Chapter XXXIX: ), we have considered the Miracles of Christ Jesus, the

_Eucharist_, _Baptism_, the _Worship of the Virgin_, _Christian Symbols_, the _Birthday of Christ Jesus_, the _Doctrine of the Trinity_, _Why Christianity Prospered_, and the _Antiquity of Pagan Religions_, besides making a comparison of the legendary histories of _Crishna and Jesus_, and _Buddha and Jesus_. The concluding chapter relates to the question, What do we really know about Jesus?

In the words of Prof. Max Müller (_The Science of Religion_, p. 11): "A comparison of all the religions of the world, in which none can claim a privileged position, will no doubt seem to many dangerous and reprehensible, because ignoring that peculiar reverence which everybody, down to the mere fetish worshiper, feels for his own religion, and for his own god. Let me say, then, at once, that I myself have shared these misgivings, but that I have tried to overcome them, because I would not and could not allow myself to surrender either what I hold to be the truth, or what I hold still dearer than truth, the right of testing truth. Nor do I regret it. I do not say that the _Science of Religion_ is all gain. No, it entails losses, and losses of many things which we hold dear. But this I will say, that, as far as my humble judgment goes, it does not entail the loss of anything that is essential to _true religion_, and that, if we strike the balance honestly, _the gain is immeasurably greater than the loss_."

"All truth is safe, and nothing else is safe; and he who keeps back the truth, or withholds it from men, from motives of expediency, is either a coward or a criminal, or both."

But little beyond the arrangement of this work is claimed as original. Ideas, phrases, and even whole paragraphs have been taken from the writings of others, and in most, if not in all cases, acknowledged; but with the thought in mind of the many hours of research this book may save the student in this particular line of study; with the consciousness of having done for others that which I would have been thankful to have found done for myself; and more than all, with the hope that it may in some way help to hasten the day when the mist of superstition shall be dispelled by the light of reason; with all its defects, it is most cheerfully committed to its fate by the author.

BOSTON, MASS., _November, 1882_.

CONTENTS.

PART I.
PAGE
INTRODUCTION iii

LIST OF AUTHORITIES, AND BOOKS QUOTED FROM xi

CHAPTER I.
THE CREATION AND FALL OF MAN 1

CHAPTER II.
THE DELUGE 19

CHAPTER III.
THE TOWER OF BABEL 33

CHAPTER IV.
THE TRIAL OF ABRAHAM'S FAITH 36

CHAPTER V.
JACOB'S VISION OF THE LADDER 42

CHAPTER VI.
THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT 48

CHAPTER VII.
RECEIVING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 58

CHAPTER VIII.
SAMSON AND HIS EXPLOITS 62

CHAPTER IX.
JONAH SWALLOWED BY A BIG FISH 77

CHAPTER X.
CIRCUMCISION 85

CHAPTER XI.
CONCLUSION OF PART FIRST 88

PART II.

CHAPTER XII.
THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH OF CHRIST JESUS 111

CHAPTER XIII.
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM 140

CHAPTER XIV.
THE SONG OF THE HEAVENLY HOST 147

CHAPTER XV.
THE DIVINE CHILD RECOGNIZED, AND PRESENTED WITH GIFTS 150

CHAPTER XVI.
THE BIRTH-PLACE OF CHRIST JESUS 154

CHAPTER XVII.
THE GENEALOGY OF CHRIST JESUS 160

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS 165

CHAPTER XIX.
THE TEMPTATION, AND FAST OF FORTY DAYS 175

CHAPTER XX.
THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST JESUS 181

CHAPTER XXI.
THE DARKNESS AT THE CRUCIFIXION 206

CHAPTER XXII.
"HE DESCENDED INTO HELL." 211

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST JESUS 215

CHAPTER XXIV.
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST JESUS, AND THE MILLENNIUM 233

CHAPTER XXV.
CHRIST JESUS AS JUDGE OF THE DEAD 244

CHAPTER XXVI.
CHRIST JESUS AS CREATOR, AND ALPHA AND OMEGA 247

CHAPTER XXVII.
THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST JESUS, AND THE PRIMITIVE
CHRISTIANS 252

CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHRIST CRISHNA AND CHRIST JESUS 278

CHAPTER XXIX.
CHRIST BUDDHA AND CHRIST JESUS 289

CHAPTER XXX.
THE EUCHARIST OR LORD'S SUPPER 305

CHAPTER XXXI.
BAPTISM 316

CHAPTER XXXII.
THE WORSHIP OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER 326

CHAPTER XXXIII.
CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS 339

CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE BIRTH-DAY OF CHRIST JESUS 359

CHAPTER XXXV.
THE TRINITY 368

CHAPTER XXXVI.
PAGANISM IN CHRISTIANITY 384

CHAPTER XXXVII.
WHY CHRISTIANITY PROSPERED 419

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE ANTIQUITY OF PAGAN RELIGIONS 450

CHAPTER XXXIX.
EXPLANATION 466

CHAPTER XL.
CONCLUSION 508