Archimedes Texts

467
of the Errours of Sight: And so he will not onely extoll the
Bounty of God in the preservation of Living Creatures of all
kindes, and establishment of the Earth; but even in its Motion
also, which is so strange, so admirable, he will acknowledge the
Wisdome of the Creator. But he who is so stupid as not to
comprehend the Science of Astronomy, or so weak and scrupu
lous as to think it an offence of Piety to adhere to Copernicus,
him I advise, that leaving the Study of Astronomy, and censuring
the opinions of Philosophers at pleasure, he betake himself to
his own concerns, and that desisting from further pursuit of these
intricate Studies, he keep at home and manure his own Ground;
and with those Eyes wherewith alone he seeth, being eleva
ted towards this to be admired Heaven, let him pour forth his
whole heart in thanks and praises to God the Creator; and as
sure himself that he shall therein perform as much Worship to
God, as the Astronomer, on whom God hath bestowed this Gift,
that though he seeth more clearly with the Eye of his Under
standing; yet whatever he hath attained to, he is both able and
willing to extoll his God above it.

And thus much concerning the Authority of Sacred Scripture.
Now as touching the opinions of the Saints about these Natural
Points. I answer in one word, That in Theology the weight of
Authority, but in Philosophy the weight of Reason is to be con
sidered. Therefore Sacred was Lactantius, who denyed the
Earths rotundity; Sacred was Augustine, who granted the Earth
to be round, but denyed the Antipodes; Sacred is the ^{*}Liturgy of

our Moderns, who admit the smallnesse of the Earth, but deny
its Motion: But to me more sacred than all these is Truth, who
with respect to the Doctors of the Church, do demonstrate
from Philosophy that the Earth is both round, circumhabited by
Antipodes, of a most contemptible smalnesse, and in a word,
that it is ranked amongst the Planets.