155143That the Moon may be a World.
militude in their Natures, for which Philoſo-
phy as yet has not found a particular Name.
The latter does ariſe from that peculiar quali-
ty, whereby the Earth is properly diſtinguiſh-
ed from the other Elements, which is its con-
denſity. Of which the more any thing does
participate, by ſo much the ſtronger will be
the deſire of Union to it. So Gold and
other Metals, which are moſt cloſe in their
Compoſition, are likewiſe moſt ſwiſt in their
motion of deſcent.
phy as yet has not found a particular Name.
The latter does ariſe from that peculiar quali-
ty, whereby the Earth is properly diſtinguiſh-
ed from the other Elements, which is its con-
denſity. Of which the more any thing does
participate, by ſo much the ſtronger will be
the deſire of Union to it. So Gold and
other Metals, which are moſt cloſe in their
Compoſition, are likewiſe moſt ſwiſt in their
motion of deſcent.
And tho’ this may ſeem to be contradicted
by the inſtance of Metals, which are of the
ſame weight, when they are melted, and when
they are hard: As alſo of Water, which does
not differ in reſpect of Gravity, when it is
frozen, and when it is Fluid: yet we muſt
know, that Mettals are not rarified by melting,
but mollified. And ſo too, for frozen Wa-
ters, they are not properly condenſed, but con-
gealed into a harder ſubſtance, the parts being
not contracted cloſer together, but ſtill poſſeſ-
ſing the ſame Extention. But yet (I ſay) ’tis
very probable, that there is ſuch a Sphere
about the Earth, which does terminate its
power of attracting other things unto it. So
that ſuppoſe a Body to be placed within the li-
mits of this Sphere, and then it muſt needs
tend downwards, towards the Centre of it.
But on the contrary, if it be beyond this com-
paſs, then there can be no ſuch mutual Attra-
ction; and ſo conſequently, it muſt reſt im-
moveable from any tuch motion.
by the inſtance of Metals, which are of the
ſame weight, when they are melted, and when
they are hard: As alſo of Water, which does
not differ in reſpect of Gravity, when it is
frozen, and when it is Fluid: yet we muſt
know, that Mettals are not rarified by melting,
but mollified. And ſo too, for frozen Wa-
ters, they are not properly condenſed, but con-
gealed into a harder ſubſtance, the parts being
not contracted cloſer together, but ſtill poſſeſ-
ſing the ſame Extention. But yet (I ſay) ’tis
very probable, that there is ſuch a Sphere
about the Earth, which does terminate its
power of attracting other things unto it. So
that ſuppoſe a Body to be placed within the li-
mits of this Sphere, and then it muſt needs
tend downwards, towards the Centre of it.
But on the contrary, if it be beyond this com-
paſs, then there can be no ſuch mutual Attra-
ction; and ſo conſequently, it muſt reſt im-
moveable from any tuch motion.
For the farther confirmation of this, I ſhall
propoſe two pertinent Obſervations.
propoſe two pertinent Obſervations.