A true and certaine relation of a strange-birth which was borne at Stone-house in the parish of Plimmouth, the 20. of October. 1635. Together with the notes of a sermon, preached Octob. 23. 1635. in the church of Plimmouth, at the interring of the sayd birth. By Th. B. B.D. Pr. Pl.

To the Curious Beholder of the former Picture . Deare Countrey-man .

NOT the meere fiction of the over-daring Picturer doest thou here behold : But ( if he have done his part ) the true Pourtraiture of the worke of God , presented to the world to be seene and to be admired .

Two things I have to deliver to thine eare , which this figure cannot convey unto thine eye . First , what it intendeth : Next , how thou maiest correct the Picture , if it need amending .

For the first ; it intendeth to acquaint thee with this story . In the Countie of Devon , and in the Parish of the famous Towne of Plimmouth , there is a Village called Stone-house ; Viculum Piscatorium I may justly terme it , a pretty little Fisher-towne , for it consisteth mostly of men that live by the Sea , and gaine their livelihood by the water . In this village there dwelleth one Iohn Persons a Fisherman , whose wife having fulfilled the usuall moneths and weekes of womens burdens , upon the twentieth day of this present moneth October fell in travell , and by the helpe of a second Mid wife ( through Gods mercy and goodnesse ) was the poore mother ( after the wearie travell of thirteene or foureteene painefull houres ) safely delivered of the burden . A Birth not more painfull to the Mother ( tho very painefull doubtlesse beeing still-borne , ) then strange and wonderfull to all the beholders . The eye is not satisfied with seeing , with admiration : and , as it falleth out in such a case , soone is the fame thereof spread all abroad . Towne and Countrey commeth in to see , that hereafter they might ( as I for my part must ) say ; At such a time , in such a place , I saw the strangest birth in all respects , that ever I saw or heard before . Two heads , and neckes , two backes , and sets of ribbes , foure armes and hands , foure thighes and legges : in a word , from head to heele ( so farre as the eye could discerne ) two compleat and perfect bodies , but concorporate and ioyned together from breast to belly , two in one .

For the second thing propounded , viz. how to correct the picture , if it need amendment ; take this . When I first cast mine eye upon them lying on the table , I said , surely if those children had bin living , Art might have caused a just separation of them , for I conceived them to bee no other than two bodies joyned together in one common skin . But I soone perceived mine Errour , when putting my finger to feele the Collar the Cannellbone ( I meane that place where you see them O● f●pcu●ae . begin to joyne together ) I found that they had but one breast-bone common to them both , and by it , as by a partition wall , were their two bodies ( as two chambers ) both joyned & separated : joyned together in respect of the externall bulke , separated in respect of the internall contents . This concorporation lasted downe to the Navell or a little beneath , which also was in common to them both , I still speak of what the eye could see , happily so soone as that string of the umbilicall vessels , by which the mothers wombe supplied food and nourishment to the birth had passed the skinne , it might dispart it selfe . But outwardly it was one in common . Whence also it was conjectured , that though these twinnes might have several hearts , and lungs answerable to their severall heads and neckes , yet but one common Liver to them both . The truth of this conjecture I leave to the Colledge of Physitians to discover , that is not my profession , nor will I presume to determine any thing in anothers Art , onely this Obiection I have against it : that supposing one common Liver , it must either gird them round or be misplaced in one of them : for turning brest to brest , and belly to belly , you ioyne the left side of the one body to the right side of the other : so that I say , except the liver do compasse it round , it shall be misplaced in the one .

But to returne to the story . These two twins were not more neerely ioyned in the bulk of body , than they were in all parts and proportions like to one another where they were disparted ; so that two the likest twins that ever you saw were not more like : nay the glasse cannot ( I thinke ) give a truer answer to the face than these were each to other . Which I doe the more boldly affirme , because having satisfyed mine eye with beholding them on the one side as they lay , I caused the women to turne the other side , and laying them as before ( face to face , and foot to foot ) I could perceive no difference in them at all from what I had seene before . One thing I forgot , till it was too late : which if I had remembred , I verily perswade my selfe , might have been done , viz. To lay them one upon another . The which I mention , lest happily any might conceive that the ioyncture of their bodies might leane to one side more than to another . I was about to aske the women whether the mother felt them living in the wombe ; when presently I corrected my selfe , seeing each part and limbe , yea , and the whole body of either growne ( as indeed it was ) to a iust maturity : each by himselfe , had they beene sundered , had been a iust birth ; having haire on the heads , nailes on their hands and toes , nay which is more ( except the women were much deceived they had some teeth in their head : and to confesse the truth , I thought so too , till others that had more skil and experience perswaded me to the contrary . Howsoever , the children were each of them as compleat and perfect as Births use to be .

