A new treatise proving a multiplicity of worlds that the planets are regions inhabited and the earth a star, and that it is out of the center of the world in a third heaven, and turns round before the sun which is fixed : and other most rare and curious things / by Peter Borell ...

CHAP. I.

Of the Plurality of Worlds in general, being as a Preface to the following Chapters.

WE may truly say, that Preoccupation is an horrid Monster, which makes

a strange havock in the spirits of Men, hinders the progress of Sciences, and causes Men to droop in a constant igno∣rance; for they who by it are once prepossessed, can judge of nothing by them∣selves, censure the best opi∣nions that are, assert those of their Masters, whether good or bad; and having conceived a distaste of what∣soever checks what is contra∣ry to their belief, though grosse and ignorant, bring forth nothing but contempts and blames against those who endeavour to open their eyes, and root them out of the darknesse of their igno∣rance, to draw them to the enjoyment of the true light

and knowledg of things.

The which is more parti∣cularly practised now in this Age wherein we live, where∣in Men live but by imitation, wherein learned Men are despised, wherein they who have some particular and rare notions upon subject matters of great moment and concernment to mens know∣ledge, are esteemed extrava∣gant and ridiculous, wherein no new proposition can be admitted.

But alas, what may I hope, seeing this evill is like a gan∣grene, and hath taken so deep root, that it hath robb'd men of their senses and feeling, who by it are infected, Con∣sidering, that those who are

most possess'd with it, do not think so themselves to be; What then may I expect, who am going to propose some Novelties, not of things that are in the Earth, but even in the Heavens; and not onely in the Heavens, but also in the bodies of the Stars.

As soon as the Title of this Discourse shall appear to the eyes of Men, they will con∣demn me before they hear me; neither will they so much as read my Reasons, and will rather live in igno∣rance, then change their opi∣nion; and be as beasts in the World, than know the secrets thereof.

Most men think it a shame to confesse, that they are ig∣norant

of some thing, and that they are in the wrong; for on the contrary, it's the way to find out the truth, considering, that new reasons are alwayes sought for what we esteem our selves ignorant of.

Mens ignorance is so great, that the holy Scriptures have declared Mens knowledg to be nothing else but vanity; and if we do not flatter our selves, we shall find, that we know nothing but is or may be controverted. Divinity it self is not exempted from it; and as for the other Sciences and Arts, those great & many Volumes that we have of them, sufficiently testifie the same. And this hath moved

the Pyrrhonians and Scepticks, to doubt and question all things, and hath brought forth severall Books of the vanity of Sciences, the Astro∣logy, the Medicine, the Juris∣prudence, and the naturall Physick are daily moved and shaken, and see their foun∣dations totter; Ramus did overthrow Aristotle's Philo∣sophy; Copernicus, Ptolomey's Astrologie; Paracelsus, Ga∣len's Physick; So that every one hath followers and disci∣ples, and all appearing plau∣sible. We have much ado whom to believe, and there∣by are constrained to con∣fesse, that what we know, is much lesse then what we know not.

I greatly esteem Michael Mountanus's Judgment, who is the honour of our Age upon this point; for it is conso∣nant to reason, and my opi∣nion hereupon is for the most part agreeing with his; and especially with that is the subject matter of this Trea∣tise: Amongst a thousand rare thoughts that he hath upon it, he alledges a most exqui∣site similitude, by which he compares learned persons to the ears of corn, which be∣ing well fill'd, do bow down their heads; for after they have learned all Sciences, and have consumed themselves in them, they are constrain∣ed to confesse, that they know nothing by the acknow∣ledgment

of that great Phi∣losopher, in these words; Hoc unum scio, quòd nihil scio, I know this one thing, that I know nothing.

If then we be ignorant of all things, may we not yield, that we can be ignorant of heavenly things especially, and that they are praise∣worthy, who have endea∣voured to raise their contem∣plations and meditations up into Heaven; and having, as it were, loosened their Souls from their bodies, have made it to wander and run through the Vaults and concavities of Heaven, there to observe those things which were above our reach? Our under∣standing being heavenly, and our

Soul full of knowledg & per∣fection, is not ignorant of these things; but the lump & cor∣pulency of the body, which is its prison, hinders it freely to perform its functions; it would willingly rise up, and at every moment lenche it self up towards the place of its original; but the weight of its body keeps it low and under, and the mixture of the Elements wherewith the body is composed, makes its agility dull and heavy.

