Chapter II: THIS is universally acknowledged to be a perfect and compleat

NUMBER; from whence _Cicero_ calls it _NODUS OMNIUM_, or the _Knot of all Things_. As the Wise _Pythagoreans_ justly term it otherwise the _Vehicle of Man’s Life_: Not only because that, according to the _Violence_ of any DISEASE, and the _Strength_ of the PATIENT, a _CRISIS_ happens either in the _Seventh_, or the _multiply’d Seventh Day_; but also because, as CONCEPTION is certain upon _Seven-Hours Retention_; and the Work of _Coagulation_ perfected in _Seven Days_, so may That of full _Maturity_ be in _Seven Months_, and accordingly this _MONTH_ may very reasonably produce _vital Children_. But by the way,

HOWEVER fictitious such things as savour of _Astrology_, may be reckon’d by _Some_, yet who knows not that the _Seventh Hour_, and _Seventh Day_ after its _BIRTH_, determines the CHILD either to _Life_ or _Death_? Who does not well know, That in the _Seventh Month_, its TEETH begin to break out and appear? That in the _Seventh Year_ (according to _Plutarch_) it changes its TEETH? Who does not find, That[115] the _Age of Man_ depends upon _SEPTENARY Mutations_? That the _First Seven Years_ conclude his INFANCY; as the _Second_ finish his PUERITIA, or _Childhood_; and the _Third_ compleat his ADOLESCENTIA, or _Youthful Growing Age_? To which his JUVENTUS, or more vigorous _Youthfulness_, succeeds; which is absolv’d in _twice Seven Years_ more: For in _This Juvenile_ Age, the _Body_ attains to its full STATURE; as the _Bones_, _Membranes_, and _Fibres_ arrive to their due Solidity.

THIS again is succeeded by the _Fifth_, call’d VIRILITAS, the _Virile_ or _Manly Age_; consisting of _twice Seven Years_ more, being in all _Seven times Seven Years_: In which MANHOOD, the _Facultys_ of the MIND, as well as the _Strength_ of the BODY, are most resplendent and perfect; tho’ in almost All _Women_, the _Generative Power_ begins to cease at this AGE, as their TERMS commonly do, however, not without a great _Disorder_ of the Motion of the BLOOD.

THE _Sixth Age_ of Man, or the SENECTUS, is compos’d of _twice Seven Years_ more, and extends itself to _Sixty Three_: In _This Old Age_ the _Natural VIGOUR_ very much declines, the _BODY_ waxes both _dry_ and _lean_, the _MEMORY_ begins to fail, and the _PERSON_ grows more _Anxious_, _Careful_ and _Covetous_. As in the _Seventh_ and _Last Age_, (or DOTAGE, as it were) he becomes _Feeble_ and _Decrepit_; which generally consists of _Seven Years_ more. So that, in fine, according to this very rational and plausible _Computation_, of the Learned and most Ingenious Dr. _Sprengell_, the AGE and LIFE of MAN is commonly reckon’d to amount to _Seven times Ten Years_.

IT is also farther observable, that as the SOUL of Man has _seven_ different _Appellations_, according to its seven principal _Offices_, (as amply appears by _Sect._ I. _Chap._ 4.) so there are _SEVEN Degrees_ in the BODY, to compleat its _Dimensions_; viz. _Marrow_, _Bone_, _Nerve_, _Vein_, _Artery_, _Flesh_, and _Skin_: As there are also _SEVEN_ in Number, which (according to _Macrobius_) the _Greeks_ call _BLACK MEMBERS_; viz. the _Tongue_, _Heart_, _Lungs_, _Liver_, _Spleen_, and _Two Kidneys_, to consummate the _Compositum_. Yea, _Hippocrates_[116] himself confirms the _Efficacy_ and _Præstancy_, _Fulness_ and _Perfection_ of this Number.

I have also remarkably observ’d, that the Number _Seven_ is most powerful and signally predominant in _Cœlestials_; as the _Seven Circles_ in the HEAVENS, according to the _Longitude of the Axle-Tree_: The _Seven Stars_ about the _Artick-Pole_, called CHARLES’S-WAIN: The _Seven Stars_ also call’d PLEIADES: The _Seven Planets_, giving Names to the _Seven Days of the_ WEEK: The _Periodical Revolution_ of the MOON every _Seventh Day_, running round the Compass of the whole ZODIACK in _Four Times Seven Days_; that is, considering her _Phases_ as obverted to the SUN. And _Linus_, a most ancient celebrated Poet, sings thus:

_“Septima cùm venit Lux, cuncta absolvere cœpit
“Omnipotens Pater, atque bonis, & Septima, & ipsa,
“Est etiam rerum cunctarum Septima Origo;
“Septima prima eadem perfecta, & Septima Septem,
“Unde etiam Cœlum stellis errantibus aptum
“Volvitur, & Circ’lis totidem circum undique fertur._

