See quotation.
1781. The Old Lights held that the civil magistrate was a creature framed on purpose to support ecclesiastical censures with the sword of severity; but the New Lights maintained, that no power or right to concern himself with church excommunication.—Samuel Peters, ‘History of Connecticut,’ p. 288 (Lond.). See also pp. 273, 286.
*** In a theological sense, “New Light” is an older phrase than the other. See N.E.D., s.v. LIGHT.
