It was the custom of that time to bring Scripture into controversies about nature. This was done also in _Galileo’s_ case. Passages were quoted against him, referring to the “rising and setting sun,” to the “earth that never moves,” of _Joshua’s_ “commanding the sun to stand still.” This prompted _Galileo_ to cross over into the field of theology himself. In a letter to _Castelli_ in 1613 he says: “Holy Writ can never lie nor err; on the contrary, its sayings are absolute and incontestable truth; but its interpreters are liable to err in various ways, and it is a fatal and very common mistake to stop always at the literal sense” (_Kepler_, even prior to _Galileo_, had interpreted the respective passages of the Scriptures properly and with surprising skill; especially in his introduction to his “Astronomia nova.” Cfr. _Anschuetz_, Johannes Kepler als Exeget. Zeitschrift für katholische Theologie, XI, 1887, 1-24). Correct as these arguments were, it was nevertheless imprudent for the court mathematician to trespass upon grounds regarded by theologians as their own, instead of furnishing natural scientific proofs. Thus the matter was brought to Rome before the Congregation of the Inquisition. _Galileo_, worrying about his case, went voluntarily to Rome, in 1615. He failed to assuage the opposition against his theory, though he says he was received favourably by the princes of the Church. Moreover, heedless of the admonition of his friends, he pursued the matter with indiscreet zeal, with vehemence and impetuosity, practically provoking a decision. Cardinal _Bellarmin_ opposed the haste with which the matter was being pressed; the Jesuit _Grienberger_ thought that _Galileo_ should first set forth his proofs, and then speak about the Scriptures. Had scientific proofs been brought forth, theological difficulties would have been easily cleared away; but scientific proof was lacking, and what there perhaps was of it, _Galileo_ failed to offer.