SIMP. I will run to a Miracle ſtill, if you do not with ſome
other natural cauſes, beſides that of the motion of the Veſſels of
the Sea-water diſſwade me from it; for I know that thoſe Veſſels
move not, in regard that all the entire Terreſtrial Globe is
rally immoveable.
other natural cauſes, beſides that of the motion of the Veſſels of
the Sea-water diſſwade me from it; for I know that thoſe Veſſels
move not, in regard that all the entire Terreſtrial Globe is
rally immoveable.
SALV. But do not you think, that the Terreſtrial Globe might
ſupernaturally, that is, by the abſolute power of God, be made
moveable? SIMP. Who doubts it?
ſupernaturally, that is, by the abſolute power of God, be made
moveable? SIMP. Who doubts it?
SALV. Then Simplicius, ſeeing that to make the flux and
reflux of the Sea, it is neceſſary to introduce a Miracle, let us
ſuppoſe the Earth to move miraculouſly, upon the motion of
which the Sea moveth naturally: and this effect ſhall be alſo the
more ſimple, and I may ſay natural, amongſt the miraculous
perations, in that the making a Globe to move round, of which
kind we ſee many others to move, is leſſe difficult than to make
an immenſe maſſe of water go forwards and backwards, in one
place more ſwiftly, and in another leſſe, and to riſe and fall in
ſome places more; in ſome leſſe, and in ſome not at all: and to
work all theſe different effects in one and the ſame Veſſel that
containeth it: beſides, that theſe are ſeveral Miracles, and that
is but one onely. And here it may be added, that the Miracle
of making the water to move is accompanied with another,
namely, the holding of the Earth ſtedfaſt againſt impetuosities
of the water, able to make it ſwage ſometimes one way, and
ſometimes another, if it were not miraculouſly kept to rights.
reflux of the Sea, it is neceſſary to introduce a Miracle, let us
ſuppoſe the Earth to move miraculouſly, upon the motion of
which the Sea moveth naturally: and this effect ſhall be alſo the
more ſimple, and I may ſay natural, amongſt the miraculous
perations, in that the making a Globe to move round, of which
kind we ſee many others to move, is leſſe difficult than to make
an immenſe maſſe of water go forwards and backwards, in one
place more ſwiftly, and in another leſſe, and to riſe and fall in
ſome places more; in ſome leſſe, and in ſome not at all: and to
work all theſe different effects in one and the ſame Veſſel that
containeth it: beſides, that theſe are ſeveral Miracles, and that
is but one onely. And here it may be added, that the Miracle
of making the water to move is accompanied with another,
namely, the holding of the Earth ſtedfaſt againſt impetuosities
of the water, able to make it ſwage ſometimes one way, and
ſometimes another, if it were not miraculouſly kept to rights.
SAGR. Good Simplicius, let us for the preſent ſuſpend our
judgement about ſentencing the new opinion to be vain that
viatus is about to explicate unto us, nor let us ſo haſtily flye out
into paſſion like the ſcolding overgrown Haggs: and as for the
Miracle, we may as well recurre to it when we have done
ring the Diſcourſes contained within the bounds of natural
ſes: though to ſpeak freely, all the Works of nature, or rather
of God, are in my judgement miraculous.
judgement about ſentencing the new opinion to be vain that
viatus is about to explicate unto us, nor let us ſo haſtily flye out
into paſſion like the ſcolding overgrown Haggs: and as for the
Miracle, we may as well recurre to it when we have done
ring the Diſcourſes contained within the bounds of natural
ſes: though to ſpeak freely, all the Works of nature, or rather
of God, are in my judgement miraculous.
SALV. And I am of the ſame opinion; nor doth my ſaying,
that the motion of the Earth is the Natural cauſe of the ebbing
and flowing, hinder, but that the ſaid motion of the Earth may
be miraculous. Now reaſſuming our Argument, I apply, and
once again affirm, that it hath been hitherto unknown how it
might be that the Waters contained in our Mediterranean
Straights ſhould make thoſe motions, as we ſee it doth, if ſo be
the ſaid Straight, or containing Veſſel were immoveable. And
that which makes the difficulty, and rendreth this matter
cable, are the things which I am about to ſpeak of, and which
are daily obſerved. Therefore lend me your attention.
that the motion of the Earth is the Natural cauſe of the ebbing
and flowing, hinder, but that the ſaid motion of the Earth may
be miraculous. Now reaſſuming our Argument, I apply, and
once again affirm, that it hath been hitherto unknown how it
might be that the Waters contained in our Mediterranean
Straights ſhould make thoſe motions, as we ſee it doth, if ſo be
the ſaid Straight, or containing Veſſel were immoveable. And
that which makes the difficulty, and rendreth this matter
cable, are the things which I am about to ſpeak of, and which
are daily obſerved. Therefore lend me your attention.
We are here in Venice, where at this time the Waters are low,