Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/153

 Lady. Do, Cousin, if it be possible.

Cou. Nay, since you are so much in earnest.

Lady. Indeed, I am in earnest.

Cou. Why, there are Things to be taken to

Lady. What! to make Folks miscarry. Oh! I would not do that neither; I dare not do that.

Cou. "What! you mean to prevent your being with Child, I suppose.

Lady. Ay, ay, I do mean that; but I wou'd not take Things to destroy the Child, that wou'd be murther. I wou'd not do that by no means, Cousin.

Cou. Why look ye, Child, I would not deceive you, 'tis the same Thing.

Lady. What do you mean?

Cou. Why, I mean as I say; I tell you, 'tis the same Thing, Child.

Lady. What! the same Thing to prevent a Conception as to destroy the Child after it is conceived: Is that the same Thing?

Cou. Yes, I say, 'tis the same Thing.

Lady. Explain your self, Cousin, for I don't understand you, indeed; it does not seem the same Thing to me.

Cou. Why, in the first place, you would prevent your having any Children, though you married according to 's holy Ordinance; which Ordinance, as the Office of Matrimony tells you, was appointed for that very End; to take Medicines therefore to prevent, or to destroy that Conception, are equally wicked in their Intention, and it is the End of every thing, that makes it Good or Evil; the rest differs only in the degree.