THE HEPTARCHY. 47

Whether coujin -germans might be alloiued to marry? chapGregory answered , that that liberty had indeed l,been formerly granted by the Roman law; butthat experience had shewn , that no issue couldever come from such marriages; and he thereforeprohibited them. Augustine ashed , Whether awoman pregnant might be baptized? Gregory answer,ed , that he saw no objection. How Joon after thebirth the child might receive baptism ? It was answered,Immediately , if necessary. How soon a husbandmight have commerce with his w'<fc after her delivery?

Not till she had given suck to her child; a practiceto which Gregory exhorts all women. How soona man might enter the church, or receive the sacrament ,after having had commerce with his wife ? It witsreplied, that, unless he had approached her withoutdesire , merely for the fake of propagating hisspecies, he was not without sin. But in all cafesit was requisite for him, before he entered thechurch , or communicated, to purge himself byprayer and ablution; and he ought not, even afterusing these precautions, to participate immediatelyof the sacred duties ". There are some otherquestions and replies still more indecent and moreridiculous ". And on the whole, it appears, that

" Bede , lib. 1. cap. 27. Spell. Cone. p. 97, 98,99. etc.

" Augustine asks , Si mit Her meusrua. conJuetiuUnetenetur , an ecclesam intrare ei licet, ant sacra com.nuinionis sacrum cut a percipere? Gregory answers , Sanctacommunion is mylhrinm in eisiem diehus percipere nondebet prohi'oeri. Si autem ex veneratioue magna perciperenon prxsnmitur , luudauda es. Augustine asks, Si pos

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