Bible Myths and their Parallels in other Religions Part 112

5. The Holy Ghost represented as a Pigeon.

6. The Mystical Letters I. H. S.[397:1]

6. The Mystical Letters I. H. S.[397:2]

In many cases the _Images_ of the Pagan G.o.ds were allowed to remain in these temples, and, after being _Christianized_, continued to receive divine honors.[397:3]

"In St. Peter's, Rome, is a statue of _Jupiter_, deprived of his thunderbolt, which is replaced by the emblematic keys. In like manner, much of the religion of the lower orders, which we regard as essentially _Christian_, is ancient _heathenism_, refitted with Christian symbols."[397:4] We find that as early as the time of St. Gregory, Bishop of Neo-Cesarea (A. D. 243), the "simple" and "unskilled"

mult.i.tudes of Christians were allowed to pay divine honors to these images, hoping that in the process of time they would learn better.[398:1] In fact, as Prof. Draper says:

"Olympus was restored, but the divinities pa.s.sed under other names. The more powerful provinces insisted upon the adoption of their time-honored conceptions. . . . Not only was the adoration of _ISIS_ under a new name restored, but even her image, standing on the crescent moon, reappeared. The well-known effigy of that G.o.ddess with the infant Horus in her arms, has descended to our days in the beautiful, artistic creations of the Madonna and child. Such restorations of old conceptions under novel forms were everywhere received with delight. When it was announced to the Ephesians, that the Council of that place, headed by Cyril, had declared that the Virgin (Mary) should be called the '_Mother of G.o.d_,' with tears of joy they embraced the knees of their bishop; it was the old instinct cropping out; their ancestors would have done the same for Diana."[398:2]

"O bright G.o.ddess; once again Fix on earth thy heav'nly reign; Be thy sacred name ador'd, Altars rais'd, and rites restor'd."

Nestorius, Bishop of Constantinople from 428 A. D., refused to call Mary "_the mother of G.o.d_," on the ground that she could be the mother of the human nature only, which the divine Logos used as its organ. Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, did all in his power to stir up the minds of the people against Nestorius; the consequence was that, both at Rome and at Alexandria, Nestorius was accused of heresy. The dispute grew more bitter, and Theodosius II. thought it necessary to convoke an c.u.menical Council at Ephesus in 431. On this, as on former occasions, the affirmative party overruled the negative. The person of Mary began to rise in the new empyrean. The paradoxical name of "_Mother of G.o.d_"

pleased the popular piety. Nestorius was condemned, and died in exile.

The shrine of many an old hero was filled by the statue of some imaginary saint.

"They have not always" (says Dr. Conyers Middleton), "as I am well informed, given themselves the trouble of making even this change, but have been contented sometimes to take up with the _old image_, just as they found it; after baptizing it only, as it were, or consecrating it anew, by the imposition of a Christian name. This their antiquaries do not scruple to put strangers in mind of, in showing their churches, as it was, I think, in that of St. Agnes, where they showed me an antique statue of a young _BACCHUS_, which, with a new name, and some little change of drapery, stands now wors.h.i.+ped under the t.i.tle of a female saint."[398:3]

In many parts of Italy are to be seen pictures of the "Holy Family," of extreme antiquity, the grounds of them often of gold.

These pictures represent the mother with a child on her knee, and a little boy standing close by her side; the _Lamb_ is generally seen in the picture. They are inscribed "_Deo Soli_," and are simply ancient representations of Isis and Horus. The _Lamb_ is "The Lamb that taketh away the sins of the world," which, as we have already seen, was believed on in the Pagan world centuries before the time of Christ Jesus.[399:1] Some half-pagan Christian went so far as to forge a book, which he attributed to Christ Jesus himself, which was for the purpose of showing that he--Christ Jesus--was in no way against these heathen G.o.ds.[399:2]

The _Icelanders_ were induced to embrace Christianity, with its legends and miracles, and sainted divinities, as the Christian monks were ready to subst.i.tute for Thor, their warrior-G.o.d, Michael, the warrior-angel; for Freyja, their G.o.ddess, the Virgin Mary; and for the G.o.d Vila, a St.

Valentine--probably manufactured for the occasion.

