1ſelves, aud by their own nature, as the Sun, that derives not its
light from others (which yet remains undecided and doubtful)
and borrow not their light from the Sun; Nevertheleſs ſince the
brightneſs of none of the ſtars may be compared with the Suns
ſplendour, which was created by God firſt, and before all other
Luminaries, in the higheſt kind of Light, it would therefore
notwithſtanding follow, that none of thoſe ſtars, although pla
ced in the ſame proximity to us with the Sun, and therefore ap
pearing to us of the ſame Magnitude as the Sun, can beſtow up
on us ſo much Light as we receive from the Sun: As on the
contrary, the Sun, at the ſame remoteneſſe from us as they are,
would indeed, as to its Magnitude, appear to us as one of thoſe
ſtars, but of a ſplendour much more intenſe than that of theirs.
So that, now, the Earth is nothing elſe but another Moon or ſtar,
and ſo would it appear to us, if we ſhould behold it from a con
venient diſtance on high. And in it might be obſerved (in that
variety of Light and Darkneſs which the Sun produceth in it by
making Day and Night) the ſame difference of Aſpects that are
ſeen in the Moon, and ſuch as are obſerved in tricorporate Ve
nus; in like manner alſo 'tis very probable that the ſame might
be diſcerned in other Planets, which ſhine by no light of their
own, but by one borrowed from the Sun. What ever there
fore may touching theſe matters be delivered in the ſacred Leaves
or the common ſpeech of men, diſſenting from the real truth, it
ought (as we have ſaid before) abſolutely to be received and un
derſtood ſecundum vulgi ſententiam, & communem loquendi &
concipiendi ſtylum.
light from others (which yet remains undecided and doubtful)
and borrow not their light from the Sun; Nevertheleſs ſince the
brightneſs of none of the ſtars may be compared with the Suns
ſplendour, which was created by God firſt, and before all other
Luminaries, in the higheſt kind of Light, it would therefore
notwithſtanding follow, that none of thoſe ſtars, although pla
ced in the ſame proximity to us with the Sun, and therefore ap
pearing to us of the ſame Magnitude as the Sun, can beſtow up
on us ſo much Light as we receive from the Sun: As on the
contrary, the Sun, at the ſame remoteneſſe from us as they are,
would indeed, as to its Magnitude, appear to us as one of thoſe
ſtars, but of a ſplendour much more intenſe than that of theirs.
So that, now, the Earth is nothing elſe but another Moon or ſtar,
and ſo would it appear to us, if we ſhould behold it from a con
venient diſtance on high. And in it might be obſerved (in that
variety of Light and Darkneſs which the Sun produceth in it by
making Day and Night) the ſame difference of Aſpects that are
ſeen in the Moon, and ſuch as are obſerved in tricorporate Ve
nus; in like manner alſo 'tis very probable that the ſame might
be diſcerned in other Planets, which ſhine by no light of their
own, but by one borrowed from the Sun. What ever there
fore may touching theſe matters be delivered in the ſacred Leaves
or the common ſpeech of men, diſſenting from the real truth, it
ought (as we have ſaid before) abſolutely to be received and un
derſtood ſecundum vulgi ſententiam, & communem loquendi &
concipiendi ſtylum.
And ſo, to return to our purpoſe, if, all this conſidered, the
Pythagorian opinion be true, it will be eaſie, according to the
ſame Rule, to reconcile the authority of ſacred Scriptures with
it, however they ſeem to oppoſe it, and in particular thoſe of the
firſt and ſecond Claſſis, ſcilicet by my firſt Maxime: For that in
thoſe places the holy Records ſpeak according to our manner of
underſtanding, and according to that which appeareth in reſpect
of us; For thus it is with thoſe Bodies, in compariſon of us, and
as they are deſcribed by the vulgar and commune way of humane
Diſcourſe; So that the Earth appears as if it were ſtanding ſtill
and immoveable, and the Sun, as if it were circumambient about
her. And ſo the Holy Scripture is uſed in the Commune and
Vulgar way of ſpeaking; becauſe in reſpect of our ſight, the
Earth ſeems rather to ſtand fixed in the Centre, and the Sun to
circumvolve about it, than otherwiſe: as it happens to thoſe that
are putting off from the Banks of a River to whom the ſhose
ſeems to move backwards, and go from them: but they do not
perceive (which yet is the truth) that they themſelves go forwards.
Pythagorian opinion be true, it will be eaſie, according to the
ſame Rule, to reconcile the authority of ſacred Scriptures with
it, however they ſeem to oppoſe it, and in particular thoſe of the
firſt and ſecond Claſſis, ſcilicet by my firſt Maxime: For that in
thoſe places the holy Records ſpeak according to our manner of
underſtanding, and according to that which appeareth in reſpect
of us; For thus it is with thoſe Bodies, in compariſon of us, and
as they are deſcribed by the vulgar and commune way of humane
Diſcourſe; So that the Earth appears as if it were ſtanding ſtill
and immoveable, and the Sun, as if it were circumambient about
her. And ſo the Holy Scripture is uſed in the Commune and
Vulgar way of ſpeaking; becauſe in reſpect of our ſight, the
Earth ſeems rather to ſtand fixed in the Centre, and the Sun to
circumvolve about it, than otherwiſe: as it happens to thoſe that
are putting off from the Banks of a River to whom the ſhose
ſeems to move backwards, and go from them: but they do not
perceive (which yet is the truth) that they themſelves go forwards.