him from the earth,
_perceived his head encircled with fiery rays, which made him believe
the child was divine_. The voice of fame soon published the birth of a
miraculous infant, upon which the people flocked from all quarters _to
behold this heaven-born child_.[128:6]

Being honored as a god in Phenicia and Egypt, his worship passed into
Greece and Rome.[128:7]

_Simon the Samaritan_, surnamed "_Magus_" or the "Magician," who was
contemporary with Jesus, was believed to be a _god_. In Rome, where he
performed wonderful miracles, he was honored as a god, and his picture
placed among the gods.[129:1]

Justin Martyr, quoted by Eusebius, tells us that Simon Magus attained
great honor among the Romans. That he was believed to be a _god_, and
that he was worshiped as such. Between two bridges upon the River
Tibris, was to be seen this inscription: "Simoni Deo Sancto," _i. e._
"To Simon the Holy God."[129:2]

It was customary with all the heroes of the northern nations (Danes,
Swedes, Norwegians and Icelanders), to speak of themselves as sprung
from their supreme deity, _Odin_. The historians of those times, that is
to say, the poets, never failed to bestow the same honor on all those
whose praises they sang; and thus they multiplied the descendants of
Odin as much as they found convenient. The first-begotten son of Odin
was Thor, whom the Eddas call the most valiant of his sons. "Baldur the
Good," the "Beneficent Saviour," was the son of the Supreme Odin and the
goddess Frigga, whose worship was transferred to that of the Virgin
Mary.[129:3]

In the mythological systems of _America_, a virgin-born god was not less
clearly recognized than in those of the Old World. Among the savage
tribes his origin and character were, for obvious reasons, much
confused; but among the more advanced nations he occupied a well-defined
position. Among the nations of Anahuac, he bore the name of
_Quetzalcoatle_, and was regarded with the highest veneration.

For ages before the landing of Columbus on its shores, the inhabitants
of ancient Mexico worshiped a "Saviour"--as they called
him--(_Quetzalcoatle_) who was _born of a pure virgin_.[129:4] _A
messenger from heaven announced to his mother that she should bear a son
without connection with man._[129:5] Lord Kingsborough tells us that the
annunciation of the _virgin Sochiquetzal_, mother of Quetzalcoatle,--who
was styled the "_Queen of Heaven_"[129:6]--was the subject of a Mexican
hie