250 On the Physical Facts contained in the Bible, 
The Bible thus represents to us the aqueous vapours as 
constantly suspended in the air, and nature, by an admirable 
system of circulation, as employing these vapours in the pro- 
duction of clouds. the source of the rains which fecundate the 
earth.* Scripture assigns to the atmosphere and to the upper 
waters, that is to say, to the aqueous vapours suspended in 
its bosom, an importance which modern science alone has 
been able to establish. At least, according to the calculation 
of the greatest natural philosophers, the force annually em- 
ployed by nature in the formation of clouds, is equal to an 
exertion which the whole human species could not accomplish 
in less than 200,000 years.t 
This ‘‘ separation of the upper waters from the lower 
waters,” has taken place by means of the atmosphere, and 
not by a solid sphere, as the greater number of the interpre- 
ters of Genesis have erroneously supposed. In fact, the 
Hebrew word rakiah, which we have rendered by interval or 
firmament, is far from having the least relation to anything 
firm or indurated. It rather designates a vapoury space, 
that is to say, an aériform layer, but by no means a heaven 
of metal, as Don Calmet has unreasonably imagined. 
The Bible here indicates to us the importance of water in 
the formation of the earth. It further informs us that, be- 
sides the water diffused through the atmosphere, or which 
covers the greater part of the surface of the globe,{ there 
exist quantities, not less considerable, in the interior of the 
globe. Its solid crust, it is stated, covers a great abyss : from 
* See Job, chap. xxvi. 8; xxxvi. 27; xxxvii. 1] and 12; xxxviii. 
25 and 27; Ps. Ixxvii. 17 ; Proverbs, viii. 28. 
+ The reader may consult on this subject the calculations of Leslie 
and Arago. The latter admits that about 800,000,000 of men form 
the half of the population of the globe. In the calculation, the result 
of which is given above, there would only be the half of that number en- 
gaged in the work destined for the formation of clouds (Annuaire du 
Bureau des Longitudes, 1835, p. 196). 
{ Psalm civ. 25, makes us acquainted with the grandeur of the ocean 
in these terms: This great and spacious sea. Zechariah describes its extent 
by saying, the Messiah shall reign “ from sea to sea;” that is to say, 
throughout the whole earth, Zechariah, ix. 10. See Amos, viii. 12; 
Micah, vii. 12: Ps. Ixxii. 8. 
