11. Essay towards a Real Character, and a Philosophical Language. London, 1668, folio. 12. An Alphabetical Dictionary: wherein all English Words, according to their various Significations, are either referred to their Places in the Philosophical Tables, or explained by such Words as are in those Tables. This is printed with the Essay. CONTENTS. THAT THE MOON MAY BE A WORLD. THAT the strangeness of this opinion is no sufficient reason why it should be rejected; because other certain truths have been formerly esteemed ridiculous, and great absurdities entertained by common consent. II. That a plurality of worlds does not contradict any prin- III. That the heavens do not consist of any fuch pure mat- ter which can privilege them from the like change and corruption, as these inferior bodies are liable unto...... 23 IV. That the moon is a solid, compacted, opaceous body...... 32 V. That the moon hath not any light of her own VI. That there is a world in the moon, hath been the direct opinion of many ancient, with some modern mathema- BOOK II. THAT THE EARTH MAY BE A PLANET. PROPOSITION I. That the seeming novelty and singularity of this opinion can be no sufficient reason to prove it erroneous II. That the places of scripture which seem to intimate the diurnal motion of the sun or heavens, are fairly capable of another interpretation Page 135 ....... 149 III. That the holy ghost in many places of scripture does plainly conform his expressions to the error of our conceits, and does not speak of sundry things as they are in themselves, but as they appear unto us IV. That divers learned men have fallen into great absurdities, whilst they have looked for the grounds of philosophy from the words of scripture 159 174 V. That the words of scripture, in their proper and strict construction, do not anywhere affirm the immobility of the earth 181 VI. 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 be in the centre of the universe..... 189 VII. It is probable that the sun is in the centre of the world 203 VIII. That there is not any sufficient reason to prove the earth incapable of those motions which Copernicus IX. That it is more probable the earth does move than the heavens 231 X. That this hypothesis is exactly agreeable to common ap pearances 243 |