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

We have here two things considerable in the Sky; First, the strength of it; Secondly, the clearness of it. But is the Sky strong? that may be thought an improper and incongruous Epithet: The Sky seemeth to be a weak thing, and the Ai• will scarce bear a feather; yet saith he, Hast thou with him spread out the Sky which ⟨p. 569⟩is strong? How are the Heavens or Sky strong? Philosophers and Interpreters upon this place, have largely discoursed the matter of the Heaven•, which to our sense are a very thin substance, and therefore seem to have little strength in them.

We have here two things considerable in the Sky; First, the strength of it; Secondly, the clearness of it. But is the Sky strong? that may be thought an improper and incong•uous Epithete: The Sky seemeth to be a weak thing, and the Ai• will scarce bear a feather; yet saith he, Hast thou with him spread out the Sky which ⟨p. 569⟩is strong? How are the Heavens or Sky strong? Philosophers and Interpreters upon this place, have largely discoursed the matter of the Heaven•, which to our sence are a very thinn substance, and therefore seem to have little strength in them.

I answer, Though to sense and view the Sky or Heavens seem to have little strength in them, yet indeed their strength is beyond that of Rocks and Mountains. The learned Languages, both Greek and Latin, express the Sky by words which properly signify strength and firmness; ¹and we following the Latin word commonly call it in our English tongue, The Firmament, as much as to say, a firm thing. When the Apostle would set forth the steadiness (or as we translate) the steadfastness of the faith of the Colossians, he makes use of this word ([Greek or Hebrew] Chap. 2.5.) As if he had said, I rejoice to behold the firmament of your faith, or that your faith is as fime as the Firmament. Surely then the Sky or Firmament is very strong, else the strength of faith (which being strong, is the strongest thing, both actively and passively, in the world) had never been expressed by it. The Heavens are said to be strong (as saith is) because of their lastingness and duration. The Angels are pure Spirits, they are purer and of a more spiritual substance than the Sky or Heavens, yet they are strong, so strong and powerful, that they are called Powers; their strength is not a corporal strength of flesh and bone, as ours, and that of beasts is, nor is it a strength by compactness of earthy parts, as that of Stones and Metals is, but 'tis a strength of lastingness and activity arising from their spiritualness. Thus the Sky, especially taking it for the Heavens above th air, is pure, there is a spiritualness in its nature, and so a strength of lastingness in it,