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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327147That the Earth may be a Planet. on; becauſe Matter is of it ſelf a dull and
ſluggiſh thing;
and by ſo much the more, as
it is kept cloſe and condenſed together.
And though the followers of Ptolomy, do
with much confidence deny the Heavens to
be capable of any reluctancy to motion;

yet it were eaſy to prove the contraby, out
of their own Principles.
’Tis not conceiv-
able, how the upper Sphere ſhould move
the nether, unleſs their Superficies were full
of rugged parts, ( which they deny:)
or
elſe one of the Orbs muſt lean upon the o-
ther with its weight, and ſo makeit partake
of its own Motion.
And beſides, they tell us,
that the farther any Sphere is diſtant from
the Primum Mobile, the leſs is it hindred by
that in its proper courſe, and the ſooner
does it ſiniſh its own Revolution.
From
whence it will eaſily follow, that theſe Bo-
dies have reſiſtancy from one another.
I have often wondred, why amongſt the
inchanted Buildings of the Poets, they have
not fained any Caſtle to be made of the ſame
Materials with the ſolid Orbs, ſince in ſuch a
Fabrick, there would have been theſe emi-
nent Conveniences.
1. It muſt needs be very pleaſant, by rea-
ſon of its perſpicuity, becauſe it is more
diaphanous than the Air it ſelf, and ſo the
Walls of it could not hinder the proſpect
any way.
2. Being ſo ſolid and impenitrable, it
muſt needs be excellent againſt all violence
of Weathers, as alſo againſt the aſſaults

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