HOWEVER, as to what relates to the _Tempers_, _Dispositions_, _Miens_, _Manners_, _Qualities_, and _Propensions_ of the MIND, daily _Examples_ convince us, that _Children_, after all, generally much resemble _Those_ of their _Progenitors_; which proceeds merely from the _Efficacy_ of the SEED, containing the Power of the natural _Faculties_ of their Minds and _vital Spirits_, which are thence infus’d into their _Posterity_.
BUT I take this _Matter_ to depend much upon the _Passion_, _Indolence_, or _Indifferency_ of the Mind, with which the ACT of _Copulation_ is perform’d. For as the _Ardour_ and _Fervency_ of the _Parents_, and their plentiful prolifick _Contribution_, tend much to the _CHILD’s_ affecting the same _Behaviour_, _Gestures_, _Actions_, _Tempers_, and _Motions_ of BODY and MIND; even sometimes to their representing the very _Nature_, and treading the very _Foot-Steps_ of their PARENTS, to so nice a degree, of an exact Resemblance, that I’ve more than once observed a MOLE-MARK of a _Father_ plainly impress’d on his _Child_. Which, I think, is also conformable to[49] _Horace_’s Meaning;
_“Fortes creantur fortibus & bonis: “Est in Juvencis, est in equis patrum “Virtus: nec imbellem feroces “Progenerant Aquilæ Columbam._
To valiant _Fathers_, valiant _Sons_ succeed; Thus _Bulls_ from _Bulls_ descend, and _martial Horses_ breed.
AND because the _Institution of Nature_, perfects its own _Gifts_, which, by the Help of _Education_, corrects _Errors_, and abolishes _Blemishes_; the _Poet_ very pertinently adds,
_“Doctrina sed vim promovet insitam, “Rectíq; Mores pectora roborant._
Yet the best _Blood_ by _Learning_ is refin’d, And _Virtue_ arms the _solid Mind_; Whilst _Vice_ will stain the _noblest Race_, And the _paternal Stamp_ efface.
BUT, however yet, there are many _Parents_ still less salacious and less fervid; who rather vilify, than covet, and rather abstain from, than delight themselves in this _Encounter_. In short, there are some of both Sexes, who, in patiently gratifying their active _Consorts_, esteem it rather a sort of _Hardship_ and _TASK_ for _Family-Quiet_, than any incumbent _DUTY_ of _Nuptial Benevolence_; Which[50]St. _Paul_ seems to allude to, by calling it the _defrauding of one the other_.