"The statues of Jupiter, Apollo, Mercury, Orpheus, did duty for _The Christ_.[399:3] The Thames River G.o.d officiates at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. Peter holds the keys of Ja.n.u.s.[399:4] Moses wears the horns of Jove. Ceres, Cybele, Demeter a.s.sume new names, as '_Queen of Heaven_,' '_Star of the Sea_,' '_Maria Illuminatrix_;' Dionysius is St.

Denis; Cosmos is St. Cosmo; Pluto and Proserpine resign their seats in the hall of final judgment to the Christ and his mother. The Parcae depute one of their number, Lachesis, the disposer of lots, to set the stamp of destiny upon the deaths of Christian believers. The _aura placida_ of the poets, the gentle breeze, is personified as Aura and Placida. The _perpetua felicitas_ of the devotee becomes a lovely presence in the forms of St. Perpetua and St. Felicitas, guardian angels of the pious soul. No relic of Paganism was permitted to remain in its casket. The depositories were all ransacked. The shadowy hands of Egyptian priests placed the urn of holy water at the porch of the basilica, which stood ready to be converted into a temple. Priests of the most ancient faiths of Palestine, a.s.syria, Babylon, Thebes, Persia were permitted to erect the altar at the point where the transverse beam of the cross meets the main stem. The hands that constructed the temple in cruciform shape had long become too attenuated to cast the faintest shadow. There Devaki with the infant Crishna, Maya with the babe Buddha, Juno with the child Mars, represent Mary with Jesus in her arms. Coa.r.s.e emblems are not rejected; the a.s.syrian dove is a tender symbol of the Holy Ghost. The rag-bags and toy boxes were explored. A bauble which the Roman schoolboy had thrown away was picked up, and called an '_agnus dei_.' The musty wardrobes of forgotten hierarchies furnished costumes for the officers of the new prince. Alb and chasuble recalled the fas.h.i.+ons of Numa's day. The cast-off purple habits and shoes of Pagan emperors beautified the august persons of Christian popes. The cardinals must be contented with the robes once worn by senators. Zoroaster bound about the monks the girdle he invented as a protection against evil spirits, and clothed them in the frocks he had found convenient for his ritual. The pope thrust out his foot to be kissed, as Caligula, Heliogabalus, and Julius Cesar had thrust out theirs. Nothing came amiss to the faith that was to discharge henceforth the offices of spiritual impression."[400:1]

The ascetic and monastic life practiced by some Christians of the present day, is of great antiquity. Among the Buddhists there are priests who are ordained, tonsured, live in monasteries, and make vows of celibacy. There are also nuns among them, whose vows and discipline are the same as the priests.[400:2]

The close resemblance between the ancient religion of _Thibet_ and _Nepaul_--where the wors.h.i.+p of a crucified G.o.d was found--and the Roman Catholic religion of the present day, is very striking. In Thibet was found the pope, or head of the religion, whom they called the "Dalai Lama;"[400:3] they use holy water, they celebrate a sacrifice with bread and wine; they give extreme unction, pray for the sick; they have monasteries, and convents for women; they chant in their services, have fasts; they wors.h.i.+p one G.o.d in a trinity, believe in a h.e.l.l, heaven, and a half-way place or purgatory; they make prayers and sacrifices for the dead, have confession, adore the cross; have chaplets, or strings of beads to count their prayers, and many other practices common to the Roman Catholic Church.[400:4]

The resemblance between Buddhism and Christianity has been remarked by many travelers in the eastern countries. Sir John Francis Davis, in his "History of China," speaking of Buddhism in that country, says:

"Certain it is--and the observance may be daily made even at Canton--that they (the Buddhist priests) practice the ordinances of celibacy, fasting, and prayers for the dead; they have holy water, rosaries of beads, which they count with their prayers, the wors.h.i.+p of relics, and a monastic habit resembling that of the Franciscans" (an order of Roman Catholic monks).

