Sect. 7. But we may the better bear with them in this, because they seem not very tender of killing one another. A man is not to be punished who kills his Wife, taken in Adultery, and the Adulterer together with her. (l)He may Kill his own Daughter in like case, or his Sister, yea, or his own Mother, if his Father give order for it; and he may do it as safely though these his Female Relatives be quick with child. For the Child in the Womb (say they) being the same morally with the Mother; he that may kill the Mother, may kill the Child too. Thus a private person may be judge in his own cause, and proceed to ⟨p. 330⟩mortal execution without Trial, and sacrifice the guilty and innocent, both at once; to his own or another's passion, and destroy together the Body and Soul of his nearest Relations; and all this with impunity. They deliver it for certain, that a mother in danger, may lawfully use a Medicine which tends directly to her cure, though it be probable that it will make her miscarry. (m)And because she may take such a course to secure her life, or recover her health: they conclude it lawful to do this, to preserve her state, or reputation. (n)So that if a Maid or married Woman, have prostituted her self to another's lust, she may procure abortion, when otherwise the Crime might be discovered, and her life or credit in hazard. Thus neither Families, nor Parishes, nor Monasteries need be pestered with natural children, how many soever be got: the shame of their birth, and the pain too, may be prevented, and the trouble and expense of their education avoided, by a receipt approved by the Roman Doctors, if it be but taken in time. As for the censures of their Church in this case, or worse, there's no fear, for even (o)a Nun got with Child may procure abortion, and not be Excommunicate (so much more favourable is New-Rome to her Vestals than the old was, though their crimes be doubled.) Any who are so disposed, have encouragement enough, to venture upon both. For as to the murder, they are secured from the Laws of God by this Doctrine, which makes it no sin; from the Laws of the Church by her natural indulgence; and may be from those of the state, by their own private conduct: And as to the Whoredom, they may be quitted upon as easy terms, as they would wish. For the the Priest, if he get the child, is empowered to absolve the Mother;
Sect. 7. But we may the better bear with them in this, because they seem not very tender of killing one another. A man is not to be punished who kills his Wife, taken in Adultery, and the Adulterer together with her. (l)He may Kill his own Daughter in like case, or his Sister, yea, or his own Mother, if his Father give order for it; and he may do it as safely though these his Female Relatives be quick with child. For the Child in the Womb (say they) being the same morally with the Mother; he that may kill the Mother, may kill the Child too. Thus a private person may be judge in his own cause, and proceed to ⟨p. 330⟩mortal execution without Trial, and sacrifice the guilty and innocent, both at once; to his own or anothers passion, and destroy together the Body and Soul of his nearest Relations; and all this with impunity. They deliver it for certain, that a mother in danger, may lawfully use a Medicine which tends directly to her cure, though it be probable that it will make her miscarry. (m)And because she may take such a course to secure her life, or recover her health: they conclude it lawful to do this, to preserve her state, or reputation. (n)So that if a Maid or married Woman, have prostituted her self to anothers lust, shee may procure abortion, when otherwise the Crime might be discovered, and her life or credit in hazard. Thus neither Families, nor Parishes, nor Monasteries need be pester'd with natural children, how many soever be got: the shame of their birth, and the pain too, may be prevented, and the trouble and expence of their education avoided, by a receipt approved by the Roman Doctors, if it be but taken in time. As for the censures of their Church in this case, or worse, there's no fear, for even (o)a Nun got with Child may procure abortion, and not be Excommunicate (so much more favourable is New-Rome to her Vestals than the old was, though their crimes be doubled.) Any who are so disposed, have incouragement enough, to venture upon both. For as to the murder, they are secured from the Laws of God by this Doctrine, which makes it no sin; from the Laws of the Church by her natural indulgence; and may be from those of the state, by their own private conduct: And as to the Whoredom, they may be quitted upon as easie terms, as they would wish. For the the Priest, if he get the child, is impowered to absolve the Mother;
- (l)Pet. a. S. Joseph. de 5. praecepto art. 6. p. 258. 259.
- (m)Videtur etiam satis certum. &c. Idem. ibid. art. 2. p. 218. vid. Corduba. Pet. Navarre. Aragon. Lopez in Fill. tr. 29. n. 104.Videtur etiam satis certum. &c. Idem. ibid. art. 2. p. 218. vid. Corduba. Pet. Navar. Arragon. Lopez in Fill. tr. 29. n. 104.
- (n)Liceret etiam procurare abortum nondum animatum cum ad famam & statum conservandum opus erit. Basil. de Leon, de matrim. l. 10. c. 13. n. 2. Liceret etiam faeminae nuptae, aut virgini fornicanti idem efficere, quando nullo alio quaesito medio sibi consulere possint, ne crimine detecto, famae vitaeque jacturam facerent. Pet. Navar. l. 2. de Restit. c. 3. diff. 2. n. 130.
- (o)Secundum Sylvestrum Monialis solicitans aborsum non est excommunicata, quia non injuriam sibi sed proli facit. Lopez. cap. 64. p. 322. vid. Nald•m in Bonacin. de restit. d. 2. q. ult. p. 7. n. 6.
