Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1701 edition. Excerpt: ... from them,with some Analogy to them, are firmly setled by Consent and by Authority, with some diversity in the several National Establishments. This is premised, for the better clearing of that which is my more proper Subject, The Measures of Time. For which, because we do not find any IIniversally known, and Imitable Original here below on the Earth, because it is of a different and more subtil Nature, than those other aforesaid Measures 5 we must therefore seek above, and have recourse to the Motions of the Celestial Bodies; reckoning our Time by numbringthe successive parts of those Motions; and herein, if we will be accurate, we may take the most Equal Motion, by which to Measure; viz. That of the Primum Mobile. But that being difficult to measure, we do, and may best take our Measures for common use from those Heavenly Bodies, which carry Light along u ith them, to guide us in the observation of their Motions. And those are (most eminently) the two great Luminaries, the Sun, and the Moon. The Diurnal, and Annual Re voluvolutions of the Sun, which to us are the Measures of Day, arid Year; and the Sy nodic Rovol ution of the Moon,by which the Month is measured. These Motions are, to us, the Original and Radical Measures of Time. And the Day,Month, and Year, measured by them, and best known to us are used as Standard-measures $ as likewise others Arbitrarily, and Artificially deduced from them, by Partition, or Collection, and being reducible to them: asMinute,Hbur, Week, Month of Weeks, Solar-month, &c. As if it be asked, How much is the Length, Breadth, Height, Depth, or Distance of any thing given I must answer, ( not by the Original, but by the aforesaid Known, Denominated Standard-measures ) so many Inches, Foot, Cubits, Fathoms,...
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