arms, and being pursued by the serpent, which opened its mouth just beneath her in the position of being trodden under foot. This symbolism was applied to Isis and Horus in Egypt, to Maya and Buddha in India and China, to the Woman and Child in the book of Revelations (chap. xii.), to Mary and Jesus in Rome."

This heavenly Virgin, called the mother of the sun-god, because she presided over his birth, is the "Sainte Vierge" or the "heilige Jungfrau" of the Romanists, and she is correctly represented in most South European churches with a background of stars, or else with a pattern of stars on her robe. The word "Regina Coeli " or or "Regina Angelorum," are frequently seen under pictures and statues of the Virgin in Italy.

In like manner the "Lamb of God" (Rev. v. 6, John i. 29) is connected with the sign Aries, and

so on.

The question of solar symbolism in ancient religions was first explained by the French philosopher, Dupuis, in his "Origine des Cultes." He traces the astronomical element in Christianity, compares it with that of other Eastern religious systems, and shows that, as far as mythology is concerned, Christianity is in no sense isolated but forms a branch of the primitive and universal nature-worship. It is to be regretted that this learned and brilliant writer denies the historical element in all the solar myths, including Christianity, and that

his reasoning on religious questions is mainly destructive.

Of all the great heroes, prophets, saviours, messiahs, and avatars, Buddha and Christ correspond most closely. The agreement between the story of Christ and the earlier one of Buddha is indeed so close that we must consider the Christian legend to be a repetition of the older myth. Both were born about 25th December, as was also Mithra. Christ, like Buddha, was long foretold and expected. Each was supposed to have been born of a virgin by the Spirit of God, the Creative Spirit, God the Father (parthenogenesis). Mary, like Maia the mother of Buddha, was confined at an inn while travelling (Luke ii. 7). Angels sing, as in the Gospel (Luke ii. 13 and 14), “This day Buddha is born on earth, to give joy and peace to men.' Kings adore the child Buddha; and in the Gospel also (Matt. ii. 1) the three kings bring offerings. Celestial signs accompany the birth of Christ (Matt. ii. 2) as of Buddha. At the age of twelve, Christ, like the young Buddha, was presented at the Temple, and astonished the learned with His questions (Luke ii. 46). When about thirty years of age both Buddha and Christ went out into the wilderness and were tempted by the evil spirit; after this they began to teach. Both Buddha and Christ are baptized, entering a river, attended by holy spirits (Luke iii. 21). The teaching of the two solar heroes is similar,

indeed in many respects identical, and the parables of Christ (Matt. xiii. 3) closely resemble those of Buddha. Only in the manner of his death, which was tranquil and quiet, does the story of Buddha differ from that of Christ.

On these and similar coincidences Dupuis remarks:

"It is easy to perceive that, when two legends have so complete a resemblance, the older must be the mother, and the younger or more modern one the daughter."

Again, the story of Christ corresponds so closely with the earlier legend of Mithra, that early Christian apologists were driven to invoke the help of Satan in order to explain the agreement. The Devil foresaw the life of Christ, and compelled the Persian hero to anticipate it! Those who like this explanation are welcome to it!

Krishna also, the Sun-god and Saviour, was virgin-born. His mother was of royal race, his father a god. Shepherds Shepherds were associated with his early days. His infant life was threatened by a tyrant king, an earlier Herod. Krishna was the Saviour of great multitudes. He brought the dead to life. He descended into hell. He was put to death. He rose again, and ascended into heaven. The later legend of Palestine attributes the same wonders to Christ.1

1 Sir William Jones, "Asiatic Researches."

Once more, ages before the birth of Christ, the Egyptian Horus was the Good Shepherd (John x. 14), the Lamb of God (John i. 29), the Bread of Life (John xi. 25), the Truth and the Life (John xiv. 6), the Door of Life (John x. 9), the Fan-bearer (Matt. iii. 12).

The truth is, that the legend of a toiling or a suffering hero was common to all Eastern races. And this sacred story reached its highest and most beautiful development, as might be expected, among the thoughtful Hindoos and among the spiritual and imaginative inhabitants of Palestine.

CHAPTER VIII

BIRTH, LIFE, AND DEATH

"Aim at perfection, strive ever :

But if all your striving be fruitless,

Seek a more perfect man,

Follow him whither he leads."-GOETHE.

THE story of Buddha, of Christ, or of Heracles is at once a summary of the history of humanity and a type of the life of man.

At first the hero hesitates to undertake his arduous mission: the "natural man" shrinks from the contest with evil, and wishes for a moment that the cup of suffering may pass (Matt. xxvi. 39, and John xii. 27.)

"The man who has sacrificed to some great

ideal both comfort and success in life is discouraged and saddened when death first looks him in the face and seeks to convince him that everything is vain” (Renan, (Renan, "Jesus"). This is why Achilleus hides in woman's clothing when the war breaks out, Jonah flees on board ship, Moses is unwilling to appear before Pharaoh. But once embarked on his course, the hero never turns aside, for he knows that he "must be about his Father's business" (Luke ii. 49). The hero is, as a rule, short-lived: "whom the gods love die young." Thus Achilleus was doomed to an early death; he was "the most short-lived of all," and Christ was crucified at the age of thirty. Both knew that a short life may be more glorious than a long one: ad bene vivendum breve tempus satis est. "Their souls are pleasing to God, therefore He hastens to take them to Himself" (Wisdom iv. 14).

Nor does he see good days, for he is constantly at variance with the temporal and spiritual powers. Achilleus was wronged by Agamemnon, David by Saul, Heracles by Aigistheus, etc. Both priests and rulers combined against Christ, as they ever must against all who in any degree resemble him (Amos v. 10): He is destined to be "despised and rejected by men" (Luke ix. 22, and Isaiah liii. 3).

"Truths would you teach, or save a sinking land:

All fear, none aid you, and few understand."-POPE.

Both Christ and Socrates were "heretics,"