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wrapt close round the earth T So it is. And this is a 

 new wonder, and a new proof of our Creator's wisdom 1 

 A few small bubbles of air and water are indeed of 

 themselves things very insignificant: but that hand 

 which has with so much art and caution placed them 

 over our heads, has done it merely, that his sun and 

 stars might not be rendered useless to us. He embel- 

 lishes whatever he pleases ; and these drops of water and 

 air become in his hands an inhexhaustible source of 

 glory. He draws from them those twilights, which so 

 usefully prepare our eses for the receiving a stronger 

 light. He fetches out of them the brightness of the 

 duwn. From them he produces the splendour of the 

 day. He makes them contribute to the increase and 

 preservation of that heat which nourishes every thing 

 breathing. Of them he makes a brilliant arch, which 

 enchants the sight of man, and becomes the ceiling of his 

 habitation. 



I shall only add the excellent use of the atmosphere^ 

 in respect of two of its meteors, the winds, aud the 

 eiouds and rain. 



The winds * are of such absolute necessity to the 

 wholesomeness of the atmosphere, that all the world 

 would be poisoned without these agitations. We find 

 how putrid and unfit for respiration, a confined, stagna- 

 ting air is. And if the whole mass of air and vapours 

 were always at rest, instead of refreshing, it. would suffo- 

 cate all the world. But the motion it receives from the 

 gales and storms, keeps it pure, and healthy still. 



* The most uni versa I 1 and constant alterations of the ballanee of 

 the atmosphere arc from heat and cold. This r manifest in the 

 general Trade-Winds, blowing all the year becvvcv.ii the tropics from. 

 east to west : the cause whereof is undoudtt-diy by the sun's daily 

 progress rouad that part of the^Iobe, by his heat rarefying, one part 

 of the air, whilst the cooler and heavier air behind passes after. 



In thunder storms .here are often two currents of air, the undefi 

 cm rent contrary to the upper. Hence the wind near the eartix 

 blows one way> and the cJouds more above* the other way> 



