1by reaſon of their proclivity make towards their Centre are
Grave, and thoſe that incline to the Circumference Light. And
ſo in the Sun, Moon, and Starrs, there are parts as well Grave as
Light. And conſequently Heaven it ſelf that ſo Noble Body,
and of a fifth Eſſence, ſhall not be conſtituted of a Matter diffe
rent from that of the Elements, being free from all Mutation in
it's Subſtance, Quantity, and Quality: Nor ſo admirable and
excellent as Ariſtotle would make us to believe; nor yet a ſolid
Body, and impermeable; and much leſſe (as the generality of
men verily believe) of an impenetrable and moſt obdurate Den
ſity: but in it (as this Opinion will have it) Comets may be ge
nerated; and the Sun it ſelf, as tis probable, exhaling or attract
ing ſundry vapours to the ſurface of its Body, may perhaps pro
duce thoſe Spots which were obſerved to be ſo various, and irre
gular in its Diſcus: of which Galilæus in a perticular ^{*} Treatiſe
hath moſt excellently and moſt accurately ſpoken; inſomuch,
that though it were not beſides my preſent purpoſe, yet it is con
venient that I forbear to ſpeak any thing touching thoſe matters,
leaſt I ſhould ſeem to do that which he hath done before me: But
now if there be found in the Sacred Scriptures any Authority
contrary to theſe things, it may be ſalved by the foreſaid Argu
ments Analogically applyed. And further more it may be ſaid,
that that Solidity is to be ſo underſtood, as that it admits of no
vacuum, cleft, or penetration from whence the leaſt vacuity might
proceed For the truth is, as that cannot be admitted in bodily
Creatures, ſo it is likewiſe repugnant to Heaven it ſelf, being
indeed a Body of its own Nature the moſt Rare of all o
thers, and tenuoſe beyond all Humane Conception, and happly
hath the ſame proportion to the Aire, as the Aire to the
Water.
Grave, and thoſe that incline to the Circumference Light. And
ſo in the Sun, Moon, and Starrs, there are parts as well Grave as
Light. And conſequently Heaven it ſelf that ſo Noble Body,
and of a fifth Eſſence, ſhall not be conſtituted of a Matter diffe
rent from that of the Elements, being free from all Mutation in
it's Subſtance, Quantity, and Quality: Nor ſo admirable and
excellent as Ariſtotle would make us to believe; nor yet a ſolid
Body, and impermeable; and much leſſe (as the generality of
men verily believe) of an impenetrable and moſt obdurate Den
ſity: but in it (as this Opinion will have it) Comets may be ge
nerated; and the Sun it ſelf, as tis probable, exhaling or attract
ing ſundry vapours to the ſurface of its Body, may perhaps pro
duce thoſe Spots which were obſerved to be ſo various, and irre
gular in its Diſcus: of which Galilæus in a perticular ^{*} Treatiſe
hath moſt excellently and moſt accurately ſpoken; inſomuch,
that though it were not beſides my preſent purpoſe, yet it is con
venient that I forbear to ſpeak any thing touching thoſe matters,
leaſt I ſhould ſeem to do that which he hath done before me: But
now if there be found in the Sacred Scriptures any Authority
contrary to theſe things, it may be ſalved by the foreſaid Argu
ments Analogically applyed. And further more it may be ſaid,
that that Solidity is to be ſo underſtood, as that it admits of no
vacuum, cleft, or penetration from whence the leaſt vacuity might
proceed For the truth is, as that cannot be admitted in bodily
Creatures, ſo it is likewiſe repugnant to Heaven it ſelf, being
indeed a Body of its own Nature the moſt Rare of all o
thers, and tenuoſe beyond all Humane Conception, and happly
hath the ſame proportion to the Aire, as the Aire to the
Water.
Gravity and Le
vity of Bodies,
what it is.
vity of Bodies,
what it is.
All Cœleſtial Bo
dies have Gravity
and Levety.
dies have Gravity
and Levety.
Compreſſive Ma
tion, proper to
Gravity; the Ex
tenſive, to Levity.
tion, proper to
Gravity; the Ex
tenſive, to Levity.
Heaven is not
compoſed of a fift
Eſſence differing
from the matter of
inferior Bodies.
compoſed of a fift
Eſſence differing
from the matter of
inferior Bodies.
Nor yet a Solid
or denſe Body but
Rare.
or denſe Body but
Rare.
* Delle Macchie
ſolarj.
ſolarj.
* Vnius Corporis
fimplicis, unus eſt
motus ſimplex, et
huic duæ ſpecies,
Rectus & Circu
laris: Rectus du
plex à medio, &
ad medium; pri
mus levium, ut A
eris & Ignis: ſe
cundus gravium,
ut Aquæ & Ter
ræ: Circularis,
quieſt circa medi
um competit Cœlo,
quod neque eſt
grave, neque leve.
Ariſt. de Cœlo.
Lib. 1.
fimplicis, unus eſt
motus ſimplex, et
huic duæ ſpecies,
Rectus & Circu
laris: Rectus du
plex à medio, &
ad medium; pri
mus levium, ut A
eris & Ignis: ſe
cundus gravium,
ut Aquæ & Ter
ræ: Circularis,
quieſt circa medi
um competit Cœlo,
quod neque eſt
grave, neque leve.
Ariſt. de Cœlo.
Lib. 1.
It is clear alſo from theſe Principles how falſe theſe words of
Ariſtotle are, that: Of one ſimple Body, there is one ſimple Motion;
and this is of two kindes, Right and Circular: the Right is two
fold, from the medium, and to the medium; the firſt of Light Bo
dyes, as the Aire and Fire: the ſecond of Grave Bodyes, as the
Water and Earth: the Circular, which is about the medium, be
longeth to Heaven, which is neither Grave nor Light: For all this
Philoſophy is now forſaken, and of it ſelf grown into diſ-eſteem;
for though it be received for an unqueſtionable truth in this new
Opinion, that to a ſimple body appertains one only ſimple Moti
on, yet it granteth no Motion but what is Circular, by which alone
aſimple body is conſerved in its naturall Place, and ſubſiſts in its
Unity, and is properly ſaid to move in loco [in a place:] whereby
it comes to paſs that a Body for this reaſon doth continue to move
in it ſelf, [or about its own axis;] and although it have a Motion,
Ariſtotle are, that: Of one ſimple Body, there is one ſimple Motion;
and this is of two kindes, Right and Circular: the Right is two
fold, from the medium, and to the medium; the firſt of Light Bo
dyes, as the Aire and Fire: the ſecond of Grave Bodyes, as the
Water and Earth: the Circular, which is about the medium, be
longeth to Heaven, which is neither Grave nor Light: For all this
Philoſophy is now forſaken, and of it ſelf grown into diſ-eſteem;
for though it be received for an unqueſtionable truth in this new
Opinion, that to a ſimple body appertains one only ſimple Moti
on, yet it granteth no Motion but what is Circular, by which alone
aſimple body is conſerved in its naturall Place, and ſubſiſts in its
Unity, and is properly ſaid to move in loco [in a place:] whereby
it comes to paſs that a Body for this reaſon doth continue to move
in it ſelf, [or about its own axis;] and although it have a Motion,
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