58  Annotation  f  upon


Far  God  hud  not  cattfed  it  to  rain  upon  the  Earth."]  St.  Aug.  de  Genef.  ad  lite-
ram,  cap.  j ,  6.  falves  that  exprdfion  from  any  inconvenience  ;  but  the  Au-
thor  in  Pfeudodox.  Epidemic.  1.7.  cap.  i.  fhews  that  we  have  noreafon  to  be
confident  that  this  Fruit  was  an  Apple.
I  believe  that  the  Serpent  (if  we  jhall  literally  under  ft  <m<i  it)  from  his  prefer  form
and  figure  made  his  motion  on  his  Belly  before  the  Cftrfe.^  Yet  the  Author  himfelf
fheweth  in  Pfeudodox.  Epidemic,  lib.  7.  cap.  i.  that  the  form  or  kind  of  the
Serpent  is  not  agreed  on :  yet  Comeftor  amrm'd  it  was  a  Drags*,  EugMbintu  a
Bafiiis^  Delrio  a  Viper,  and  others  a  common  Snake :  but  of  what  Kind  fo-
ever  it  was,  he  fheweth  in  the  fame  Volume,  Kb.  y.  c.  4.  that  there  was  no
inconvenience,  that  the  temptation  mould  be  perfbrm'd  in  this  proper
ihape.
I  pud  the  trial  of  the  Pucelage  aed  Virginity  of  Women  which  Gad  ordained  thr

Jews,  is  very  fallible ;  ]  Loctu  extat,  'Dent,  c.  z  i .  the  fame  is  affirm'd  by  La«-
rentius  in  his  Anatom.
Whole  Nation t  have  efcapedthe  curfe  of  Child-birth,  which  Godfeems  to  pronounce
upon  the  whole  Sex.  This  IS  attefted  by  M.  Montaigne,  Lei  doleurs  de  fenfantiment
far  les  medicines,  fir  pardein  mefme  eftimes  grandes,  &  qtte  nous  pafons  avec  tant
de  Ceremonies,  il  y  a  des  nations  entieres  qui  ne'nfuit  nul  coate.  i.  i.  des  Ejf.  C.  14.