Pere Premere, a Jesuit missionary to China, was driven to conclude that the devil had practiced a trick to perplex his friends, the Jesuits. To others, however, it is not so difficult to account for these things as it seemed for the good Father. Sir John continues his account as follows:

"These priests are a.s.sociated in monasteries attached to the temples of Fo. They are in China precisely a society of mendicants, and go about, like monks of that description in the Romish Church, asking alms for the support of their establishment. Their tonsure extends to the hair of the whole head. There is a regular gradation among the priesthood; and according to his reputation for sanct.i.ty, his length of service and other claims, each priest may rise from the lowest rank of servitor--whose duty it is to perform the menial offices of the temple--to that of officiating priest--and ultimately of 'Tae Hoepang,' Abbot or head of the establishment."

The five princ.i.p.al precepts, or rather interdicts, addressed to the Buddhist priests are:

1. Do not kill.

2. Do not steal.

3. Do not marry.

4. Speak not falsely.

5. Drink no wine.

Poo-ta-la is the name of a monastery, described in Lord Macartney's mission, and is an extensive establishment, which was found in Manchow-Tartary, beyond the great wall. This building offered shelter to no less than eight hundred Chinese Buddhist priests.[401:1]

The Rev. Mr. Gutzlaff, in his "Journal of Voyages along the coast of China," tells us that he found the Buddhist "Monasteries, nuns, and friars very numerous;" and adds that: "their priests are generally very ignorant."[401:2]

This reminds us of the fact that, for centuries during the "dark ages"

of Christianity, Christian bishops and prelates, the teachers, spiritual pastors and masters, were mostly _marksmen_, that is, they supplied, by the sign of the cross, their inability to write their own name.[402:1]

Many of the bishops in the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon, it is said, could not write their names. Ignorance was not considered a disqualification for ordination. A cloud of ignorance overspread the whole face of the Church, hardly broken by a few glimmering lights, who owe almost the whole of their distinction to the surrounding darkness.[402:2]

One of the princ.i.p.al objects of curiosity to the Europeans who first went to China, was a large monastery at Canton. This monastery, which was dedicated to Fo, or Buddha, and which is on a very large scale, is situated upon the southern side of the river. There are extensive grounds surrounding the building, planted with trees, in the center of which is a broad pavement of granite, which is kept very clean. An English gentleman, Mr. Bennett, entered this establishment, which he fully describes. He says that after walking along this granite pavement, they entered a temple, where the priesthood happened to be a.s.sembled, wors.h.i.+ping. They were arranged in rows, chanting, striking gongs, &c.

These priests, with their shaven crowns, and arrayed in the yellow robes of the religion, appeared to go through the mummery with devotion. As soon as the mummery had ceased, the priests all flocked out of the temple, adjourned to their respective rooms, divested themselves of their official robes, and the images--among which were evidently representations of s.h.i.+n-moo, the "Holy Mother," and "Queen of Heaven,"

and "The Three Pure Ones,"--were left to themselves, with lamps burning before them.

To expiate sin, offerings made to these priests are--according to the Buddhist idea--sufficient. To facilitate the release of some unfortunate from purgatory, they said ma.s.ses. Their prayers are counted by means of a rosary, and they live in a state of celibacy.

Mr. Gutzlaff, in describing a temple dedicated to Buddha, situated on the island of Poo-ta-la, says:

"We were present at the vespers of the priests, which they chanted in the Pali language, not unlike the Latin service of the Romish church. They held their rosaries in their hands, which rested folded upon their b.r.e.a.s.t.s. One of them had a small bell, by the tingling of which the service was regulated."

The Buddhists in _India_ have similar inst.i.tutions. The French missionary, M. L'Abbe Huc, says of them:

"The Buddhist ascetic not aspiring to elevate himself only, he practiced virtue and applied himself to perfection to make other men share in its belief; and by the inst.i.tution of an order of religious mendicants, which increased to an immense extent, he attached towards him, and restored to society, the poor and unfortunate. It was, indeed, precisely because Buddha received among his disciples miserable creatures who were outcasts from the respectable cla.s.s of India, that he became an object of mockery to the Brahmins. But he merely replied to their taunts, 'My law is a law of mercy for all.'"[403:1]

In the words of Viscount Amberly, we can say that, "Monasticism, in countries where Buddhism reigns supreme, is a vast and powerful inst.i.tution."

