325145That the Earth may be a Planet.
portion which ſhe obſerves in leſſer Matters.
If this Globe of Earth only were appointed
to move every day round the Orb of the
fixed Stars, though it be but a little Body,
and ſo more capable of a ſwift motion;
yet that ſwiftneſs would be ſo extreamly
diſproportionable unto it, that we could
not with reaſon conceive it poſſible, accord-
ing to the uſual courſe of Nature. But now,
that the Heavens themſelves, of ſuch ſtrange
bigneſs, with ſo many Stars, which do ſo
far exceed the Magnitude of our Earth,
ſhould be able to turn about with the ſame
celerity; Oh! ’tis altogether beyond the
fancy of a Poet, or a Madman.
If this Globe of Earth only were appointed
to move every day round the Orb of the
fixed Stars, though it be but a little Body,
and ſo more capable of a ſwift motion;
yet that ſwiftneſs would be ſo extreamly
diſproportionable unto it, that we could
not with reaſon conceive it poſſible, accord-
ing to the uſual courſe of Nature. But now,
that the Heavens themſelves, of ſuch ſtrange
bigneſs, with ſo many Stars, which do ſo
far exceed the Magnitude of our Earth,
ſhould be able to turn about with the ſame
celerity; Oh! ’tis altogether beyond the
fancy of a Poet, or a Madman.
For anſwer unto this Argument, our Ad-
verſaries tell us, that there is not in the
Heavens any repugnancy to ſo ſwift a Mo-
tion; and that whether we conſider the na-
ture of thoſe Bodies; or, ſecondly, the
ſwiftneſs of this Motion.
verſaries tell us, that there is not in the
Heavens any repugnancy to ſo ſwift a Mo-
tion; and that whether we conſider the na-
ture of thoſe Bodies; or, ſecondly, the
ſwiftneſs of this Motion.
1.
For the Nature of thoſe
\\ Bodies, either their} Qualities. \\ Quantity.
\\ Bodies, either their} Qualities. \\ Quantity.
1.
There is not in them the Qualities of
lightneſs or heavineſs, or any the leaſt con-
trariety that may make them reluctant to
one another.
lightneſs or heavineſs, or any the leaſt con-
trariety that may make them reluctant to
one another.
2.
Their Magnitude will help them in
11Roff.lit. ii
ſect. 1. c.1. their ſwiftneſs : For the greater any Body
is, the quicker will it be in its motion, and
that not only when it is moved by an inward
Principle, as a Millſtone will deſcend
11Roff.lit. ii
ſect. 1. c.1. their ſwiftneſs : For the greater any Body
is, the quicker will it be in its motion, and
that not only when it is moved by an inward
Principle, as a Millſtone will deſcend