Astronomy and the Bible;

CHAPTERXIX

TheVastnessofHisPower

VERY
fewhave anyconceptionofthewonder-
fulenergies revealedinthematerial universe.
Beforeweconsidertheforcesmanifestedbythe
starsinspace,letusforafewmomentsthinkofsome
ofthemarvelousenergiesatworkcloseathand.
Considertheairwebreathe. Wearenotconscious
ofthepowerwrappedupinthisinvisibleagency;yet
itisheldcloselyhuggingtheearthbythetremendous
downwardpressureofgravity. Thispressureamounts
toaboutfifteenpoundstothesquareinch. Wedonot
feelit,foritisthroughusaswellasaboutus. Weare
immersedinit. Wearesaturatedwithit. Thewhole
pressureonthisearth,expressedintons,requiressix-
teen digits,being closeto5,517,823,961,480,000 tons.
Inroundnumbers,wemaysayitisfivethousandmil-
lionsofmilHonsoftons. Butthisisbutoneletter,so
tospeak,inthealphabetofGod'spowerintheworld.
Considernexttherain. Listento itspatter. The
dropsmeananannualfallofmillionsoftonsofwater
ontheearth'ssurface. Theaveragequantityofwater

200