Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/60

 nerating and decaying; winds, rains, tempests, storms arising; and in a word, the aspect of the Earth to be perpetually metamorphosing; none of which mutations are to be discern'd in the Cœlestial bodies; the constitution and figuration of which is most punctually conformable to that they ever were time out of mind; without the generation of any thing that is new, or corruption of any thing that was old.

But if you content your self with these visible, or to say better, seen experiments, you must consequently account China and America Cœlestial bodies, for doubtlesse you never be held in them these alterations which you see here in Italy, and that therefore according to your apprehension they are inalterable.

Though I never did see these alterations sensibly in those places, the relations of them are not to be questioned; besides that, cum eadem sit ratio totius, & partium, those Countreys being a part of the Earth, as well as ours, they must of necessity be alterable as these are.

And why have you not, without being put to believe other mens relations, examined and observed those alterations with your own eyes?

Because those places, besides that they are not exposed to our eyes, are so remote, that our sight cannot reach to comprehend therein such like mutations.

See now, how you have unawares discovered the fallacy of your Argument; for, if you say that the alterations that are seen on the Earth neer at hand, cannot, by reason of the too great distance, be seen in America, much lesse can you see them in the Moon, which is so many hundred times more remote: And if you believe the alterations in Mexico upon the report of those that come from thence, what intelligence have you from the Moon, to assure you that there is no such alterations in it? Therefore, from your not seeing any alterations in Heaven, whereas, if there were any such, you could not see them by reason of their too great distance, and from your not having intelligence thereof, in regard that it cannot be had, you ought not to argue, that there are no such alterations; howbeit, from the seeing and observing of them on Earth, you well argue that therein such there are.

I will shew so great mutations that have befaln on the Earth; that if any such had happened in the Moon, they might very well have been observed here below. We find in very antient records, that heretofore at the Streights of Gibraltar, the two great Mountains Abila, and Calpen, were continued together by certain other lesse Mountains, which there gave check