Salusbury, Thomas Mathematical collections and translations 1667
author indexprevious page455 / 1206next page
 show/hide xml  show page   search  

431
leave Sense and Demonstrative Reasons, for some place of Scri­
pture which sometimes under the apparent words may contain
a different sense. Now I hope to shew with how much
greater Piety and Religious Zeal I proceed, than they do, in that
I propose not, that the Book of Copernicus is not to be condemn­
ed, but that it is not to be condemned, as they would have it;
without understanding it, hearing it, or so much as seeing it;
and especially he being an Author that never treateth of matters
of Religion or Faith; nor by Reasons any way depending on the
Authority of Sacred Scripoures whereupon he may have erroni­
ously interpreted them; but alwaies insists upon Natural Conclu­
sions belonging to the Celestial Motions, handled with Astrono­
mical and Geometrical Demonstrations. Not that he had not a

respect to the places of the Sacred Leaves, but because he knew
very well that his said Doctrine being demonstrated, it could
not contradict the Scriptures, rightly, and according to their true
meaning understood. And therefore in the end of his Epistle
Dedicatory, speaking to The Pope, he saith thus: (b) If there
should chance to be any Matæologists, who though ignorant in all
the Mathematicks, yet pretending a skill in those Learnings,
should dare, upon the authority of some place of Scripture wrested
to their purpose, to condemn and censure this my Hypothesis, I
value them not, but shall slight their inconsiderate Judgement. For
it is not unknown, that Lactantius (otherwise a Famous Author,
though mean Mathematician) writeth very childishly touching the
Form of the Earth, when he scoffs at those who affirm the Earth to
be in Form of a Globe. So that it ought not to seem strange to the
Ingenious, if any such should likewise now deride us. The Ma­
thematicks are written for Mathematitians, to whom (if I deceive
not my self) these Labours of mine shall seem to add something,
as also to the Common-weale of the Church, whose Government is
now in the hands of Your Holiness.

(c) Si fort asseerunt
Matæologi, qui
cum omnium Ma­
thematicum igna­
ri sint, tamen de tis
judicium assu­
munt, propter ali­
quem locum Scri­
ptur æ, malè ad su­
um propositum, de­
tortum, ausi fue­
rint hoc meum in­
stitutum reprehen­
dere ac insectari,
illos nihil moror,
adeò ut etiam illo­
rum judicium, tan­
guam temera ium
contemnam. Non
enim obscurum est,
Lact antium, cele­
lebrem alioqui
Scriptorem, sed
Mathematicum
parvum, admodum
pueriliter de forma
Terræ loqui, cùm
deridet eos, qui
Terram, Globi for­
mam habere prodi­
derunt. Itaque non
debet mirum vide­
ri studiosis, si qui
tales, nos ettam ri­
debunt. Mathema­
ta Mathematicis
scribuntur; quibus
& hi nostri labo­
res, (si me non fal­
lit opinio) vide­
buntur etiam Rei­
publicæ Ecclesia­
sticæ conducere a­
liquid, cujus Prin­
cipatum Tua San­
ctitas nunc teness.

And of this kinde do these appear to be who indeavour to
perswade that Copernicus may be condemned before his Book is
read; and to make the World believe that it is not onely lawfull
but commendable so to do, produce certain Authorities of the
Scripture, of Divines, and of Councils; which as they are by me
had in reverence, and held of Supream Authority, insomuch that
I should esteem it high temerity for any one to contradict them
whilst they are used according to the In stitutes of Holy Church,
so I believe that it is no errour to speak, so long as one hath rea­
son to suspect that a person hath a desire, for some concern of
his own, to produce and alledge them, to purposes different from
those that are in the most Sacred intention of The Holy Church.
Therefore I not onely protest (and my sincerity shall manifest it