Foscarini, Paolo Antonio, An epistle to fantoni, 1661

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              <s>
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              ſeems) not onely to Phyſical Reaſons, and Common Principles
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              received on all hands (which cannot do ſo much harm) but alſo
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              (which would be of far worſe conſequence) to many Authori­
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              ties of ſacred Scripture: Upon which account many at their
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              firſt looking into it, explode it as the moſt fond Paradox and
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              Monſtrous
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              Capriccio
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              that ever was heard of. </s>
              <s>Which thing pro­
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              ceeds only from an antiquated and long confirmed Cuſtome,
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              which hath ſo hardened men in, and habituated them to Vul­
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              gar, Plauſible, and for that cauſe by all men (aſwell learned as
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              unlearned) Approved Opinions, that they cannot be removed
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              one ſtep from them: So great is the force of Cuſtome (which
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              not unfitly is ſtiled a ſecond Nature) prevailing over the whole
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              World, that touching things men are rather pleaſed with, de­
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              lighted in, and deſirous of thoſe, which, though evil and obnox­
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              ious, are by uſe made familiar to them, than ſuch, wherewith,
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              though better, they are not accuſtomed and acquainted. </s>
              <s>So in
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              like manner, and that chiefly, in
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              Opinions,
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              which when once they
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              are rooted in the Mind, men ſtart at, and reject all others
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              whatſoever; not only thoſe that are contrary to, but even all
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              that ever ſo little diſagree with or vary from theirs, as harſh to
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              the Ear, diſcoloured to the Eye, unpleaſant to the Smell, nauſe­
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              ous to the Taſt, rough to the Touch. </s>
              <s>And no wonder: For
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              Phyſical Truths are ordinarily judged and conſidered by men,
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              not according to their Eſſence, but according to the preſcript of
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              ſome one whoſe deſcription or definition of them gaines him
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              Authority amongſt the vulgar. </s>
              <s>Which authority nevertheleſs
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              (ſince 'tis no more than humane) ought not to be ſo eſteemed, as
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              that that which doth manifeſtly appear to the contrary, whether
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              from better Reaſons lately found out, or from Senſe it ſelf, ſhould
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              for its ſake be contemned and ſlighted; Nor is Poſterity ſo to be
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              confined, but that it may, and dares, not only proceed farther,
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              but alſo bring to light better and truer Experiments than thoſe
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              which have been delivered to us by the Ancients. </s>
              <s>For the
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              Ge­
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              nius's
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              of the Antients, as in Inventions they did not much ſur­
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              paſs the Wits of our times; ſo for the perfecting of Inventions
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              this Age of ours ſeems not only to equal, but far to excell former
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              Ages; Knowledge, whether in the Liberal or Mechanical Arts,
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              daily growing to a greater height. </s>
              <s>Which Aſſertion might be
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              eaſily proved, were it not that in ſo clear a caſe, there would be
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              more danger of obſcuring, than hopes of illuſtrating it with any
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              farther light.</s>
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              <s>But (that I may not wholly be ſilent in this point) have not the
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              ſeveral Experiments of Moderns, in many things, ſtopped the
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              mouth of Venerable Antiquity, and proved many of their great­
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              teſt and weightieſt Opinions, to be vain and falſe? </s>
              <s>The Doctrine </s>
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