How inconsiderately does this Author give way to an erroneous Principle? For it is very plain to all Capacities, if it be necessary that such a Power as he calls his Vis Agens should accompany and direct the seminal Matter, in order to assist, and carry on, the Work of Generation, that whensoever she was so overcome, as not to have any concern in the Work, or act upon the seminal Matter, it ought to be deprived of any Manner, or Power, of growing into any Form whatsoever; whereas, by our Author’s System, we find, that when this Vis Agens has any thing to do, it is only towards the Formation of a Male; because if she be, as he expresses it, overcome, the Matter will produce a Female of itself; so that, an Hermaphrodite cannot be formed, till the Matter and the Vis Agens quarrel, and strive for Mastership, when in the Scuffle, each contributes something towards its favourite Sex, and a fœtus of both Sexes is made; yet he does not say both are perfect; for, as we observ’d before, he says one is obscure, so that in the Dispute they never come off equal; and this he proves in these Words[66]; ‘Nature in Mankind in general distinguishes the Male from the Female, so that both Sexes cannot exist in the same Body, in their proper degrees of Perfection.’ This last Opinion is not consistent with the rest, because, according to his first Principles, there should be an absolute Male or Female, just as either prevail’d over the other; and an Hermaphrodite, when each was so stubborn, as to force in upon the poor Fœtus it’s different Sex. The _contrary Qualities_ of _Albertus Magnus_[67] in their Strife about the Formation of the Fœtus, are not much unlike the foregoing Hypothesis; he says, ‘When contrary Qualities join together in the Body, either of which is absolute, and, by the help of the Vis Formativa, capable of terminating in a different Sex, that then Hermaphrodites are begotten[68].’ I should be glad to find out what these Qualities are, for as the Matter is stated it is hard to apply it; however therefore, if by the Contumacy of these Qualities, a Fœtus may be impressed with two Sexes, we must conclude that human Nature is very unhappy under the Guidance of such capricious Directors; but he ought here more particularly to lay the blame to the Vis Formatrix; for tho’ according to him either quality may be complexional of and terminating in its Sex; yet, these are but as Instruments made use of by the Vis Formatrix, to work upon the Matter withal; and therefore, the Tools used by a Workman may be as well blamed for making a bad Piece of Work, as these supposed Qualities; but as this Hypothesis in general, is as weak as any of the former, enough is said of it; let us therefore pass on to another, in which we shall find a great Variety.