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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2311That the Moon may be a World.

1. That a new Truth may ſeem abſurd and
impoſſible, not only to the Vulgar, but to
thoſe alſo who are otherwiſe Wiſe Men and
excellent Schollars; and hence it will follow,
that every new thing which ſeems to oppoſe
common Principles, is not preſently to be re-
jected, but rather to be pry'd into by a dili-
gent enquiry, ſince there are many things which
are yet hid from us, and reſerv’d for future
Diſcovery.

2. That it is not the commonneſs of an Opi-
nion that can priviledge it for a Truth; the
wrong way is ſometime a well beaten Path,
whereas the right way (eſpecially to hidden
Truths) may be leſs trodden, and more ob-
ſcure.

True indeed, the ſtrangeneſs of this Opi-
nion will detract much from its Credit; but
yet we ſhould know that nothing is in it ſelf
ſtrange, ſince every Natural Effect has an equal
dependance upon its Cauſe, and with the like
neceſſity doth follow from it; ſo that ’tis our
Ignorance which makes things appear ſo; and
hence it comes to paſs, that many more Evi-
dent Truths ſeem incredible to ſuch who know
not the cauſes of things: you may as ſoon
perſwade ſome Country Peaſants, that the
Moon is made of Green-Cheeſe (as we ſay)
as that ’tis bigger than his Cart-Wheel, ſince
both ſeem equally to contradict his ſight, and
he has not reaſon enough to lead him far-
ther than his Senſes. Nay, ſuppoſe (ſaith Plu-
tarch) a Philoſopher ſhould be Educated in
ſuch a ſecret place, where he might not ſee
either Sea or River, and afterwards ſhould

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