09/03/2026
“…it is the inward Work, and not the outward History and Scripture, that gives the true Knowledge; and by this inward Light, many of the Heathen Philosophers were sensible of the Loss received by Adam, though they knew not the outward History. Hence Plato asserted that Man’s Soul was fallen into a dark Cave, where it only conversed with Shadows. Pythagoras says, Man wanders in this World as a Stranger, banished from the Presence of God. And Plotinus compares Man’s Soul, fallen from God, to a Cinder, or dead Coal, out of which the Fire is extinguished. Some of them said that the Wings of the Soul were clipped or fallen off, so that it could not flee unto God. All which, and many more such Expressions that might be gathered out of their Writings, show that they were not without a Sense of this Loss.
Also, they had a Knowledge and Discovery of Jesus Christ inwardly, as a Remedy in them, to deliver them from that evil Seed, and the evil Inclinations of their own Hearts, though not under that particular Denomination. Some called him an Holy Spirit, as Seneca, Epist. 41, who said, There is an holy Spirit in us, that treats us as we treat him. Cicero calls it an innate Light, in his Book De Republica, cited by Lactantius, 6 Instit., where he calls this Right Reason, given unto all, constant and eternal, calling unto Duty by commanding, and deterring from Deceit by forbidding. Adding that it cannot be abrogated, neither can any be freed from it, neither by Senate nor People; that it is one, eternal, and the same always to all Nations, so that there is not one at Rome, and another at Athens: Whoso obeys it not must flee from himself, and in this is greatly tormented, although he should escape all other Punishments.
Plotinus also calls him Light, saying that as the Sun cannot be known but by its own Light, so God cannot be known but with his own Light: And as the Eye cannot see the Sun but by receiving its Image, so Man cannot know God but by receiving his Image; and that it behooves Man to come to Purity of Heart before he could know God; calling him also Wisdom, a name frequently given him in Scripture; see Prov. i. 20 to the End; and Prov. viii. 9, 34, where Wisdom is said to cry, entreat, and invite all to come unto her, and learn of her. And what is this Wisdom but Christ?
Hence such as came among the Heathen to forsake Evil and cleave to Righteousness were called Philosophers, that is, Lovers of Wisdom. They knew this Wisdom was nigh unto them, and that the best Knowledge of God and divine Mysteries was by the Inspiration of the Wisdom of God. Phocylides affirmed that the Word of the Wisdom of God was best. His Words in the Greek are, [Greek: Tês de Theopneustou sophias logos estin aristos: Της δε Θεοπνευσςου σοφιας λογος εστιν αριστος] (“But the word of the God-inspired Wisdom is best).
And much more of this Kind might be instanced, by which it appears they knew Christ; and by his working in them, were brought from Unrighteousness to Righteousness, and to love that Power by which they felt themselves redeemed; so that, as says the Apostle, They show the Work of the Law written in their Hearts, and did the Things contained in the Law; and therefore, as all Doers of the Law are, were no Doubt justified, and saved thus by the Power of Christ in them.
And as this was the Judgment of the Apostle, so was it of the primitive Christians. Hence Justin Martyr stuck not to call Socrates a Christian, saying that all such as lived according to the divine Word in them, which was in all Men, were Christians, such as Socrates and Heraclitus, and others among the Greeks, &c. That such as live with the Word are Christians without Fear or Anxiety.”
-Friend Robert Barclay
