairs whereby the Faculties are hindered in their operation And so I conclude my Assertion CHAP. II. General and particular Rules laid down by Learned Physicians how to proceed in getting a Male or Female Child and of the Embrio and perfect Birth and the Season sittest for Copulation WHen a young likely Couple have entred the holy State of Wedlock are desirous of mutual enjoyment for Generation sake which is the chief end for which Wedlock was ordain'd and rather covet to be blessed with one Sex than another let them know first for certain that the Success of such things depends upon Divine Providence tho' secondary causes must be actual and instrumental therein and those are especially two First the Genital Humour which proceeds partly from the Brain and partly from the Liver the Fountain of Blood then the spirit that is conveyed by Arteries from the Heart by force whereof the Yard is erected and made capable to eject the Seed and partly it flows from the whole Body without exception To which may be added the Appetite and desire to Copulation which fires the Imagination with unusual Fancies or by the sight and feeling a brisk charming Beauty whose wit and liveliness may much incite and more inflame the Courage but if Nature be infeebled then are there fit artificial Remedies to restore it viz. such meats as most conduce to the affording such aliment as proves to make Seed abound and restore the decaies of Nature that the Faculties may freely opporate for as Dung and well manuring restores Ground that is worn out and heartless even so seasonable and proper Diet opporates to the restoring the faint heart weak spirit coldness and dryness of the Genital Parts and reduceth the weakness of the Nerves to their Temperament and removes Impediments obstructing the Procreation of Children Then since the Diet may and will alter the evil state of the Body to a better it is necessary that such as are subject to Barrenness should eat such meat only as tend to render them fruitful and among such things as are inducing and stirring up thereto are all meats of good juice that nourish well and makes the body lively and full of sap of which Faculty are all hot moist meats for according to Gallen the substance of Seed is
of the Womb and by inclining himself he rowls downward for he cannot longer be obscured in those hiding places than he can find Nutriment from the Navel and the heat of the Heart can subsist without external respiration wherefore being grown great he is more and more desirous of Nutriment and Light when coveting the Etherial Air he by strugling to obtain it breaks the membrains and Coverings whereby he was restrained and fenced against Attrition and for the most part with bitter Pangs of the Mother issucth forth to view the Day commonly in the ninth Month for then the Matrix divided and Oss Pubis being loosened the Woman strives what she can to cast forth her burthen and the Child doing the like to get forth by the help of its inbred strength the Birth comes to be perfect but if the Child be dead then more dangerous is the Delivery tho' Nature as a kind Commiserator often helpeth the Womans weakness herein but the Child that is quick and lively labours no less than the Woman Now there are Bitths at 7 or 8 months and some Women go to the 10th month but of these and the Reasons for them I shall speak more largely in another place and at present proceed to unrayel other mysteries of Nature CHAP. III. The Reason why Children are often like their Parents and what the Mathers Imagination contributes thereto How the Mother contributes Seed and is a Companion in the whole Generation and whence grows the Kind viz. Whether the Man or the Woman is the cause of the Male or Female Child c. IT is the opinion of learned Physicians grounded upon reason That if a Woman in the Act of Copulation afford most Seed her likeness will have the greater impression upon the Child but if on the contrary then will follow the contrary effects or if a proportionable quantity proceed from either then will the Similitude depend upon either Lactantius is of opinion That when a Mans seed falls on the left side of the womb a Male Child may be gotten but by reason it is the proper place for a Female there will be something in it greatly resembling a Woman viz. It will be fairer whiter and smoother not very subject to have hair on the Body or Clain long lank hair on the Head the Voice small and sharp and the Courage feeble and arguing yet further he says that a Female may perchance be procreated if the Seed fall on the right side but then through extraordinary heat she will be very large boned full of Courage indued with a big Voice and have her Chin and bosom hairy not being so clear as others of the Sex subject to quarrel with her Husband when married for the superiority c. yet in case of the similitude nothing is more powerful than the imagination of the Mother for if she conceive in her mind or do by chance fasten her eyes upon any Object and imprint it in her Memory the Child in its out ward parts frequently has some representation thereof so whilst a Man and Woman are in the Act of Copulation if the Woman earnestly behold his Countenance and fix her mind thereon without all peradventure the Child will resemble the Father nay so powerful is its Operation that though a Woman be in unlawful Copulation yet if fear or any thing else causes her to fix her mind upon her Husband the Child will resemble him tho' he never got it The same effect according to the opinion of the Learned proceeds from Imagination in cause of Warts Moldspots Stains Dashes and the figures of strange things though indeed they sometimes happen thro' frights or extravagant longings Many Women there are that seeing a Hare cross them when great with Child will through the strength of imagination bring forth a Child with a hairy-lip Some Children again are born with flat Noses wry Mouths great bluber Lips and ill shaped Bodies and most ascribe the reason to the strange conceit of the Mother who has busied her Eyes and Mind upon some ill shaped or distorted Creature therefore it greatly behoves all Women with Child to avoid any monstrous sight or at least to have a stedfast mind not easily fixed upon any one thing more than another And this opinion Pliny confirms in his 7th Book of natural things and the 12th Chapter The Famour Sir Thomas More likewise confirms it and discants merrily on a Passage of his times wherein a Person having divers Children would own none but one that was like him when in the end it proved by the asseveration of the Mother that all except that were of his own begetting but whilst another man was mounted in his Saddle she fearing that he would come and detect her in the Act had her imagination so fix'd on him that as she conceived the similitude could proceed from no other cause wherefore it is apparent that likeness can confiirm no Child to be a lawful Fathers own yet in manners wit and the propension of the mind daily examples reach us that Children which have all force and Spirits from the faculty of the Seed are commonly of the same condition with their progenitors and of the same nature but there is much in this whether venery be used with great or weak desire for many are less venerous and not so hot and consequeutly not so desirous of copulation but rather decline it unless the obstreporusness of their Wives cause them to complyance therein and then they proceed faintly and drowsily whence it happens that the Children fall short of the Parents nature wit and manners and hence it is that wise men frequently beget stupid sloathful Children of feeble minds because they are not much given to these delights but as I said on the contrary when the Progenitors are hot in venerious Actions and do liberally and abundantly employ themselves therein it oftentimes happens that the Children are of the same desires manners and actions of the mind with their Parents And thus much for the first point now I shall proceed to the Second which is to prove that the mother 's equally contributing to the making the Child c. Though it is apparent that the Seed of man is the chief efficient and beginning of action motion and Generation yet that the Woman does afford seed and effectually contributes in that particular to the procreation of the Child is evinced by strong reasons in the first place Seminary Vessels had been given them in vain and genital Testicles inverted if the Woman wanted Seminal excessence for being Nature doth nothing in vain therefore it must be granted that they were made for the use of seed and procreation and fixed in their proper places both the Testacles and Receptacles of Seed whose nature and force is to operate and afford fruitful vertue to the Seed and to prove this there needs no stronger Argument than that if a Woman do not use Copulation to eject her Seed she oftentimes falls into