In all time past it has been conceded that the maxim, "_vox populi, vox
dei_," is true when taken in its broad or universal sense. "We are apt
to attribute that to be true which all men presume. It is an argument
with us that anything which seems true to all, as that there are gods,
shows that they have engrafted in them an opinion concerning gods,
neither is there any so void of laws or good manners that doth not
believe that there are some gods."--Sen. Epist. C. 17. "This seems a
firm thing which is alleged why we should believe gods to be, because no
nation is so fierce, no man so wild, whose mind has not been imbued with
an opinion concerning gods, or that uses proceed from bad customs. But
all do however conceive a _Divine power_ and nature to exist. Now, in
all things, the consent of all nations is supposed to be the law of
nature."--Cicero, Tusc., q. 1, p. 299. "In such a quarreling and tumult
and gangling, you may see this one thing by common consent, acknowledged
law and speech, that there is _one God, the king and father of all, and
many gods the children of God_. This the Greek says; and this the
Barbarian says; the inhabitant of the continent and the Islander, the
wise and the unwise do say the same."--Max. Tyn., Dis. 1, p. 5. "It is
an ancient saying and running in the race of all men, that from God were
all things, and by him all things were constituted, and do
consist."--Demundo (dedicated to Alexander), cap. 6. Here I rest, not
for want of more witnesses, for the testimony of all antiquity is full
on this point. There is not an ancient tribe, race, or nation, of which
we have any information, historic or traditional, who did not
acknowledge the existence of _one Supreme Being_. In this the chain is
unbroken, so Monotheism must have been the first religion. The chain of
Polytheism is broken many times. All nations did not acknowledge the
existence of many gods. Indeed, no nation of antiquity acknowledged a
plurality of supreme gods, while all nations acknowledged a _Supreme
God_, who, with them, was the father of gods and men. So in this way
the chain was always broken, _never whole_. Polytheism then could not,
in the very nature of things, be the original religion with Monotheism
engrafted upon it. Simple Polytheism never existed with any nation; it
always displayed a supreme head, a Supreme God--father of gods and men.
And even this form of Polytheism was acknowledged by a part of our race
only. The idea is worthy of being repeated, that all nations of men
throughout all antiquity acknowledged one living and true supreme and
master God presiding over all gods and men. This idea lies at the
foundation of all ancient Polytheism, and most certainly at the
foundation of all ancient Monotheism. Now, as religion simply consists
primarily in man's relation to God, with the accessory idea of
dependence upon and obligation to him, the question is: Was that
religion earthly or Divine in its origin? Were these thoughts the
thoughts of men only, or were they too high for us? Can you think of
your relation and obligation to a being of whom you have never heard or
learned? No. Neither could man in the beginning, nor at any subsequent
time. Religion came not from earth. Human genius was not and could not
have been its foundation. There is but one other possible source, which
is simply the will and teachings of the creator. Religion is unearthly,
and hence Divine in its origin. The stream always declares the nature of
the fountain.
Gentlemen skeptics, you boast of free and fearless thought. Make your
vaunting good. Examine, if you dare, and let us have your strong
reasons, if you have any.
The nature of man made revelation a necessity. This will be the theme of
my next. Truth never fears the light, but known error is a coward, and
loves the dark.
* * * * *
A NOBLE book! All men's book. It is our first statement of the
never-ending problem of man's destiny and God's ways with men on
earth.--_Carlyle._