1while imperceptible, not to ſay ſmall. This being ſo, I demand
in relation to what the Starry Sphere of Copernicus may be
led over vaſt. In my judgment it cannot be compared, or ſaid
to be ſuch, unleſſe it be in relation to ſome other thing of the
ſame kind; now let us take the very leaſt of the ſame kind,
which ſhall be the Lunar Orb; and if the Starry Orb may be ſo
cenſured to be too big in reſpect to that of the Moon, every
ther magnitude that with like or greater proportion exceedeth
another of the ſame kind, ought to be adjudged too vaſt, and
for the ſame reaſon to be denied that they are to be found in the
World; and thus an Elephant, and a Whale, ſhall without more
ado be condemned for Chymæra's, and Poetical fictions,
cauſe that the one as being too vaſt in relation to an Ant, which
is a Terreſtrial animal, and the other in reſpect to the ^{*}Gudgeon,
which is a Fiſh, and are certainly ſeen to be in rerum natura,
would be too immeaſurable; for without all diſpute, the
phant and Whale exceed the Ant and Gudgeon in a much
er proportion than the Starry Sphere doth that of the Moon,
although we ſhould fancy the ſaid Sphere to be as big as the
pernican Syſteme maketh it. Moreover, how hugely big is the
Sphere of Jupiter, or that of Saturn, defigned for a receptacle
but for one ſingle ſtar; and that very ſmall in compariſon of one
of the fixed? Certainly if we ſhould aſſign to every one of the
fixed ſtars for its receptacle ſo great a part of the Worlds ſpace,
it would be neceſſary to make the Orb wherein ſuch innumerable
multitudes of them reſide, very many thouſands of times
ger than that which ſerveth the purpoſe of Copernicus. Beſides,
do not you call a fixed ſtar very ſmall, I mean even one of the
moſt apparent, and not one of thoſe which ſhun our ſight; and
do we not call them ſo in reſpect of the vaſt ſpace circumfuſed?
Now if the whole Starry Sphere were one entire lucid body; who
is there, that doth not know that in an infinite ſpace there might be
aſſigned a diſtance ſo great, as that the ſaid lucid Sphere might
from thence ſhew as little, yea leſſe than a fixed ſtar, now
peareth beheld from the Earth? From thence therefore we
ſhould then judg that ſelf ſame thing to be little, which now from
hence we eſteem to be immeaſurably great.
in relation to what the Starry Sphere of Copernicus may be
led over vaſt. In my judgment it cannot be compared, or ſaid
to be ſuch, unleſſe it be in relation to ſome other thing of the
ſame kind; now let us take the very leaſt of the ſame kind,
which ſhall be the Lunar Orb; and if the Starry Orb may be ſo
cenſured to be too big in reſpect to that of the Moon, every
ther magnitude that with like or greater proportion exceedeth
another of the ſame kind, ought to be adjudged too vaſt, and
for the ſame reaſon to be denied that they are to be found in the
World; and thus an Elephant, and a Whale, ſhall without more
ado be condemned for Chymæra's, and Poetical fictions,
cauſe that the one as being too vaſt in relation to an Ant, which
is a Terreſtrial animal, and the other in reſpect to the ^{*}Gudgeon,
which is a Fiſh, and are certainly ſeen to be in rerum natura,
would be too immeaſurable; for without all diſpute, the
phant and Whale exceed the Ant and Gudgeon in a much
er proportion than the Starry Sphere doth that of the Moon,
although we ſhould fancy the ſaid Sphere to be as big as the
pernican Syſteme maketh it. Moreover, how hugely big is the
Sphere of Jupiter, or that of Saturn, defigned for a receptacle
but for one ſingle ſtar; and that very ſmall in compariſon of one
of the fixed? Certainly if we ſhould aſſign to every one of the
fixed ſtars for its receptacle ſo great a part of the Worlds ſpace,
it would be neceſſary to make the Orb wherein ſuch innumerable
multitudes of them reſide, very many thouſands of times
ger than that which ſerveth the purpoſe of Copernicus. Beſides,
do not you call a fixed ſtar very ſmall, I mean even one of the
moſt apparent, and not one of thoſe which ſhun our ſight; and
do we not call them ſo in reſpect of the vaſt ſpace circumfuſed?
Now if the whole Starry Sphere were one entire lucid body; who
is there, that doth not know that in an infinite ſpace there might be
aſſigned a diſtance ſo great, as that the ſaid lucid Sphere might
from thence ſhew as little, yea leſſe than a fixed ſtar, now
peareth beheld from the Earth? From thence therefore we
ſhould then judg that ſelf ſame thing to be little, which now from
hence we eſteem to be immeaſurably great.
Great, ſmall,
immenſe, &c. are
relative terms.
immenſe, &c. are
relative terms.
Vanity of thoſe
mens diſcour ſewho
judg the ſtarry
ſphere too vaſt in
the Copernican
Hypotheſis.
mens diſcour ſewho
judg the ſtarry
ſphere too vaſt in
the Copernican
Hypotheſis.
* Spilloncola, which
is here put for the
leaſt of Fiſhes.
is here put for the
leaſt of Fiſhes.
The ſpace
ſigned to a fixed
ſtar, is much ieſſe
than that of a
net.
ſigned to a fixed
ſtar, is much ieſſe
than that of a
net.
A ſtar is
led in reſpect of the
ſpace that environs
it.
led in reſpect of the
ſpace that environs
it.
The whole
ry ſphere beheld
from a great
ſtance might
pear as ſmall as
one ſingle ſtar.
ry ſphere beheld
from a great
ſtance might
pear as ſmall as
one ſingle ſtar.
SAGR. Great in my judgment, is the folly of thoſe who
would have had God to have made the World more proportinal
to the narrow capacities of their reaſon, than to his immenſe,
rather infinite power.
would have had God to have made the World more proportinal
to the narrow capacities of their reaſon, than to his immenſe,
rather infinite power.
SIMP. All this that you ſay is very true; but that upon
which the adverſary makes a ſcruple, is, to grant that a fixed
ſtar ſhould be not onely equal to, but ſo much bigger than the
Sun; when as they both are particular bodies ſituate within the
which the adverſary makes a ſcruple, is, to grant that a fixed
ſtar ſhould be not onely equal to, but ſo much bigger than the
Sun; when as they both are particular bodies ſituate within the