lET. II.

OF THE EARTH.

33

Many other proofs might he given, whichestablish this doctrine upon the surest founda-tion, and secure the abettors of it from allpossibility of contradiction. But in a thingwhich admits of absolute certainty, there havebeen those who were so perversely ignorant asto refuse all conviction. This opinion of themotion of the earth, like that of its figure, hasmet with continual opposition ; and its advo-cates have been branded with the most igno-minious titles, and persecuted with all the rageof fanaticism.

The celebrated Aristarchus of Samos, fordefending this doctrine, was brought before thebench of the Areopagites, and accused, by hisadversary, of having violated the laws of reli-gion and morality. And, not 200 years since,the great Galileo met with the fame fate. Hewas summoned before the tribunal of the In-quisition, and obliged solemnly to abjure hisastronomical tenets; that the fun was immov-able, in the midst of the universe, and that theearth revolved round it as its proper center.With which requisition he was forced to com-ply ; and to declare that he did with a sincereheart, and faith unfeigned, abjure, curse, anddetest, these errors and heresies.

Such are the obstructions that have beenconstantly thrown in the way of science andknowledge. But, happily for mankind, theD persecuting