Vpon these grounds I corrected my selfe in my former intended question : for how should they grow to that perfection of stature , had they wanted life ? But the mid-wife and the women told me , that they were living and lively some few houres before they were borne : So that in all likely-hood , had a skilfull hand been made use of at the first , they might have lived to see the light , if not to inioy it . But God that gave them a life and beeing in the wombe , knowing that life upon earth would have beene a burden to them , provided better for them , and tooke them to himselfe .

Thus have I given a true , and I thinke a full narration of this worke of wonder which God hath shewed here amongst us . And with it , I am content to send abroad some few notes prepared for the confluence of people , met together , when this birth was layed into the earth . Something me thought was fitting to be commended to them that saw it , while the thing was fresh in mind ; and that something such as it is : loe here it is . Rather would I shame my selfe in being over-busie , than be wanting in what I conceit may not be unprofitable to the countrey wherein I live . Read then these notes , And if thou count not this halfe houre ill bestowed , thou wilt I trust ( I desire thou wouldest ) pray for him , who if thou love the Lord Iesus in sincerity , prayeth for thee , that thou maiest prosper and be in health , even as thy soule prospereth .

Farewell . Plimmouth , Octob. 30. 1635 ▪

Heb. 11. 3. Being dead , yet speaketh .

AS the Word of God , so the Workes of God are for our Doctrine and instruction . The works of Creation teach us , saith Saint Paul , Gods eternall power and Rom. 1. ●0 . God-head . The works of his providence are not behind hand with us : and therefore saith the Holy Prophet , Day unto day uttereth speech , and night unto night sheweth knowledge . True this is in Psal. 19. 2. the ordinary and common workes of providence : But much more remarkable in those that are extraordinary , when either the course of Nature is hindred , as the Sea and Sunne stopt in the midst of their Carrier : or altered , Exod. 14. Ios. 10. as when the Sunne went backe-ward in the daies of Hezechiah . Touching which , saith the Psalmist , Hee hath made his wonderfull workes to be remembred ; or as the Psal. 111. 4. words stand in the Originall , and the Greeke translation . A memoriall hath he made to his wonderful works , id est . ZeKeA GNaSaH LeN●PhLeAo Thall . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Hee hath ordained and commanded that they should be remembred ; Good reason , that where God with his fi●ger pointeth forth something in speciall to the sonnes of men , they should follow it with the Eye of the body , till the eye of the soule , viz. the understanding spirit have thence received some instruction .

Not onely the other Creatures : but also the Sonnes of men are otherwhiles made the object of these wonderfull workes of God : Or if you had rather call it the subject matter , on which he stampeth the markes of his Providence , either in hindering , or in altering the Ordinary course of Nature , sometimes in the conception , sometimes in the births of our expected and desired issue .

Conception , I count the naturall Conceptio est actio uter● , cum ●●●ris ●t famina s●mon foecundum ab coexcipitur , misce●●r ▪ ●ovetur , ejusque vis ad propris● munu● exequendum exc●●atur Dan. Sennert . Med. li. 4. part . 2. Sect. 4. cap. 4. and proper worke of the wombe , in receiving , retaining , and ripening the seed for the Birth . The wombe is by the hand of God , sometimes closed up , that it receiveth not , as in the case of Abimilechs family . Gen. 20. sometimes opened or rather loosened , that it retayneth not , as in the case of Abortive and untimely births . Sometimes weakened , that it ripeneth not the birth , either not at all , or at least not within the just time . And all these doe teach us the presence Vide Se●nertum capite de partutardo . Qui ex historiis consirmat partum nonnunquam differri ad mensem 13 14. 15. 18. 20 23. 24. Hae● rara ( inquit ) et pene miraculosa sunt ; acciduntque procul dubio ob semen debil● , uter●que calorem ●anguidum , quib ●● de causis et saetus tardius absolvitur , et exp●ltr●● facul●●● lang●et . of Gods Providence . Well may wee say , The hand of God hath beene there . It is hee that thus hath hindered the worke of the wombe , and withheld the blessing of a good Conception . So for the birth .

