Firmament, Waters And Land

Mystice firmamentum sanctam significat Scripturam, sicut in ejus significatione in Apocalypsi dicitur: et coelum recessit sicut liber involutus: aquae multae populi sunt. Tunc ergo firmamentum in medio aquarum factum est quando Scriptura divina populis innotuit. Aquae quidem super firmamentum significant angelicas catervas quae bene super firmamentum esse dicuntur, quia, Deum semper prae oculis habentes, non indigent legali institutione neque evanglicia praeceptis, Quae vero sub firmamento sunt aquae, homines significant qui divinis edocentur praeceptis, sine quibus ad coeleste regnum pervenire nequeunt. Tertia die congregate sunt aquae in locum unum et apparuit arida. Per aridam signifcantur corda electorum sitientia aquam baptismatis et fontem doctinae coelestis. Collectis ergo aquis in unum, id est reprobis separatis a justis, apparuerunt sancti, divisi ab amaritudine infidelitatis et inconcussa fidei firmitate roborati. Remigius Antissiodorensis, Commentarius In Genesim, Caput I Source: Migne PL 131.57b-c

Mystically the firmament 1 signifies Holy Scripture, as its signification is spoken of in the Apocalypse: 'and the heavens were removed like a scroll rolled up.' 2 The many waters are the peoples. Thus the firmament is set amid the waters when Scripture is made know among the peoples. The waters above the firmament signify the angelic companies which are well said to be above the firmament, because with their eyes always on God they do not lack legal instruction or the evangelical precepts. However the waters which are below the firmament signify men who are taught the Divine commands, without which they are unable to come to the kingdom of heaven. On the third day the waters were gathered up in one place and dry land appeared. 3 By dry land is signified the hearts of the elect which are thirsting for the water of baptism and the fount of Divine teaching. The waters are gathered into one place when the reprobate are separated from the righteous, when the holy ones appear divided from the bitterness of faithlessness and immovable by the firmness of strong faith. Remigius of Auxerre, Commentary On Genesis, Chap 1 1 Genes 1.6-8 2 Apoc 6.14 3 Genes 1.9