Lessonvi.] THE EARTH. 23 



ject, and you may advance several reasons for 

 the objection, the principal of which will be like 

 the following: l.'It is repugnant to our senses, 

 which represent the earth to be flat and immove- 

 able ', and 2. It is contrary to the words of Scrip- 

 ture. 



The first of these reasons may be obviated with 

 ease, if the subject be considered with a proper 

 attention. Thus, the roundness of the Earth is con- 

 firmed by recollecting that it has been frequently 

 circumnavigated : that it is round is also proved 

 by considering that its shadow, as projected upon 

 the Moon in a lunar eclipse, always appears nearly 

 circular, which would not happen if the Earth 

 were not nearly spherical j but the most mani- 

 fest proof is derived from the considerations di- 

 rectly following. If we stand upon the sea shore 

 and notice a ship sailing from us, we shall first lose 

 sight of the hull or body of the vessel, then of 

 the lower pajts of the masts and rigging, and as 

 she goes farther off, the upper parts of the masts 

 disappear : so again, when a ship comes towards 

 port, the steeples and highest buildings are first seen 

 by the sailors ; as the vessel comes nearer, they per- 

 ceive the houses and lower buildings ; and pre- 

 sently after the surface of the ground "appears. 

 Thus it is obvious that the earth is nearly spheri- 

 cal : and the diversifications of its surface with 

 mountains and valleys have no sensible effect in 

 destroying its sphericity; for the greatest hills, 

 when compared with its magnitude, bear no greater 

 proportion to the whole, than the little protu- 

 c berances 



