1ſition, not onely by refuting the Reaſons of Ptolomy and Ariſto
tle, but by producing many on the contrary; and in particular,
ſome Phyſical pertaining to Natural Effects, the cauſes of which
perhaps can be by no other way aſſigned; and others Aſtrono
mical depending upon many circumſtances and encounters of
new Diſcoveries in Heaven, which manifeſtly confute the Ptolo
maick Syſteme, and admirably agree with and confirm this other
Hypotheſis: and poſſibly being aſhamed to ſee the known truth
of other Poſitions by me aſſerted, different from thoſe that have
been commonly received; and therefore diſtruſting their de
fence ſo long as they ſhould continue in the Field of Philoſo
phy: for theſe reſpects, I ſay, they have reſolved to try whe
ther they could make a Shield for the fallacies of their Argu
ments of the Mantle of a feigned Religion, and of the Autho
rity of the Sacred Scriptures, applyed by them with little judg
ment to the confutation of ſuch Reaſons of mine as they had
neither underſtood, nor ſo much as heard.
tle, but by producing many on the contrary; and in particular,
ſome Phyſical pertaining to Natural Effects, the cauſes of which
perhaps can be by no other way aſſigned; and others Aſtrono
mical depending upon many circumſtances and encounters of
new Diſcoveries in Heaven, which manifeſtly confute the Ptolo
maick Syſteme, and admirably agree with and confirm this other
Hypotheſis: and poſſibly being aſhamed to ſee the known truth
of other Poſitions by me aſſerted, different from thoſe that have
been commonly received; and therefore diſtruſting their de
fence ſo long as they ſhould continue in the Field of Philoſo
phy: for theſe reſpects, I ſay, they have reſolved to try whe
ther they could make a Shield for the fallacies of their Argu
ments of the Mantle of a feigned Religion, and of the Autho
rity of the Sacred Scriptures, applyed by them with little judg
ment to the confutation of ſuch Reaſons of mine as they had
neither underſtood, nor ſo much as heard.
Lib_{+} 2. Geneſi
ad Literam in
fine.
ad Literam in
fine.
And firſt, they have indeavoured, as much as in them lay, to
divulge an opiniou thorow the Univerſe, that thoſe Propoſitions
are contrary to the Holy Letters, and conſequently Damnable
and Heretical: And thereupon perceiving, that for the moſt
part, the inclination of Mans Nature is more prone to imbrace
thoſe enterprizes, whereby his Neighbour may, although un
juſtly, be oppreſſed, than thoſe from whence he may receive
juſt incouragement; it was no hard matter to find thoſe Com
plices, who for ſuch (that is, for Damnable and Heretical) did
from their Pulpits with unwonted confidence preach it, with but
an unmerciful and leſs conſiderate injury, not only to this Do
ctrine, and to its followers, but to all Mathematicks and Ma
thematicians together. Hereupon aſſuming greater confidence,
and vainly hoping that that Seed which firſt took root in their un
ſound mindes, might ſpread its branches, and aſcend towards
Heaven, they went ſcattering rumours up and down among the
People, That it would, ere long be condemned by Supreme Au
thority: and knowing that ſuch a Cenſure would ſupplant
not onely theſe two Concluſions of the Worlds Syſteme, but
would make all other Aſtronomical and Phyſical Obſervations
that have correſpondence and neceſſary connection therewith to
become damnable, to facilitate the buſineſs they ſeek all they
can to make this opinion (at leaſt among the vulgar) to ſeem new,
and peculiar to my ſelf, not owning to know that Nicholas Coper
nicus was its Authour, or rather Reſtorer and Confirmer: a per
ſon who was not only a Catholick, but a Prieſt, Canonick, and
ſo eſteemed, that there being a Diſpute in the Lateran Council,
under Leo X. touching the correction of the Eccleſiaſtick Ca
divulge an opiniou thorow the Univerſe, that thoſe Propoſitions
are contrary to the Holy Letters, and conſequently Damnable
and Heretical: And thereupon perceiving, that for the moſt
part, the inclination of Mans Nature is more prone to imbrace
thoſe enterprizes, whereby his Neighbour may, although un
juſtly, be oppreſſed, than thoſe from whence he may receive
juſt incouragement; it was no hard matter to find thoſe Com
plices, who for ſuch (that is, for Damnable and Heretical) did
from their Pulpits with unwonted confidence preach it, with but
an unmerciful and leſs conſiderate injury, not only to this Do
ctrine, and to its followers, but to all Mathematicks and Ma
thematicians together. Hereupon aſſuming greater confidence,
and vainly hoping that that Seed which firſt took root in their un
ſound mindes, might ſpread its branches, and aſcend towards
Heaven, they went ſcattering rumours up and down among the
People, That it would, ere long be condemned by Supreme Au
thority: and knowing that ſuch a Cenſure would ſupplant
not onely theſe two Concluſions of the Worlds Syſteme, but
would make all other Aſtronomical and Phyſical Obſervations
that have correſpondence and neceſſary connection therewith to
become damnable, to facilitate the buſineſs they ſeek all they
can to make this opinion (at leaſt among the vulgar) to ſeem new,
and peculiar to my ſelf, not owning to know that Nicholas Coper
nicus was its Authour, or rather Reſtorer and Confirmer: a per
ſon who was not only a Catholick, but a Prieſt, Canonick, and
ſo eſteemed, that there being a Diſpute in the Lateran Council,
under Leo X. touching the correction of the Eccleſiaſtick Ca
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