Page:Mathematical collections and translations, in two tomes - Salusbury (1661).djvu/453

 those that I ever heard besides, but yet neverthelesse I esteem it not true and concluding: but keeping alwayes before the eyes of my mind a solid Doctrine that I have learn't from a most learned and ingenuous person, and with which it is necessary to sit down; I know that both you being asked, Whether God, by his infinite Power and Wisdome might confer upon the Element of Water the reciprocal motion which we observe in the same in any other way, than by making the containing Vessel to move; I know, I say, that you will answer, that he might, and knew how to have done the same many wayes, and those unimaginable to our shallow understanding: upon which I forthwith conclude, that this being granted, it would be an extravagant boldnesse for any one to goe about to limit and confine the Divine Power and Wisdome to some one particular conjecture of his own.

.This of yours is admirable, and truly Angelical Doctrine, to which very exactly that other accords, in like manner divine, which whilst it giveth us leave to dispute, touching the constitution of the World, addeth withall (perhaps to the end, that the exercise of the minds of men might neither be discouraged, nor made bold) that we cannot find out the works made by his hands. Let therefore the Disquisition permitted and ordain'd us by God, assist us in the knowing, and so much more admiring his greatnesse, by how much lesse we finde our selves too dull to penetrate the profound Abysses of his infinite Wisdome.

.And this may serve for a final close of our four dayes Disputations, after which, if it seem good to Salviatus, to take some time to rest himself, our curiosity must, of necessity, grant him the same, yet upon condition, that when it is lesse incommodious for him, he will return and satisfie my desire in particular concerning the Problemes that remain to be discust, and that I have set down to be propounded at one or two other Conferences, according to our agreement: and above all, I shall very impatiently wait to hear the Elements of the new Science of our Academick about the natural and violent local Motions. And in the mean time, we may, according to our custome, spend an hour in taking the Air in the Gondola that waiteth for us.