The Firmament. 311 



and pour down their treasures upon the earth. All 

 the springs and rivers are pouring back into the 

 ocean the mighty tide which this firmament has 

 separated from the waters beneath, and poured down 

 as from open windows in the heavens. Were it not 

 for this office of the atmosphere the earth would be 

 a desert. And all the vast accumulations of sedi- 

 mentary rocks o\x-r the whole globe are evidence of 

 the work it has done in dividing and transporting 

 the ;h rough all geologic ages. This was its 



first appointed work, to divide the waters from the 

 waters, and thus to- prepare the globe for man. 

 And we have in the lo\\ 'ified rocks evidence 



of its work before any life appeared upon the earth. 



And when now the swift thunder-cloud pours 

 down its deluge, or the w id storm-cloud 



pours down, day after day. rrents, until the 



-lien ri\. >t contain the abundance, it is 



the firmament established of old, that divides the 

 waters beneath from the waters above. 



When ages h.ive rolled away, the earth covered 

 with the ocean, and far above with a thick canopy 

 of cloud, the crust becomes thick enough to keep 

 its place, when lifted by forces beneath, or by the 

 contraction of the cooling mass within. Now it is 

 possible for dry land to appear; not only possible, 

 but the necessary result of the continued cooling of 

 the earth. 



' :id God said, Let tJie waters under the heaven 

 be gathered together into one place, and let the dry 

 land appear, and it was so" 



