this Story first, and from whom our Author has taken a great
part of it. He was of Opinion that such a Formation was possible; tho'
there having never been any such thing, is a sufficient Demonstration of
the Impossibility of it; for since the Creation of the World the
Celestial Bodies have had time enough to exert the utmost of their
Power, and shed their Influence in order to such a Production, which
they having never so much as attempted yet, amongst all the variety of
their Operations, plainly shew us that it is not in their power. But we
must give Philosophers leave sometimes to go beyond Demonstration. 'Tis
observable, that our Author says nothing of the matter, but leaves it as
he found it_.]

[Footnote 19: God made Man after his own Image--_These Words are quoted
by our Author for the Words of_ Mahomet, _though they do indeed Belong
to_ Moses, _but we must know that_ Mahomet _was well acquainted with the
Jews from whom he learned not only some Expressions us'd in the Bible,
but a great part of the History of it; which he has mangled and crowded,
after a confus'd manner, into his_ Alcoran.]

[Footnote 20: Alcoran, _Chap. Alkesas_.]

[Footnote 21: _Our Philosophers imitating the Heavenly Bodies in their
Circular Motion, would seem indeed extreamly ridiculous, but that we are
to consider that the Mahometans have a superstitious Custom of going
several times round the Cave of_ Meccah, _when they go thither on
Pilgrimage, and look upon it as a very necessary part of their Duty. Now
our Author having resolved to bring his Philosopher as far at least as
was possible for one in his Circumstances, in the Knowledge and Practice
of all those things which the Mahometans account necessary, would not
let him be ignorant of this Practice of moving round; but has brought it
under this second sort of Imitation of the Heavenly Bodies. Now tho' our
Philosopher may be excus'd for not going to the Temple at_ Meccah, _yet
so great stress is laid upon it by the Mahometans, that_ Alhosain Al
Hallagi Ben Mansour, _was, in the 309th Year of the_ Hegira _(of
Christ_921) _condemn'd to dye by the_ Vizier Alhumed, _who pronounc'd
Sentence upon him, having first advis'd with the Imaums and Doctors, for
having asserted, that in case a Man had A Desire to go on Pilgrimage to_
Meccah, _and could not; it would be sufficient, if he set apart any
clean Room of his House for that purpose, and went round about it, and
perform'd in it at the same t