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

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2412That the Moon may be a World. brought out where one might ſhew him the
great Ocean, telling him the quality of that
Water, that it is brackiſh, ſalt, and not pota-
ble, and yet there were many vaſt Creatures
of all Forms living in it, which make uſe of
that water as we do of the Air, queſtionleſs
he would laugh at all this, as being monſtrous
Lies and Fables, without any colur of Truth.
Juſt ſo will this Truth, which I now deliver,
appear unto others; becauſe we never dreamt
of any ſuch matter as a World in the Moon;
becauſe the State of that place hath as yet been
vail'd from our Knowledge, therefore we can
ſcarcely aſſent to any ſuch matter. Things
are very hardly received which are altogether
ſtrange to our Thoughts and our Senſes.
The Soul may with leſs difficulty be brought
to believe any abſurdity, when as it has for-
merly been acquainted with ſome Colours and
Probabilities for it; but when a new, and un-
heard of Truth ſhall come before it, though it
have good Grounds and Reaſons, yet the un-
derſtanding is aſraid of it as a ſtranger, and
dares not admit it into his Belief, without a
great deal of Reluctancy and Tryal. And be-
ſides, things that are not manifeſted to the
Senſes, are not aſſented unto without ſome
Labour of Mind, ſome Travel and Diſcourſe
of the underſtanding; and many lazy Souls
had rather quietly repoſe themſelves in an eaſie
Errour, than take Pains to ſearch out the
Truth. The ſtrangeneſs then of this Opinion
which I now deliver, will be a great hindrance
to its belief, but this is not to be reſpected by
reaſon it cannot be helped. I have ſtood

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