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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19515That the Earth may be a Planet. of our Philoſophical thirſt, does deſerve ra-
ther
to be ſtiled by the name of Modeſty,
than
Boldneſs.
And in another place, he
11Met. lib.
12
. cap. 8.
refers the Reader to the different Opinions
of
Aſtronomers, adviſing him to examin their
ſeveral
tenents, as well Eudoxus as Calippus;
and to entertain that (not which is moſt an-
tient
, but) which is moſt exact and agree-
able
to Reaſon.
And as for Ptolomy, ’tis his
22Alm. lib.
13
. cap. 2.
counſel, that we ſhould endeavour to frame
ſuch
ſuppoſitions of the Heavens, as might
be
more ſimple, being void of all ſuperflui-
ties
:
And he confeſſes, that his Hypotheſis had
many
implications in it, together with ſun-
dry
intricate and unlikely turnings;
and
therefore
in the ſame place, he ſeems to ad-
moniſh
us, that we ſhould not be too confi-
dent
the Heavens were really in the ſame
Form
, wherein Aſtronomers did ſuppoſe
them
.
So that ’tis likely, ’twas his chief in-
tent
to propoſe unto us ſuch a frame of the
Cœleſtial
Bodies, from which we might, in
ſome
meaſure, conceive of their different ap-
pearances
;
and according to which, we
might
be able to calculate their motions.
But
now
, ’tis Copernicus his endeavour, to pro-
pound
unto us, the true natural Cauſes of
theſe
ſeveral Motions, and Appearances:
It was the intent of the one, to ſettle the
Imagination
;
and of the other, to ſatisfie the
judgment
.
So, that we have no reaſon to
doubt
of his aſſent unto this Opinion, if he
had
but clearly underſtood all the grounds
of
it.

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