ther built thereon. I deny not, that this which Aristotle hitherto hath introduced, with a general discourse dependent upon universal primary principles, hath been since in process of time, re-inforced with particular reasons, and experiments; all which it would be necessary distinctly to consider and weigh; but because what hath been said hitherto presents to such as consider the same many and no small difficulties, (and yet it would be necessary, that the primary principles and fundamentals, were certain, firm, and established, that so they might with more confidence be built upon) it would not be amiss, before we farther multiply doubts, to see if haply (as I conjecture) betaking our selves to other waies, we may not light upon a more direct and secure method; and with better considered principles of Architecture lay our primary fundamentals. Therefore suspending for the present the method of Aristotle, (which we will re-assume again in its proper place, and particularly examine;*) I say, that in the things hitherto affirmed by him, I agree with him, and admit that the World is a body enjoying all dimensions, and therefore most perfect; and I add, that as such, it is necessarily most ordinate, that is, having parts between themselves, with exquisite and most perfect order disposed; which assumption I think is not to be denied, neither by you or any other.
Simpl.Who can deny it? the first particular (of the worlds dimensions) is taken from Aristotle himself, and its denomination of ordinate seems onely to be assumed from the order which it most exactly keeps.
Salv.This principle then established, one may immediately conclude, that if the entire parts of the World should be by their nature moveable, it is impossible that their motions should be right, or other than circular; and the reason is sufficiently easie, and manifest; for that whatsoever moveth with a right motion, changeth place; and continuing to move, doth by degrees more and more remove from the term from whence it departed, and from all the places thorow which it successively passed; and if such motion naturally suited with it, then it was not at the beginning in its proper place; and so the parts of the World were not disposed with perfect order. But we suppose them to be perfectly ordinate, therefore as such, it is impossible that they should by nature change place, and consequently move in a right motion. Again, the right motion being by nature infinite, for that the right line is infinite and indeterminate, it is impossible that any moveable can have a natural principle of moving in a right line; namely toward the place whither it is impossible to arrive, there being no prae-finite term; and nature, as Aristotle himself saith well, never attempts to do that which can never be done,nor
