ASanIllegitimate BIRTHalso respectsTIME, soThatis only to be call’d so, which happensbeforeoraftertheTIMEinstituted by theLawofNature. Hence all unhappyABORTIONSbelong to thisHead; which being largely handled (apart) in theChapterjust aforegoing, I shall only here cursorily touch uponThat, which (in a distinct sense) is accounted anIllegitimate BIRTH.
THATI may the better defineThis SortofBIRTH, I shallfirstobserve, thatNaturehas instituted Nothingrashly, nor invain, neither does it ever act byChance.Shehaving then limited a certainTime(however at large) within which allLegitimate BIRTHShappen, and allvital Childrenare born; of consequence, whatever happensbeforeorafterthatTime, is anIllegitimate BIRTH, and seldom or never produces aLivingorLivelyChild.
HOWEVER,Vallesius[113],Cardanus[114], and someOthersrelate divers strange Precedents, and affirm thatthey have known and seenChildrenborn in thefifthandsixth Months, which have liv’d to the Years of Discretion; It is notwithstanding my Opinion, thatThose great Mengiving ear to the frivolousRelationsand idleReportsofsimple Women, have suffer’d theirCredulityto impose so far upon their betterJudgments. And I am besides the more induc’d to think so, because sinceTheir days, we have not heard of anyone Exampleof this wonderfulKind, which deserv’d the leastNoticeorCredit.
BUTthere areOthersagain; who (in a manner) ridiculing theseInstances, fall into grosserAbsurditysthemselves; denying theLegitimacyof asevenoreight-Months BIRTH; yea,Someeven of aTen Months, after theTenth Day, as well as of allposteriour BIRTHS. Upon which erroneousMistakes, (if it may be without Offence permitted) I would freely offer mysimple Judgment, in manner following: and thereupon,First,