3<> THE EAKTH. [LeSSOH VI. 



- if- . 



beranccs on the coat of an orange to the bulk 

 thereof. 



The argument alleged against the earth's mo- 

 tion, " that no such motion is evident to our 

 semises,-" 03 too weak and frivolous to deserve a 

 particular answer ; for it is well known that we 

 meet with deceptions in the sense of vision, in a 

 variety of instances where the objects viewed are 

 quite familiar to us ; and when the fallacy is dis- 

 covered, we have been surprised that we should 

 be so easily deceived. 



As to the second reason before advanced, those 

 who oppose the astronomical principles concern- 

 ing the shape and motion of the Earth, because 

 they think them contrary to Revelation, would 

 do well to consider for what purpose the holy 

 Scriptures were written. Were they written as a 

 measure of faith, or as a rule to regulate our phi- 

 losophical opinions ? Gassendus does not give a 

 direct answer to the question ; but he has made 

 some very pertinent observations on the subject, 

 with which I shall here present you. " There are," 

 says he, " two sacred volumes ; the one written, 

 " called the Bible, the other Nature, or the 

 " World; GOD having manifested himself by two 

 " lights, the one of revelation, and the other of 

 "demonstration: accordingly the interpreters of 

 *' the former are divines, of the latter mathemati- 

 ** cians. As to matters of natural knowledge, 

 *' the mathematicians are to be consulted, and 

 " as to objects of faith, the prophets j the for- 

 aaer being no less interpreters, or apostles, from 



" God 



