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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              <pb o="145" file="0157" n="157" rhead="That the Moon may be a World."/>
            high, they can keep themſelves up, and ſoar a-
              <lb/>
            bout by the meer extenſion of their Wings.
              <lb/>
            </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2113" xml:space="preserve">Now the Reaſon of this difference, is not (as
              <lb/>
            ſome falſly conceive) the depth of the Air un-
              <lb/>
            der them. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2114" xml:space="preserve">For a Bird is not heavier when
              <lb/>
            there is but a foot of Air under him, than when
              <lb/>
            there is a Furlong. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2115" xml:space="preserve">As appears by a Ship in
              <lb/>
            the Water, (an inſtance of the ſame nature)
              <lb/>
            which does not ſink deeper, and ſo conſequent-
              <lb/>
            ly is not heavier, when it has but five Fathom
              <lb/>
            depth, than when it has Fifty. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2116" xml:space="preserve">But the true
              <lb/>
            reaſon is, the weakneſs of the deſire of Uni-
              <lb/>
            on in Denſe Bodies at a diſtance.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2117" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2118" xml:space="preserve">So that from hence, there might be juſt oc-
              <lb/>
            caſion to Tax Ariſtotle and his Followers, for
              <lb/>
            Teaching, that heavineſs is an abſolute quality
              <lb/>
            of it ſelf, and really diſtinct from condenſity:
              <lb/>
            </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2119" xml:space="preserve">whereas ’tis only a Modification of it, or ra-
              <lb/>
            ther, another Name given to a condenſed Bo-
              <lb/>
            dy, in reference to its Motion.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2120" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2121" xml:space="preserve">For if it were abſolute, then it ſhould al-
              <lb/>
            ways be inherent in its Subject, and not have
              <lb/>
            its Eſſence depend upon the Bodies being here
              <lb/>
            or there. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2122" xml:space="preserve">But it is not ſo. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2123" xml:space="preserve">For,</s>
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          <p>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2124" xml:space="preserve">1. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2125" xml:space="preserve">Nothing is heavy in its proper place, ac-
              <lb/>
            cording to his own principle, Nibil grave eſt
              <lb/>
            in ſuo loco. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2126" xml:space="preserve">And then,</s>
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          <p>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2127" xml:space="preserve">2. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2128" xml:space="preserve">Nothing is heavy, which is ſo far diſtant
              <lb/>
            from that proper Orb to which it does belong,
              <lb/>
            that it is not within the reach of its Virtue. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2129" xml:space="preserve">As
              <lb/>
            was before confirm’d.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2130" xml:space="preserve"/>
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          <p>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2131" xml:space="preserve">But unto this it may be objected. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2132" xml:space="preserve">Though a
              <lb/>
            Body being ſo plac’d, be not heavy in in actu ſe-
              <lb/>
            cundo; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2133" xml:space="preserve">yet it is in actu primo: </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s2134" xml:space="preserve">becauſe it re-
              <lb/>
            tains in it an inward proneneſs to move </s>
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