THIS _Number_ seems likewise to be of the greatest Esteem in _Religion_; and from hence among the _Hebrews_, to swear, is call’d _SEPTENARE_[117], (that is, to _protest_ by _Seven_:) So _Abraham_ making the COVENANT with _Abimelech_, appointed _Seven Ewe-Lambs_ for a Testimony: The _Seventh Day_ the Great _CREATOR_ rested from his Work: _Jacob_ served _Seven Years_: _Seven Days_ the People bewail’d the Death of _Jacob_: _Elisha_ (the Prophet) said unto _Naaman_ (the _Syrian_ Captain) Go and wash thy self _Seven Times_ in _Jordan_, and thou shalt be made whole, and thy Flesh become clean: And, in fine, _David_ said, _Seven Times_ a day do I praise _THEE_, because of thy righteous Judgments.

THESE, and innumerable such like _Sentences_ are not only couch’d in the _Books_ of _Moses_, and the whole _Volume_ of the _Old Testament_; but also expresly contain’d in the GOSPEL, and interspers’d through the whole _Bulk_ of the _New_: As the _Seven Beatitudes_, the _Seven Virtues_, the _Seven Vices_, the _Seven Petitions_ of the _LORD’s PRAYER_, the _Seven Words_ of our _SAVIOUR_ upon the _Cross_, &c. But besides, in the _Apocalypse_ or _Revelation_ of St. _JOHN_, this mysterious _NUMBER_ is most frequently mention’d, to denote its _Efficacy_ and _Excellency_ of representing some _Ænigmatical_ Truth or Emblem.

MOREOVER, the _Divine Apostle_ signifies and sets forth there, the _Persecution_ of the _CHURCH_ (under the Tyrants, _Domitian_, _Trajan_, &c. which began in the _Primitive CHURCH_ in his own Days, and continued for three hundred Years, even to the Reign of _Constantine_ the Great) by the _Allegory_ of[118]_SEVEN SEALS_. He figures out the _Heresys_ of the _ARIANS_, &c. (from the Time of _Constantine_ to the Reign of _Theodosius_, being three hundred Years more) by that of[119]_SEVEN TRUMPETS_. And, in fine, he mystically alludes to the future _Plagues_ of _ANTI-CHRIST_ (from the Time of _Pope Bonifacius_, to these our present Days) by[120]_SEVEN VIALS_, according to the Interpretation of that most Learned Divine, _Peter Palladius_ Bishop of _Rochel_.

I say, with Submission to wiser Heads, that _These_ and the whole Train of those Sacred _Allegorical Allusions_ used in this _Book_, might have been as pertinently express’d by any _other Number_, as the _SEPTENARY_; were it not that, this _Number_ better implies a certain _FULNESS_ of _Sacred Mysterys_: As I think that _Number_ likewise (in all rational probability) may properly portend here, _PERFECTION_ in _Maturity_, and _COMPLETION_ in _Vitality_ to every _Full Seven-Months_ CHILD.

CHAP. XXXIV.
_Of an Eight-Months BIRTH._

AS to this Point, the _Case_ indeed differs much in my Judgment from the _Former_: For tho’ I have heard some loquacious _Women_ strenuously aver the _contrary_, because of their own rash _Mistakes_; yet I cannot help being of the same Opinion still, that this MONTH seldom or never produces a _living_, or _lively_ CHILD: And that because, if the INFANT hath _Strength_ enough, it must needs appear about the _Close_ of the _Seventh Month_; but if not, the _Attempts_ are the same, according to its greater or less _Abilitys_; (as most MOTHERS may very sensibly observe in their own Conditions, by its extraordinary _Motions_ and Struggles at that _Time_) whereby it is so _weaken’d_ and _debilitated_, that it requires the _Eighth full Month_, and Part of the _Ninth_, to recover itself, and recollect its _exhausted Strength_ and _Vigour_.

ANOTHER Natural _Reason_ besides may be given for _This_; because that this MONTH is peculiar to the _Planet_ SATURN, which is an Enemy to all _Creatures_ that breath LIFE: For he now returns not with the same _Meekness_ and _Lenity_ of Influence that he used in the _First Month_ of the _CONCEPTION_, but with a far greater _Severity_ of Tyranny and Enmity; as by his _Frigidity_, lessening and extinguishing the _Native Heat_ of the _INFANT_, rendering it Unactive and Slow to _Motion_; so by his _Siccity_, constringing the _Passages_ and _Orifice_ of the WOMB: which, if so, must (of necessity) very much endanger both the _MOTHER_ and the _INFANT_.

BE this as it will, yet it is most certain, that the CHILD born in this MONTH is always very _Weak_ and _Sickly_; However if, by chance, it survives the _14th_, it may live till about the _40th Day_, when it most commonly _breathes its Last_: Yet if it also survives this _Time_, the greatest _Danger_ being then over, it may, by the means of tender CARE and ART, be brought up as _others_ are usually reared: But how _long-liv’d_ soever, or well-governed its _Health_ may be, it will still continue of a _weakly_ and _tender Constitution_ of Body, if not also half-witted[121] in Mind.

