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

287107That the Earth may be a Planet.

As for the Difficulties which concern the
ſecond of theſe, they have been already
handled in the ſixth Propoſition, where the
Earth's Eccentricity was maintained.

So that the chief buſineſs of this Chap-
ter, is to defend the Earth's Diurnal Moti-
on, againſt the Objections of our Adverſa-
ries. Sundry of which Objections, to ſpeak
(as the Truth is) do bear in them a great
ſhew of probability, and ſuch too (as it
ſeems) was very efficacious, ſince Ariſtotle
and Ptolomy, & c. Men of excellent Parts,
and deep Judgments, did ground upon them,
as being of infallible and neceſſary conſe-
quence.

I ſhall reckon them up ſeverally, and ſet
down ſuch Anſwers unto each, as may yield
ſome ſatisfaction to every indifferent ſeeker
of Truth.

Firſt then, ’tis objected from our ſenſes;
If the Earth did move, we ſhould perceive
it. The Weſtern Mountains would then ap-
pear to aſcend towards theStars, rather than
the Stars to deſcend below them.

I anſwer: The ſight judges of Motion,
according as any thing does deſert the Plane
whereon it ſelf is ſeated: which Plane
every where keeping the ſame ſcituation and
diſtance, in reſpect of the Eye, does there-
fore ſeem immovable unto it, and the mo-
tion will appear in thoſe Stars and parts of
the Heaven, through which the Vertical
Line does paſs.

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