CONCEPTION, in a word, is _Two-fold_; True and _Natural_, or False and _Præternatural_. It is call’d _True_, in opposition to a _False Conception_; and _Natural_, because it answers to the _Institution of Nature_. Wherefore I shall begin with _This_, and conduct the _Woman_, who has truly and naturally _conceiv’d_, thro’ the different _Stages_ of Life she is to pass; describing plainly, and laying before her the many various _Scenes_ of every respective _Stage_, which can any ways affect her Person. IN this nice Affair, like a faithful PILOT, in a _narrow Channel_, I shall not only point out the _Barrs_ and _Rocks_, on which she may be _Shipwreck’d_; but also direct and prescribe her _Course_, by which she may _sail_ safe into her wish’d-for PORT: Where when I have duly secur’d _Herself_ and her _Cargo_ to the Best of my Capacity, I shall thereafter proceed in their Order, to treat of the different _Preternatural Conceptions_; as I shall in this place now discourse only of the _Natural_. THIS _Natural Conception_ then, is the first principal _Action_, and peculiar _Function_ of the WOMB, in duly commixing and fomenting the retain’d SEEDS of _Man_ and _Woman_: Since as the SEED of _Plants_ requires the Matrix of the _Earth_, to nourish it well, and safely defend it; so doth _That_ SEMINAL _Virtue_ of _Men_, the WOMB, in this _Act_ of _CONCEPTION_. BUT as to the _Time_ of _CONCEPTION_, I cannot but differ from _Those_, who protract and put it off till the _seventh Day_ from the first _Seminal Retention_, for I am clearly of Opinion with _Lud. Mercatus_[52], that if the SEED be retain’d _seven Hours_, the _Woman_ hath CONCEIV’D: Neither can I find sufficient Reason to think _Nature_ one Moment _Idle_, much less _seven Days_. Therefore _CONCEPTION_ ought to be reckoned, from the very _Day_[53] of the _First Retention_. HOWEVER yet, it is certain that, if the _Debility_ of the SEED, or WOMB, or _Both_, happen to hinder or impugn the Work, _Nature_ ejects the GENITURA, or _Thing conceiv’d_, on the _seventh_ Day; which Time is the common _Crisis_ of all _Diseases_, and _Morbifick Accidents_: Whereas if no such _Effluxion_ happens about that Time, _CONCEPTION_[54] is certain, and _Formation_ goes on. THIS _True CONCEPTION_ is likewise known by many various _Signs_; whereof I shall mention a _Few_, not out of any vain Curiosity, but meer Necessity: Because, supposing a _Woman_ to labour under any dangerous _acute Disease_, it is of the greatest _Importance_, to be certain, whether she hath conceiv’d, or not; by reason that the Means of her _future Relief_ must (of Necessity) be adapted to her _present Condition_. [Illustration] CHAP. II. _Of the Signs of CONCEPTION._ THE _Signs_ of CONCEPTION are many and various, and accordingly some more, some less _certain_, as hereafter set forth; whereof I shall only mention such as are most common and familiar to the _Generality_ of WOMEN: _viz._