11098That the Moon may be a World.
No;
ſince ’tis ſo, and more with us alſo under
the Poles; and beſides, the general Length of
their Night is ſomewhat abated in the Bigneſs
of their Moon which is our Earth. For this Re-
turns as great a Light unto that Planet, as it
Receives from it. But for the better Proof of
this, I ſhall firſt free the Way from ſuch Opi-
nions as might otherwiſe hinder the ſpeed of a
clearer Progreſs.
11Plut de. the Poles; and beſides, the general Length of
their Night is ſomewhat abated in the Bigneſs
of their Moon which is our Earth. For this Re-
turns as great a Light unto that Planet, as it
Receives from it. But for the better Proof of
this, I ſhall firſt free the Way from ſuch Opi-
nions as might otherwiſe hinder the ſpeed of a
clearer Progreſs.
fac lunæ.
Plutarch, one of the chief Patrons of this
World in the Moon, doth directly Contract
this Propoſition, Affirming, that thoſe who
Live there, may diſcern our World, as the
Dreggs and Sediment of all other Creatures,
appearing to them through Clouds and Foggy
miſts, and that altogether Devoid of Light,
being Baſe and unmoveable; ſo that they
might well imagine the Dark place of Damna-
tion to be here Situate, and that they only were
the Inhabiters of the World, as being in the
midſt betwixt Heaven and Hell.
World in the Moon, doth directly Contract
this Propoſition, Affirming, that thoſe who
Live there, may diſcern our World, as the
Dreggs and Sediment of all other Creatures,
appearing to them through Clouds and Foggy
miſts, and that altogether Devoid of Light,
being Baſe and unmoveable; ſo that they
might well imagine the Dark place of Damna-
tion to be here Situate, and that they only were
the Inhabiters of the World, as being in the
midſt betwixt Heaven and Hell.
To this I may Anſwer, ’tis Probable that
Plutarch ſpake this Inconſiderately, and with-
out a Reaſon, which makes him likewife fall
into another Abſurdity, when he ſays our Earth
would appear Immovable; whereas Queſtion-
leſs, though it did not, yet would it ſeem to
Move and theirs to ſtand Still, as the Land doth
to a Man in a Ship; according to that of the
Poet.
Plutarch ſpake this Inconſiderately, and with-
out a Reaſon, which makes him likewife fall
into another Abſurdity, when he ſays our Earth
would appear Immovable; whereas Queſtion-
leſs, though it did not, yet would it ſeem to
Move and theirs to ſtand Still, as the Land doth
to a Man in a Ship; according to that of the
Poet.
Provehimur portu, terræque urbeſque recedunt.
And I doubt not but that the Ingenious Au-
thor would eaſily have Recanted, if he
had been but acquainted with thoſe
thor would eaſily have Recanted, if he
had been but acquainted with thoſe