THEGenerality ofModern Writershave too strictly confined aLegitimateBirth, and tied it down to this veryMonthonly; andsomeeven restrain it to the narrowLimitsof itsLatter Half: Both equally affirmingThatTimeto produce the most vigorous and livelyChildren, and strenuously alledging it to be theonlyappointedTimeofNature; because (as they say)it happens most frequently.
BUTunless they could produce some betternatural ReasonsthanThis, or anyothersindeed that I have yetheard of, they shall scarceinfluenceme to agree with their popularNotionsor vulgar Errors: For their fond Opinion seems not to be so much supported by anyArgumentsofNatural Reason, as by animaginary Experience, founded uponHearsay, or thegeneral MisconstructionofWomen.
HOWEVER, in Condescension and Good-Manners toFemale Authority(to which I owe all imaginableDeference) I shall not launch out into any immodest or disagreeableContradictions; but, on the contrary, I shall endeavour to make it evidently appear from theNatureof theMonthitself, that it indisputably induceth bothPerfectionandVitalityto theChild, whether it bebornat thisTimeor not: For I must frankly own thisTruthindeed, that manyAuspiciousBirthshappen in this very sameMonth, for several good Reasons.
I.BECAUSEthen, if we will believeAstrologers,Jupiternow returns with hisSerene Aspect, by his pure healingHeatandHumidity, cherishing and renovating theLifeof theInfant(which consists of those twovital Qualities) and quite effacing the formerMischiefsandInjuriesof noxiousSaturn: whereby he rendersThis ninth Monthnot only most conducive to theBirth, but also to the futureWelfareandProsperityof theInfant.
II.BECAUSEthis auspiciousNumberNineis dedicated to theMuses, according to the Order of the CelestialSpheres: Hence as we havenine moveable Spheres,viz.thePrimum Mobile, theStarry Heaven, and theSpheresofSATURN,JUPITER,MARS,SOL,VENUS,MERCURY, andLUNA; so there areNineMusesappropriated to them, to accomplish theirHarmonyorConsort.
III.BECAUSEto denote theSufficiencyof thisNumber, there are alsonineOrdersandChoirsof blessedAngels; namely,Seraphims,Cherubims,Thrones,Dominations,Powers,Virtues,Principalities,Archangels, andAngels: Which theProphet EZEKIEL[125]emblematicallyfigures out by NineStones; as theSaphire,Emerald,Carbuncle,Beril,Onyx,Chrysolite,Jasper,Topaz, and theSardis.
BUTbesides theNineinternal and externalSenses, mentioned inSect.I.Chap.5. more plainly and familiarly denote thePerfectionof thisNumber: As, in like manner, the most learnedAuthorsof all Ages take great Notice of it in theAgeofMan, callingthis Ninth, together with theSeventh,ClimactericalYears.
NOTto mention theNinth Hour, in which our BlessedSaviourbreathed out his Holy Spirit; theNinth DaytheAntientsburied theirDead, and many such remarkable Instances. Yet however, in mostNaturalandPhilosophical Cases, thisNumberimplies still someImperfection; because it comes short of theComplementof the GreatNumberTen(being deficient byOne) as St.Austininterprets it of theTen Lepers. Wherefore not to go too far in theseMysticalMatters, I proceed to