Men have universally and in all Ages agreed and concurred in ascribing Light to the Instrumentality of the Sun Moon and Stars, and yet Moses assures us that Light was made before any of those Luminaries were created— How is this contradictory apparent contradiction to be reconciled to Truth? I never doubted the Fact as asserted by Moses— the Difficulty was how to account for it— If a satisfactory Explanation could be found, it would afford new and additional Proof of the Fidelity of the Prophet, and in that Respect be useful—

An Explanation of the Difficulty has occurred to me— such as it is, I will mention it— perhaps it will suggest a Tract of Investigation, which others may explore and pursue with more Success—

I think it appears clearly from Scripture, that there have been two creations— the one spiritual, the other material, and that the spiritual was anterior to the material—

Spiritual intelligent Creatures were doubtless provided with the Faculties and means necessary to enable them to discern the proper objects of their spiritual Vision— But as at the Period of their creation, there was no material World, and consequently no material Objects in Existence, it is not to be presumed that they were provided with the means of discerning material objects— for until such objects should be called into being, such means would be ^have been^ superfluous and useless.

It will I believe be readily admitted, that the Beginning of the Creation, spoken of by Moses, was the Beginning of the material creation— if so— it cannot be thought extraordinary that God, when about to commence it, should have been pleased to enable the spiritual angelic Host, to see, and observe, and admire the wonderful and progressive operations of this his Power his Wisdom, Power & Goodness—

We are told that while the Earth was as yet without Form and void, Darkness was upon the Face of the Deep— Darkness!— to whom? certainly not to the Great Creator— To him “the Darkness and the Light are both alike[”]—1 that Darkness was could therefore only have Relation to his spiritual intelligent Creatures, who as yet had no means of seeing “The Face of the Deep”—2 But when the Creator was proceeding to reduce Chaos into order, and his Spirit to move on the Face of the waters, he said “Let there be Light, and there was Light[”] —3 Light for whom, or for whose use? most evidently not for his own— It must therefore have been for the use of his spiritual intelligent Creatures, and to enable them to see his new and glorious Works and they did see those Works— we are told that when he laid the Foundations of the Earth, “all the Sons of God shouted for Joy.”4

It was not until three Day afterwards that the Earth was prepared for the Reception and accommodation of corporeal animals— and it is worthy of Remark that none of them were created until after God that had made ^had provided for corporeal vision by making on the fourth Day^ the two great Lights and the Stars to give Light upon the Earth. Hence it is reasonable to conclude, that this latter Light was different and distinct from the former; for if the former was competent for corporeal vision, why was the latter provided?—

Whether the Light created on the first Day was of a nature entirely distinct from that given to the Earth by the Luminaries created on the fourth Day, or whether it was so modified by means of those Luminaries as to be fitted for corporeal Vision is to us unknown. There is however this Difference between them vizt. we have no Information as to the Duration of the first Light, but there are plain Intimations in Scripture that the latter Light is temporary, and will endure only to a certain Period.

Three wonderful and successive creations are mentioned in Scripture; the two first, vizt. the spiritual and the material have already taken place—

The third Creation comprehends the new Heavens and the new Earth which are to succeed the present; for it is plainly revealed to us that the present Heavens are “as a vesture to be folded up and changed[”]—5 that they shall be on fire, and be dissolved, that the Earth and all that therein is shall be burned up, that the natural Body shall be raised a spiritual Body, and this Mortal shall put on Immortality, and that thereafter “there shall be no need of the Sun, neither of the Moon[”] —6

At that Period therefore, when there will be no mere corporeal Eyes to require material Light, nor mere corporeal Bodies to require the Requisites for animal Life and Vision, that Light and those Requisites will cease to be necessary, and therefore be [illegible] cease to exist—

What will be the State of things which this third Creation will introduce, no precise and particular Information has been revealed to us— nor are we in capacity to recieve or to understand such a Revelation— for as that future State of things is to be new and without Resemblance to the present, no human Language can afford words capable of conveying intelligible and adequate Ideas of it— We may nevertheless rest assured that a Light accommodated to our then State, and to our then mode of vision will be afforded us; whether it be the Light first created, or a Modification of it, or one entirely new.—