Birth I must call that which properly and from the Latine we might call Parturition . This doth God by the hand of his speciall providence hinder sometime in part , sometime in whole : So that whereas Partus prater-naturalis est , triplex . Di●●icilis , Nul●us , et Caesareus . Difficilis , ut in Agrippis . Quibus nomen indi . tum est ( Authore Gellio Noctium A●●i●arum lib. 16. ca , 16 eo quod in ●●sc●ndo , non caput , sed pedes primi extiterans , s●il , ●t Agripp● dicantur ab ●gritis di●e et pedibus : Cum potius ab agrit●dine partus ; qui non tantum ●●t ex pedibus , sed ex ●a●ibus ; praeser●im tamen ex mole corporis obvtrsa ▪ et exitum ambi●nte ; pro●t patet ex Sonner to cap ▪ de partu difficili praternaturali . Partus Nullus dicitur , quoties infant excludi nequeat ; frustraque con●t●r misera parturi●ns s● ipsam o●ere suo liberare et exp●dire , ●ortu● nimirum foet●s , qui nisi vel medicamentis expe●●atur , vel Chirurgi opera exera●atur , mortem e● mis●riam ma●ri ●●●●tatur . Partus Casareus Casari nomen fecit . Ille enim qui primus Caes●ri● no●●●● adeptus est , ab e● dictus fertur , quod c●so matris utero natus fu●rit . G●s●res quod ex utero excisi sunt , nom●●antur ; ipsaque illa actio dicitur partus Caesareus , Ex his pl●riq●e mortui ; nonnulli vivi ; idque ( quod rar● accidit ) matre superst●te et revalescente . all times of the womans Travell and labour are full of sorrow , yea ( as the Philosopher saith , Aristot. de Historia A●imaliu● , Lib. 7. cap. 9 and the Scripture it selfe in part doth confirme the same ) moreful of difficulty and danger than any other creatures ( an evident demonstration of the Hand of God , visiting the first sinne of our Grandmother E●ah , upon all the sex ) whereas I say all times are full of sorrow , of feare and frightfulnesse ; some doe receive an increase and multiplication , by such accidents supervenient , and unexpected dangers of births not capable of deliverance till God by the hand of speciall Art vouchsafe his gracious helpe , and good assistance . Of these therefore , as of the former , well may wee say , Digitus dei , It is the finger of God that hath beene here , and manifested his presence by hindering the common and ordinary course of Nature in the Birth of the Wombe .

As in hindering , so also in altering and changing the course of Nature , doth God call man to an observation of his Providence : Nay heere more than in any thing else doth hee shew forth his workes of wonder : understand me still to speake of the Conception and of the Births of the sonnes of men . What variety of strange births doe wee see and heare of . Strange births wee call them : more properly , wee might terme them strange Conceptions : for what the wombe in Conception formeth , that is not usually altered in the birth , What varietie ( I say ) of strange-birthes doe wee see and heare of ? Strange in the quantitie of a a Stature . This is sometimes Giant-like ; otherwhiles Dwarfish and Pigmey-like . Sometimes beyond , sometimes beneath and short of the ordinary , usuall and common stature of mankinde ; and as it thus falleth out in respect of the whole body ▪ so somtimes in the parts . One or 2 parts of the body , being of a different proportion ; bigger or less●r than the rest . stature : strange in the b b Number of parts . The strangenesse here is in defect or excesse . Defect , when one or both hands or feet are wanting : Such was that woman which wee saw heere the last yeere , who wanted hands , and supplied the want of them in many particulars by her feete . Excesse of number : Such was that Gyant mentioned , ● Sam. 21 20. who had on every hand sixe fingers , and on every foote sixe toes , foure and twenty in number . Hitherto referre those whom the Greeks do call 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 ; such was Hermaphrodi●●● , the sonne of Mercury and Uenus , i● we may give credit to the ●●tation and composition of his name . number of parts : Strange in the c c Multiplication of severall births is rare ▪ ●wins are not frequent in our colder climat , much lesse the multiplication of Birth● , yet such we finde recorded , See Se●nertus cap. de G●m●llorum generatione , who out of Aristotle , Pliny , and some Moderne Authors d●t● sh●w the certain●y of this Notorious and in the mouth of every man is that story of Margar●● , Sist●r to Earle Floris the fourth ( as Heilin relateth it , writing of Holland ) who being of the age of two and forty yeeres , brought forth at one birth three hundred three score and five children , halfe o● them males , hal●e females , and the ●dd one an Hermaphrodi●● . They were christened in two B●sons at the Church of ●●sdunen , by Guido Suffragan to the Bishop of Vtrecht , who n●m●d the Males Iohns , and the Females Elizabeths : all which immediatly after died , and with them their mother : the Ba●ons are yet to be seene in the aforesaid Church . Thus farre He●lin ▪ This miracle , or miraculous accident befell her ( say some ) as the just hand of God upon her , for that when a certaine poore woman having two children hanging at her breasts , asked of her an alm●● shee bitterly upbraided the woman with wheredome , for that shee had both those at one birth , adding , that it was not possible for a woman to conceive two births at once , except by fornication . A good warning doubtlesse to all ●ash headed censurers , who spare not to sp●ake of others at their owne pleasure . Multiplication : strange in the d d

