53. We have now traced the chronology of the world agreeable to the account given in our present Bible, from Adam to Abraham, and have clearly determined, beyond the power of controversy, that there was no difficulty in preserving the knowledge of God in the world from the creation of Adam, and the manifestation made to his immediate descendants, as set forth in the former part of this lecture, so that the students in this class need not have any dubiety resting on their minds, on this subject; for they can easily see, that it is impossible for it to be otherwise; but that the knowledge of the existence of a God, must have continued from father to son, as a matter of tradition at least. For we cannot suppose, that a knowledge of this important fact, could have existed in the mind of any of the before--mentioned individuals, without their having made it known to their posterity. 54. We have now shown how it was that the first thought ever existed in the mind of any individual, that there was such a Being as a God, who had created and did uphold all things: that it was by reason of the manifestation which he first made to our father Adam, when he stood in his presence, and conversed with him face to face, at the time of his creation. 55. Let us here observe, that after any portion of the human family are made acquainted with the important fact that there is a God, who has created and does uphold all things, the extent of their knowledge, respecting his character and glory, will depend upon their diligence and faithfulness in seeking after him, until like Enoch the brother of Jared, and Moses, they shall obtain faith in God, and power with him to behold him face to face. 56. We have now clearly set forth how it is, and how it was, that God became an object of faith for rational beings; and also, upon what foundation the testimony was based, which excited the inquiry and diligent search of the ancient saints, to seek after and obtain a knowledge of the glory of God; and we have seen that it was human testimony, and human testimony only, that excited this enquiry, in the first instance, in their minds--it was the credence they gave to the testimony of their fathers--this testimony having aroused their minds to inquire after the knowledge of God, the enquiry frequently terminated, indeed always terminated when rightly pursued, in the most glorious discoveries, and eternal certainty. _Question_.--Is there a being who has faith in himself, independently? _Answer_.--There is. Q. Who is it? A. It is God. Q. How do you prove that God has faith in himself independently? A. Because he is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient; without beginning of days or end of life, and in him all fullness dwells. Eph 1:23: Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Col 1:19. For it pleased the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell. [§ II. ¶ 2.]