1cauſe being joyned to it, and conſequently having a ſhare in eve
ry of its motions, we cannot immediately diſcern them in her, but
are forced to refer them to the Celeſtial Bodies in which they
appear; therefore we call them as if they were made there, where
they ſeem to us to be made. Whence it is to be noted how ne
neſſary it is to accommodate our diſcourſe to our old and accu
ſtomed manner of underſtanding.
ry of its motions, we cannot immediately diſcern them in her, but
are forced to refer them to the Celeſtial Bodies in which they
appear; therefore we call them as if they were made there, where
they ſeem to us to be made. Whence it is to be noted how ne
neſſary it is to accommodate our diſcourſe to our old and accu
ſtomed manner of underſtanding.
(k) Quaſi non
multa in Scriptu
ris Sanctis dican
tur juxta opinio
nem illius tempor is
quo geſt a referant,
& non juxta quod
rei veritas contine
bat. D. Hiero. in c.
28. Jerem.
multa in Scriptu
ris Sanctis dican
tur juxta opinio
nem illius tempor is
quo geſt a referant,
& non juxta quod
rei veritas contine
bat. D. Hiero. in c.
28. Jerem.
(l) Conſuctudi
nis Scripturarum
eſt, ut opinionem
multarum rerum
ſic narret Hiſtori
cus, quomodo eo
tempore ab omni
bus credebatur. In
cap. 13. Matth.
nis Scripturarum
eſt, ut opinionem
multarum rerum
ſic narret Hiſtori
cus, quomodo eo
tempore ab omni
bus credebatur. In
cap. 13. Matth.
* D. Thomas, in
cap. 26. Job. v. 7.
cap. 26. Job. v. 7.
That, in the next place, the common conſent of Fathers, in re
ceiving a Natural Propoſition of Scripture, all in the ſame ſenſe
ought to Authorize it ſo far, as to make it become a matter of
Faith to believe it to be ^{*} ſo, I ſhould think that it ought at moſt
to be underſtood of thoſe Concluſions onely, which have beenby
the ſaid Fathers diſcuſſed, and ſifted with all poſſible diligence,
and debated on the one ſide, and on the other, and all things in
the end concurring to diſprove the one, and prove the other. But
the Mobility of the Earth, and Stability of the Sun, are not of
this kinde; For, that the ſaid Opinion was in thoſe times total
ly buried, and never brought amongſt the Queſtions of the Schools,
and not conſidered, much leſs followed by any one: So that it is to
be believed that it never ſo much as entered into the thought of
the Fathers to diſpute it, the Places of Scripture, their own Opinion,
and the aſſent of men having all concurred in the ſame judgement,
without the contradiction of any one, ſo far as we can finde.
ceiving a Natural Propoſition of Scripture, all in the ſame ſenſe
ought to Authorize it ſo far, as to make it become a matter of
Faith to believe it to be ^{*} ſo, I ſhould think that it ought at moſt
to be underſtood of thoſe Concluſions onely, which have beenby
the ſaid Fathers diſcuſſed, and ſifted with all poſſible diligence,
and debated on the one ſide, and on the other, and all things in
the end concurring to diſprove the one, and prove the other. But
the Mobility of the Earth, and Stability of the Sun, are not of
this kinde; For, that the ſaid Opinion was in thoſe times total
ly buried, and never brought amongſt the Queſtions of the Schools,
and not conſidered, much leſs followed by any one: So that it is to
be believed that it never ſo much as entered into the thought of
the Fathers to diſpute it, the Places of Scripture, their own Opinion,
and the aſſent of men having all concurred in the ſame judgement,
without the contradiction of any one, ſo far as we can finde.
* Namely, ac
cording to the Lit
teral Senſe.
cording to the Lit
teral Senſe.
Beſides, it is not enough to ſay that the Fathers all admit the
ſtability of the Earth, &c. Therefore to believe it is a matter of
Faith: But its neceſſary to prove that they have condemned the
contrary Opinion: For I may affirm and bide by this, That their
not having occaſion to make ſatisfaction upon the ſame, and to
diſcuſs it, hath made them to omit and admit it, onely as cur
rent, but not as reſolved and proved And I think I have very
good Reaſon for what I ſay; For either the Fathers did make
reflection upon this Concluſion as controverted, or not: If not,
then they could determin nothing concerning it no not in their
private thoughts; and their incogitance doth not oblige us to
receive thoſe Precepts which they have not, ſo much as in their
intentions enjoyned. But if they did reflect and conſider there
on, they would long ſince have condemned it, if they had judged
it erroneous; which we do not find that they have done. Nay, after
that ſome Divines have began to conſider it, we find that they
have not deem'd it erroneous; as we read in the Commentaries of
Didacus a Stunica upon Job, in Cap. 9, v. 6. on the words, Qui com
movet Terram de loco ſuo, &c. Where he at large diſcourſeth upon
the Copernican Hypotheſis, and concludeth, That the Mobility
of the Earth, is not contrary to Scripture.
ſtability of the Earth, &c. Therefore to believe it is a matter of
Faith: But its neceſſary to prove that they have condemned the
contrary Opinion: For I may affirm and bide by this, That their
not having occaſion to make ſatisfaction upon the ſame, and to
diſcuſs it, hath made them to omit and admit it, onely as cur
rent, but not as reſolved and proved And I think I have very
good Reaſon for what I ſay; For either the Fathers did make
reflection upon this Concluſion as controverted, or not: If not,
then they could determin nothing concerning it no not in their
private thoughts; and their incogitance doth not oblige us to
receive thoſe Precepts which they have not, ſo much as in their
intentions enjoyned. But if they did reflect and conſider there
on, they would long ſince have condemned it, if they had judged
it erroneous; which we do not find that they have done. Nay, after
that ſome Divines have began to conſider it, we find that they
have not deem'd it erroneous; as we read in the Commentaries of
Didacus a Stunica upon Job, in Cap. 9, v. 6. on the words, Qui com
movet Terram de loco ſuo, &c. Where he at large diſcourſeth upon
the Copernican Hypotheſis, and concludeth, That the Mobility
of the Earth, is not contrary to Scripture.
Withal, I may juſtly queſtion the truth of that determination,
namely, That the Church enjoyneth us to hold ſuch like Natural
namely, That the Church enjoyneth us to hold ſuch like Natural