14 THEORY OF THE FIRMAMENT. 



signs of the Zodiac, which same sun does yet communicate 

 with the rest of the planets, as to their paths within the 

 tropics, does not allow us to entertain this opinion. Where 

 fore we must seek for different sources of this and of the 

 other three motions. And these are the points, with regard 

 to the heavenly motions, which appear to us to be fraught 

 with a less degree of inconvenience. But we must see 

 what they may be found to deny, and what to affirm. They 

 deny that the earth revolves. They deny that there are in 

 the heavens two motions from the east to different points 

 of the west ; and they affirm one, that outstrips and conse 

 quently leaves behind others. They deny any oblique circle 

 and its different polarity, and they affirm spiral curves. 

 They deny a primum mobile separated and forced asunder ; 

 and they affirm a cosmical consent, as it were the common 

 bond of the system. They affirm that a diurnal motion is 

 found not in the sky or heavens, but in the air, in waters, 

 even in what are placed on the superficies of the earth, as 

 far as relates to their turning round. They affirm that 

 that close following and cosmical rolling in fluids is their 

 whirling tendency to become consistent, till at length they 

 reach a state of perfect rest. They deny that the stars are 

 fixed like knots in a board. They deny that eccentric 

 circles, epicycles, and such like crafty devices are realities. 

 They affirm that a magnetic motion, or one having a power 

 to collect matter together, is in full vigour in the stars, by 

 which fire elicits fire, and elevates it. They affirm that, in 

 the firmament of the planets, the bodies of the planets move 

 and revolve quicker than the rest of the heavens in which 

 they are placed, which certainly revolves, but slower. They 

 affirm from that inequality the waves, the undulations, the 

 flowings and ebbings of the ethereal atmosphere of the 

 planets; and from them that various motions are drawn 

 forth. They affirm a necessity in the planets of revolving 

 quicker or slower, according as&quot; they may be placed higher 

 or lower in the heavens, and that from the consent of the 

 universe. But at the same time they affirm the languor, 

 resulting from an incitement in their course beyond what 

 nature has prescribed, in the planets both of the greater 

 and lesser orbit. They affirm the following after the sun, 

 from the defective nature of weaker flames, of Venus and 

 Mercury; since even the moving stars, the attendants of 

 Jupiter, have been discovered by Galilreus. But these are 

 matters of which we, standing as it were in the threshold 



