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
page |< < (97) of 370 > >|
27797That the Eartb may be a Planet. ſtance from the Earth, and no nearer or far-
ther.
And beſides, this Argument might as
well be urged againſt the Hypotheſis of Pto-
lomy or Tycbo, ſince the Stars, for ought
we know, might have been as ſerviceable to
us, if they had been placed far nearer than
either of thoſe Authors ſuppoſe them.
A-
gain, were there any force in ſuch a Conſe-
quence, it would as well conclude a great
improvidence of Nature, in making ſuch a
multitude of thoſe leſſer Stars, which have
lately been diſcovered by the Perſpective.
For to what purpoſe ſhould ſo many Lights
be created for the uſe of Man, ſince his Eyes
were not able to diſcern them?
So that our
diſability to comprehend all thoſe ends
which might be aimed at in the Works of
Nature, can be no ſufficient Argument to
prove their ſuperfluity.
Though Scripture
tells us, that theſe things were made for
our uſe, yet it does not tell us, that this is
their only end.
’Tis not impoſſible, but that
there may be elſewhere ſome other Inhabi-
tants, by whom theſe leſſer Stars may be
more plainly diſcerned.
And (as was ſaid
before) why may not we affirm that of the
bigneſs, which our Adverſaries do concern-
ing the motion of the Heavens?
That God,
to ſhew his own immenſity, did put a kind
of infinity in the Creature.
There is yet another Argument to this
purpoſe, urged by Al.
Roſſ. which was 11Lib. I.
ſect. 2.6.I.
referred to any of the former kind, becauſe
I could ſcarcely believe I did rightly

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