Pagan-christian Creeds Their Origin and Meaning

Excerpt: ... unnecessary to labor the conclusion of the last two or three chapters, namely that Christianity grew out of the former Pagan Creeds and is in its general outlook and origins continuous and of one piece with them. I have not attempted to bring together ALL the evidence in favor of this contention, as such work would be too vast, but more illustrations of its truth will doubtless occur to readers, or will emerge as we proceed. I think we may take it as proved (1) that from the earliest ages, and before History, a great body of religious belief and ritual