1Setting of the Stars, that is to ſay, of their Aſcenſion and Deſ
cenſion; when at the ſame time that we affirm the Sun riſeth, o
thers ſay, that it goeth down. See my Optices Aſtronomiœ, cap.
10. fol. 327 So in like manner, the Ptolomaicks affirm, that the
Planets ſtand ſtill, when for ſome dayes together they ſeem to be
fixed, although they believe them at that very time to be moved
in a direct line, either downwards to, or upwards from the
Earth. Thus the Writers of all Nations uſe the word Solſtiti
um, and yet they deny that the Sun doth really ſtand ſtill. Like
wiſe there will never any man be ſo devoted to Copernicus, but
he will ſay, the Sun entereth into Cancer and Leo, although he
granteth that the Earth enters Capricorn or Aquarius: And ſo
in other caſes of the like nature. But now the Sacred Scriptures,
ſpeaking to men of vulgar matters (in which they were not in
tended to inſtruct men) after the manner of men, that ſo they
might be underſtood by men, do uſe ſuch Expreſſions as are
granted by all, thereby to inſinuate other things more Myſterious
and Divine. What wonder is it then, if the Scripture ſpeaks
according to mans apprehenſion, at ſuch time when the Truth
of things doth diſſent from the Conception that all men, whe
ther Learned or Unlearned have of them? Who knows not
that it is a Poetical alluſion, Pſal. 19. where, whilſt under the ſi
militude of the Sun, the Courſe of the Goſpel, as alſo the Pere
grination of our Lord Chriſt in this World, undertaken for our
ſakes, is deſcribed, The Sun is ſaid to come forth of his Taberna
cle of the Horizon, as a Bridegroom out of his Chamber, re
joycing as a Giant to run a Race? Which Virgil thus imitates;
cenſion; when at the ſame time that we affirm the Sun riſeth, o
thers ſay, that it goeth down. See my Optices Aſtronomiœ, cap.
10. fol. 327 So in like manner, the Ptolomaicks affirm, that the
Planets ſtand ſtill, when for ſome dayes together they ſeem to be
fixed, although they believe them at that very time to be moved
in a direct line, either downwards to, or upwards from the
Earth. Thus the Writers of all Nations uſe the word Solſtiti
um, and yet they deny that the Sun doth really ſtand ſtill. Like
wiſe there will never any man be ſo devoted to Copernicus, but
he will ſay, the Sun entereth into Cancer and Leo, although he
granteth that the Earth enters Capricorn or Aquarius: And ſo
in other caſes of the like nature. But now the Sacred Scriptures,
ſpeaking to men of vulgar matters (in which they were not in
tended to inſtruct men) after the manner of men, that ſo they
might be underſtood by men, do uſe ſuch Expreſſions as are
granted by all, thereby to inſinuate other things more Myſterious
and Divine. What wonder is it then, if the Scripture ſpeaks
according to mans apprehenſion, at ſuch time when the Truth
of things doth diſſent from the Conception that all men, whe
ther Learned or Unlearned have of them? Who knows not
that it is a Poetical alluſion, Pſal. 19. where, whilſt under the ſi
militude of the Sun, the Courſe of the Goſpel, as alſo the Pere
grination of our Lord Chriſt in this World, undertaken for our
ſakes, is deſcribed, The Sun is ſaid to come forth of his Taberna
cle of the Horizon, as a Bridegroom out of his Chamber, re
joycing as a Giant to run a Race? Which Virgil thus imitates;
Tithono croceum linquens Auror a cubile:
For the firſt Poets were amongſt the Jews. The Pſalmiſt knew that
the Sun went not forth of the Horizon, as out of its Tabernacle,
& yet it ſeemeth to the Eye ſo to do: Nor did he believe, that the
Sun moved, for that it appeared to his ſight ſo to do. And yet he
ſaith both, for that both were ſo to his ſeeming. Neither is it
to be adjudged falſe in either Senſe: for the perception of the
Eyes hath its verity, fit for the more ſecret purpoſe of the Pſal
miſt in ſhadowing forth the current paſſage oſ the Goſpel, as
alſo the Peregrination of the Son of God. Joſhua likewiſe
mentioneth the Vallies on or in, which the Sun and Moon mo
ved, for that they appeared to him at Jordan ſo to do: And yet
both theſe Pen-men may obtain their ends. David, (and with
him Syracides) the magnificence of God being made known,
which cauſed theſe things to be in this manner repreſented to
ſight, or otherwiſe, the myſtical meaning, by means of theſe
Viſibles being diſcerned: And Joſhua, in that the Sun, as to his
the Sun went not forth of the Horizon, as out of its Tabernacle,
& yet it ſeemeth to the Eye ſo to do: Nor did he believe, that the
Sun moved, for that it appeared to his ſight ſo to do. And yet he
ſaith both, for that both were ſo to his ſeeming. Neither is it
to be adjudged falſe in either Senſe: for the perception of the
Eyes hath its verity, fit for the more ſecret purpoſe of the Pſal
miſt in ſhadowing forth the current paſſage oſ the Goſpel, as
alſo the Peregrination of the Son of God. Joſhua likewiſe
mentioneth the Vallies on or in, which the Sun and Moon mo
ved, for that they appeared to him at Jordan ſo to do: And yet
both theſe Pen-men may obtain their ends. David, (and with
him Syracides) the magnificence of God being made known,
which cauſed theſe things to be in this manner repreſented to
ſight, or otherwiſe, the myſtical meaning, by means of theſe
Viſibles being diſcerned: And Joſhua, in that the Sun, as to his