Concorporation of births , is almost miraculous , tha● two should be ioyned into one . Yet su●● there have beene , as appeareth by Landulphu● , in that answer which hee gave to the question . An et quomodo monstra sint baptisanda whether at all , and if so , then how monstrous and mishapen births are to be baptized A question , that if thes● incorporated Twins had beene borne alive and lived to Baptisme might have put the Minister to his bookes how to proceed in the case . The answer to the question is this : Si perpend●ntur du●s habere animas , n●t pote duo capita , quatuor brachia , quatuor pedes , du●s spina● in dorse , & hujusuiodi ▪ tunc baptis●tur quilibet per se , & intingatur in loco quilibet per se , id est , If you perceive that they have two soules , as thu● : That they have two heads , foure armes , foure feete , two b●cks and backe-bones , and the like : Then l●t each of them be baptized by himselfe , &c. Of two concorporated and joyned backe to backe , wee reade . The story is remembred in Rod●ricu● à Castro , a Physician of speciall note throughout all Europe ▪ as the Title of his Booke doth stile him . He , in Lib. ● . de Morbis mulierum , cap. 6. comming to speake of monstrous births , m●ko●h five severall kindes of them ( as also before him had Andreas La●rentius in his Historia Anatomica , lib. 8. Qu. 14 ) more particularly hee maket● the third kinde to be of them that are defective or redundant . Quo numero , saith hee , comprehenduntur duo illi qui tergo uno pro duob●● perfungentes , moribus tamen diversi , viginti annos vi●erunt , & cum vnus mortem obiret , alter tamd●● superv●xit , quoad socij ac germam putr●lagin● fui● extinct●● .

Two , saith hee , that were joyned backe to backe , and it seeweth as contrary in their maners , as in their lookes . They lived twenty yeeres , and when one of them died , till the putrefaction of that body which could not be separated , did prove the destruction of the survivour . But no mention doe any of the forenamed Authors make of such a birth as this of ours : so that it is likely that they had heard of none such . But proceed .

Concorporation of severall births , but above all most strange in e e

Quality and kinde : The alteration of this , is of all other the most strange , and indeed monstrous : whether of the whole , or of some part . Alteration of the whole kinde wee reade of : Beasts that have brought forth mankinde births , and women bri●●ish shapes . Andreas Angelus de Mirabi●●bus mund● in historia Anni 1597. In April● ( inquit ) Ba●●geis in Hispania in ●●ditum q●oddam Monstr●m pro●u●●● mundu● : quod ex m●●●orum ad varios scriptu illi● et Venetiis c●r●ò constat liter●● . Ibi enim vacca , qu●dam du●● vivos et integr●s omnino homines masculum et faemi●am enix● est in lucem

Sennertus , cap de monstris ( so also Gastro and Laurentius ibidem . Interdum accidit ut ●oemin● varia monstra viv●ntia ●t animal●● praeter et contra naturam producant . Serpentes , cane● , et alia animalia , vel foetu● brutorum partes habentes , et ali●s eosque variis modis monstros●● geni●os fuisse è Lyc ●●t●ene , et aliis qu● de prodigiis et monstris scripserunt , videre est . Neque opera pretium est historias illas huc adducer● . Alteration of pa●●● : Ex Theatro Historic● , doth Doctor Beard relate this History . A certaine Nobleman used every Lords day to goe on hunting in sermon time ; which impiety the Lord punished with this iudgement . Hee caused his wife to bring forth a childe with an head like a dogge . That seeing he preferred his dogges before the service of God , hee might have one of his owne getting to make much of . Hitherto referre such strange births as have some ●●berous exc●escenscies . See one recorded by Castro De Natura Mulierum , li. 3. ca II ▪ quod habebat corn●● in copi●e alas dna● , &c. Here in this towne not many years agoe , when women layed their haire forth upon wires , a child was born which had on the head ( as I am credibly informed ) grissels growing in the shape and fashion of those attires and dressings .

