Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/317

 of the Species, and the Generation of Mankind, is the just End of Matrimony; 'tis express'd so in the Office of Matrimony, and in the sacred Text, in many Places; Now when the Woman is with Child, the End of Matrimony is answered; the Demand is at an End till she is light again (as the Women call it). Some would fain plead a progressive Conception, and that there is a Supply wanting to compleat the Formation of the Fœtus, and a great deal more of that Kind.

this is evidently a Mistake, and the contrary is manifest; the Work of Conception is hit off at once; the Materials being furnished, Nature being set on Work, all the forming Parts are engaged together; they may, indeed, be hindered and interrupted in their Operation by future Aggressions, and by the very Offence which I complain of; but that any addition can be made to the Work of Nature, especially in the manner, and at the distance of Time that we speak of, is grosly absurd, and contrary to Nature.

limitation of Time when, as I say, the Man should know his Wife no more, is plac'd at so convenient a distance, as that of her being known to be with Child. If there were any such Thing as a second Conception, or additions to the Work of Conception, auxiliar to Nature; I say, if there were any such thing, as I can by no means grant, tho' I do not dispute here; yet 'tis evident it must be at or about the Beginning of the Conception, not at four or five Months distance of Time, for then a Woman might go with two or more Children at once, and bring them forth four or five Months after one another; nay, a Woman might be