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

[41.] PROP. XII.

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[42.] PROP. XIII.

Page: 136 (124)

[43.] PROP. XIV.

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[44.] FINIS.

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[45.] A DISCOURSE Concerning a Rem Planet. Tending to prove That ’tis probable our EARTH is one of the PLANETS. The Second Book. By John Wilkins, late L. Biſhop of Cheſter.

[46.] LONDON: Printed by J. D. for John Gellibrand, at the Golden Ball in St. Paul’s Church-Yard. M.DC.LXXXIV.

[47.] To the Reader.

[48.] PROP. I.

[49.] PROP. II.

[50.] PROP. III.

[51.] PROP. IV.

[52.] PROP. V.

[53.] PROP. VI.

[54.] PROP. VII. PROP. VIII. PROP. IX. PROP. X.

[55.] That the EARTH May be a PLANET. PROP. I.

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[56.] PROP. II.

[57.] PROP. III.

[58.] PROP. IV.

[59.] PROP. V. That the Scripture, in its proper conſtru-ction, does not any where affirm the Immobility of the Earth.

[60.] PROP. VI. That there is not any Argument from the Words of Scripture, Principles of Na-ture, or Obſervations in Aſtronomy, which can ſuſſiciently evidence the Earth to be in the Gentre of the Uni-verſe.

[61.] PROP. VII. Tis probable that the Sun is in the Gentre of the World.

[62.] PROP. VIII. That there is not any ſufficient reaſon to prove the Earth incapable of thoſe mo-tions which Copernicus aſcribes un-to it.

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[63.] Provebimur portu, terræque, verbeſq; recedunt.

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[64.] PROP. IX. That it is more probable the Earth does move, than the Sun or Heavens.

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[65.] PROP. X. That this Hypotheſis is exactly agreeable to common appearances.

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[66.] Quicunq; ſolam mente præcipiti petit

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[67.] Brevem replere non valentis ambitum, # Pudebit aucti nominis.

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[68.] FINIS.

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3018That the Moon may be a World. to him, as he ſaid to his Maſter Plato, ἀμφοῖν
{γὰ}ρὄνται φιλοιν, ὅσιν {ωρο}τιμᾶν τὴνἀλή θ{ει}ν ‘Though
11Ethic. l. 1.
c. 9. ‘Plato were his Friend, yet he would rather
‘adhere to Truth, than him.

I muſt needs grant, that we are all much
beholden to the Induſtry of the Ancient Philo-
ſophers, and more eſpecially to Ariſtotle, for
the greater part of our Learning; but yet ’tis
not Ingratitude to ſpeak againſt him, when he
oppoſeth Truth; for then many of the Fathers
would be very Guilty, eſpecially Juſtin, who
hath writ a Treatiſe purpoſely againſt him.

But ſuppoſe this opinion were falſe, yet ’tis
not againſt the Faith, and ſo it may ſerve for
the better confirmation of that which is True;
the Sparks of Errour, being forced out by
Oppoſition, as the Sparks of Fire by the ſtrike-
ing of the Flint and Steel. But ſuppoſe too,
that it were Heretical, and againſt the Faith,
yet may it be admitted with the ſame Privi-
ledge as Ariſtotle, from whom many more
dangerous Opinions have proceeded; as, That
the World is Eternal, That God cannot have
while to look after theſe Inferiour things;
That after Death there is no Reward or Pu-
niſhment, and ſuch like Blaſphemies, which
ſtrike directly at the Fundamentals of our Re-
ligion.

So that it is juſtly to be wondred, why
ſome ſhould be ſo Superſtitious in theſe Days,
as to ſtick cloſer unto him, than unto Scripture,
as if his Philoſophy were the only Foundation
of all Divine Truths.

Upon theſe Grounds, both St. Vincentius,
and Serafinus de firmo (as I have ſeen

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