Greek and Roman thought was positive, in our sense of the word, only in a very small degree.

The thought of the other ancient empires was not positive at all.

The oldest civilisation of which any record is left to us--the civilisation of Egypt--was based on a theism which, of all other theisms, most nearly approaches ours.

And the doctrine of a future life was first learnt by the Jews from their masters during the Captivity.

We search utterly in vain through history for any parallel to our own negations.
I have spoken hitherto of those peoples only whose history more or less directly has affected ours.