As to "the waters which are above the firmament," he takes up the objection of those who hold that, this outside of the universe being spherical, the waters must slide off it, especially if the firmament revolves; and he points out that it is by no means certain that the OUTSIDE of the firmament IS spherical, and insists that, if it does revolve, the water is just what is needed to lubricate and cool its axis.
(199) For Tertullian, see the Apol.

contra gentes, c.

47; also Augustin de Angelis, Lectiones Meteorologicae, p.64.For Hilary, see In Psalm CXXXV.

(Migne, Patr.Lat., vol.ix, p.

773).
(200) "Firmans tonitrua" (Amos iv, 13); the phrase does not appear in our version.
St.Jerome held that God at the Creation, having spread out the firmament between heaven and earth, and having separated the upper waters from the lower, caused the upper waters to be frozen into ice, in order to keep all in place.