Salusbury, Thomas, Mathematical collections and translations (Tome I), 1667
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              the Moon of it ſelf is Tenebroſe, and yet it is no leſſe lucid than
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              the Splendor of the Sun.</s>
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              <s>Hence it is manifeſt, that theſe kinde of Authors, in regard they
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              did not dive into the true Sence of the Scriptures, would (in caſe
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              their authority were of any great moment) have impoſed a neceſ­
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              ſity upon others to believe ſuch Concluſions for true as were re­
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              pugnant to manifeſt Reaſon, and to Senſe. </s>
              <s>Which abuſe
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              Deus
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              avertat,
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              that it do not gain Countenance and Authority; for if it
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              ſhould, it would in a ſhort time be neceſſary to proſcribe and in­
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              hibit all the Contemplative Sciences. </s>
              <s>For being that by nature
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              the number of ſuch as are very unapt to underſtand perfectly
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              both the Sacred Scriptures, and the other Sciences is much great­
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              er than that of the skilfull and intelligene; thoſe of the firſt ſort
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              ſuperficially running over the Scriptures, would arrogate to them­
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              ſelves an Authority of decreeing upon all the Queſtions in Na­
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              ture, by vertue of ſome Word by them miſonderſtood, and pro­
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              duced by the Sacred Pen-men to another purpoſe: Nor would
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              the ſmall number of the Intelligent be able to repreſs the furious
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              Torrent of thoſe men, who would finde ſo many the more fol­
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              lowers, in that the gaining the reputation of Wiſe men without
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              pains or Study, is far more grateful to humane Nature, than the
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              conſuming our ſelves with reſtleſs contemplations about the moſt
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              painfull Arts. </s>
              <s>Therefore we ought to return infinite thanks to
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              Almighty God, who of his Goodneſs freeth us from this fear, in
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              that he depriveth ſuch kinde of perſons of all Authority and, re­
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              poſeth the Conſulting, Reſolving, and Decreeing upon ſo im­
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              portant Determinations in the extraordinary Wiſdom and Can­
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              dor of moſt Sacred Fathers; and in the Supream Authority of
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              thoſe, who being guided by his Holy Spirit, cannot but determin
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              Holily: So ordering things, that of the levity of thoſe other men,
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              there is no account made. </s>
              <s>This kinde of men are thoſe, as I be­
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              lieve, againſt whom, not without Reaſon, Grave, and Holy Wri­
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              ters do ſo much inveigh; and of whom in particular S.
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              Hierom
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              writeth:
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              (g) This
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              (Scilicet
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              the Sacred Scripture) the talking
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              old woman, the doting old man, the talkative Sophiſter, all venture
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              upon, lacerate, teach, and that before they have learnt it. </s>
              <s>Others
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              induced by Pride, diving into hard words, Philoſophate amongſt
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              Women, touching the Holy Scriptures. </s>
              <s>Others (Oh ſhame­
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              ful!) Learn of Women what they teach to Men; and, as if this
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              were nothiug, in a certain facility of words, I may ſay of confi­
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              dence, expound to others what they underſtand not themſelves. </s>
              <s>I
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              forbear to ſpeak of thoſe of my own Profeſſion, who, if after Hu­
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              mane Learning they chance to attain to the Holy Scriptures, and
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              tickle the ears of the people with affected and Studied expreſſions,
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              they affirm that all they ſay, is to be entertained as the Law of God
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              ; </s>
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