THEORY OF THE FIRMAMENT. 5 



which are gathered together in orbs and the interstices of 

 globes, but never into perfect globes. It avers that the 

 same flamy nature in the proper place, (that is) in the 

 constellated firmament, is dispersed in infinite round 

 atoms, but yet in such sort that that twofold principle 

 of pure air and constellation be not put off, nor yet flame 

 extended to the heaven of heavens. It affirms that stars 

 are real flames, but that the actions of flame in the heavens 

 should in no wise be wrested into a comparison with the 

 actions of flame with us, most of which operate by ca 

 sualty. It affirms that the ether interspersed among 

 stars, and the stars themselves, have respective relations 

 to air and flame, but sublimated and rectified. And thus 

 with respect to the substance of the constitution or system 

 of the universe, some such ideas as these have suggested 

 themselves to our mind. 



We must now speak of the motions of the heavenly 

 bodies, on account of which we have adduced these pre 

 mises. It appears reasonable to suppose that rest is not 

 excluded from nature as to any whole (for we are not 

 now discoursing of small parts). This (waiving logical 

 and mathematical subtleties) is mainly evident from the 

 fact, that the inciting causes, and the velocities of the 

 heavenly motions, gradually slacken themselves, as tending 

 to ultimate cessation, and because that even the heavenly 

 bodies partake of rest, hard by the poles, and because, 

 if immobility be excluded the system, it is dissolved and 

 dissipated. But, if there be a certain accumulation and 

 mass of matter of an immoveable nature, there seems no 

 further room to doubt that it is the globe of the earth ; for 

 a dense and close cementing of matter disposes toward 

 a languid and reluctant motion ; as, on the contrary, a 

 loose unfolding of it towards a brisk and ready one. And 

 not without reason did Telesius, (who revived the phi 

 losophy and discussions of Parmenides in a treatise on 

 the principle of cold), introduce into nature, not indeed a 

 co-essentiality and coupling (which was his wish), but, 

 however, an affinity and agreement, to wit, on one side, of 

 hot, shining, rare, and immoveable, and, on the opposite 

 part, of cold, dark, dense, and immoveable, by placing 

 the site of the first harmony in the heavens, of the second 

 on the earth. But, if rest and immobility be conceded, 

 it seems fit that we also suppose a motion without limit and 

 to the uttermost moveable, especially in natures opposed to 



