by the gods themselves, took heart to pollute themselves in all
manner of uncleanness. So an horrible darkness overspread our
race in those times, and `there was none that did understand and
seek after God.'

"Now in that generation one Abraham alone was found strong in his
spiritual senses; and by contemplation of Creation he recognized
the Creator. When he considered heaven, earth and sea, the sun,
moon and the like, he marvelled at their harmonious ordering.
Seeing the world, and all that therein is, he could not believe
that it had been created, and was upheld, by its own power, nor
did he ascribe such a fair ordering to earthly elements or
lifeless idols. But therein he recognized the true God, and
understood him to be the maker and sustainer of the whole. And
God, approving his fair wisdom and right judgement, manifested
himself unto him, not as he essentially is (for it is impossible
for a created being to see God), but by certain manifestations in
material forms, as he alone can, and he planted in Abraham more
perfect knowledge; he magnified him and made him his own servant.
Which Abraham in turn handed down to his children his own
righteousness, and taught them to know the true God. Wherefore
also the Lord was pleased to multiply his seed beyond measure,
and called them `a peculiar people,' and brought them forth out
of bondage to the Egyptian nation, and to one Pharaoh a tyrant,
by strange and terrible signs and wonders wrought by the hand of
Moses and Aaron, holy men, honoured with the gift of prophecy; by
whom also he punished the Egyptians in fashion worthy of their
wickedness, and led the Israelites (for thus the people descended
from Abraham were called) through the Red Sea upon dry land, the
waters dividing and making a wall on the right hand and a wall on