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.

Page: 147 (135)

[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.

Page: 181 ((1))

[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.

Page: 364 (184)

157145That the Moon may be a World. high, they can keep themſelves up, and ſoar a-
bout by the meer extenſion of their Wings.
Now the Reaſon of this difference, is not (as
ſome falſly conceive) the depth of the Air un-
der them. For a Bird is not heavier when
there is but a foot of Air under him, than when
there is a Furlong. As appears by a Ship in
the Water, (an inſtance of the ſame nature)
which does not ſink deeper, and ſo conſequent-
ly is not heavier, when it has but five Fathom
depth, than when it has Fifty. But the true
reaſon is, the weakneſs of the deſire of Uni-
on in Denſe Bodies at a diſtance.

So that from hence, there might be juſt oc-
caſion to Tax Ariſtotle and his Followers, for
Teaching, that heavineſs is an abſolute quality
of it ſelf, and really diſtinct from condenſity:
whereas ’tis only a Modification of it, or ra-
ther, another Name given to a condenſed Bo-
dy, in reference to its Motion.

For if it were abſolute, then it ſhould al-
ways be inherent in its Subject, and not have
its Eſſence depend upon the Bodies being here
or there. But it is not ſo. For,

1. Nothing is heavy in its proper place, ac-
cording to his own principle, Nibil grave eſt
in ſuo loco. And then,

2. Nothing is heavy, which is ſo far diſtant
from that proper Orb to which it does belong,
that it is not within the reach of its Virtue. As
was before confirm’d.

But unto this it may be objected. Though a
Body being ſo plac’d, be not heavy in in actu ſe-
cundo; yet it is in actu primo: becauſe it re-
tains in it an inward proneneſs to move

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