as a serpent goddess who was worshipped
by the sect in India which was opposed to the adoration of the male
principle. The early Christians, however, being ignorant of the
allegorical meaning of the legend, transferred it to Christ literally.

The mother of Crishna looked in his mouth and beheld all the nations of
the earth. The same story is reported of Christ and his mother. Finally
Christ, like Crishna, was crucified, and like him was buried. He
descended into hell and on the third day arose and ascended into
heaven.(129)

129) It will doubtless be urged that I am quoting from the Apocryphal
Gospels--that the genuine books of the New Testament are silent
concerning many of these Eastern legends. We must bear in mind, however,
that during the earlier ages of Christianity, these finally rejected
gospels were, equally with the canonical books, considered as the word
of God. The Infancy is thought to be one of the earliest gospels. Justin
Martyr was acquainted with it, A.D. 150 to 160. It is referred to by
Irenaeus, A.D. 190.

In the poetical myths of the ancients the sun is yearly overpowered
by cold or by the destructive agencies in Nature. Astronomically, or
astrologically, it wanders in darkness and desolation during the winter
months; in fact dies, and descends into hell in order that he may
rise at the Easter season to gladden and make all things new again.
Mythologically, this new sun becomes incarnate; enters again his
mother's womb, and is born into the world in the form of a man whose
mission is to renew human life. Hence we have an explanation of the
Eastern Buddhas and Crishnas, all of which were born of virgins at the
winter solstice.

The new sun which at the close of each cycle was believed by the more
ancient people of the globe to "issue forth from the womb of Nature to
renew the world," now that the truths underlying Nature-worship were
lost, became a redeemer or mediator between earth and heaven, or between
spirit and matter. It is stated that at the time of the appearance of
Christ not alone the Jews, but the Persians, the Romans, the ancient
Irish, and in fact all the nations of the globe, were anxiously awaiting
the event of another incarnation of the solar Deity; and that maidens
of all classes and conditions were in a state of eager expectation, the
more pious, or at least the more ambitious among them, being in almost
constant attendance at the temples and sacred shrines, whither the