Castro addeth , Qui conceptus etsi à causis naturalibus continga●t , tamen ●ou● si●e Dei providentia●●●ri credendum est , pro puniendis , et mon●●dis hominibus , ●sden●qus arcend●s ab ●ssranata●● turp● libidine .

quality & kind altered and changed . All these , but especially this later sort , which alter the qualitie and kinde , the Latines call Monstra á monstrando , quia monstrantur , I would adde , ut monstrent . They are shewed that they may shew the speciall handy-worke of God , and though , peradventure deade , yet speake , and tell the forgetful world , that God himselfe hath a speciall hand in forming and featuring the births conceived in the wombe . Here by the way , let mee touch upon a case of conscience , or two . Whether Monsters and mishapen births may lawfully be carried up and downe the country for ●ights to make a gaine by them ? Whether the Births being once dead , may be kept from the grave for the former ends ? Whether the parents of such births may sel them to another . For These two also are mentioned by Aristotle in his Problemes . Cap. De Monstris . my part I would be loth to prejudice the better and morall judgements of any . But to speak plainly , I do make scruple of the first , and therfore much more of the two later cases . For if not living they are to be prostituted to the covetousnesse of any ; much lesse being dead , when the grave calls for the bodies of all Christian births : the grave , I say , wherein they are to be laid up : that therein they may lay downe the present dishonor , and thence be raised againe in glory . And if the parents may not doe this ; how much lesse may they deliver it over to another ? But you will say to mee , suppose them living , why may they not be used to this end , beeing fit for none imployment ? My reasons ▪ are these . Our delight is to be measured by our desires , nor doe I see it lawfull to delight in what may not be desired . And who would desire a mishapen Birth , to be the issue of his owne body ? Adde this , all Crosses call for Humiliation : and where that is expected , I see not how there can bee place either for profit or pleasure to bee thought upon :

But to returne againe to what wee had in hand . These Births ( as I said ) though dead , yet speake and preach to the world the present hand of God in the wombe of the mother .

* *

Adsaetus formationem requiruntur tria : sc.

( 1 ) Ipsum semen ●●cundum utr●usque parentis .

( 2 ) Sang●is mater●●s ●d nutriend●●●●●●●um .

( 3 ) Vterus matris bene constitu●us , qui ●●men conceptum ●ovcat , ●i●sque lat●n●●m vim exci●●t : supponitur enim ●●m quandam activam latere in semine ( dico autem ●●men illud quod Gr●ci 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 sc●semen ex utroque parente mi●●um ) supponitur ●nquam ●●m quandam latere , quam ●●c●us mater ●us suo calore excitat ad actionem suam peragendam : H●●um trium siquid deest : siquid d●bile sit , aut in●rdi●atum , hinc ●it ( inquit Philosophus ut vitiosa sequatur conformat●o ●o●●us , ●n● sal●●m● arti●m

In all these accidents and occasions the Philosophers ( and physitians also who build upon the ground of Philosophy , nor can well subsist without them ) they I say would attribute all these impeditions and alterations of Nature to secondary causes : either internall , as the defectivenesse or excesse of seminall materialls ; or externall , as the dulnesse of the formative facultie , or indisposednesse of the Vessells , or strength of Conceit or Imagination .

The Astrologer may adde another cause , powerfull ▪ in his opinion , to pervert and overthrow the good intentions of Nature , sc. the constellations of the planets , and configuration of their aspects . And happily they may pitch upon some reasons for the coalition of these two twinnes into one : nor doe we deny but the Philosopher may bee allowed in these his conjectures : nor may hee seeme to shoot beside the marke , that should ascribe it to some accident , colliding and dashing these two new-formed Embryons in the wombe , casting them so one upon the other , as that the contiguity and overmuch closenesse of their bodies caused the aforesaid coalition : so have wee seene two trees over closely leaning one upon another grow into one , and covered with one barke . The Philosopher , I say , may seeme to speake reason ( not so the Astrologer , at least in mine Opinion . ) Onely he and others must bee intreated to looke higher , and to take notice of the speciall hand of God , whose worke alone it is to sort and compound the activities of secondary causes ; that what by the blessing of God might have beene otherwise , is now thus disposed of for ends best knowne to himselfe .

