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

Thirdly, Others ascribe it to the hollowness or spunginess of their nature, which receiving and taking in the thin air, they are more easily kept up.

Thirdly, Others ascribe it to the hollowness or spunginess of their nature, which receiving and taking in the thin aire, they are more easily kept up.

But when we have searched to the utmost for reasons in nature, we must rise higher, and resolve the question according to Scripture and divine Philosophy, into the power and will of God. The holding up of the Clouds is Gods work as well as the raising of them up; He gave this law or command unto the Clouds in the day of their creation, that they should not fall down nor distil a drop, but by his own commandment and appointment. Thus we find it expressed by Moses in his description of the creation, (Gen. 1.6.) Let the firmament (that is,¹ the air, the inferior air next to the middle region) divide the waters from the waters. Here is a divine sanction; there are waters above, and waters below; And saith God, Let the firmament divide the waters from the waters; that is, those waters that are drawn up into Clouds in the air, a provision for Rain, &c. let them be kept above, and divided from the Sea and waters that dwell below. Thus there was a Law at first to keep quarter, as I may say, between those waters. And Solomon speaking of the eternal Son of God, of his co-eternity with the Father, brings him (under the name of Wisdom) speaking thus of himself; I was with him (when he did this and that, and among the rest, Prov. 8.28.) When he established the Clouds above; that is, when God made a Decree that the Clouds should stay above, and not come down but at his call. So 'tis expressed (Job 26.8.) God bindeth up the waters in the thick Cloud, and the Cloud is not rent under them. 'Tis not of it self that the Cloud (having such a weight in it) doth not rent and break, but, saith God, it shall not. (