1principle of the Elements. Which is manifeſt, for that if I aske
the Peripatetick, if, being of opinion that Cœleſtial bodies are
incorruptibe and eternal, he believeth that the Terreſtial Globe
is not ſo, but corruptible and mortal, ſo that there ſhall come a
time, when the Sun and Moon and other Stars, continuing their
beings and operations, the Earth ſhall not be found in the
World, but ſhall with the reſt of the Elements be deſtroyed
and annihilated, I am certain that he would anſwer me, no:
therefore generation and corruption is in the parts and not in the
whole; and in the parts very ſmall and ſuperficial, which are,
as it were, incenſible in compariſon of the whole maſſe. And
becauſe Ariſtotle deduceth generation and corruption from the
contrariety of ſtreight motions, let us remit ſuch motions to the
parts, which onely change and decay, and to the whole Globe
and Sphere of the Elements, let us aſcribe either the circular
tion, or a perpetual conſiſtance in its proper place: the only
affections apt for perpetuation, and maintaining of perfect order.
This which is ſpoken of the Earth, may be ſaid with the ſame
reaſon of Fire, and of the greateſt part of the Air; to which
Elements, the Peripateticks are forced to aſcribe for intrinſical
and natural, a motion wherewith they were never yet moved,
nor never ſhall be; and to call that motion preternatural to them,
wherewith, if they move at all, they do and ever ſhall move.
This I ſay, becauſe they aſſign to the Air aud Fire the motion
upwards, wherewith thoſe Elements were never moved, but
only ſome parts of them, and thoſe were ſo moved onely in
der to the recovery of their perfect conſtitution, when they were
out of their natural places; and on the contrary they call the
circular motion preternatural to them, though they are thereby
inceſſantly moved: forgeting, as it ſeemeth, what Ariſtotle oft
culcateth, that nothing violent can be permanent.
the Peripatetick, if, being of opinion that Cœleſtial bodies are
incorruptibe and eternal, he believeth that the Terreſtial Globe
is not ſo, but corruptible and mortal, ſo that there ſhall come a
time, when the Sun and Moon and other Stars, continuing their
beings and operations, the Earth ſhall not be found in the
World, but ſhall with the reſt of the Elements be deſtroyed
and annihilated, I am certain that he would anſwer me, no:
therefore generation and corruption is in the parts and not in the
whole; and in the parts very ſmall and ſuperficial, which are,
as it were, incenſible in compariſon of the whole maſſe. And
becauſe Ariſtotle deduceth generation and corruption from the
contrariety of ſtreight motions, let us remit ſuch motions to the
parts, which onely change and decay, and to the whole Globe
and Sphere of the Elements, let us aſcribe either the circular
tion, or a perpetual conſiſtance in its proper place: the only
affections apt for perpetuation, and maintaining of perfect order.
This which is ſpoken of the Earth, may be ſaid with the ſame
reaſon of Fire, and of the greateſt part of the Air; to which
Elements, the Peripateticks are forced to aſcribe for intrinſical
and natural, a motion wherewith they were never yet moved,
nor never ſhall be; and to call that motion preternatural to them,
wherewith, if they move at all, they do and ever ſhall move.
This I ſay, becauſe they aſſign to the Air aud Fire the motion
upwards, wherewith thoſe Elements were never moved, but
only ſome parts of them, and thoſe were ſo moved onely in
der to the recovery of their perfect conſtitution, when they were
out of their natural places; and on the contrary they call the
circular motion preternatural to them, though they are thereby
inceſſantly moved: forgeting, as it ſeemeth, what Ariſtotle oft
culcateth, that nothing violent can be permanent.
Ariſt. & Ptolomey
make the
strial Globe
veable.
make the
strial Globe
veable.
It is better to ſay,
that the
al Globe naturally
resteth, than that
it moveth directly
downwards.
that the
al Globe naturally
resteth, than that
it moveth directly
downwards.
*The word is, all'
ingiù, which the
Latine verſion
dreth ſurſùm,
which is quite
trary to the
thors ſenſe.
ingiù, which the
Latine verſion
dreth ſurſùm,
which is quite
trary to the
thors ſenſe.
Right Motion
with more reaſon
attributed to the
parts, than to the
whole Elements.
with more reaſon
attributed to the
parts, than to the
whole Elements.
The Peripateticks
improperly aſſign
thoſe motious to
the Elements for
Natural, with
which they never
were moved, and
thoſe for
natural with which
they alwayes are
moved.
improperly aſſign
thoſe motious to
the Elements for
Natural, with
which they never
were moved, and
thoſe for
natural with which
they alwayes are
moved.
SIMPL. To all theſe we have very pertinent anſwers, which
I for this time omit, that we may come to the more particular
reaſons, and ſenſible experiments, which ought in concluſion to
be oppoſed, as Ariſtotle ſaitn well, to whatever humane reaſon
can preſent us with.
I for this time omit, that we may come to the more particular
reaſons, and ſenſible experiments, which ought in concluſion to
be oppoſed, as Ariſtotle ſaitn well, to whatever humane reaſon
can preſent us with.
Senſible
ments to be
red to humane
Arguments.
ments to be
red to humane
Arguments.
SAGR. What hath been ſpoken hitherto, ſerves to clear up
unto us which of the two general diſcourſes carrieth with it moſt
of probability, I mean that of Ariſtotle, which would perſwade
us, that the ſublunary bodies are by nature generable, and
ptible, &c. and therefore moſt different from the eſſence of
leftial bodies, which are impaſſible, ingenerable, incorruptible,
&c. drawn from the diverſity of ſimple motions; or elſe this of
Salviatus, who ſuppoſing the integral parts of the World to be
diſpoſed in a perfect conſtitution, excludes by neceſſary
unto us which of the two general diſcourſes carrieth with it moſt
of probability, I mean that of Ariſtotle, which would perſwade
us, that the ſublunary bodies are by nature generable, and
ptible, &c. and therefore moſt different from the eſſence of
leftial bodies, which are impaſſible, ingenerable, incorruptible,
&c. drawn from the diverſity of ſimple motions; or elſe this of
Salviatus, who ſuppoſing the integral parts of the World to be
diſpoſed in a perfect conſtitution, excludes by neceſſary
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