An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

Now because Elihu is upon a work of nature, and insists upon it all along in the next Chapter; I shall therefore to clear the matter, propose and answer three Questions concerning the Clouds.

First, What is a Cloud, or what is the nature of the Clouds? A cloud is a moist vapour drawn up from the earth or water by the heat of the Sun into the middle region of the Air (as Naturalists divide the Air) where being by the coldness of the place congealed, and as it were knit together, it hangeth and continueth there, till it be broken up at the dispose of God, and sent down for the comfort or correction of man in rain, snow, hail, &c. The clouds of heaven derive their pedigree from the moisture found on earth, and to the earth they return their moisture.

First, What is a Cloud, or what is the nature of the Clouds? A cloud is a moist vapour drawn up from the earth or water by the heat of the Sun into the middle region of the Aire (as Naturalists divide the Aire) where being by the coldness of the place congealed, and as it were knit together, it hangeth and continueth there, till it be broken up at the dispose of God, and sent down for the comfort or correction of man in raine, snow, haile, &c. The clouds of heaven derive their pedigree from the moisture found on earth, and to the earth they return their moisture.

Secondly, Seeing the Clouds are such mighty bodies, and contain (as I may say) whole seas of water in them, and water, being a heavy body, naturally descends or tends downward (as all heavy things do) it may be questioned (and indeed it is a wonder) how those Clouds are kept aloft in the Air? how comes it to pass that such heavy bodies, such floods of water do not presently fall violently, and at once shed themselves down upon, and overwhelm the earth? To that I answer,