> What causes lightening?

> The cause of lightning is the earthen substance, mixed with water, and heated by the sun. Now when the sun heats the earthen substance, and the water mingled therewith, it causeth the earth to be dried up, and then the air is filled with smoke, and the smoke riseth up into the clouds, and there it is mixed with fire; and when the cloud is full, it bursts open, and the smoke goes forth, and strikes against the ground, and thereby makes thunder; and the fire goes before the smoke, and maketh the lightning. Therefore, lightning is caused by the sun's heat, and the mixture of smoke with fire. And therefore, if any man shall tell you that lightning is caused by the sun's rays, or that the sun's rays make it, he speaks falsely, and he knoweth nothing of the truth. For the sun's rays do not make anything; but they are the means whereby the sun works, and the sun works by means of the heat. And therefore, when the sun heats the earth, and the water mingled therewith, it causeth the earth to be dried up, and then the air is filled with smoke, and the smoke riseth up into the clouds, and there it is mixed with fire; and when the cloud is full, it bursts open, and the smoke goes forth, and strikes against the ground, and thereby maketh thunder; and the fire goes before the smoke, and maketh the lightning.