It is to be understood, therefore, that the substances of each planet in the _Solar System_, as well as the sun himself, were created _simultaneously_ in a chaotic state, at their proper relative distances from each other: that the requisite quantity of each elementary substance was present in each mass: but as caloric, and this luminiferous ether were _latent_, these masses were solid, frozen lumps; inactive and lifeless; and darkness necessarily prevailed. This then was the original condition of the elements of our Solar System, according to the scriptures. “And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” Gen. i, 2. In order, therefore, to produce a quickening in these masses, which rendered them _soft_, it was only necessary to call the latent caloric, and this luminiferous ether into action, which would agitate, and bring to light the whole mass, and thus commence the arrangement and organization of the Solar System. However, as there was no exciting cause _then_ in operation, it is evident the Almighty must have given the _first_ impulse to these elements. This he did, and the important fact is recorded by Moses in these words: “AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE FACE OF THE GREAT DEEP,” Jehovah saying at the same time, “LET THERE BE LIGHT.” Here is the Mosaic account of the production of light, and possibly heat also, which took place on the _first_ day. The same process went on _simultaneously_ in the sun and planets, and the continued action cleared up their respective atmospheres, and the _sun_ became visible at the earth’s surface on the _fourth_ day. Hence, the sun was said to have been _made_ on the fourth day. This solution of the difficulty is consistent with the account of Moses; and also all the well ascertained phenomena of light can be satisfactorily explained by it. It will naturally lead the mind to observe the resemblance between the phenomena of light and heat, and impel us to the conclusion, that light, or vision, is the _effect_ of a material cause, as heat is of caloric: and it is natural to suppose this cause is in the same relation to light, that caloric is to heat. Of course we should conclude that light, or the luminiferous ether in a latent state, enters into combination with all substances, as does caloric; and at the same time a large proportion of it is _free_, or in motion, and of course sensible to the eye, as _free_ caloric is to the sense of feeling. Moreover we must conclude that this latent light is capable of being set free or evolved by the exciting influence of the sun, as also by friction, compression, combustion, chemical action, &c. It will be of advantage, therefore, to establish the fact of the existence of _latent_ light, in combination with terrestrial substances.