THE Generality of _Modern Writers_ have too strictly confined a _Legitimate_ BIRTH, and tied it down to this very MONTH only; and _some_ even restrain it to the narrow _Limits_ of its _Latter Half_: Both equally affirming _That_ TIME to produce the most vigorous and lively _Children_, and strenuously alledging it to be the _only_ appointed TIME of _Nature_; because (as they say) _it happens most frequently_. BUT unless they could produce some better _natural Reasons_ than THIS, or any _others_ indeed that I have yet heard of, they shall scarce _influence_ me to agree with their popular _Notions_ or vulgar Errors: For their fond Opinion seems not to be so much supported by any _Arguments_ of _Natural Reason_, as by an _imaginary Experience_, founded upon _Hearsay_, or the _general Misconstruction_ of WOMEN. HOWEVER, in Condescension and Good-Manners to _Female Authority_ (to which I owe all imaginable _Deference_) I shall not launch out into any immodest or disagreeable _Contradictions_; but, on the contrary, I shall endeavour to make it evidently appear from the _Nature_ of the MONTH itself, that it indisputably induceth both _Perfection_ and _Vitality_ to the CHILD, whether it be _born_ at this _Time_ or not: For I must frankly own this _Truth_ indeed, that many _Auspicious_ BIRTHS happen in this very same MONTH, for several good Reasons. I. BECAUSE _then_, if we will believe _Astrologers_, JUPITER now returns with his _Serene Aspect_, by his pure healing _Heat_ and _Humidity_, cherishing and renovating the _Life_ of the INFANT (which consists of those two _vital Qualities_) and quite effacing the former _Mischiefs_ and _Injuries_ of noxious SATURN: whereby he renders _This ninth Month_ not only most conducive to the BIRTH, but also to the future _Welfare_ and _Prosperity_ of the INFANT. II. BECAUSE this auspicious _Number_ NINE is dedicated to the MUSES, according to the Order of the Celestial SPHERES: Hence as we have _nine moveable Spheres_, _viz._ the _Primum Mobile_, the _Starry Heaven_, and the _Spheres_ of _SATURN_, _JUPITER_, _MARS_, _SOL_, _VENUS_, _MERCURY_, and _LUNA_; so there are _Nine_ MUSES appropriated to them, to accomplish their _Harmony_ or _Consort_. III. BECAUSE to denote the _Sufficiency_ of this NUMBER, there are also _nine_ ORDERS and CHOIRS of blessed ANGELS; namely, _Seraphims_, _Cherubims_, _Thrones_, _Dominations_, _Powers_, _Virtues_, _Principalities_, _Archangels_, and _Angels_: Which the _Prophet EZEKIEL_[125] emblematically figures out by Nine STONES; as the _Saphire_, _Emerald_, _Carbuncle_, _Beril_, _Onyx_, _Chrysolite_, _Jasper_, _Topaz_, and the _Sardis_. BUT besides the _Nine_ internal and external SENSES, mentioned in _Sect._ I. _Chap._ 5. more plainly and familiarly denote the _Perfection_ of this NUMBER: As, in like manner, the most learned _Authors_ of all Ages take great Notice of it in the AGE of _Man_, calling _this Ninth_, together with the _Seventh_, CLIMACTERICAL _Years_.