UPON this _Head_ some _Egyptian Writers_ mention, that because _Dionysius_, who was born in the _EIGHTH MONTH_, lived in the _Island_ of _NAXOS_; therefore both this _Number_ and the _Island_ were dedicated to his everlasting _Memory_; Whereupon, they say, he obtained the _Prerogative_ and _Privilege_ from the _GODS_, that the _Women_ of _NAXOS_ only, in this _MONTH_, should bring forth in _Safety_, and their _CHILDREN_ only enjoy _Vitality_.

WHICH _Fable_ may however serve to satisfy us, that they have had no better Opinion of an _Eight-Months BIRTH_, in those _Antient Days_, than the Generality of _Learned Men_ yet have in these _Modern_ Times: signifying in the main, by this comical _Allusion_ to that _little Island_ in the _Ægean Sea_, that if, peradventure, an _Octimestrian BIRTH_, by its more propitious _Destiny_, should be determined to _Life_; _that_ ought to be looked upon as something _Extraordinary_, and not laid down for any general _Hypothesis_: especially for this manifest Reason, because in all _other Nations_, such _CHILDREN_ are commonly observed to be but short-liv’d; as the _Women_, labouring with _CHILD_ at that critical[122] or fatal _TIME_, are absolutely exposed to the severest of _excruciating PAINS_, and the greatest of _imminent DANGERS_.

MOREOVER, _Hippocrates_ himself testifies, that the very _Gestation_[123] of the _eighth Month_ is the most _onerous_ and _difficult_ of all the Time, as well on account of the _Indisposition_ of the _Womb_, as by reason of the _Mother’s_ being affected by the _disturbing Motions_ of the _Infant_: Wherefore if the _Birth_ then draws on, it receives a double Damage, and suffers as well because of these _Affections_ of the _Mother_ and _Womb_, as by its own proper _Motions_ in precipitating itself.

FROM what is said, we may easily comprehend what _HIPPOCRATES_ means by that obscure[124] _Ænigma_, which some have formerly reckoned more inextricable than any _Herculean Knot_, viz. _An Octimestrian Birth is and is not_; signifying thereby nothing else than that the _Child born_ in the _eighth Month_ (in some respect) may be supposed in _Being_, but really and indeed _is not_, because it soon vanishes and _dies_.

CHAP. XXXV.
_Of a Nine-Months BIRTH._

THE Generality of _Modern Writers_ have too strictly confined a _Legitimate_ BIRTH, and tied it down to this very MONTH only; and _some_ even restrain it to the narrow _Limits_ of its _Latter Half_: Both equally affirming _That_ TIME to produce the most vigorous and lively _Children_, and strenuously alledging it to be the _only_ appointed TIME of _Nature_; because (as they say) _it happens most frequently_.

BUT unless they could produce some better _natural Reasons_ than THIS, or any _others_ indeed that I have yet heard of, they shall scarce _influence_ me to agree with their popular _Notions_ or vulgar Errors: For their fond Opinion seems not to be so much supported by any _Arguments_ of _Natural Reason_, as by an _imaginary Experience_, founded upon _Hearsay_, or the _general Misconstruction_ of WOMEN.

HOWEVER, in Condescension and Good-Manners to _Female Authority_ (to which I owe all imaginable _Deference_) I shall not launch out into any immodest or disagreeable _Contradictions_; but, on the contrary, I shall endeavour to make it evidently appear from the _Nature_ of the MONTH itself, that it indisputably induceth both _Perfection_ and _Vitality_ to the CHILD, whether it be _born_ at this _Time_ or not: For I must frankly own this _Truth_ indeed, that many _Auspicious_ BIRTHS happen in this very same MONTH, for several good Reasons.

I. BECAUSE _then_, if we will believe _Astrologers_, JUPITER now returns with his _Serene Aspect_, by his pure healing _Heat_ and _Humidity_, cherishing and renovating the _Life_ of the INFANT (which consists of those two _vital Qualities_) and quite effacing the former _Mischiefs_ and _Injuries_ of noxious SATURN: whereby he renders _This ninth Month_ not only most conducive to the BIRTH, but also to the future _Welfare_ and _Prosperity_ of the INFANT.

II. BECAUSE this auspicious _Number_ NINE is dedicated to the MUSES, according to the Order of the Celestial SPHERES: Hence as we have _nine moveable Spheres_, _viz._ the _Primum Mobile_, the _Starry Heaven_, and the _Spheres_ of _SATURN_, _JUPITER_, _MARS_, _SOL_, _VENUS_, _MERCURY_, and _LUNA_; so there are _Nine_ MUSES appropriated to them, to accomplish their _Harmony_ or _Consort_.