The mathematical and philosophical works of the Right Reverend John Wilkins ... To which is prefix'd the author's life, and an account of his works / [John Wilkins].

John Wilkins

Date:: 1708

Credit: The mathematical and philosophical works of the Right Reverend John Wilkins ... To which is prefix'd the author's life, and an account of his works / [John Wilkins]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

397/596 page 89

$rive at Brifiol before Twelve of the Clock that Day : T hat is, a Meffagc may by chefs means be conveyed fo great a diftance, in fewer Minutes than thofe which make the Differeece betwixt the two Meridians of thofe Places. 4. ' It according to this,* we fliould interpret that Pailage out of Trithemus, concerning the three Sa- SeeBefbf* tumlne Angels, that in Twenty four Hours can con- I vey News from any part of the World ; that Author might then in one refpedf, be freed from the Afpe’r- fion of Diabolical Magick, which for this tery Rea* fon hath heretofore been imputed to hint But this by the Way. It may be, the Refolution of thofe great Profni- fes in Nnncius Inanimatus, to fueh ealie Caufes as they are here aferibed unto, will not be ainfwerable to Men s Expectation,* every one will be apt tomiftruft fome greater matter than is here expreft: But Yi§ thus alfo in every other the like Particular ,* for Ignorance is the Mother of Wonder , and Wonder does ulually create unto it felf many wild Imagina¬ tions ^ which is the Reafon why Men’s fancies are fo prone to attribute all unufual and unknown E- vents, unto^ ftranger Caufes than either Nature or Art hath defigned for them. conclusion; 1 £ | ,, * , * ■ , TH E Poets have feigned Mercury, to be the chief mail tl Patron of Thieves and Treachery, od. 10. “ J’ Ovid. Urn turn A. Ha Homer, in ] To which purpofe they relate that he filched from Venus her Girdle, as She embraced him in Congra- Vat.Comei tulation of a Vidlory ,* that he robbed Jupiter of his Scepter, and would have ftola his Thunderbolt too, ' ’ ^ \$