1ſelf) that I intend to ſubmit my ſelf freely to renounce thoſe et
rors, into which, through ignorance, I may run in this Diſcourſe
of matters pertaining to Religion; but I farther declare, that I
deſire not in theſe matters to engage diſpute with any one, al
though it ſhould be in points that are diſputable: for my end
endeth onely to this, That if in theſe conſiderations, beſides my
own profeſſion, amongſt the errours that may be in them, there
be any thing apt to give others an hint of ſome Notion beneficial
to the Holy Church, touching the determining about the Coper
nican Syſteme, it may be taken and improved as ſhall ſeem beſt
to my Superiours: If not, let my Book be torn and burnt; for
that I do neither intend, nor pretend to gain to my ſelf any fruit
from my writings, that is not Pious and Catholick. And more
over, although that many of the things that I obſerve have been
ſpoken in my own hearing, yet I ſhall freely admit and grant to
thoſe that ſpake them, that they never ſaid them, if ſo they
pleaſe, but confeſs that I might have been miſtaken: And
therefore what I ſay, let it be ſuppoſed to be ſpoken not by them,
but by thoſe which were of this opinion.
rors, into which, through ignorance, I may run in this Diſcourſe
of matters pertaining to Religion; but I farther declare, that I
deſire not in theſe matters to engage diſpute with any one, al
though it ſhould be in points that are diſputable: for my end
endeth onely to this, That if in theſe conſiderations, beſides my
own profeſſion, amongſt the errours that may be in them, there
be any thing apt to give others an hint of ſome Notion beneficial
to the Holy Church, touching the determining about the Coper
nican Syſteme, it may be taken and improved as ſhall ſeem beſt
to my Superiours: If not, let my Book be torn and burnt; for
that I do neither intend, nor pretend to gain to my ſelf any fruit
from my writings, that is not Pious and Catholick. And more
over, although that many of the things that I obſerve have been
ſpoken in my own hearing, yet I ſhall freely admit and grant to
thoſe that ſpake them, that they never ſaid them, if ſo they
pleaſe, but confeſs that I might have been miſtaken: And
therefore what I ſay, let it be ſuppoſed to be ſpoken not by them,
but by thoſe which were of this opinion.
The motive therefore that they produce to condemn the Opi
nion of the Mobility of the Earth, and Stability of the Sun, is, that
reading in the Sacred Leaves, in many places, that the Sun mo
veth, that the Earth ſtandeth ſtill; and the Scripture not being
capable of lying, or erring, it followeth upon neceſſary conſe
quence, that the Poſition of thoſe is Erronious and Heretical, who
maintain that the Sun of it ſelf is immoveable, and the Earth
moveable.
nion of the Mobility of the Earth, and Stability of the Sun, is, that
reading in the Sacred Leaves, in many places, that the Sun mo
veth, that the Earth ſtandeth ſtill; and the Scripture not being
capable of lying, or erring, it followeth upon neceſſary conſe
quence, that the Poſition of thoſe is Erronious and Heretical, who
maintain that the Sun of it ſelf is immoveable, and the Earth
moveable.
Touching this Reaſon I think it fit in the firſt place, to con
ſider, That it is both piouſly ſpoken, and prudently affirmed, That
the Sacred Scripture can never lye, when ever its true meaning is
underſtood: Which I believe none will deny to be many times
very abſtruce, and very different from that which the bare ſound
of the words ſignifieth. Whence it cometh to paſs, that if ever
any one ſhould conſtantly confine himſelf to the naked Gram
matical Sence, he might, erring himſelf, make not only Contra
dictions and Propoſitions remote from Truth to appear in the
Scriptures, but alſo groſs Hereſies and Blaſphemies: For that we
ſhould be forced to aſſign to God feet, and hands, and eyes, yea
more corporal and humane affections, as of Anger, of Repen
tance, of Hatred, nay, and ſometimes the Forgetting of things
paſt, and Ignorance of thoſe to come: Which Propoſitions, like
as (ſo the Holy Ghoſt affirmeth) they were in that manner pro
nounced by the Sacred Scriptures, that they might be accommo
dated to the Capacity of the Vulgar, who are very rude and un
learned; ſo likewiſe, for the ſakes of thoſe that deſerve to be di
ſider, That it is both piouſly ſpoken, and prudently affirmed, That
the Sacred Scripture can never lye, when ever its true meaning is
underſtood: Which I believe none will deny to be many times
very abſtruce, and very different from that which the bare ſound
of the words ſignifieth. Whence it cometh to paſs, that if ever
any one ſhould conſtantly confine himſelf to the naked Gram
matical Sence, he might, erring himſelf, make not only Contra
dictions and Propoſitions remote from Truth to appear in the
Scriptures, but alſo groſs Hereſies and Blaſphemies: For that we
ſhould be forced to aſſign to God feet, and hands, and eyes, yea
more corporal and humane affections, as of Anger, of Repen
tance, of Hatred, nay, and ſometimes the Forgetting of things
paſt, and Ignorance of thoſe to come: Which Propoſitions, like
as (ſo the Holy Ghoſt affirmeth) they were in that manner pro
nounced by the Sacred Scriptures, that they might be accommo
dated to the Capacity of the Vulgar, who are very rude and un
learned; ſo likewiſe, for the ſakes of thoſe that deſerve to be di
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