The Heavens and the Earth were created before the First Mosaic Day--Objection from Exodus, xx. 9-11--Answer--Interpretation of the Author supported by the best Commentators--Confirmed by the Hebrew Text--The Early Fathers commonly held the Existence of created Matter prior to the Work of the Six Days--Saint Basil, Saint Chrysostom, Saint Ambrose, Venerable Bede--The most eminent Doctors in the Schools concurred in this Opinion--Peter Lombard, Hugh of Saint Victor, Saint Thomas--Also Commentators and Theologians--Perrerius, Petavius--Distinguished Names on the other side, A Lapide, Tostatus, Saint Augustine--The Opinion is at least not at Variance with the Voice of Tradition--This Period of created Existence may have been of indefinite Length--And the Earth may have been furnished then as now with countless Tribes of Plants and Animals--Objections to this Hypothesis proposed and explained, 300 CHAPTER XX. SECOND HYPOTHESIS;--THE DAYS OF CREATION LONG PERIODS OF TIME. Diversity of Opinion among the Early Fathers regarding the Days of Creation--Saint Augustine, Philo Judæus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Saint Athanasius, Saint Eucherius, Procopius--Albertus Magnus, Saint Thomas, Cardinal Cajetan--Inference from these Testimonies--First Argument in favor of the popular Interpretation; a Day, in the literal Sense, means a Period of Twenty-four Hours--Answer--This Word often used in Scripture for an indefinite Period--Examples from the Old and New Testament--Second Argument; the Days of Creation have an Evening and a Morning--Answer--Interpretation of Saint Augustine, Venerable Bede, and other Fathers of the Church--Third Argument; the Reason alleged for the Institution of the Sabbath Day--Answer--The Law of the Sabbath extended to every Seventh Year as well as to every Seventh Day--The Seventh Day of God’s Rest a long Period of indefinite Duration, 318 CHAPTER XXI. APPLICATION OF THE SECOND HYPOTHESIS TO THE MOSAIC HISTORY OF CREATION--CONCLUSION.