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Finding his Wife barren, at first he prays heartily, as he may do lawfully, that he may be fruitful, and have Children. Mark the Harmony! he prays for having Children, and she prays against any; he looks up to Heaven to entreat he may be bless'd and encreas'd; she goes to the Devil for help, that his Prayers may be frustrated; he marries in expectation of Children; she marries him, but endeavours by all the hellish, diabolick Arts and Tricks she can to prevent it, and disappoint him. And where is the Honesty of all this, pray? At least, how is she just to her Husband?
If she had told him of it before Marriage, it had altered the Case; or if she had acquainted him with it when she did thus, and he had consented, it had been another Thing; at least, as it regarded him, there had been no Injustice in it, because of his voluntary assent to it: But then it is foolish to suggest, for no Man in his Senses would ever agree to such a ridiculous Proposal, and therefore 'tis highly dishonest and unjust to her Husband.
It is likewise an immoral Action in it self, as it is inconsistent with the Reason and Nature of Things, and clashes with several stated Rules of Life, which are of divine Institution. But that is not, as I said before, the proper View of this Discourse.
As it is not honest or moral, so, on the other hand, it seems not to consist with the Character of a modest and virtuous Woman: If a Whore acted thus, I should not wonder at all; for her Business is to conceal her immodest, criminal Conversation, and, if possible, to hide her Shame; for her to apply to Physicians and Apothecaries, take Drops and Draughts, andPhy-