This is the conclusion which Religion teacheth : and which it becommeth mee as a Divine to put you in minde of . The Astrologer is taught to say , Astraregunt homines . The influence of the Starres doe rule the Actions of the sonnes of men . But the Christian knoweth that regit astra Deus , God over-ruleth the starres . So that if wee should grant an influence in the planets , and a power in the Constellations : yet farre be it from us to account it fatall , and inalterable : No we know that God sitteth in the Heavens , and doth whatsoever hee will . David in the Psalmes ascribeth to his hand the framing of his body and members in the wombet . Thine hands have made me and fashioned me . Thou hast covered mee in my mothers wombe . Thine eyes Psa. 119. 73. Psa. 139. 13 16. ( saith hee ) did see my substance yet beeing unperfect , and in thy booke all my members were written , which in continuance were fashioned : or ( as it is in the Margent ) all of them written , what dayes they should be fashioned , when as yet there was none of them . To him therefore belongeth the disposing of the materialls and shaping of the Birth : Now then , is God so tyed to his materialls , that if there be too much for one , or too little for two complete and perfect features , hee can neither detract nor multiply ? Must his worke bee cut off with what the Philosopher ●aith of Nature , Intendit quod optimum , facit tamen id quod potest : that is , Nature intendeth perfection , but beeing hindered doth what she can ?

Let no man therefore taxe me of any excesse in religious thoughts , or count it overmuch curiositie , if I propound to you an observation or two , grounded upon this and the like occasions . Each Comet ( as experience hath taught men ) is in its kinde Doctrinal , and blaseth forth something or other worthy our observation . Nec in vanum toties arsere Cometae : seldome are those super-terrestriall blazes kindled in vaine . Men do commonly count them praenuncios Tully , Lucan . Iosep. de bello Iud. lib. 7. ca. 12. belli et calamitatum , fore-runners of some imminent calamities , and therefore doe call upon one another to appease the wrath of God , by fasting and Humiliation .

I shall not therefore I hope , transcend the limits of my calling , nor wrong the providence of God , if I take liberty to say , touching this strange-birth , which God hath caused to blaze here amongst us , and from us , to the whole Countrey , to say of it , as the Apostle saith of the bloud of Abel ; being dead , it yet speaketh . What did or doth the bloud of Abel speake , but the irreversible wrath of God against Cain , & in him against all wilfull and malicious persecutours of religious persons ? I doe not say , this speaketh so bitter things ; but yet it speaketh something in common with the rest of strange and mishapen Births : and if I deceive not my selfe over-much , something in peculiar by it selfe : so then it speaketh two things , perhaps more , but two I pitch upon , not averring them both spoken with the same evidence , but both truly : and which is more , seasonably .

First then this , and all monstrous & misfeatured Births , Observa . 1. speake this : That it is a singular Mercie of God , when the Births of the Wombe are not mis-formed : when they receive their faire and perfect feature . A Lesson truly worth the noting in this forgetfull Age : Mercies that are ordinarie wee swallow ; and take small notice of them : Such a worke as this causeth us to see what difference there is bet wixt comlinesse and deformity : betwixt Perfection and Imperfection in the Body . Doth any make scruple of what I say ? Let that man consider the discomfort of Deformitie : How lyable it is daily to exprobration through the evill custome of wicked men , more ready to cast it in the teeth , than condole or commiserate , if God hath stampt a deformity upon the Bodie .

Know wee not that the members of the Bodie are the Organs and Instruments of the Soul , in the Service of God and man ? Defect or excesse must needs breed griefe , because it createth trouble . Consider wee this birth , thus double-membred , to have seene them lying upon the table , to see them deciphered upon the paper might happily be thought a sight not much unpleasant : But let your imagination give them life , and tell mee how uncomfortable , yea burthensome must they be to others , yea and to themselves : when as though two , yet so neere incorporated , that the one cannot helpe the other . How should they eat , sleep , walke , sit , or satisfie nature , but with much incumbrance . Is it then discomfort to have a marke of deformity or dis-advantage cast upon the Births of the Womb ? And is it not a singular Mercie to have them born compleat in shape and feature ? Doubtlesse it is .

All reason therefore is that this Mercie of God unto us in the issue of our Loins should be acknowledged with all thankefulnesse . If other Mercies , why not this ? The Husbandman , when hee hath his Corne and Wine increased , when housed : The Merchant , when his Venture is returned : The Owner when his Ship is arrived , and both have made a good voiage : If there be any religion dwelling in their brests , will in a solemne manner confesse before the Sonnes of men the loving kindnesse of the Lord . When women have received safe deliverance from the great paines and perills of Child-birth , the Church doth call them ( and surely it had need to call them ) to give hearty thanks to God : And ought not this also to be remembred , That the Children borne give hope of Comfort to their Parents ? Hope I say , that a faire and well-featured Body may be the comfortable house and habitation of an Holy soule ? Doubtlesse it ought : Doth not David intimate so much in the afore-mentioned Psalme , when hee saith , I ●sal. 139. 14. will praise thee , for I am fearfully and wonderfully made ; Mervailous are thy Workes , and that my Soule knoweth right-well .

