PUBERTY. This is the Age wherein the Hairs begin to grow, in young People, in those Parts which Decency forbids to name. Among the Romans, the Age of Puberty was between fourteen and sixteen ; so that, at their Entrance upon the seventeenth Year, they took the Toga virilis, as beginning then to be Men. Among the Athenians, the Youths did not commence Ephebi, or pass the Age of Puberty, ‘till they were eighteen. Lastly ; Among the Hebrews, the Age of Puberty, for Boys, was between thirteen and thirteen and a half ; so that at thirteen they were still reckon’d Children. From thirteen to six Months after, they were Puberes ; and after thirteen and a half, they were reckon’d Men, were subject to all the Precepts of the Law, and, in particular, were obliged to marry.
As to the Girls, the Age of Puberty began at twelve Years, and commonly ended at twelve Years and a half ; unless, at this Age, Nature had not yet produced the Marks of Puberty, which made an Exeption to the common Rule. As soon as a Girl had attained the Age of twelve Years and a half, or that the Tokens of Puberty had appear’d on her, she was then at Liberty, and her Father had no longer any Power to hinder her from marrying, but she was entirely Mistress of her own Conduct. But the Rabbins advise Fathers very earnestly, to make haste to marry their Daughters, as soon as they have attain’d the Age of Puberty, that is, when they are full twelve Years old1. St. Paul seems to allude to this Custom, when he says,2 But if any Man think that he behaveth himself uncomely towards his Virgin, if she pass the Flower of her Age, and Need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not ; let them marry.
From what we have now said, it is plain, that the Hebrews marry’d their Daughters very young. And when the Scripture would express the Irregularities of an infamous Woman, it says, she forsakes the Guide of her Youth, or of her Puberty ; Reliquit ducem pubertatis Prov. ii. 17.suæ ; The Man to whom she gave her first Inclinations. And also, when it would represent to us a strict Mourning, it com-
Joel i. 8.pares it to that of a young Widow, who has lost the Spouse of her Youth ; Plange quasi virgo accincta sacco super virum pubertatis suæ.
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