Page:Apollonius of Tyana - the pagan Christ of the third century.pdf/65

60 that there is the most complete silence in the book as regards Jesus and His disciples. They are never mentioned; the existence of the Christian Church is ignored; and yet the book contains attacks upon all kinds of religious and moral errors; hence, it is argued, any similarity which may exist between the life of Christ and that of the Pagan reformer is either accidental or forced. Can we agree with these opinions? Are there no other proofs that the life of Apollonius is moulded on a pattern which is almost identical with the Gospel story? Apollonius is born in a mysterious way about the same time as Christ. Like Him he went through a period of preparation during which he displayed wonderful precocity in religious matters; then came a season of public and positive activity; then a passion, a kind of resurrection, and an ascension. The messengers of Apollo sang at his birth as the angels did at that of Jesus. He is exposed to the attacks of enemies, though always engaged in doing good. He goes about from place to place whilst carrying out his work of reform; he is accompanied by his