81. The simple think of God as of Man. Those of the most ancient people did the same; moreover, they who were of the church, from Adam even to Abraham, to Moses, and the Prophets, saw Him, and as Man, and called Him Jehovah; and He whom they saw was the Lord, as is evident from John (8:58), where it is said that the Lord was before Abraham. The wise Gentiles thought of Him in like manner; thence their idols; and at the present day the Africans especially also the inhabitants of all the earths; and all the angels in the heavens also, who can have no other thought, from the very form of heaven. The idea comes thence, by influx; and thus it is as it were implanted; but it is lost among the learned in the Christian world. (See Apocalypse Explained n. 808.) Let him who is willing reflect whether he thinks of the Divine of the Lord when He is named alone; and thus, whether His Divine is approached. When three Persons are named, the case is different; then many think of three Gods; can He alone ever be approached in this manner?