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

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

Table of contents

[Item 1.]

[2.] Ex Libris James S. Dearden Rampside

[3.] A DISCOVERY OF A New , OR,

[4.] In Two Parts.

[5.] The Fifth Edition Corrected and Amended. LONDON,

[6.] The Epiſtle to the READER.

[7.] The Propoſitions that are proved in this Diſcourſe. PROPOSITION I.

[8.] PROP. II.

[9.] PROP. III.

[10.] PROP. IV.

[11.] PROP. V.

[12.] PROP. VI.

[13.] PROP. VII.

[14.] PROP. VIII.

[15.] PROP. IX.

[16.] PROP. X.

[17.] PROP. XI.

[18.] PROP. XII.

[19.] PROP. XIII.

[20.] PROP. XIV.

[21.] The Firſt Book. That the MOON May be a WORLD. The Firſt Propoſition, by way of Preface.

[22.] Sed vanus ſtolidis hæc omnia finxerit Error.

[23.] Solis lunæq; labores.

[24.] Cum fruſtra reſonant æra auxiliaria Lunæ.

[25.] Una laboranti poterit ſuccerrere Lunæ.

[26.] Gantus & è cælo poſſunt deducere Lunam.

[27.] Cantus & ſi curru lunam deducere tentant, Et facerent, ſi non æra repulſa ſonant.

[28.] PROP. II. That a Plurality of Worlds doth not contradict any Principle of Reaſon or Faith.

[29.] Æſtuas infelix auguſto limite mundi.

[30.] PROP. III. That the Heavens do not conſiſt of any ſuch pure Matter, which can priviledge them from the like Change and Corruption, as theſe Inferiour, Bodies are liable unto.

8068That the Moon may be a World. confuſed Figure, and doth not repreſent any
diſtinct Image, ſo that both in reſpect of the
matter, and the Form, it may be probable e-
nough, that thoſe ſpots and brighter parts may
ſhew the diſtinction betwixt the Sea and Land
in that other World.

PROP. VIII.

The Spots repeſent the Sea, and the brighter parts
the Land.

WHen I firſt compar'd the Nature of our
Earth and Water, with thoſe appearan-
ces in the Moon; I concluded contrary to the
Propoſition, that the brighter Parts repreſented
the Water, and the Spots the Land; of this
Opinion likewiſe was Keplar at the firſt. But
my ſecond Thoughts, and the reading of others,
11Opt. Aſtro.
c. 6. num. 9.
Diſſert.
cum nuncio
Gal. have now convinced me (as after he was) of
the Truth of that Propoſition which I have
now ſet down. Before I come to the Confir-
mation of it, I ſhall mention thoſe Scruples,
which at firſt made me doubt the Truth of this
Opinion.

1. It may be Objected, ’tis Probable, if there
be any ſuch Sea and Land as ours, that it bears
ſome Proportion and Similitude with ours, but
now this Propoſition takes away all Likeneſs
betwixt them. For whereas the Superficies of
our Earth is but the Third part of the whole
Surface in the Globe. Two Parts being over-
22Exercit.
39. ſpread with the Water (as Scaliger Obſerves)
yet here, according to this Opinion, the Sea
ſhould be leſs than the Land, ſince there is

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