If, before the Invention of Artillery, of Printing, of Pro∣spect-glasses, and of infinite number of other Inventions, that in these times are practi∣sed, their effects had been told to us, we had never be∣lieved

them; for if it had been asserted, That with the powder, without stirring, we might kill beasts distant from us; and not onely the beasts on the earth, but also the fowls and birds flying high through the ayr, throw down walls of Cities, and batter and thunder down the strongest places; and that in a moment those instruments should execute our will: That by printing, and the letters, we might communicate our thoughts to another, and write in a short time a num∣ber infinite of books, and even write a thousand times faster then we speak, transmit and leave to our posterity our exquisite conceptions, and

get an immortal name; And that by the prospective glas∣ses, we might approach to objects far distant, strengthen our sight, and make us di∣stinctly to see things sar re∣mote; If these things (I say) had been proposed to us in a time, wherein farther speech and enquire had ne∣ver more been made of it, who had believed them? but rather who had not laughed at them, and derided the first motioner of them? and yet experience daily sheweth the effects of these Inventions to be true.

So the former Ages did condemne as hereticks, those who believed the▪ Anti∣podes; and this belief was a

long time held for a false and ridiculous opinion; Chri∣stophorus Columbus was reject∣ed of divers Kings, when he proposed to them the disco∣very of the West-Indies; and yet his propositions have been found very true, and have im∣mortalised their Author.

So likewise do I hope, that time will bring forth the truth of this my opinion, which I do not produce to the light, without many strong Reasons, and the au∣thority of the most learned men, the holy Scripture it self is not repugnant and con∣tradictory to it, but rather leans much towards my opi∣nion: And as touching those Philosophers, who grant it

not, some deny not, but that this may be; others dare not contradict it; and others have so ridiculous reasons, that I cannot imagine weaker can be found; and consider∣ing all they, no more then I, have ascended into Heaven, and therefore who ever hath the best Reasons, ought to be believed; which being doubtlesse on my side, my opinion ought not at all to be esteemed ridiculous.

Democritus, King of the Ab∣deritanes, constantly smiled, because the World could not apprehend the multipli∣city of Worlds; I, like him, have also sufficient occasion to smile, and laugh at those, who are ignorant of the plu∣rality

of the Worlds, and even to compare them to bruit beasts, which eat the fruits of the Earth, without considering whence they come to them: for Man is lodged in this World, to contemplate in it the won∣ders that God exposes to the sight of his eyes, and to which end he hath given him a face looking upward, for to look up to Heaven; but he will not make use of his gifts, nor enquire after the place of their habitation.

Why open ye not your eyes, O ye learned and wise Men? and why awake ye not out of your slumber, and deep sleep? Awake up the eyes of your Understanding

and Reason towards the Hea∣vens, contemplating the wonderfull things thereof; despise the earthly things; and as true Philosophers, consider the rest of Men in a dunghill, having their thoughts low, and Earthly Souls, which not being able to stretch themselves beyond the limit of their weak acti∣vity, dare even accuse those who by noble projects desire to lend them their hands, for to draw them out of their ig∣norance.

Having then so many, and so good Reasons and autho∣rity on my behalf, I shall not longer fear those, who scarce can find any for the confir∣mation of their opinion, or

what they have is so weak, that the building, that the edifice is upon, tottereth and leans on every side; there∣fore will I not fear those backbiting tongues which envy anothers good repute and fame, which I already foresee in great number opened against me; but I shall justly say, that they accuse God and Nature of weaknesse and insufficiency, and their own proper reason of incapacity; Can it be pos∣sible, that so many rare and great persons, who in former Ages did believe it, and whose memory is by us ho∣noured and reverenced, had erroneous opinions? and that so many pertinent reasons

should have no solid ground? Could it be possible, that you would not willingly hearken to those who desire to free you from your mistakes? nor suffer your eyes to be un∣folded, when they be fold∣ed with the vail of Preoccu∣pation? No, I hope, that some of the most reasonable at least will be found, who will adhere to me, and take my part against the assaults of the ignorants, who endea∣vour to discredit me, think∣ing to obtain great glory, for the endeavouring the over∣throw of so great a project; for that is their ordinary scope;

Alta petit livor, praestant altissi∣ma venti, Alta petunt dextrâ fulmina miss a Jovis.

That is,

Envy, nothing but high things emulates, As by the whirlwinds shaken are high States; And the thunders of great Jupi∣ter the god of gods, Fall upon the Steeples, and not upon the Valleys.

But I shall smile at them in my heart, and applaud my self, if none can be found to second me, hoping that the Ages to come will pro∣duce

men more reasonable; and who, better esteeming my conceptions, will accuse this present Age of great in∣gratitude.