Ixxviii INTRODUCTION. 



and the bodies it contains, are understood by 

 the word Heavens ; but when analysed, it 

 will be found chiefly to indicate powers in 

 action contained in that expanse, and which 

 act upon these bodies ; powers that in the va- 

 rious systems of the universe have various 

 centres dispersed throughout space, each hav- 

 ing a local or partial action upon its own sys- 

 tem, and all derived originally, and still main- 

 tained, from and by one parent fountain, the 

 centre of all irradiation, of all light, of all life 

 and energy. 



In order to ascertain what the word hea- 

 ven, or heavens, really means, the most satis- 

 factory way is to submit it to analysis. In the 

 Bible there are three terms employed to sig- 

 nify the heavens and heavenly powers, one of 

 which 1 is usually rendered the Heavens ; ano- 

 ther, 2 the Sky ; and a third, 3 the Firmament. 

 I shall consider each of these terms. 



1. Heaven, or the heavens. This word, in 

 the Hebrew language, is derived from a root, 4 

 which signifies to dispose or place, with skill, 

 care, and order, as say the lexicographers ; so 

 that literally the common plural term would be 



