158 GEOLOGY AND MOSES. 



" days" in this account, seems to stand simply for the begin- 

 ning and close of the different periods a use of language 

 similar to that employed by us when we speak of the " eve" or 

 " morn" of a " new era." 



It is said, that " God called the light Day, and the darkness 

 He called Night." In this passage, the words "day" and 

 "night" are probably (though not necessarily) used in their 

 ordinary acceptation, and point to a revolution of the earth on 

 its axis, and a successive illumination of its sides by the sun. 

 But owing to the thick atmospheric vapors which still con- 

 tinued to prevail to a great extent, the sun would doubtless 

 have still been invisible to a spectator, could such have been 

 placed upon the earth's surface, and the amount of solar light 

 that could have penetrated to the earth, was probably much 

 less than is now received, even through the thickest and dark- 

 est clouds. 



The next work seems to have consisted in producing further 

 changes and regulations in the atmosphere, by which a more 

 distinct line of demarcation was established between the waters 

 intended to be suspended in the air, and those designed to 

 preserve a more condensed form upon the earth's surface. 

 Moses, being obliged to make the most of the few words which 

 his primitive and meager language afforded, describes this 

 work by saying, " And God said, Let there be a firmament in 

 the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the 

 waters." Hebraists tell us that the word "firmament" is a 

 very improper rendering of the original word, which signifies 

 simply an expanse or space; " Consequently," (says Dr. 

 Clarke) " that circumbient space or expansion, separating the 

 clouds, which are in the higher regions of it, from the seas, 

 etc., which are below it." During the high temperature of 

 the earth's surface, which Geology proves to have prevailed in 



