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The Works of Thomas Traherne from Appendix
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 July 2016
O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise him, and magnify him for ever.
Consider also, O my Soul, the wonderful Nature of the Firmament, that vast extended Space between the upper and lower Waters, and by what mighty Power, and with what infinite Wisdom the great and good God divided the Waters that are under the Firmament, from those that were above it, and the Divine Wisdom doing so. Gen. 1. 7. Were all the Waters above the Firmament, we should then have no Seas, no Fishes, nor Place for those Wonders that lie in the Deep, no wholesome Springs, nor sovereign Wells, no pleasant Rivers, nor rich overflowing Fountains, either for Drink, Health, Profit, Use, Cleansing, or Medicine. And yet on the other side, were all the Waters contained in those, and none above the Firmament, then no refreshing Dews, no fruitful Showers, could fall upon us to replenish the Earth when it was dry and fruitless, nor to settle the Furrows thereof. They are these Waters that make his Paths, or Clouds to drop Fatness. Psal. 65.11.
Consider also, O my Soul, that the very Rain from Heaven ariseth from the Vapours that ascend from the Earth, and even those Vapours which are exhal'd from the salt and bitter Waters of the Sea, when they are once converted into Clouds, are afterwards distilled down in sweet and refreshing Showers, as it were giving Thanks for the Waters they receive ; and as when there are no Vapours, there is no Rain, so believe, my Soul, without grateful Returns for Mercies, thou canst not hope for any more. See yet farther, how necessary it was for the Divine Goodness to divide these Waters from the Waters. For as in the First Days’ Creation, he divided the Waters from the Earth, so on the Second Day, he divided the Waters from themselves, because he would leave the more gross and terrestial Waters upon the Earth ; and lift up those which are more subtil and delicate, into the Regions of the Air ; which are the Clouds we see, which water and refresh the dry Earth in convenient Seasons ; and makes it produce Fruits for our Life and Comfort.
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