Know wee not that God hath just cause to blast every birth of ours , if he would be extreme ? Partly , in respect of the abuse of the Bed ; which , though hee hath sanctified to the use of man by the benediction of the Church , that so in the sober use thereof every one should possesse his Vessell in sanctification and honour ; yet is it too often riotously and wantonly abused . Partly , I say , for these Abuses , but specially in respect of that Originall corruption which cleaveth to the Fruit of the womb , even from the first conception , as the Psalmist sheweth . From this gilt and filth not one of all the Race of Adam is exempted . Psal. 51. 5. No sooner doe we receave a Being , but it is accompanied with sinfulnesse : In which respect , who can denie , but God might justly blast the body with deformity ? Which if hee doe not when hee might , is it not a favour , and so to be acknowledged ? Wee acknowledge it a speciall favour to the Soule ( as it is reason wee should ) that God doth exempt any from that common damnation , which is due to all by Adams transgression : And is it not to be confessed a Mercie to the body ? For why ? When the body doth want its perfect feature , when the Soule doth want the exercise of wit and reason , more or lesse : Is not this an effect of Sinne , and so to bee accounted : Doth God in this any thing more than what Iustice doth allow ? Shall wee say it is an act of his absolute Dominion ? I trow not : What is justly done to some , is it not mercie , not to doe to others ? Yes ( my Dearely beloved ) it is Mercie , free and undeserved Mercie : O that in this also , as in other things , I say , O that men would therfore praise the Lord for his goodnesse , and for his wonderfull Works to the Sonnes of men !

Contrarily , when the Hand of Iustice hath found any out , when any birth of ours is brought into the world misformed , and mis-featured : If God hath ( as it were ) spit in the face , and laid the black-finger of Deformity upon the body , ought it not to bee entertained with sorrow of Heart , and Humiliation ? Hath God written in great Letters the guilt of Sin , and in a deformed body drawn a resemblance of the Soules deformity ; drawn it ( I say ) so ; that others may see and know , that wee also are defiled in his sight ? and shall wee not blush to heare it , to see it thus cast in our teeth , and laid before us ?

This for the Parties : but is this all ? Is it nothing to you all that passe by , or that come to see ? Mee thinkes It should : Can you , any of you , wash your hands in Innocencie ? are not you also Sinners in the sight of God ? What can you alledge , why this might not have beene yours ? Did you prevent it by prayer ? I trust you will hereafter : and acknowledge the justnesse of their Devotion , who remember women with child : but happily you have not hitherto thought upon it : If so ; If God might have throwne the tower of Siloam upon your heads also , if set a marke of his displeasure upon your births , and yet hath not done it ; will you not see and say , The Lord hath done great things for us ? Lord , what am I , that thou hast spared mee ? am I more holy , lesse sinfull than my neighbour ? No , no : It is thy free Mercie and undeserved Favour , Oh inlarge my heart to praise thy Name .

Heere then see and bewaile the iniquity and irreligion of this our Age , at least of numbers in the same . The common sort make no further use of these Brodigies and Strange-births , than as a matter of wonder and table-talk : looke upon them with none other eyes , than with which they would behold an African monster , a mishapen beast . It was not thus in the better Ages of the world . Wee reade in the ninth Chapter of Saint Iohn : that the Disciples , when they saw the man that was borne blind , they come to our blessed Savior , with Quis peccavit ? Mr Who hath sinned ? See the Religion of those times : They lookt upon sinne as the cause of defective or redundant births . Truth indeed , our Saviour answereth : Neither this man , nor his parents . By which Speech of Christ , wee must not thinke that they are excused from all sinne : doubtlesse his parents had sinned ; and conceived him in sinne , else had not this beene cast upon him : No place for defects and deformities in the state of Innocence . But why God should take the forfeiture in this , rather than in his Neighbour , this was meerely Ex Dei bene-placit● , the good pleasure of God , who had in this a purpose to prepare and make way for the glory of Christ in curing the man .

