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

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That the Earth may be a Planet.

form them, as well as others, 'tis requiſite
that it ſhould uſe the moſt plain and eaſy
expreſſions. To this purpoſe likewiſe is that
of Merſennus, Mille ſunt Scripturæ loca, & c. In Gen.
c. 1. v. 10.
art. 6.
V. Hiero.
in Fer. 28.
Aquinas
in Job 25.
7‘ There are very many places of Scripture,
‘ which are not to be interpreted according
‘ to the Letter; and that for this reaſon,
‘ becauſe God would apply himſelf unto our
‘ capacity and ſenſe: Preſertim in iis, quæ
ad res naturales, oculiſque ſubjectas pertinent;
more eſpecially in thoſe things which con-
cern Nature, and are ſubject to our Eyes.
And therefore in the very ſame place, tho
he be eager enough againſt Copernicus, yet
he concludes that Opinion not to be an He-
reſy; becauſe (ſaith he) thoſe Scriptures
which ſeem to oppoſeit, are not ſo evident,
but that they may be capable of another In-
terpretation : Intimating, that it was not
unlikely they ſhould be underſtood in refe-
rence to outward appearance, and common
opinion. And that this manner of ſpeech is
frequently uſed in many other places of
Scripture, may be eaſily manifeſt from theſe
following Examples. Thus tho the Moon
may be proved, by infallible obſervation, to
be leſs than any of the viſible Stars; yet
becauſe of its appearance, and vulgar opi-
nion, therefore doth the Scripture, in Com-
Gen.1. 16.
Pſ. 136. 7.pariſon to them, call it one of the Great
Lights. Of which place, ſaith Calvin, Mo-
ſes populariter ſcripſit, nos potius reſpexit quam
ſydera. Moſes did not ſo much regard the
Nature of the thing, as our Capacity; and

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