IN all ages there have been those whose keen vision has to some extent penetrated through their material surroundings, enabling them to discern something of the truth of being. The knowledge thus gained has imparted to their existence an element of certainty, surety, and continuity, the faith attained being to them indeed "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The ancient prophets attained to such a knowledge of the absolute truth of existence that it enabled them to overcome in large measure their material surroundings, and to know that the power of God with them was greater than the powers which appeared to be against them. Their knowledge of God brought to some of them a sure and certain conviction that the power of good was the only real power, and this knowledge gave them a consciousness of peace and security which nothing could destroy.
God is infinite and eternal, and therefore has had His witnesses in all places and at all times. In the recorded thoughts of the best thinkers of all ages we find rays of the light divine and inklings of the knowledge of God; and we also find power manifested over material conditions in proportion to the amount of truth apprehended. To illustrate: the philosopher Epictetus considered that the ideal man was that man who lived in constant fellowship with Zeus (the Almighty), and that such fellowship resulted in an equanimity and peace of mind which material conditions could not destroy.. In a hymn to the Almighty, the philosopher Cleanthes wrote, "For we are His offspring;" and this is the poet and the quotation referred to in St. Paul's speech on Mars' hill. In the writings of the ancient philosophers generally, we find inklings of divine knowledge here and there; but none of them had that profound and absolute understanding which gave the prophets their power in the days of old, and which made the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth the salvation of the world. In the writings of some of the most profound thinkers of our own day we search in vain for absolute certainty in their teaching regarding God. Like the philosophers of ancient times, they give us hints of the truth, a ray of light here and there; but the time occupied in studying their works in order to find these rays of light and glimmerings of truth in regard to God, is altogether out of proportion to the amount of practical, spiritual truth obtained.
It is not intended to depreciate the works of the thinkers of any age, for we have all been benefited by them in so far as they taught us of the good and the true; but where there is uncertainty in regard to the nature of the Supreme Being, there must be lack of that spiritual power which overcomes the disabilities under which humanity labors. The unscientific worshiping of God (without any real and tangible knowledge of the absolute facts of existence) has been the cause of all the trouble of the ages, so that men have been "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine," few having settled and certain ideas as to why we are here, where we have come from, or whither we are going.
