When Abraham appeared, whether four thousand or five thousand years ago, for chronologists differ in their calculations, it would seem that the nations then existing had forgotten or ignored this great cardinal and fundamental truth, and were more or less given to idolatry, worshipping the heavenly bodies, or the forces of Nature, or animals, or heroes, or graven images, or their own ancestors.  There were but few and feeble remains of the primitive revelation,—­that is, the faith cherished by the patriarchs before the flood, and which it would be natural to suppose Noah himself had taught to his children.

There was even then, however, a remarkable material civilization, especially in Egypt, Palestine, and Babylon; for some of the pyramids had been built, the use of the metals, of weights and measures, and of textile fabrics was known.  There were also cities and fortresses, cornfields and vineyards, agricultural implements and weapons of war, commerce and arts, musical instruments, golden vessels, ornaments for the person, purple dyes, spices, hand-made pottery, stone-engravings, sundials, and glass-work, and even the use of letters, or something similar, possibly transmitted from the antediluvian civilization.  Even the art of printing was almost discovered, as we may infer from the stamping of letters on tiles.  With all this material progress, however, there had been a steady decline in spiritual religion as well as in morals,—­from which fact we infer that men if left to themselves, whatever truth they may receive from ancestors, will, without supernatural influences, constantly decline in those virtues on which the strength of man is built, and without which the proudest triumphs of the intellect avail nothing.  The grandest civilization, in its material aspects, may coexist with the utmost debasement of morals,—­as seen among the Greeks and Romans, and in the wicked capitals of modern Europe.  “There is no God!” or “Let there be no God!” has been the cry in all ages of the world, whenever and wherever an impious pride or a low morality has defied or silenced conscience.  Tell me, ye rationalists and agnostics! with your pagan sympathies, what mean ye by laws of development, and by the necessary progress of the human race, except in the triumphs of that kind of knowledge which is entirely disconnected with virtue, and which has proved powerless to prevent the decline and fall of nations?  Why did not art, science, philosophy, and literature save the most lauded nations of the ancient world?  Why so rapid a degeneracy among people favored not only with a primitive revelation, but by splendid triumphs of reason and knowledge?  Why did gross superstition so speedily obscure the intellect, and infamous vices so soon undermine the moral health, if man can elevate himself by his unaided strength?  Why did error seemingly prove as vital as truth in all the varied forms of civilization in the ancient world?  Why did even tradition fail to keep alive the knowledge of God, at least among the people?