As for those Scripture Expreffions. The Sun's rifing and going down, running bis Race, ftanding fill, &c. they are true and proper Descriptions of the Phænomena, as they appear to us; but by what Motions thofe Phænomena are occafioned, thefe Expreffions not do at all determine. . That some Part, at leaft, of the Account of the Sun and Moon's ftanding ftill in the 10 Chapter of Joshua, is merely a Defcription of the Appearance, is evident, in that the Sun is faid to ftand upon Gibeon, and the Moon in the Valley of Ajalon. Now Gibeon and Ajalon, and indeed the whole Land of Canaan, lies in too Northern a Latitude for either Sun or Moon ever to be vertical too, or directly over, any Part of it. However, this was a juft Description of the Phænomenon as it appeared to Joshua, in the Place where he then was, where the Sun feemed to be upon Gibeon, and the Moon over the Valley of Ajalon; (juft as the Sun often appears to us to be directly over this or that Tree or Steeple, though we know the Place to which he is then really vertical is fome Thousands of Miles off.) But if Joshua had been then in another Part of the Country, the Sun and Moon would have appeared to him, not as over Gibeon and Ajalon, but over other Places; while yet, in Reality, neither of them were over any Place that he could then then fee. Now if one Part of the Account, viz. that which refpects the Place of the Sun, be nothing else but a Defcription of the Phænomenon, as it appeared, and not as it was in Reality; I fee no Reafon why the other Part, refpecting the Sun's moving or ftanding ftill, fhould be understood any otherwife. And I should think it might as well be proved, from this Text, that the Sun did then depart from the Ecliptic, and came at least 7 Degrees Northward, to ftand over Gibeon; as that, it is the Motion of the Sun, and not of the Earth, which occafions the Succeffion of Days and Nights. PART T HE most common Divifions of or Artificial. I. DAYS are either Natural A Natural Day is the Space of Time which flows while the Sun goes from any Meridian to the fame Meridian again; or from any Hour one Day, to the fame Hour the next Day. These Days are always of the fame Length, very nearly. An An Artificial Day is from Sun-rife to Sun-fet. These Days are of different Lengths, at different Times of the Year, all the World over, except at the Equator and the Poles. Different Nations have begun the natural Day differently. The Jews began the Day from Sun-fet. The Egyptians from Midnight; in which they are followed by most modern Nations of Europe. Only the Aftronomers begin the Day at Noon, and count 24 Hours till the Noon of the next Day, and not twice twelve, according to vulgar Computation. II. HOURS are also either Natural or A Natural Hour is the 24th Part of a natural Day. The Hour is divided into 60 Minutes; the Minute into 60 Seconds, &c. An Artificial Hour is the 12th Part of the artificial Day, or Night. This was used by fome of the Ancients. III. A WEEK is a Syftem of feven Days. The First is called Sunday, or Lord'sDay. The Second, Monday, &c. In Latin they are named after the Planets. Sunday is Dies Solis; Monday, Luna; Tuesday, Martis; Wednesday, Mercurii; Thursday, turni * IV. *The ancient Saxons had a great many Idols, seven of which were appropriated to the feven Days of the Week, because of fome Worship that was paid to each Idol on its respective Day, viz. 1. The SUN. 2. The MOON. 3. TUISCO, who had been a Man of great Renown among the Germans, after whom they called themselves Tuithen, that is, Tuitfhmen; from whence comes the modern Name Dutchmen. The third Day of the Week was especially dedicated to the Worship of this Idol, which was therefore called Tuifday, or Tuesday. 4. WODEN, who had been a famous Warrior, and was therefore honoured as the God of Battle, in like Manner as Mars was among the Romans. He was chiefly worfhipped on the fourth Day of the Week, which was called Wodenfday or Wednesday. 5. THOR, the God who was fuppofed to govern the Winds and Clouds, and to whom they prayed for feafonable Weather, and that especially on the fifth Day of the Week, called therefore Thorfday or Thursday. 6. FRIGA, a Goddefs, reputed the giver of Peace and Plenty for which Gifts they prayed to her chiefly on the fixth Day, which was therefore called Frigedead; from whence comes the Name Friday. SEATER, to whom they prayed for Protection, Freedom and Concord; and alfo for the Fruits of the Earth. He was worshipped on the feventh Day of the Week, which therefore received the Name Seater-day from this Idol; or, as we now write it, Saturday. The Romans finding, or fancying, fome Refemblance between the Attributes of thofe Saxon Idols, and feveral of their Gods, imagined them to be the fame. As Woden they fuppofed to be Mars, Thor to be Jupiter the Thunderer; Friga to be Venus the Goddess of Love and Friendfhip; and especially becaufe Venus was honoured by them on the fame Day of the Week. Seater they mistook for 4. |