1ſome more ſublime intelligence. In the mean time, if one
ſhould tell me, that an immenſe ſpace interpoſed between the
Orbs of the Planets and the Starry Sphere, deprived of ſtars and
idle, would be vain and uſeleſſe, as likewiſe that ſo great an
immenſity for receipt of the fixed ſtars, as exceeds our utmoſt
comprehenſion would be ſuperfluous, I would reply, that it is
raſhneſſe to go about to make our ſhallow reaſon judg of the
Works of God, and to call vain and ſuperfluous, whatſoever
thing in the Univerſe is not ſubſervient to us.
ſhould tell me, that an immenſe ſpace interpoſed between the
Orbs of the Planets and the Starry Sphere, deprived of ſtars and
idle, would be vain and uſeleſſe, as likewiſe that ſo great an
immenſity for receipt of the fixed ſtars, as exceeds our utmoſt
comprehenſion would be ſuperfluous, I would reply, that it is
raſhneſſe to go about to make our ſhallow reaſon judg of the
Works of God, and to call vain and ſuperfluous, whatſoever
thing in the Univerſe is not ſubſervient to us.
God & Nature
do imploy
ſelves in caring
for men, as if they
minded nothing
elſe.
do imploy
ſelves in caring
for men, as if they
minded nothing
elſe.
An example of
Gods care of
kind taken from
the Sun.
Gods care of
kind taken from
the Sun.
SAGR. Say rather, and I believe you would ſay better, that
we know not what is ſubſervient to us; and I hold it one of the
greateſt vanities, yea follies, that can be in the World, to ſay,
becauſe I know not of what uſe Jupiter or Saturn are to me, that
therefore theſe Planets are ſuperfluous, yea more, that there are
no ſuch things in rerum natura; when as, oh fooliſh man! I
know not ſo much as to what purpoſe the arteries, the griſtles,
the ſpleen, the gall do ſerve; nay I ſhould not know that I have
a gall, ſpleen, or kidneys, if in many deſected Corps, they were
not ſhewn unto me; and then onely ſhall I be able to know what
the ſpleen worketh in me, when it comes to be taken from me.
To be able to know what this or that Cœleſtial body worketh in
me (ſeeing you will have it that all their influences direct
ſelves to us) it would be requiſite to remove that body for ſome
time; and then whatſoever effect I ſhould find wanting in me, I
would ſay that it depended on that ſtar. Moreover, who will
ſume to ſay that the ſpace which they call too vaſt and uſeleſſe
between Saturn and the fixed ſtars, is void of other mundane
dies? Muſt it be ſo, becauſe we do not ſee them? Then the four
Medicean Planets, and the companions of Saturn came firſt
to Heaven, when we began to ſee them, and not before? And
by this rule the innumerable other fixed ſtars had no exiſtence
before that men did look on them? and the cloudy
ons called Nebuloſœ were at firſt only white flakes, but afterwards
with the Teleſcope we made them to become conſtellations of
many lucid and bright ſtars. Oh preſumptious, rather oh raſh
ignorance of man!
we know not what is ſubſervient to us; and I hold it one of the
greateſt vanities, yea follies, that can be in the World, to ſay,
becauſe I know not of what uſe Jupiter or Saturn are to me, that
therefore theſe Planets are ſuperfluous, yea more, that there are
no ſuch things in rerum natura; when as, oh fooliſh man! I
know not ſo much as to what purpoſe the arteries, the griſtles,
the ſpleen, the gall do ſerve; nay I ſhould not know that I have
a gall, ſpleen, or kidneys, if in many deſected Corps, they were
not ſhewn unto me; and then onely ſhall I be able to know what
the ſpleen worketh in me, when it comes to be taken from me.
To be able to know what this or that Cœleſtial body worketh in
me (ſeeing you will have it that all their influences direct
ſelves to us) it would be requiſite to remove that body for ſome
time; and then whatſoever effect I ſhould find wanting in me, I
would ſay that it depended on that ſtar. Moreover, who will
ſume to ſay that the ſpace which they call too vaſt and uſeleſſe
between Saturn and the fixed ſtars, is void of other mundane
dies? Muſt it be ſo, becauſe we do not ſee them? Then the four
Medicean Planets, and the companions of Saturn came firſt
to Heaven, when we began to ſee them, and not before? And
by this rule the innumerable other fixed ſtars had no exiſtence
before that men did look on them? and the cloudy
ons called Nebuloſœ were at firſt only white flakes, but afterwards
with the Teleſcope we made them to become conſtellations of
many lucid and bright ſtars. Oh preſumptious, rather oh raſh
ignorance of man!
It is great
neſſe to cenſure
that to be
ous in the Univerſe,
which we do not
perceive to be made
for us.
neſſe to cenſure
that to be
ous in the Univerſe,
which we do not
perceive to be made
for us.
By depriving
Heaven of ſome
ſtar, one might
come to know what
influence it hath
upon us.
Heaven of ſome
ſtar, one might
come to know what
influence it hath
upon us.
Many things
may be in Heauen,
that are inviſible
to us
may be in Heauen,
that are inviſible
to us
SALV. It's to no purpoſe Sagredus, to ſally out any more into
theſe unprofitable exaggerations: Let us purſue our intended
deſigne of examining the validity of the reaſons alledged on
ther ſide, without determining any thing, remitting the
ment thereof when we have done, to ſuch as are more knowing.
Returning therefore to our natural and humane diſquiſitions, I
ſay, that great, little, immenſe, ſmall, &c. are not abſolute,
but relative terms, ſo that the ſelf ſame thing compared with
divers others, may one while be called immenſe, and another
theſe unprofitable exaggerations: Let us purſue our intended
deſigne of examining the validity of the reaſons alledged on
ther ſide, without determining any thing, remitting the
ment thereof when we have done, to ſuch as are more knowing.
Returning therefore to our natural and humane diſquiſitions, I
ſay, that great, little, immenſe, ſmall, &c. are not abſolute,
but relative terms, ſo that the ſelf ſame thing compared with
divers others, may one while be called immenſe, and another
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