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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312132That the Earth may be a Planet. And though in this caſe, the motion were
in it ſelf compoſed of a circular and direct;
yet in reſpect of us it would appear, and ſo
might be ſtiled exactly ſtreight.
Now if it be thus in thoſe which are ge-
nerally granted to be preternatural Moti-
ons;
we need not doubt then the poſſibility
of the like effect in that Motion which we
conceive to be proper and natural, both
to the Earth, and the things that belong
unto it.
There is yet another Objection to this
purpoſe urged by Malapertius, a late 11Auſtria-
ca Syder.
par. 2.
prop. 25.
ſuit, who though he does with much eager-
neſs preſs this Argument concerning a Bullet
or Stone, againſt the Opinion of Copernicus;
yet he grants that it might eaſily be reſol-
ved, if the defenders of it would affirm
that the Air did move round with the Earth.

But this (ſaith he) they dare not avouch;

for then the Comets would always ſeem to
ſtand ſtill, being carried about with the
Revolution of this Air, and then they could
not riſe or ſet, as experience ſhews they
do.
To this it may be anſwered, That moſt
Comets are above that Sphere of Air which
is turned round with our Earth, as is mani-
feſt by their height.
The motion that ap-
pears in them, is cauſed by the Revolution
of our Earth, whereby we are turned from
them.
As for thoſe which are within the Orb of
our Air, theſe do ſeem to ſtand ſtill.

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