* To cause.
It is well known that rain falls copiously in thunder storms.
The flash is first seen, the clap is next heard, and last the
rain descends; though in fact they all take place at the same
time. The lightning traverses all space in no perceivable
succession of time. Sound is propagated at the rate of 1,142
feet in a second. Rain travels still more slowly, and will be
seen sooner or later according to the weight of the drops, and
the distance of the cloud. Now as water is composed of two
elastic airs or gases, called oxygen and hydrogen, in the
proportion of 88律of the former and 11; 3/4; of the latter in
100; parts, the electric spark, or matter of lightning, passing
through the atmosphere, ignites and decomposes those gases,
which explode; and the water falls down in the form of rain.
This explosion, as well as the rushing in of the circumambient
air to restore the equilibrium, will account for the clap and
peal; and thus by the lightning of thunder God causes it to
rain on the earth.
* on the wilderness.
Ps 104:10-14 107:35 147:8,9 Isa 35:1,2 41:18,19 43:19,20
Jer 14:22 Heb 6:7,8
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