Aristotle's master-piece compleated: in two parts: the first containing the secrets of generation, in all the parts thereof. Treating, of the benefit of marriage, and the prejudice of unequal matches, signs of insufficiency in men or women; of the infusion of the soul; of the likeness of children to parents; of monstrous births; the cause and cure of the green-sickness: a discourse of virginity. Directions and cautions for mid-wives. Of the organs of generation in women, and the fabrick of the womb. The use and action of the genitals. Signs of conception, and whether of a male or female. With a word of advice to both sexes in the act of copulation. And the pictures of several monstrous births, &c. The second part, being a private looking-glass for the female sex. Treating of the various maladies of the womb; and of all other distempers incident to women of all ages, with proper remedies for the cure of each. The whole being more correct, than any thing of this kind hitherto published.

CHAP. VI. A Discourse of the happy State of Matrimony, as 'tis appointed by God; and the true Fe∣licity that redounds thereby to either Sex; and to what End it was Ordained.

WIthout doubt, the uniting of Hearts in holy Wedlock, is of all conditions the happiest; for then a Man has a second self to whom he can unravel his Thoughts, as well as a sweet Companion in his Labour; he has one in whose Breast, as in a safe Cabinet, he may repose his inmost Secrets, especially where Reciprocal Love, and inviolate Faith is center∣ed; for there no cares, fears, jealousies, mis∣trust or hatred, can ever interpose; for what Man, ever hated his own Flesh? And indeed a Wife is no less, if rightly considered; for as our grand Father Adam well observed, she is, or ought to be esteemed of every honest Man, Bone of his Bone, and Flesh of his Flesh, &c. Nor was it the least care of the Almighty, to ordain so near a Union, and that for two causes, the first for increase of Posterity, the second to bridle and bound Man's wandering Desires and Affections; nay, that they might be yet happier, when God had joined them together, he blessed them, as 'tis in the 2d. of Genesi••,

Columela, contemplating on this happy State, tells us out of the Oeconomy of Xenophon, That the Marriage Bed is not only the most pleasant, but profitable course of Life, that may be en∣ter'd on, for the preservation and increase of Posterity: Wherefore, since Marriage is the most safe, sure and delightful station of Man∣kind, who is exceeding prone, by the dictates of Nature, to propagate his like, he does in no wise provide amiss for his own Tranquility, who enters into it, especially when he comes to maturity of Years, for there are many abu∣ses in Marriage, contrary to what is ordained; the which, in the ensuing Chapter, I shall ex∣pose to view; but to proceed.

Seeing our blessed Saviour and his holy A∣postles, detested unlawful Lusts, and pronoun∣ced those to be excluded the Kingdom of Hea∣ven, that polluted themselves with Adultery and whoring, I cannot conceive what face Per∣sons can have to colour their impieties, who hating Matrimony, make it their study how they may live licentiously; but in so doing, they rather seek to themselves torment, anxiety and disquietude, than certain pleasure, besides the hazard of their Immortal Souls; for cer∣tain it is, that mercenary Love, or as the wise Man calls them, Harlot's Smiles, cannot be true and sincere, and therefore not pleasant, but ra∣ther a Net layed, to betray such as trust them, into all mischief, as Solomon observes by the Young man, void of Understanding, who turn∣ed

aside to the Harlot's House, As a Bird to the Snare of the Fo••ler, or as an Ox to the Slaughter, till a Dart be struck thro' the Liver. Nor in this case can they have Children, those indearing Pledges of Conjugal affection; or if they have, they will rather redound to their shame than comfort; bearing the odious Brand of Bastards; Harlots likewise are like Swal∣lows, singing in the Summer Season of Prospe∣rity, but the black stormy Winter of Adve••sity coming, they take wing, and fly into other Regi∣ons, that is, seek themselves other Lovers; but a vertuous chaste wife, fixing her intire Love upon her Husband, and submitting to him, as her Head, and him, by whose direction she ought to steer in all lawful courses, will, like a faithful Companion, share patiently with him in adversities, run with cheerfulness through all Difficulties and Dangers, though ne're so hazar∣dous, to preserve or assist him in Poverty, Sick∣ness, or whatever other misfortune may befall him, acting according to her Duty in all things. But a proud imperious Harlot, will do no more than she list, even in the Sun-shine of Prospe∣rity: And is like a Horse-••each, ever craving, and never satisfied, still seeming displeased, if all her Extravagant cravings be not answer'd, not regarding the Ruin and Misery she brings upon him by that means: tho' she seems to dote upon him, using to confirm her Hypocrisie, with Crocodile's Tears, Vows and Swoonings, when her Cully is to depart for a while, or seems bu••

to deny her immoderate Desires; yet th••s lasts no longer than she can gratifie her Appetite, and prey upon his Fortunes. Remarkable is the Story that Conradus Gessner tells us of a young Man travelling from Athens to Thebes, who met by the way a beautiful Lady, as to his Ap∣pearance she seemed, adorned with all perfections of Beauty, glittering with Gold and precious Stones, this seeming Fair One Saluted him, and invited him to her House not far off, pretending to be exceedingly enamoured of him; and decla∣red she had a long time waited for an opportu∣nity to find him alone, that so she might reveal her Passion to him. The young Spark went with her, and when he came to her House, he found it, to appearance, built very stately, and very well furnished, which so far wrought upon his covetous Inclination, that he resolved to put off his intended Journey, and yield to her In∣ticements: but whilst she was leading him to see the pleasant Places adjoyning to the House, came by a Holy Pilgrim; who seeing in what danger the Youth was, resolved to set him in his right Senses, and shew him what he imagi∣ned real, was quite otherwise; so that, by powerful Prayer, the mist was taken from be∣fore the Youth's Eyes, who then beheld his La∣dy Ugly Deformed, and Monstrous, and that what-ever had appeared glorious and beauti∣ful, was only trash. Then he made her con∣fess what she was, and her design upon the young Man, which she did, saying, She was a

Lamiae, or Fairy, and that she had thus enchan∣ted him, on purpose, to get him into her power, that she might devour him. This passage (whe∣ther true or not) may be fitly alluded to Har∣lots, who draw those that follow their misguid∣ing Lights, into places of danger, till they have caus'd them to shipwrack their Fortunes, and then leave them to struggle with those storme of Adversity that they have rais'd. Now on the contrary, a Loving, Chast, and even-tempe∣red Wife, seeks what she may, to prevent such danger, and in every condition strives to make him easie. And in a word, as there is no con∣tent in the Embraces of a Harlot, so there is no joy greater than in the reciprocal affection, and indearing Embraces of a loving, Obedient, and Chaste Wife; nor is that the principal end for which Matrimouy was Ordained, but fur∣ther, that Man might follow the Great Law of his Creation, by the increase of his Kind, and replenishing the Earth: For this was an Injun∣ction laid upon him even in Paradice before his Fall. To conclude, a virtuous Wife is a Crown and Ornament to her Husband, and her price is above Rubies; but the ways of an Harlot are Deceitful.