Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/266

 from the impute, the mortal from the immortal, as other Schools teach; which tell us that these impure and frail matters are contained within the angust concave of the Lunar Orb, above which with uninterrupted Series the things Celestial distend themselves.

It's true that the Copernican Systeme introduceth distraction in the universe of Aristotle; but we speak of our own Universe, that is true and real. Again if this Author will infer the disparity of essence between the Earth and Celestial bodies from the incorruptibility of them, and the corruptibility of it in the method of Aristotle, from which disparity he concludeth motion to belong to the Sun and fixed Stars, and the immobility of the Earth, he will flatter himself with a Paralogisme, supposing that which is in question; for Aristotle inferreth the incorruptibility of Celestial bodies from motion, which is in dispute, whether it belongeth to them or to the Earth. Of the vanity of these Rhetorical Illations enough hath been spoken. And what can be more fond, than to say, that the Earth and Elements are banished and sequestred from the Celestial Spheres, and confined within the Lunar Orb? Is, not then the Moons Orb one of the Celestial Spheres, and according to consent comprised in the middle of all the rest? Its a new way to separate the pure from the impure, and the sick from the sound, to assigne the infected quarters in the heart of the City: I had thought that the * Pest-house ought to have been removed as far off as was possible. Copernicus admireth the disposition of the parts of the Universe, for that God hath constituted the grand Lamp, which is to give light all over his Temple in the centre of it, and not on one side. And as to the Earths being betwixt Venus and Mars, we will but hint the same; and do you, in favour of this Author, trie to remove it thence. But let us not * mix these Rhetorical Flowers with solid Demonstrations, rather let us leave them to the Orators, or if you will to the Poets, who know how in their drolling way to exalt by their prayses things most sordid, yea and sometimes most pernicious. And if any thing else remain, let us dispatch it, as we have done the rest.

There is the sixth and last argument; wherein he maketh it a very improbale thing. [That a corruptible and dissipable body should move with a perpetual and regular motion; and this be confirmeth with the example of living creatures, which moving with a motion natural to them, yet grow weary, and have need of repose to restore their strength.] But what hath this motion to do with that of the Earth, that in comparision to theirs is immense? Besides, to make it move with three motions that run and draw several wayes: Who would ever assert such Paradoxes, unlesse he had sworn to be their defender? Nor doth that avail in this