1nothing elſe but the end and termination of it ſelf: in regard
that Grave and Light Bodies, when once they have attained their
proper and Natural Place, do deſiſt from that Motion to which
they were incited by Levity and Gravity. Therefore: ſince Cir
cular Motion is proper to the Whole, and Right Motion to the
Parts, theſe differences are not rightly referred to Motion, ſo as
to call one Motion Right, another Circular, as if they were not
conſiſtent with one another: For they may be both together, and
that Naturally, in the ſame Body; no leſſe than it is equally
Natural for a Man to participate of Senſe and Reaſon, ſeeing
that theſe differences are not directly oppoſite to one another.
Hereupon Reſt and Immobility only are oppoſed to Motion;
and not one Species of Motion to another. And for the other
differences à medio, ad medium, and circa medium, they are di
ſtinguiſhed not really, but only formally, as the Point, Line and
Superficies, none of which can be without the other two, or
without a Body. Hence it appears, that in as much as this Phy
loſophy differs from that of Ariſtotle, ſo in like manner doth this
New Coſmographical Syſtem vary from the Common one, that
hath been hitherto received. But this by the way, upon occaſion
of explaining the Fifth Maxim: For as to the truth or falſhood
of theſe foregoing Poſitions (although I conceive them very pro
bable) I am reſolved to determine nothing at preſent, neither
ſhall I make any farther enquiry into them.
that Grave and Light Bodies, when once they have attained their
proper and Natural Place, do deſiſt from that Motion to which
they were incited by Levity and Gravity. Therefore: ſince Cir
cular Motion is proper to the Whole, and Right Motion to the
Parts, theſe differences are not rightly referred to Motion, ſo as
to call one Motion Right, another Circular, as if they were not
conſiſtent with one another: For they may be both together, and
that Naturally, in the ſame Body; no leſſe than it is equally
Natural for a Man to participate of Senſe and Reaſon, ſeeing
that theſe differences are not directly oppoſite to one another.
Hereupon Reſt and Immobility only are oppoſed to Motion;
and not one Species of Motion to another. And for the other
differences à medio, ad medium, and circa medium, they are di
ſtinguiſhed not really, but only formally, as the Point, Line and
Superficies, none of which can be without the other two, or
without a Body. Hence it appears, that in as much as this Phy
loſophy differs from that of Ariſtotle, ſo in like manner doth this
New Coſmographical Syſtem vary from the Common one, that
hath been hitherto received. But this by the way, upon occaſion
of explaining the Fifth Maxim: For as to the truth or falſhood
of theſe foregoing Poſitions (although I conceive them very pro
bable) I am reſolved to determine nothing at preſent, neither
ſhall I make any farther enquiry into them.
* Vide Coperni
cum de Revolutio
nibus Cœleſt.
cum de Revolutio
nibus Cœleſt.
* æquabilis.
* Even.
The Sixth and Laſt Maxim is this. Every thing is Simply deno
minated ſuch as it is in compariſon of all things, or of many
things which make the greater number of that kinde, but not in
reſpect of a few which make but the leſſer part of them. As,
for inſtance, a Veſſel ſhall not be called abſolutely Great be
cauſe it is ſo whilſt it is compared with two or three others: but
it ſhall be ſaid to be great abſolutely, and will be ſo, if it ex
ceed in magnitude all indivials, or the greater part of them. Nor
again ſhall a Man be ſaid to be abſolutely Big, becauſe he is big
ger than a Pigmey; nor yet abſolutely Little, becauſe leſſe than
a Gyant: but he ſhall be termed abſolutely Big or Little in com
pariſon of the ordinary Stature of the greater part of Men. Thus
the Earth cannot abſolutely be ſaid to be High or Low for that it
is found to be ſo in reſpect of ſome ſmall part of the Univerſe; nor
again ſhall it be abſolutely affirmed to be High, being compared
to the Centre of the World, or ſome few parts of the Univerſe,
more near to the ſaid Centre, as is the Sun, Mercury or Venus:
but it ſhall receive its abſolute denomination according as it ſhall
be found to be in compariſon of the greater number of the
Spheres and Bodies of the Univerſe. The Earth therefore, in
compariſon of the whole Circuit of the Eighth Sphære which
minated ſuch as it is in compariſon of all things, or of many
things which make the greater number of that kinde, but not in
reſpect of a few which make but the leſſer part of them. As,
for inſtance, a Veſſel ſhall not be called abſolutely Great be
cauſe it is ſo whilſt it is compared with two or three others: but
it ſhall be ſaid to be great abſolutely, and will be ſo, if it ex
ceed in magnitude all indivials, or the greater part of them. Nor
again ſhall a Man be ſaid to be abſolutely Big, becauſe he is big
ger than a Pigmey; nor yet abſolutely Little, becauſe leſſe than
a Gyant: but he ſhall be termed abſolutely Big or Little in com
pariſon of the ordinary Stature of the greater part of Men. Thus
the Earth cannot abſolutely be ſaid to be High or Low for that it
is found to be ſo in reſpect of ſome ſmall part of the Univerſe; nor
again ſhall it be abſolutely affirmed to be High, being compared
to the Centre of the World, or ſome few parts of the Univerſe,
more near to the ſaid Centre, as is the Sun, Mercury or Venus:
but it ſhall receive its abſolute denomination according as it ſhall
be found to be in compariſon of the greater number of the
Spheres and Bodies of the Univerſe. The Earth therefore, in
compariſon of the whole Circuit of the Eighth Sphære which