John Wilkins — EEBO-TCP A15364, keyed from the 1640 edition.
Two books published together in 1640: The Discovery of a New World, arguing that the moon may be a habitable world, and A Discourse Concerning a New Planet, arguing that the earth is one of the planets. The second is the fullest English answer of its century to the charge that Copernicus contradicts Scripture — its first propositions are that novelty proves nothing, that the texts which seem to make the sun move bear another reading, and that the Holy Ghost speaks of nature as it appears to the eye. Both books take up the theological objection at every step.
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Contents (26)
- Book 1, To the Reader
- Book 1, Proposition 1, by way of Preface
- Book 1, Proposition 2. That a plurality of worlds doth not contradict any principle of reason or faith
- Book 1, Proposition 3. That the heavens doe not consist of any such pure matter, which can priviledge them from the like change and corruption, as these inferiour bodies are liable unto
- Book 1, Proposition 4. That the Moone is a solid, compacted, opacous body
- Book 1, Proposition 5. That the Moone hath not any light of her owne
- Book 1, Proposition 6. That there is a World in the Moone, hath beene the direct opinion of many ancient with some moderne Mathematicians, and may probably be deduced from the tenents of others
- Book 1, Proposition 7. That those spots and brighter parts which by our sight may be distinguished in the Moone, doe shew the difference betwixt the Sea and Land in that other World
- Book 1, Proposition 8. The spots represent the Sea, and the brighter parts the Land
- Book 1, Proposition 9. That there are high Mountaines, deepe Vallies, and spacious Plaines in the body of the Moone
- Book 1, Proposition 10. That there is an Atmo-sphaera, or an orbe of grosse, vaporous aire, immediately encompassing the body of the Moone
- Book 1, Proposition 11. That as their world is our Moone, so our world is their Moone
- Book 1, Proposition 12. That tis probable there may be such Meteors belonging to that world in the Moone, as there are with us
- Book 1, Proposition 13. That tis probable there may be inhabitants in this other World, but of what kinde they are, is uncertaine
- Book 1, Proposition 14. That tis possible for some of our posteritie, to find out a conveyance to this other world; and if there be inhabitants there, to have commerce with them
- Book 2, To the Reader
- Book 2, Proposition 1. That the seeming Noveltie and Singularitie of this opinion, can be no sufficient reason to prove it erronious
- Book 2, Proposition 2. That there is not any place in Scriptures, from which (being rightly understood) wee may inferre the diurnall motion of the Sunne or Heavens
- Book 2, Proposition 3. That the Holy Ghost, in many places of Scripture, do’s plainly conforme his expressions unto the errors of our conceits; and do’s not speake of divers things as they are in themselves, but as they appeare unto us
- Book 2, Proposition 4. That divers learned men have fallen into great absurdities, whilest they have looked for the grounds of Philosophy from the words of Scripture
- Book 2, Proposition 5. That the Scripture in it’s proper construction, do’s not any where affirme the Immobilitie of the Earth
- Book 2, Proposition 6. That there is not any Argument from the words of Scripture, principles of Nature, or observations in Astronomy, which can sufficiently evidence the Earth to bee in the centre of the Vniverse
- Book 2, Proposition 7. ‘Tis probable that the Sunne is in the centre of the World
- Book 2, Proposition 8. That there is not any sufficient reason to prove the Earth incapable of those motions which Copernicus ascribes unto it
- Book 2, Proposition 9. That it is more probable the Earth do’s move, than the Sun or Heavens
- Book 2, Proposition 10. That this Hypothesis is exactly agreeable to common appearances