Wilkins, John - A discovery of a new world : or a discourse tending to prove, that 'tis probable there may be another Habitable World in the Moon ; with a discourse concerning the Probability of a Passage thither; unto which is added, a discourse concerning a New Planet, tending to prove, that 'tis probable our earth is one of the Planets

Wilkins, John, A discovery of a new world : or a discourse tending to prove, that 'tis probable there may be another Habitable World in the Moon ; with a discourse concerning the Probability of a Passage thither; unto which is added, a discourse concerning a New Planet, tending to prove, that 'tis probable our earth is one of the Planets

Table of contents

[Item 1.]

[2.] Ex Libris James S. Dearden Rampside

[3.] A DISCOVERY OF A New , OR,

[4.] In Two Parts.

[5.] The Fifth Edition Corrected and Amended. LONDON,

[6.] The Epiſtle to the READER.

[7.] The Propoſitions that are proved in this Diſcourſe. PROPOSITION I.

[8.] PROP. II.

[9.] PROP. III.

[10.] PROP. IV.

[11.] PROP. V.

[12.] PROP. VI.

[13.] PROP. VII.

[14.] PROP. VIII.

[15.] PROP. IX.

[16.] PROP. X.

[17.] PROP. XI.

[18.] PROP. XII.

[19.] PROP. XIII.

[20.] PROP. XIV.

[21.] The Firſt Book. That the MOON May be a WORLD. The Firſt Propoſition, by way of Preface.

[22.] Sed vanus ſtolidis hæc omnia finxerit Error.

[23.] Solis lunæq; labores.

[24.] Cum fruſtra reſonant æra auxiliaria Lunæ.

[25.] Una laboranti poterit ſuccerrere Lunæ.

[26.] Gantus & è cælo poſſunt deducere Lunam.

[27.] Cantus & ſi curru lunam deducere tentant, Et facerent, ſi non æra repulſa ſonant.

[28.] PROP. II. That a Plurality of Worlds doth not contradict any Principle of Reaſon or Faith.

[29.] Æſtuas infelix auguſto limite mundi.

[30.] PROP. III. That the Heavens do not conſiſt of any ſuch pure Matter, which can priviledge them from the like Change and Corruption, as theſe Inferiour, Bodies are liable unto.

20626That the Earth may be a Planet. things of a higher kind, to apply himſelf
unto the Infirmity of our Apprehenſions, by
being repreſented, as if he were a humane
Nature, with the parts and paſſions of a
Man. So in theſe things likewiſe, that he
might deſcend to our Capacities, does he
vouchſafe to conform his Expreſſions, un-
to the error and miſtake of our Judg-
ments.

But before we come to a further illuſtra-
tion, let us a little examine thoſe particular
Scriptures, which are commonly urged to
prove the motion of the Sun or Heavens.
Theſe (as was ſaid) might be diſtributed
under theſe three Heads.

1. Thoſe places which mention the Ri-
ſing or Setting of the Sun, as that in the
Pſalm, The Sun, like a Bridegroom, 11* Pſal. 19.
5, 6. out of his Chamber, and rejoiceth as a Gyant to
run his Race: His going forth is from the end
of Heaven, and his Circuit unto the end of it,
and there is nothing bid from the heat thereof.
22Ecclef. 1. 5. And that in Eccleſiaſtes, The Sun ariſeth, and
the Sun goeth down, & c.

In which Scriptures, we may obſerve di-
vers Phraſes that are evidently ſpoken, in
reference to the appearance of things, and
the falſe opinion of the Vulgar. And there-
fore 'tis not altogether unlikely, That this
which they ſeem to affirm concerning the
Motion of the Heavens, ſhould alſo be un-
derſtood in the ſame ſenſe.

The Sun like a Bridegroom cometh out of his
Chamber; alluding perhaps unto the

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