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tlook of the doctrine down to a special case〃As in Adam all die； so in CHRIST shall all be made alive。〃 The Universal Spirit which can give rebirth and salvation to EVERY child of man to whom it comes； was offered only under a very special formthat of Jesus Christ。＇1＇ In this respect it was no better than the religions which preceded it。 In some respectsthat is； where it was especially fanatical； blinkered； and hostile to other sectsit was WORSE。 But to those who perceive that the Great Spirit may bring new birth and salvation to some under the form of Osiris； equally well as to others under the form of Jesus； or again to some under the form of a Siberian totem…Bear equally as to others under the form of Osiris； these questionings and narrowings fall away as of no importance。 We in this latter day can see the main thing； namely that Christianity was and is just one phase of a world…old religion； slowly perhaps expanding its scope； but whose chief attitudes and orientations have been the same through the centuries。
＇1＇ The same happened with regard to another great Pagan doctrine （to which I have just alluded）； the doctrine of transformations and metamorphoses； and whereas the pagans believed in these things； as the common and possible heritage of EVERY man； the Christians only allowed themselves to entertain the idea in the special and unique instance of the Transfiguration of Christ。
Many other illustrations might be taken of the truth of this view； but I will confine myself to two or three more。 There is the instance of the Eucharist and its exceedingly widespread celebration （under very various forms） among the pagans all over the worldas well as among Christians。 I have already said enough on this subject； and need not delay over it。 By partaking of the sacramental meal； even in its wildest and crudest shapes； as in the mysteries of Dionysus； one was identified with and united to the god； in its milder and more spiritual aspects as in the Mithraic； Egyptian； Hindu and Christian cults； one passed behind the veil of maya and this ever…changing world； and entered into the region of divine peace and power。＇1＇
＇1＇ Baring Gould in his Orig。 Relig。 Belief； I。 401； says：〃Among the ancient Hindus Soma was a chief deity； he is called the Giver of Life and Health。 。 。 。 He became incarnate among men； was taken by them and slain； and brayed in a mortar ＇a god of corn and wine apparently＇。 But he rose in flame to heaven to be 'the Benefactor of the World' and the 'Mediator between God and Man！' Through communion with him in his sacrifice； man （who partook of this god） has an assurance of immortality； for by that sacrament he obtains union with his divinity。〃
Or again the doctrine of the Saviour。 That also is one on which I need not add much to what has been said already。 The number of pagan deities （mostly virgin…born and done to death in some way or other in their efforts to save mankind） is so great＇1＇ as to be difficult to keep account of。 The god Krishna in India； the god Indra in Nepaul and Thibet； spilt their blood for the salvation of men； Buddha said； according to Max Muller；＇2＇ 〃Let all the sins that were in the world fall on me； that the world may be delivered〃； the Chinese Tien ； the Holy One〃one with God and existing with him from all eternity〃died to save the world； the Egyptian Osiris was called Saviour； so was Horus； so was the Persian Mithras； so was the Greek Hercules who overcame Death though his body was consumed in the burning garment of mortality； out of which he rose into heaven。 So also was the Phrygian Attis called Saviour； and the Syrian Tammuz or Adonis likewiseboth of whom； as we have seen； were nailed or tied to a tree； and afterwards rose again from their biers； or coffins。 Prometheus； the greatest and earliest benefactor of the human race； was NAILED BY THE HANDS and feet； and with arms extended； to the rocks of Mount Caucasus。 Bacchus or Dionysus； born of the virgin Semele to be the Liberator of mankind （Dionysus Eleutherios as he was called）； was torn to pieces； not unlike Osiris。 Even in far Mexico Quetzalcoatl； the Saviour； was born of a virgin； was tempted； and fasted forty days； was done to death； and his second coming looked for so eagerly that （as is well known） when Cortes appeared； the Mexicans； poor things； greeted HIM as the returning god！＇3＇ In Peru and among the American Indians； North and South of the Equator； similar legends are； or were； to be found。
＇1＇ See for a considerable list Doane's Bible Myths； ch。 xx。
＇2＇ Hist。 Sanskrit Literature； p。 80。
＇3＇ See Kingsborough； Mexican Antiquities； vol。 vi。
