ncerning
these things are not to be understood in a literall sense; but rather
as vulgar expressions, and this rule is set downe by Saint _Austin_,
where speaking concerning that in the Psalme, _who stretched the earth
upon the waters_,[6] hee notes, that when the words of Scripture shall
seeme to contradict common sense or experience, there are they to be
understood in a qualified sense, and not according to the letter. And
'tis observed that for want of this rule, some of the ancients have
fastened strange absurdities upon the words of the Scripture. So Saint
_Ambrose_ esteemed it a heresie, to thinke, that the Sunne and starres
were not very hot, as being against the words of Scripture,[7] _Psalm._
19. 6. where the _Psalmist_ sayes that there is nothing that is hid from
the heate of the Sunne. So others there are that would prove the heavens
not to be round, out of that place, _Psal._ 104. 2. _Hee stretcheth out
the heavens like a curtaine._[8] So _Procopius_ also was of opinion,
that the earth was founded upon the waters, nay, he made it part of his
faith, proving it out of _Psal._ 24. 2. _Hee hath founded the earth
upon the seas, and established it upon the flouds._ These and such like
absurdities have followed, when men looke for the grounds of Philosophie
in the words of Scripture. So that from what hath beene said, I may
conclude that the silence of Scripture concerning any other world is
not sufficient argument to prove that there is none. Thus for the two
first arguments.

[Sidenote 1: _In Epist. ad Gilbert._]

[Sidenote 2: Part 1. Q. 68. Art. 3.]

[Sidenote 3: Gen. 1. 16]

[Sidenote 4: Gen. 11.]

[Sidenote 5: Sr. _W. Rawly_ c. 7. Sec.. 6.]

[Sidenote 6: l. 2. in Gen. / Psal. 136. 6.]

[Sidenote 7: Wisd. 2. 4. 17. 5. / Ecclus. 43. 3. 4.]

[Sidenote 8: _Com. in c. 1. Gen._]

Unto the third, I may answer, that this very example is quoted by
others, to shew the ignorance of those primative times, who did
sometimes condemne what they did not understand, and have often censur'd
the lawfull & undoubted parts of Mathematiques for hereticall, because
they themselves could not perceive a reason of it, and therefore their
practise in this particular, is no sufficient testimony against us.

But lastly I answer to all the above named objections, that the terme
World, may be taken in a double sense, more generally for the whole
Universe, as it implies in it the elementary and aethereall bodies,