The first distinct creature that Moses takes notice of, is Light; which he informs us, was created by the commandment of the Almighty. "He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." We have reason to conclude, from Scripture, that the visible fabric of the heavens and the earth was not the first work of God; for the angels, those sons of the Almighty, those morning stars, sang for joy, when the foundations of this system were laid. It is altogether uncertain how long that spiritual system had stood before this world was created; but it is highly probable, and almost certain, that there was a spiritual system before this world was formed in the manner it

now is.

It appears very probable that all the moving powers in nature received their existence when the matter, of which the heavens and the earth are made, was first created. This is called by Moses the abyss, or matter without form or order, and void or empty, without utility. When the Almighty said, 'Let there be light,' we are not to imagine that this command was the cause of the creation of the principles of light; the materials were already created, but it called them into another form than that in which they were before. The chaotic mass contained the principles and materials of all bodies but without order. So Moses tells us that all things were tohu ve bohu,-confusion and emptiness, and that darkness was over all the abyss.

The divine commandment which produced light, must be considered as operating upon the properties of matter already created and as light is found to proceed from the motion of luminous particles, we must conceive some central force, or attracting power, to be the instrument of producing this phenomenon of light. There seem to be moving principles in all nature, which, when put in motion by the first cause, produce natural effects according to fixed and established laws: which cannot be altered unless by the First Mover.

The origin of that light which now renders bodies visible to us, seems chiefly to be fire; though light and fire are not inseparably connected; for light may be propagated where there is no fire, as from putrid bodies, and fire may be where there is no light, as in iron, sulphur, &c.

According to Moses, Light was the first specifical creature that was formed in this system, but the materials were already created when the other matter, of which the heavens and the earth were formed, received its existence. Moses seems plainly to hint at the operation of a principle in the universe, which, as a second cause, produced the phenomenon of light. This, most probably, was the motion of the luminous and fiery particles

in the chaotic mass, which, at the divine command, separated themselves from the other gross materials of the miscellaneous composition, and by an attractive sympathy associated in one body, and after three natural days, formed that body which we now call the sun.

Whether there be any subtle body, of a purer nature than fire, in this system, is of little consequence in this enquiry; for, admitting that similar particles have, according to their nature, a quality, or power to attract one another when put in motion, it answers all the purposes required. The first thing that Moses takes notice of in the order of the things created, is the centre of this system, which he calls or light; and which after a short progression rested in the sun, the common centre of this system of which we are a part. And by the influence of this central light, or fire, the various parts of the system were balanced, and, by mutual attraction, moved in the expanse, at determined distances.

The account which Moses gives of the abyss, or deep, as it is called in our translation, is very favourable to the idea which Sir Isaac Newton has suggested concerning attraction and gravitation; for the Hebrew word signifies, to move with a sort of confused motion. This shews that the chaotic mass had some gravitating powers in it, before the forming of the system; and that the attracting and repelling forces were naturally and originally in the universe; and that the first mover gave them, in a regular course, their specifical direction, and systematical attractions. Thus it is imagined that the doctrine of Moses, even in point of philosophy, is much more agreeable to the system of Sir Isaac Newton, than that of Mr. Hutchinson; and it does not appear that there is any thing said by Moses that contradicts our great natural Philosopher, or that there is any thing advanced by the latter, that is not consistent with the Principia of Moses.

As light is a fluid composed of lucid particles, of which many are of an igneous nature, and have the power of burning, and others give light without having any fire in their composition; these all act according to their different attractions, or gravitation.

When lucid igneous particles are strongly attracted to one another in great quantities, their heat becomes intolerable, and is capable of destroying the most solid bodies. It is well known that the rays of light converged in the focus of one of Hartsocker's burning-glasses, will produce wonderful effects : tin, lead, or any soft metal, will dissolve at the first touch; and iron, which endures a very strong fire before it dissolves, will inelt before one of these glasses in a minute's time. This plainly shews us that, provided there were not a wise and Almighty

Providence, that manages and directs all things, those materials which are of the greatest advantage to the world, would soon destroy it. If the rays of light were to form solid bodies and depart from their state of fluidity, they would, in the twinkling of an eye, reduce this globe to ashes, or render it liquid fire. Were the rays of light all of one kind, it is probable that they might unite and become solid bodies; but the wisdom of Providence hath formed them both of different colours, and of different reflections and refrangibility. This prevents them from associating in such a manner as to do hurt, unless they are converged by some instrument which hinders them from flying off. As all rays of light have not the same degree of reflexibility and refrangibility, but some are capable of greater reflexions and refractions than others, they cannot without force be united in one solid body, though they are all serviceable for the purposes of light, and contribute to the happiness of men, and the welfare of all living creatures. Whether Moses intended a philosophical account of light in this chapter, I will not pretend to say; but one thing is certain, that he makes use of a word which points out some of the principal properties of light., signifies that body which renders objects visible, which we call light; it also signifies fire, and perhaps Moses, intended to point out in one word, what in our language re quires two, light and fire. Whatever may be the philosophic differences between these two, we are certain that they are sel dom separated. It is also plain that the sun is not the sole source of light any more than he is of fire; for light may propagated where the sun never shines, as may be proved by many instances: but the sun is the principal source of light to our system.

be

There has been a violent dispute between the philosophers on the Continent and those in England, concerning the propaga tion of light. The former make light a fluid of a most subtile, fine, and active substance, dispersed over all the world, which affects our eyes, when it is carried towards them by the impres sion of a body on fire.* The latter affirm that corporeal light is a substance which the body in fire emits out of itself with the utmost rapidity. Sir Isaac Newton has demonstrated this latter opinion, by so many wonderful experiments, that it is impossible to deny the propagation of light, without being devoted to scepticism. The author of Spectacle de la Nature has endeavoured to shew," that as there is no body in all the creation more useful than light, so there are none of more extraordinary qualities, and more wonderful in their qualities. In the rays of light are discovered all the original colours in nature, red, or

* History of the Heavens.