1preſs a Propoſition in words, that bear a ſenſe different from the
Eſſence of the ſaid Propoſition; why might it not have obſerved
the ſame, and for the ſame reſpect, as often as it had occaſion to
ſpeak of the ſame thing? Nay I conceive, that to have done
otherwiſe, would but have encreaſed the confuſion, and dimi
niſhed the credit that theſe Sacred Records ought to have a
mongſt the Common People.
Eſſence of the ſaid Propoſition; why might it not have obſerved
the ſame, and for the ſame reſpect, as often as it had occaſion to
ſpeak of the ſame thing? Nay I conceive, that to have done
otherwiſe, would but have encreaſed the confuſion, and dimi
niſhed the credit that theſe Sacred Records ought to have a
mongſt the Common People.
Again, that touching the Reſt and Motion of the Sun and
Earth, it was neceſſary, for accommodation. to Popular Capa
city, to aſſert that which the Litteral ſenſe of the Scripture im
porteth, experience plainly proveth: For that even to our dayes
people far leſs rude, do continue in the ſame Opinion upon Rea
ſons, that if they were well weighed and examined, would be
found to be extream trivial, and upon Experiments, either whol
ly falſe, or altogether beſides the purpoſe. Nor is it worth
while to go about to remove them from it, they being incapable
of the contrary Reaſons that depend upon too exquiſite Obſer
vations, and too ſubtil Demonſtrations, grounded upon Abſtra
ctions, which, for the comprehending of them, require too ſtrong
an Imagination. Whereupon, although that the Stability of
Heaveu, and Motion of the Earth ſhould be more than certain
and demonſtrated to the Wiſe; yet nevertheleſs it would be
neceſſary, for the conſervation of credit amongſt the Vulgar, to
affirm the contrary: For that of a thouſand ordinary men, that
come to be queſtioned concerning theſe particulars, its probab e
that there will not be found ſo much as one that will not an
ſwer that he thinketh, and ſo certainly he doth, that the Sun
moveth, and the Earth ſtandeth ſtill. But yet none ought to
take this common Popular Aſſent to be any Argument of the
truth of that which is affirmed: For if we ſhould examine
theſe very men touching the grounds and motives by which they
are induced to believe in that manner; and on the other ſide
ſhould hear what Experiments and Demonſtrationslperſwade
thoſe few others to believe the contrary, we ſhould finde theſe
latter to be moved by moſt ſolid Reaſons, and the former by
ſimple appearances, and vain and ridiculous occurrences. That
therefore it was neceſſary to aſſign Motion to the Sun, and Reſt
to the earth, leſt the ſhallow capacity of the Vulgar ſhould be
confounded, amuſed, and rendred obſtinate and contumacious,
in giving credit to the principal Articles, and which are abſolute
ly de fide, it is ſufficiently obvious. And if it was neceſſary ſo
to do, it is not at all to be wondred at, that it was with extraor
dinary Wiſdom ſo done, in the Divine Scriptures.
Earth, it was neceſſary, for accommodation. to Popular Capa
city, to aſſert that which the Litteral ſenſe of the Scripture im
porteth, experience plainly proveth: For that even to our dayes
people far leſs rude, do continue in the ſame Opinion upon Rea
ſons, that if they were well weighed and examined, would be
found to be extream trivial, and upon Experiments, either whol
ly falſe, or altogether beſides the purpoſe. Nor is it worth
while to go about to remove them from it, they being incapable
of the contrary Reaſons that depend upon too exquiſite Obſer
vations, and too ſubtil Demonſtrations, grounded upon Abſtra
ctions, which, for the comprehending of them, require too ſtrong
an Imagination. Whereupon, although that the Stability of
Heaveu, and Motion of the Earth ſhould be more than certain
and demonſtrated to the Wiſe; yet nevertheleſs it would be
neceſſary, for the conſervation of credit amongſt the Vulgar, to
affirm the contrary: For that of a thouſand ordinary men, that
come to be queſtioned concerning theſe particulars, its probab e
that there will not be found ſo much as one that will not an
ſwer that he thinketh, and ſo certainly he doth, that the Sun
moveth, and the Earth ſtandeth ſtill. But yet none ought to
take this common Popular Aſſent to be any Argument of the
truth of that which is affirmed: For if we ſhould examine
theſe very men touching the grounds and motives by which they
are induced to believe in that manner; and on the other ſide
ſhould hear what Experiments and Demonſtrationslperſwade
thoſe few others to believe the contrary, we ſhould finde theſe
latter to be moved by moſt ſolid Reaſons, and the former by
ſimple appearances, and vain and ridiculous occurrences. That
therefore it was neceſſary to aſſign Motion to the Sun, and Reſt
to the earth, leſt the ſhallow capacity of the Vulgar ſhould be
confounded, amuſed, and rendred obſtinate and contumacious,
in giving credit to the principal Articles, and which are abſolute
ly de fide, it is ſufficiently obvious. And if it was neceſſary ſo
to do, it is not at all to be wondred at, that it was with extraor
dinary Wiſdom ſo done, in the Divine Scriptures.
But I will alledge further, That not onely a reſpect to the
Incapacity of the Vulgar, but the current Opinion of thoſe times
Incapacity of the Vulgar, but the current Opinion of thoſe times