self; by Nicetas the Philosopher, upon the testimony of Scicero, and by many others. And this opinion hath, finally, been amplified, and with many Observations and Demonstrations confirmed by Nicholaus Copernicus. And Seneca, a most eminent Philosopher, in his Book De Cometis, advertizeth us that we ought, with great diligence, seek for an assured knowledge, whether it be Heaven, or the Earth, in which the Diurnal Conversion resides.
And for this cause, it would probably be prudent and profitable counsel, if besides the Articles which concern our Salvation, and the establishment of our Faith (against the stability of which there is no fear that any valid and solid Doctrine can ever rise up) men would not aggregate and heap up more, without necessity: And if it be so, it would certainly be a preposterous thing to introduce such Articles at the request of persons who, besides that we know not that they speak by inspiration of Divine Grace, we plainly see that there might be wished in them the understanding which would be necessary first to enable them to comprehend, and then to discuss the Demonstrations wherewith the subtiler Sciences proceed in confirming such like Conclusions. Nay, more I should say, (were it lawful to speak my judgment freely on this Argument) that it would haply more suit with the Decorum and Majesty of those Sacred Volumes, if care were taken that every shallow and vulgar Writer might not authorize his Books (which are not seldome grounded upon foolish fancies) by inserting into them Places of Holy Scripture, interpreted, or rather distorted to Senses as remote from the right meaning of the said Scripture, as they are neer to derirision, who not without ostentation flourish out their Writings therewith. Examples of such like abuses there might many be produced, but for this time I will confine my self to two, not much besides these matters of Astronomy: One of which, is that of those Pamphlets which were published against the Medicean Planets, of which I had the fortune to make the discovery; against the existence of which there were brought many places of Sacred Scripture: Now, that all the World seeth them to be Planets, I would gladly hear with what new interpretations those very Antagonists do expound the Scripture, and excuse their own simplicity. The other example is of him who but very lately hath Printed against Astronomers and Philosophers, that the Moon doth not receive its light from the Sun, but is of its own nature resplendent: which imagination he in the close confirmeth, or, to say better, perswadeth himself that he confirmeth by sundry Texts of Scripture, which he thinks cannot be reconciled unlesse his opinion should be true and necessary. Neverthelesse,the
