1ledge from the Sacred Books they would not, in my opinion, have
ſpoken ſo little thereof, that it is as much as nothing, in compa
riſon of the infinite admirable Concluſions, which in that Sci
ence are comprized and demonſtrated Nay, that the Authours
of the Holy Volumes did not only not pretend to teach us the
Conſtitutions and Motions of the Heavens and Stars, their Fi
gures, Magnitudes, and Diſtances, but that intentionally (al
beit that all theſe things were very well known unto them) they
forbore to ſpeak of them, is the opinion of the Moſt Holy & Moſt
Learned Fathers: and in S. Auguſtine we read the following words.
(c) It is likewiſe commonly asked, of what Form and Figure
we may believe Heaven to be, according to the Scriptures: For
many contend much about thoſe matters, which the greater pru
dence of our Authors hath forborn to ſpeak of, as nothing further
ing their Learners in relation to ableſſed life; and, (which is
the chiefeſt thing) taking up much of that time which ſhould be
ſpent in holy exerciſes. For what is it to me whether Heaven, as
a Sphere, doth on all ſides environ the Earth, a Maſs ballanced in
the middle of the World; or whether like a Diſh it doth onely cover
or overcaſt the ſame? But becauſe belief of Scripture is urged for
that cauſe, which we have oft mentioned, that is, That none through
ignorance of Divine Phraſes, when they ſhall find any thing of this
nature in, or hear any thing cited out of our Bibles which may ſeem
to oppoſe manifeſt Concluſions, ſhould be induced to ſuſpect their
truth, when they admoniſh, relate, & deliver more profitable matters
Briefly be it ſpoken, touching the Figure of Heaven, that our Au
thors knew the truth: But the H. Spirit would not, that men ſhould
learn what is profitable to none for ſalvation.
ſpoken ſo little thereof, that it is as much as nothing, in compa
riſon of the infinite admirable Concluſions, which in that Sci
ence are comprized and demonſtrated Nay, that the Authours
of the Holy Volumes did not only not pretend to teach us the
Conſtitutions and Motions of the Heavens and Stars, their Fi
gures, Magnitudes, and Diſtances, but that intentionally (al
beit that all theſe things were very well known unto them) they
forbore to ſpeak of them, is the opinion of the Moſt Holy & Moſt
Learned Fathers: and in S. Auguſtine we read the following words.
(c) It is likewiſe commonly asked, of what Form and Figure
we may believe Heaven to be, according to the Scriptures: For
many contend much about thoſe matters, which the greater pru
dence of our Authors hath forborn to ſpeak of, as nothing further
ing their Learners in relation to ableſſed life; and, (which is
the chiefeſt thing) taking up much of that time which ſhould be
ſpent in holy exerciſes. For what is it to me whether Heaven, as
a Sphere, doth on all ſides environ the Earth, a Maſs ballanced in
the middle of the World; or whether like a Diſh it doth onely cover
or overcaſt the ſame? But becauſe belief of Scripture is urged for
that cauſe, which we have oft mentioned, that is, That none through
ignorance of Divine Phraſes, when they ſhall find any thing of this
nature in, or hear any thing cited out of our Bibles which may ſeem
to oppoſe manifeſt Concluſions, ſhould be induced to ſuſpect their
truth, when they admoniſh, relate, & deliver more profitable matters
Briefly be it ſpoken, touching the Figure of Heaven, that our Au
thors knew the truth: But the H. Spirit would not, that men ſhould
learn what is profitable to none for ſalvation.
(c) Quæri etiam
ſolet, quæ forma &
figura Cæli cre
denda ſit ſecun
dum Scripturas
noſtras: Multi e
nim multum diſ
put ant de iis rebus,
quas majori pru
dentia noſtri Auto
res omiſerunt, ad
beatam vitam non
profutur as diſcen
libus, & occupan
tes (quod prius eſt)
multum prolixa,
& rebus ſalubri
bus impendenda
temporum ſpatia.
