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.
III. BECAUSE to denote the Sufficiency of this Number, there are also nine Orders and Choirs of blessed Angels; namely, Seraphims, Cherubims, Thrones, Dominations, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels: Which the Prophet EZEKIEL[125] emblematically figures out by Nine Stones; as the Saphire, Emerald, Carbuncle, Beril, Onyx, Chrysolite, Jasper, Topaz, and the Sardis.
BUT besides the Nine internal and external Senses, mentioned in Sect. I. Chap. 5. more plainly and familiarly denote the Perfection of this Number: As, in like manner, the most learned Authors of all Ages take great Notice of it in the Age of Man, calling this Ninth, together with the Seventh, Climacterical Years.
NOT to mention the Ninth Hour, in which our Blessed Saviour breathed out his Holy Spirit; the Ninth Day the Antients buried their Dead, and many such remarkable Instances. Yet however, in most Natural and Philosophical Cases, this Number implies still some Imperfection; because it comes short of the Complement of the Great Number Ten (being deficient by One) as St. Austin interprets it of the Ten Lepers. Wherefore not to go too far in these Mystical Matters, I proceed to