1the height of Heaven above, or depth of the Earth beneath: for
that each of them appeareth to men of ordinary capacity, to have
equally an infinite extent. And yet no man that is in his right
mind will by theſe words circumſcribe and bound the diligence
of Aſtronomers, whether in demonſtrating the moſt contemptible
Minuity of the Earth, in compariſon of Heaven, or in ſearching
out Aſtronomical Diſtances: Since thoſe words ſpeak not of the
Rational, but real Dimention; which to a Humane Body,
whilſt confin'd to the Earth, and breathing in the open Air, is al
together impoſſible. Read the whole 38. Chapter of Job, and
compare it with thoſe Points which are diſputed in Aſtronomy,
and Phyſiologie. If any one do alledge from Pſal. 24. That ^{*} The
Earth is founded upon the Seas, to the end that he may thence
infer ſome new Principle in Philoſophy, abſurd to hear; as, That
the Earth doth float upon the Waters; may it not truly be told
him, That he ought not to meddle with the Holy Spirit, nor to
bring him with contempt into the School of Phyſiologie.
For the Pſalmiſt in that place means nothing elſe but
that which men fore-know, and daily ſee by experience; namely,
That the Earth (being lifted up after the ſeparation of the Wa
ters) doth ſwim between the Grand Oceans, and float about the
Sea. Nor is it ſtrange that the expreſſion ſhould be the ſame
where the Iſraelites ſing, ^{*} That they ſate on the River of Baby
lon; that is, by the River ſide. or on the Banks of Euphrates and
Tygris.
that each of them appeareth to men of ordinary capacity, to have
equally an infinite extent. And yet no man that is in his right
mind will by theſe words circumſcribe and bound the diligence
of Aſtronomers, whether in demonſtrating the moſt contemptible
Minuity of the Earth, in compariſon of Heaven, or in ſearching
out Aſtronomical Diſtances: Since thoſe words ſpeak not of the
Rational, but real Dimention; which to a Humane Body,
whilſt confin'd to the Earth, and breathing in the open Air, is al
together impoſſible. Read the whole 38. Chapter of Job, and
compare it with thoſe Points which are diſputed in Aſtronomy,
and Phyſiologie. If any one do alledge from Pſal. 24. That ^{*} The
Earth is founded upon the Seas, to the end that he may thence
infer ſome new Principle in Philoſophy, abſurd to hear; as, That
the Earth doth float upon the Waters; may it not truly be told
him, That he ought not to meddle with the Holy Spirit, nor to
bring him with contempt into the School of Phyſiologie.
For the Pſalmiſt in that place means nothing elſe but
that which men fore-know, and daily ſee by experience; namely,
That the Earth (being lifted up after the ſeparation of the Wa
ters) doth ſwim between the Grand Oceans, and float about the
Sea. Nor is it ſtrange that the expreſſion ſhould be the ſame
where the Iſraelites ſing, ^{*} That they ſate on the River of Baby
lon; that is, by the River ſide. or on the Banks of Euphrates and
Tygris.
* Pſal. 24. 2.
Pſal. 137. 1.
If any one receive this Reading without ſcruple, why not the
other; that ſo in thoſe ſame Texts which are wont to be alledged
againſt the Motion of the Earth, we may in like manner turn our
eyes from Natural Philoſophy, to the ſcope and intent of Scri
pture. One Generation paſſeth away, (ſaith Eccleſiaſtes) and a
nother Generation cometh: But the Earth abideth for ever. ^{*} As
if Solomon did here diſpute with Aſtronomers, and not rather put
men in minde of their Mutability; when as the Earth, Mankindes
habitation, doth alwaies remain the ſame: The Suns Motion
doth continually return into what it was at firſt: The Wind is
acted in a Circle, and returns in the ſame manner: The Rivers
flow from their Fountains into the Sea, and return again from
thence unto their Fountains: To conclude, The Men of this
Age dying, others are born in their room; the Fable of Life is
ever the ſame; there is nothing new under the Sun. Here is no
reference to any Phyſical Opinion. ονεσὶα is Moral of a thing in it
ſelf manifeſt, and ſeen by the eyes of all, but little regarded: Tis
that therefore which Solomon doth inculcate. For who knows not
that the Earth is alwaies the ſame? Who ſees not that the Sun
dothariſe from the Eaſt; That the Rivers continually run into
other; that ſo in thoſe ſame Texts which are wont to be alledged
againſt the Motion of the Earth, we may in like manner turn our
eyes from Natural Philoſophy, to the ſcope and intent of Scri
pture. One Generation paſſeth away, (ſaith Eccleſiaſtes) and a
nother Generation cometh: But the Earth abideth for ever. ^{*} As
if Solomon did here diſpute with Aſtronomers, and not rather put
men in minde of their Mutability; when as the Earth, Mankindes
habitation, doth alwaies remain the ſame: The Suns Motion
doth continually return into what it was at firſt: The Wind is
acted in a Circle, and returns in the ſame manner: The Rivers
flow from their Fountains into the Sea, and return again from
thence unto their Fountains: To conclude, The Men of this
Age dying, others are born in their room; the Fable of Life is
ever the ſame; there is nothing new under the Sun. Here is no
reference to any Phyſical Opinion. ονεσὶα is Moral of a thing in it
ſelf manifeſt, and ſeen by the eyes of all, but little regarded: Tis
that therefore which Solomon doth inculcate. For who knows not
that the Earth is alwaies the ſame? Who ſees not that the Sun
dothariſe from the Eaſt; That the Rivers continually run into