Briefly sketched as all this is； it is enough to prove quite abundantly that the doctrine of the Saviour is world…wide and world…old； and that Christianity merely appropriated the same and （as the other cults did） gave it a special color。 Probably the wide range of this doctrine would have been far better and more generally known； had not the Christian Church； all through； made the greatest of efforts and taken the greatest precautions to extinguish and snuff out all evidence of pagan claims on the subject。 There is much to show that the early Church took this line with regard to pre…Christian saviours；＇1＇ and in later times the same policy is remarkably illustrated by the treatment in the sixteenth century of the writings of Sahagun the Spanish missionaryto whose work I have already referred。 Sahagun was a wonderfully broad…minded and fine man who； while he did not conceal the barbarities of the Aztec religion； was truthful enough to point out redeeming traits in the manners and customs of the people and some resemblances to Christian doctrine and practice。 This infuriated the bigoted Catholics of the newly formed Mexican Church。 They purloined the manuscripts of Sahagun's Historia and scattered and hid them about the country； and it was only after infinite labor and an appeal to the Spanish Court that he got them together again。 Finally； at the age of eighty； having translated them into Spanish （from the original Mexican） he sent them in two big volumes home to Spain for safety； but there almost immediately THEY DISAPPEARED； and could not be found！ It was only after TWO CENTURIES that they ultimately turned up （1790） in a Convent at Tolosa in Navarre。 Lord Kingsborough published them in England in 1830。
＇1＇ See Tertullian's Apologia； c。 16； Ad Nationes； c。 xii。
I have thus dwelt upon several of the main doctrines of Christianitynamely； those of Sin and Sacrifice； the Eucharist； the Saviour； the Second Birth； and Transfigurationas showing that they are by no means unique in our religion； but were common to nearly all the religions of the ancient world。 The list might be much further extended； but there is no need to delay over a subject which is now very generally understood。 I will； however； devote a page or two to one instance； which I think is very remarkable； and full of deep suggestion。
There is no doctrine in Christianity which is more reverenced by the adherents of that religion； or held in higher estimation； than that God sacrificed his only Son for the salvation of the world； also that since the Son was not only of like nature but of the SAME nature with the Father； and equal to him as being the second Person of the Divine Trinity； the sacrifice amounted to an immolation of Himself for the good of mankind。 The doctrine is so mystical； so remote； and in a sense so absurd and impossible； that it has been a favorite mark through the centuries for the ridicule of the scoffers and enemies of the Church； and here； it might easily be thought； is a belief whichwhether it be considered glorious or whether contemptibleis at any rate unique； and peculiar to that Church。
And yet the extraordinary fact is that a similar belief ranges all through the ancient religions； and can be traced back to the earliest times。 The word host which is used in the Catholic Mass for the bread and wine on the Altar； supposed to be the transubstantiated body and blood of Christ； is from the Latin Hostia which the dictionary interprets as 〃an animal slain in sacrifice； a sin…offering。〃 It takes us far far back to the Totem stage of folk…life； when the tribe； as I have already explained； crowned a victim…bull or bear or other animal with flowers； and honoring it with every offering of food and worship； sacrificed the victim to the Totem spirit of the tribe； and consumed it in an Eucharistic feastthe medicine…man or priest who conducted the ritual wearing a skin of the same beast as a sign that he represented the Totem… divinity； taking part in the sacrifice of 'himself to himself。' It reminds us of the Khonds of Bengal sacrificing their meriahs crowned and decorated as gods and goddesses； of the Aztecs doing the same； of Quetzalcoatl pricking his elbows and fingers so as to draw blood； which he offered on his own altar； or of Odin hanging by his own desire upon a tree。 〃I know I was hanged upon a tree shaken by the winds for nine long nights。 I was transfixed by a spear； I was moved to Odin； myself to myself。〃 And so on。 The instances are endless。 〃I am the oblation；〃 says the Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita；＇1＇ 〃I am the sacrifice； I the ancestral offering。〃 〃In the truly orthodox co