Quid enim ad me
pertinet, utrum
Cælum, ſicut Sphæ
ra, undique conclu
dat Terram, in
media. Mundi mo
le libratam; an
eam ex una par
te deſuper, ve
lut diſcus, ope
riat? Sed quia de Fide agitur S cripiurærum, propter illam cauſam, quam non ſemel commemoravimus, Ne ſcilicet
quiſquam eloquia divina non intelligens, cum de his rebus tale aliquid vel invenerit in Libris Noſtris, vel ex illis
audiverit, quod perceptis aſſertionibus adver ſari videatur, nullo modo eis, cetera utilia monentibus, vel narrantibus,
vel pranuntiantibus, credat: Breviter diſcendum eſt, de figura Cæli, hoc ſciſſe Autores noſtros, quod verit as ha
bet: Sed Spiritum Dei, qui per ipſos loquebstur, noluiſſe iſta docere homines, nulli ad ſalutem profutura. D.
Auguſt. Lib. 2. De Gen. ad literam, Cap. 9. Idem etiam legitur apud Petrum Lombardum Magiſtrum Sententiarum.
ſolet, quæ forma &
figura Cæli cre
denda ſit ſecun
dum Scripturas
noſtras: Multi e
nim multum diſ
put ant de iis rebus,
quas majori pru
dentia noſtri Auto
res omiſerunt, ad
beatam vitam non
profutur as diſcen
libus, & occupan
tes (quod prius eſt)
multum prolixa,
& rebus ſalubri
bus impendenda
temporum ſpatia.
Quid enim ad me
pertinet, utrum
Cælum, ſicut Sphæ
ra, undique conclu
dat Terram, in
media. Mundi mo
le libratam; an
eam ex una par
te deſuper, ve
lut diſcus, ope
riat? Sed quia de Fide agitur S cripiurærum, propter illam cauſam, quam non ſemel commemoravimus, Ne ſcilicet
quiſquam eloquia divina non intelligens, cum de his rebus tale aliquid vel invenerit in Libris Noſtris, vel ex illis
audiverit, quod perceptis aſſertionibus adver ſari videatur, nullo modo eis, cetera utilia monentibus, vel narrantibus,
vel pranuntiantibus, credat: Breviter diſcendum eſt, de figura Cæli, hoc ſciſſe Autores noſtros, quod verit as ha
bet: Sed Spiritum Dei, qui per ipſos loquebstur, noluiſſe iſta docere homines, nulli ad ſalutem profutura. D.
Auguſt. Lib. 2. De Gen. ad literam, Cap. 9. Idem etiam legitur apud Petrum Lombardum Magiſtrum Sententiarum.
And the ſame intentional ſilence of theſe ſacred Penmen in
determining what is to be believed of theſe accidents of the Ce
leſtial Bodies, is again hinted to us by the ſame Father in the en
ſuing 10. Chapter upon the Queſtion, Whether we are to believe
that Heaven moveth, or ſtandeth ſtill, in theſe words: (d) There
are ſome of the Brethren that ſtart a queſtion concerning the motion
of Heaven, Whether it be fixed, or moved: For if it be moved
(ſay they) how is it a Firmament? If it ſtand ſtill, how do theſe
Stars which are held to be fixed go round from Eaſt to Weſt, the
more Norchern performing ſhorter Circuits near the Pole; ſo that
Heaven, if there be another Pole, to us unknown, may ſeem to re
volve upon ſome other Axis; but if there be not another Pole, it
may be thought to move as a Diſcus? To whom I reply, That
determining what is to be believed of theſe accidents of the Ce
leſtial Bodies, is again hinted to us by the ſame Father in the en
ſuing 10. Chapter upon the Queſtion, Whether we are to believe
that Heaven moveth, or ſtandeth ſtill, in theſe words: (d) There
are ſome of the Brethren that ſtart a queſtion concerning the motion
of Heaven, Whether it be fixed, or moved: For if it be moved
(ſay they) how is it a Firmament? If it ſtand ſtill, how do theſe
Stars which are held to be fixed go round from Eaſt to Weſt, the
more Norchern performing ſhorter Circuits near the Pole; ſo that
Heaven, if there be another Pole, to us unknown, may ſeem to re
volve upon ſome other Axis; but if there be not another Pole, it
may be thought to move as a Diſcus? To whom I reply, That
zoom in
zoom out
zoom area
full page
page width
set mark
remove mark
get reference
digilib