95. Many other things in the sense of the Letter are apparent truths, within which genuine truths lie concealed. It is not hurtful to think and to speak according to such apparent truths; but it is hurtful to confirm them so as to destroy the genuine truth concealed within them. This may be illustrated by an example from nature, adduced because what is natural instructs and convinces more clearly than what is spiritual. [2] To the eye, the sun appears to make a daily and also an annual revolution round the earth. Accordingly it is said in the Word that the sun rises and sets; that it causes morning, noon, evening and night; and also the seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and consequently, days and years. But in reality the sun is stationary, being an ocean of fire round which the earth, revolving daily, is carried annually. The man who, in simplicity and ignorance, supposes that the sun revolves, does not destroy the natural truth that the earth rotates daily on her axis and makes an annual revolution in the ecliptic. But he who confirms the sun's apparent motion and course by the Word and by reasonings from the natural man, invalidates and even destroys the truth.
[3] That the sun moves, is an apparent truth; that it does not move, is a genuine truth. Everyone may speak according to the apparent truth, and indeed does so speak; but to think according to it from confirmation (that is it true) blunts and obscures the rational understanding. It is similar with the stars of the starry heaven. The apparent truth is that they also, like the sun, make a daily revolution; and therefore it is said also of the stars that they rise and set. But the genuine truth is that the stars are fixed, and that their firmament is immovable. Nevertheless everyone may speak according to the appearance.
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