That it should rain on the earth without man in the wilderness, where no mortal dwelleth:

1142 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

1/4 of the former and

Job 38:11 And I said: Hitherto thou shalt come, and shalt go no further, and here thou shalt break thy swelling waves.

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

Psalm 104:10-14 Thou sendest forth springs in the vales: between the midst of the hills the waters shall pass. . . .

Psalm 107:35 He hath turned a wilderness into pools of waters, and a dry land into water springs.

Psalm 147:8,9 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth. Who maketh grass to grow on the mountains, and herbs for the service of men. . . .

Isaiah 35:1,2 The land that was desolate and impassable shall be glad, and the wilderness shall rejoice, and shall flourish like the lily. . . .

Isaiah 41:18,19 I will open rivers in the high hills, and fountains in the midst of the plains: I will turn the desert into pools of waters, and the impassable land into streams of waters. . . .

Isaiah 43:19,20 Behold I do new things, and now they shall spring forth, verily you shall know them: I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. . . .

Jeremiah 14:22 Are there any among the graven things of the Gentiles that can send rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou the Lord our God, whom we have looked for? for thou hast made all these things.

Hebrews 6:7,8 For the earth, that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God. . . .