The same happily might bee said in these occasions whereof wee speake : To the Question , Quis peccavit ; Who hath sioned ? happily Christ ( who was acquainted with the Counsels of his Father ) might answer ; Neque hic , neque parentes , Neither he , nor his Parents : Not to exempt them from sinne altogether , but to teach us , that some other end & purpose God had beside the visitation of their sin : ( though that also we find somtimes to bemanifested , when God by such occasions doth awaken the coscience to confesse secret and unbewailed sins ) beside , I say , the visitation of sin : Somtimes to discover the Atheism , Irreligion of many , perhaps also their Covetousnesse , who would rather make a benefit of such births , & instead of Humiliation for a Crosse , teach the parents to account such births for blessings , which doe prove so profitable . Sometimes to prompt unto the Ministerie a word of exhortation needfull for the present state of the people : A meditation which happily his text would not afford him . Ex. gr. This Lesson , as you see , is by this occasion prompted to me , presented to you : That you remember hereafter , to acknowledge it as a Mercie : when Children come into the world well-featured , the members of their body in a due proportion aptly each to other corresponding , neither defective , nor redundant : To bewaile it as a crosse from God , when it is otherwise : that so penitencie may provide a Remedie , either of the deformity by the hand of Man ; or of the discomfort by the stroke of Death . This Lesson , I say , is now presented to you , and I trust will bee remembred by you : And if so ; the Answer to the Question may goe on as it is in the words of our Saviour . Neither this man , nor his parents , but that the works of God should bee made manifest in him .

To winde up this first observation in a word , I noted the religion of the Disciples : they ▪ looke up to sinne as to the cause of Gods Hand : nor shall it misbecome us to doe the like : provided alway , that it bee ( what they forgot ) in our owne occasion rather than in anothers . Doe I suffer ? Let mee say , Lord , I have sinned ; Thou art just . Doth another suffer ? Let mee say , Lord , thou art mercifull to me : this case might have beene mine . Blessed bee thy Name for ever .

Something long have I stood upon this , because I am sure this is a Lesson , which all monstrous and mis-shapen births , though dead , yet speake for the Instruction of the Living : I will dispatch the other more briefely , which may seeme to bee peculiar to this one in respect of the shape thereof . Observat. 2.

The twinnes you see are males ; brothers , had they beene borne alive . To love as brethren , is the duty of Christians : a Duty frequently remembred by the Apostles , and powerfully pressed . To love , is to have one soule in two bodies ; One , not so much by union of essence as by combination of Affection : And lo , here a fit resemblance of this mutuall duty : As fit , as lively almost as can be devised : Here are all the parts and members of Consultation , and operation for two persons ; onely here is one body , one brest , one belly : the brest the seat of the heart , the belly of the bowells : One I say , not in the Identity of substance ; but in the conglutination of externall parts from brest to belly : whether one heart , one liver , one community of Intestines , is more than wee could see ; though all reason indeed giveth them to be two throughout in all parts : yet you see , so two in one , that had they lived to the yeares of expression , wee might well have expected from them united hearts , intire affections , and more than Sympathie , each to other , as to himselfe . Surely , these are not more neere●y conjoyned in brest and belly , than Christians ought to be in heart & affection . These two were one body ; Christians are one spirit : though severall bodies Cor. 12. 13 ▪ and soules , yet one and the same spirit diffused into all , to enlive and quicken all . Nor would it have beene more prodigious for these Twinnes ( suppose they had lived to bee men ) to have quarrelled and contested one against another : than it is for Christians to quarrell and contend , specially to live in the minde of irreconciliation . To these Twinnes ( had they quarrelled ) a man might have sayd , you are one body : To Christians a man may well say , You are one spirit : why doe you wrong one to another ? Was that an Argument in all reason fit to compound the supposed differences of these ? And shall not this bee able to perswade peace , nay love among Christians ? Mee thinketh it should : Nay , I am sure , if this doe not prevaile , the faultie person shall one day smart for it : perhaps when Repentance for it will come too late .

Wel , I have now acquainted you with my thoughts . I have shewed to you , how this Birth , though dead , yet speaketh : Truth it is , Faith alone hath eares to heare these Lessons , these Instructions : Nature is deafe , and Reason dull in these occasions : A brutish Ps. 92. 6. man knoweth not ; neither doth a foole understand : Faith quickneth the Vnderstanding to apprehend : the Will to believe : the Affections to take pleasure in these Meditations .

Which Faith , since it is the gift of God , let us now turne our selves to him with hearty devotion , desiring him to bestow upon us the gift of Faith , and all grace● , by which wee may learne to make an holy use , as of all his Workes in generall , so of this and the like in speciall : to the glory of his Name , and the eternall comfort of our owne soules , through Iesus Christ our Lord . To whom with the Father and the blessed Spirit , Three excellent Persons , one glorious God , bee ascribed all Honour and Praise , now , and for evermore . Amen .

FINIS .