Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/69

 Now I remember the rest, and to proceed, Methinks there are some things in the answer to Anti-Tycho, worthy of reprehension. And first, if the two New Stars, which he can do no less than place in the uppermost parts of the Heavens, and which were of a long duration, but finally vanished, give him no obstruction in maintaining the inalterability of Heaven, in that they were not certain parts thereof, nor mutations made in the antient Stars, why doth he set himself so vigorously and earnestly against the Comets, to banish them by all ways from the Cœlestial Regions? Was it not enough that he could say of them the same which he spoke of the New stars? to wit, that in regard they were no certain parts of Heaven, nor mutations made in any of the Stars, they could no wise prejudice either Heaven, or the Doctrine of Aristotle? Secondly, I am not very well satisfied of his meaning; when he saith that the alterations that should be granted to be made in the Stars, would be destructive to the prerogative of Heaven; namely, its incorruptibility, &c. and this, because the Stars are Cœlestial substances, as is manifest by the consent of every one; and yet is nothing troubled that the same alterations should be made * without the Stars in the rest of the Cœlestial expansion. Doth he think that Heaven is no Cœlestial substance? I, for my part, did believe that the Stars were called Cœlestial bodies, by reason that they were in Heaven, or for that they were made of the substance of Heaven; and yet I thought that Heaven was more Cœlestial than they; in like sort, as nothing can be said to be more Terrestrial, or more fiery than the Earth or Fire themselves. And again, in that he never made any mention of the Solar spots, which have been evidently demonstrated to be produced, and dissolved, and to be neer the Sun, and to turn either with, or about the same, I have reason to think that this Author probably did write more for others pleasure, than for his own satisfaction; and this I affirm, forasmuch as he having shewn himself to be skilful in the Mathematicks, it is impossible but that he should have been convinced by Demonstrations, that those substances are of necessity contiguous with the body of the Sun, and are so great generations and corruptions, that none comparable to them, ever happen in the Earth: And if such, so many, and so frequent be made in the very Globe of the Sun, which may with reason be held one of the noblest parts of Heaven, what should make us think that others may not happen in the other Orbs.

I cannot without great admiration, nay more, denial of my understanding, hear it to be attributed to natural bodies, for a great honour and perfection that they are * impassible, immutable, inalterable, &c. And on the contrary, to hear it to