Creation, the Law, and the Prophets

For although the grace of the divine image was enough in itself to make known God the Word, and through him the Father, God still, knowing the weakness of men, made provision even for their carelessness. If they did not care to know God by themselves, they might be enabled through the works of creation to avoid being ignorant of the Maker. But since men’s carelessness sinks little by little to lower things, God made provision once again even for this weakness of theirs, by sending a law and prophets, men such as they knew. So even if they were not ready to look up to heaven and know their Creator, they might have their instruction from those close at hand. For men can learn about higher things more directly from men.

So it was open to them to look up into the height of heaven, see the harmony of creation, and know its Ruler, the Word of the Father, who by his own providence over all things makes the Father known to all, and moves all things to this end, that through him all may know God. Or, if this was too much for them, they could at least meet the holy men, and through them learn of God, the Maker of all things, the Father of Christ, and learn that the worship of idols is godlessness and full of all ungodliness. Or it was open to them, by knowing the law at least, to cease from all lawlessness and live a virtuous life. For the law was not for the Jews alone, nor were the prophets sent for them only. Though they were sent to the Jews and persecuted by the Jews, they were for the whole world a holy school of the knowledge of God and of the conduct of the soul.

So great, then, were God’s goodness and love for humankind. Yet men, overcome by the pleasures of the moment and by the illusions and deceits sent by demons, did not lift their heads toward the truth. They loaded themselves all the more with evils and sins, so that they no longer seemed rational, but by their ways were reckoned without reason.