tions are not formed; and from the time of conception,
Maha-maya was free from passion, and lived in the strictest
continence.[115:7]

The resemblance between this legend and the doctrine of the _perpetual
virginity_ of Mary the mother of Jesus, cannot but be remarked. The
opinion that she had ever borne other children was called heresy by
Epiphanius and Jerome, long before she had been exalted to the station
of supremacy she now occupies.[115:8]

M. l'Abbe Huc, a French Missionary, in speaking of Buddha, says:

"In the eyes of the Buddhists, this personage is sometimes a
man and sometimes a god, or rather both one and the other, _a
divine incarnation_, _a man-god_; who came into the world to
enlighten men, to redeem them, and to indicate to them the way
of safety.

"This idea of redemption by a _divine incarnation_ is so
general and popular among the Buddhists, that during our
travels in Upper Asia, we everywhere found it expressed in a
neat formula. If we addressed to a Mongol or a Thibetan the
question, 'Who is Buddha?' he would immediately reply: '_The
Saviour of Men._'"[116:1]

He further says:

"The miraculous birth of Buddha, his life and instructions,
contain a great number of the moral and dogmatic truths
professed in Christianity."[116:2]

This Angel-Messiah was regarded as the divinely chosen and incarnate
messenger, the vicar of God. He is addressed as "God of Gods," "Father
of the World," "Almighty and All-knowing Ruler," and "Redeemer of
All."[116:3] He is called also "The Holy One," "The Author of
Happiness," "The Lord," "The Possessor of All," "He who is Omnipotent
and Everlastingly to be Contemplated," "The Supreme Being, the Eternal
One," "The Divinity worthy to be Adored by the most praiseworthy of
Mankind."[116:4] He is addressed by Amora--one of his followers--thus:

"Reverence be unto thee in the form of Buddha! Reverence be
unto thee, the Lord of the Earth! Reverence be unto thee, an
incarnation of the Deity! Of the Eternal One! Reverence be
unto thee, O God, in the form of the God of Mercy; the
dispeller of pain and trouble, the Lord of all things, the
deity, the guardian of the universe, the emblem of
mercy."[116:5]

The incarnation of Gautama Buddha is recorded to have been brought about
by the descent of the divine power called The "_Holy Ghost_" upon the
Virgin _Maya_.[116:6]