those he hath begot, is under an obligation to continue in conjugal
society with the same woman longer than other creatures, whose young
being able to subsist of themselves, before the time of procreation
returns again, the conjugal bond dissolves of itself, and they are at
liberty, till Hymen at his usual anniversary season summons them again to
chuse new mates. Wherein one cannot but admire the wisdom of the great
Creator, who having given to man foresight, and an ability to lay up for
the future, as well as to supply the present necessity, hath made it
necessary, that society of man and wife should be more lasting, than of
male and female amongst other creatures; that so their industry might be
encouraged, and their interest better united, to make provision and lay
up goods for their common issue, which uncertain mixture, or easy and
frequent solutions of conjugal society would mightily disturb.
Sec. 81. But tho' these are ties upon mankind, which make the
conjugal bonds more firm and lasting in man, than the other species of
animals; yet it would give one reason to enquire, why this compact, where
procreation and education are secured, and inheritance taken care for,
may not be made determinable, either by consent, or at a certain time, or
upon certain conditions, as well as any other voluntary compacts, there
being no necessity in the nature of the thing, nor to the ends of it,
that it should always be for life; I mean, to such as are under no
restraint of any positive law, which ordains all such contracts to be
perpetual.
Sec. 82. But the husband and wife, though they have but one common
concern, yet having different understandings, will unavoidably sometimes
have different wills too; it therefore being necessary that the last
determination, i. e. the rule, should be placed somewhere; it naturally
falls to the man's share, as the abler and the stronger. But this
reaching but to the things of their common interest and property, leaves
the wife in the full and free possession of what by contract is her