God was so far known to them as it was His pleasure to be known; and He pleased to be known so far as it was needful. He was known to them therefore not as He is Life eternal, and the Light which enlightens the good, but by certain temporal effects of His excellence, and signs of His hidden presence, which are visible to angelic spirits though evil, rather than to the infirmity of human nature.
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).
Also cites: City of God, book 9, ch. 21