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="26" file="0038" n="38" rhead="That the Moon may be a World."/>
          <p>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s426" xml:space="preserve">So that in the firſt ſenſe, Iyield, that there
              <lb/>
            is but one World, which is all that the Argu-
              <lb/>
            ments do prove; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s427" xml:space="preserve">but underſtand it in the ſe-
              <lb/>
            cond ſenſe, and ſo I affirm, there may be more,
              <lb/>
            nor do any of the above named Objections
              <lb/>
            prove the contrary.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s428" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s429" xml:space="preserve">Neither can this Opinion derogate from the
              <lb/>
            Divine Wiſdom (as Aquinas thinks) but rather
              <lb/>
            Advance it, ſhewing a Gompendium of Provi-
              <lb/>
            dence, that could make the ſame Body a
              <lb/>
            World, and a Moon; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s430" xml:space="preserve">a World for Habitation,
              <lb/>
            and a Moon for the uſe of others, and the Or-
              <lb/>
            nament of the whole Frame of Nature. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s431" xml:space="preserve">For as
              <lb/>
            the Members of the Body ſerve not only for
              <lb/>
            the Preſervation of themſelves, but for the
              <lb/>
            Uſe and Convenience of the whole, as the
              <lb/>
            Hand protects the Head, as well as ſaves its
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0038-01" xlink:href="note-0038-01a" xml:space="preserve">Cuſanus de
                <lb/>
              doct. igner.
                <lb/>
              1. 2. c. 12.</note>
            ſelf; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s432" xml:space="preserve">ſo is it in the parts of the Univerſe,
              <lb/>
            where each one may ſerve as well for the
              <lb/>
            Converſation of that which is within it, as the
              <lb/>
            Help of others without it.</s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s433" xml:space="preserve"/>
          </p>
          <p>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s434" xml:space="preserve">Merſennus a late Jeſuit, Propoſing the Queſti-
              <lb/>
            on, whether or no the opinion of more Worlds
              <lb/>
              <note position="left" xlink:label="note-0038-02" xlink:href="note-0038-02a" xml:space="preserve">Comment.
                <lb/>
              in Gen.
                <lb/>
              Qu, 19.
                <lb/>
              Art. 2.</note>
            than one, be Heretical, and againſt the Faith?
              <lb/>
            </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s435" xml:space="preserve">He anſwers it negatively, becauſe it does not
              <lb/>
            Contradict any expreſs place of Scripture, or
              <lb/>
            Determination of the Church. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s436" xml:space="preserve">And though
              <lb/>
            (ſaith he) it ſeems to be a raſh Opinion, as be-
              <lb/>
            ing againſt the Conſent of the Fathers; </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s437" xml:space="preserve">yet, if
              <lb/>
            this Controverſie be chiefly Philoſophical, then
              <lb/>
            their Authorities are not of ſuch Weight. </s>
            <s xml:id="echoid-s438" xml:space="preserve">Un-
              <lb/>
            to this it may be added, that the conſent of the
              <lb/>
            Fathers is prevalent only in ſuch Points as were
              <lb/>
            firſt controverted amongſt them, and then ge-
              <lb/>
            nerally decided one way, and not in ſuch </s>
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