 Beedfül to preferue the material Syftem: 223 
building : and, agreeably to-that idea, though on very different 
principles,- perhaps-thofe of the Proleméian fyftem, the tèxt has: 
been. explained.* 
This conftru&ion, which appears to'be a natural one, gives: 
a meaning to the text,—-a meaning illuftrative of the omnipo- 
tence of the Archite& : and; at. the fame. time.it elucidates 
fome-other. texts relative.to: the fubje&t, it is perfectly defcrip-- 
tive of the concentric fpheres, or orbs, above-mentioned. 
The fame idea is intimated in the fhort account: given of the 
creation. by Mofes, who feems.to refer: to-two firmaments.— 
The firft he mentions: is limited to the earth:and.its atmof- 
phere ; and the other is that in. which-the fixt ftars do appear. 
It is this latter, that is here to. be confidered : concerning 
which, ** God faid, let there be lights in the. firmament of 
heaven ;" and concerning which. it is: Seniarede, hr: God fet 
thofe lights i in. the firmament.” |}. s 
ine radix of the Hebrew word;. tranflated Hic. "T cde 
m iil 
* Qui edificat in.cóelo (i fpepmis mier faas—ipheras Sic gra 
dus fuos : i. e. orbes coeleftes,. qui funt vel 
- eli fynopiie in loc. 
Gen. ch. iv. T4. 17. 
Mrs biflon; whofe! explanatien-of the Mg account of tlie creation. is natural, 
and ingensral fzems.tó be ju(t makes no. ditinctiom:of firmaments +: which, how- 
ed he might have made, without injuring his theory ; and which his owm rules 
of interpretation would have juftified.. 
"The upper —— or pow QR in "-— the heavenly bodies were sfet,” 
ke might. have inclüded, t the workof the fourth day, or year, 
UGLY 
as it was rendered vilible at Be fini time, by means of the earth's átmolphere, th 
that year, becoming tranfparent s whielPatmofphére, according to his theory, is 
the. {other ] firmament, or expanfer’ He-feppofes/ the earth had no rotatiéh-about 
its axis until the deluge ;-and, therefore, that its ‘annual revolution rourid the fun, 
would occafion the antediluvian day to be exactly commenfurate with the year. 