The _Essenes_, of whom we shall speak more fully anon, were an order of ascetics, dwelling in monasteries. Among the order of Pythagoras, which was very similar to the Essenes, there was an order of nuns.[403:2] The ancient Druids admitted females into their sacred order, and initiated them into the mysteries of their religion.[403:3] The priestesses of the Saxon Frigga devoted themselves to perpetual virginity.[403:4] The vestal virgins[403:5] were bound by a solemn vow to preserve their chast.i.ty for a s.p.a.ce of thirty years.[403:6]

The Egyptian priests of Isis were obliged to observe perpetual chast.i.ty.[403:7] They were also tonsured like the Buddhist priests.[403:8] The a.s.syrian, Arabian, Persian and Egyptian priests wore _white_ surplices,[403:9] and so did the ancient Druids. The Corinthian Aphrodite had her Hierodoulio, the pure Gerairai ministered to the G.o.ddess of the Parthenon, the altar of the Latin Vesta was tended by her chosen virgins, and the Romish "Queen of Heaven" has her nuns.

When the Spaniards had established themselves in Mexico and Peru, they were astonished to find, among other things which closely resembled their religion, _monastic inst.i.tutions_ on a large scale.

The Rev. Father Acosta, in his "Natural and Moral History of the Indies," says:

"There is one thing worthy of special regard, the which is, how the Devil, by his pride, hath opposed himself to G.o.d; and that which G.o.d, by his wisdom, hath decreed for his honor and service, and for the good and health of man, the devil strives to imitate and pervert, to be honored, and to cause men to be d.a.m.ned: for as we see the great G.o.d hath Sacrifices, Priests, Sacraments, Religious Prophets, and Ministers, dedicated to his divine service and holy ceremonies, so likewise the devil hath his Sacrifices, Priests, his kinds of Sacraments, his Ministers appointed, his secluded and feigned holiness, with a thousand sorts of false prophets."[403:10]

"We find among all the nations of the world, men especially dedicated to the service of the true G.o.d, or to the false, which serve in sacrifices, and declare unto the people what their G.o.ds command them. There was in Mexico a strange curiosity upon this point. And the devil, counterfeiting the use of the church of G.o.d, hath placed in the order of his Priests, some greater or superiors, and some less, the one as Acolites, the other as Levites, and that which hath made most to wonder, was, that the devil would usurp to himself the service of G.o.d; yea, and use the same name: for the Mexicans in their ancient tongue call their high priests _Papes_, as they should say sovereign bishops, as it appears now by their histories."[404:1]

In Mexico, within the circuit of the great temple, there were two monasteries, one for virgins, the other for men, which they called religious. These men lived poorly and chastely, and did the office of Levites.[404:2]

"These priests and religious men used great fastings, of five or ten days together, before any of their great feasts, and they were unto them as our four ember week; they were so strict in continence that some of them (not to fall into any sensuality) slit their members in the midst, and did a thousand things to make themselves unable, lest they should offend their G.o.ds."[404:3]

"There were in Peru many monasteries of virgins (for there are no other admitted), at the least one in every province. In these monasteries there were two sorts of women, one ancient, which they called Mamacomas (mothers), for the instruction of the young, and the other was of young maidens placed there for a certain time, and after they were drawn forth, either for their G.o.ds or for the Inca." "If any of the Mamacomas or Acllas were found to have trespa.s.sed against their honor, it was an inevitable chastis.e.m.e.nt to bury them alive or to put them to death by some other kind of cruel torment."[404:4]

The Rev. Father concludes by saying:

"In truth it is very strange to see that this false opinion of religion hath so great force among these young men and maidens of Mexico, that they will serve the devil with so great rigor and austerity, which many of us do not in the service of the most high G.o.d, the which is a great shame and confusion."[404:5]

The religious orders of the ancient Mexicans and Peruvians are described at length in Lord Kingsborough's "Mexican Antiquities," and by most every writer on ancient Mexico. Differing in minor details, the grand features of self-consecration are everywhere the same, whether we look to the saintly Ris.h.i.+s of ancient India, to the wearers of the yellow robe in China or Ceylon, to the Essenes among the Jews, to the devotees of Vitziliputzli in pagan Mexico, or to the monks and nuns of Christian times in Africa, in Asia, and in Europe. Throughout the various creeds of these distant lands there runs the same unconquerable impulse, producing the same remarkable effects.