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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7442That the Moon may be a World.
PROP. VII.
That thoſe Spots and brighter parts, which by
our ſight may be diſtinguiſhed in the Moon,
do ſhew the difference betwixt the Sea and
Land, in that other World.
FOr the clear proof of this Propoſition,
I ſhall firſt reckon up and refute the Opi-
nions of others, concerning the matter and
form of thoſe Spots, and then ſhew the Pro-
bability of this Aſſertion, and how agreeable
it is to that Truth, which is moſt commonly
receiv'd;
As for the Opinions of others, con-
cerning theſe, they have been very many;
I
will only reckon up thoſe which are common
and remarkable.
Some there are that think thoſe ſpots do
not ariſe from any deformity of the parts, but
a deceit of the Eye, which cannot at ſuch a
diſtance diſcern an equal Light in the Planet;
but theſe do but only ſay it, and ſhew not any
reaſon for the proof of their Opinion:
Others
think, that there are ſome Bodies betwixt the
11So Bede in
l. de Mund.
conſtit.
Sun and Moon, which keeping off the Light
in ſome parts, do by their Shadow produce
theſe ſpots which we there diſcern.
Others would have them to be the Figure
of the Seas or Mountains, here below:
repre-
ſented there as in a Looking-Glaſs.
But none
of theſe Fancies can be true, becauſe the Spots
are ſtill the ſame, and not varied according to
the difference of places;
and beſides, Gardon
22De ſubtil.
lib. 3.
thinks it is impoſſible that any image

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