The Persians believed that they were tainted with _original sin_, owing to the fall of their first parents who were tempted by the evil one in the form of a serpent.[194:12] They considered their law-giver _Zoroaster_ to be also a _Divine Messenger_, sent to redeem men from their evil ways, and they always worshiped his memory. To this day his followers mention him with the greatest reverence, calling him "_The Immortal Zoroaster_," "_The Blessed Zoroaster_," "The First-Born of the Eternal One," &c.[195:1] "In the life of Zoroaster the common mythos is apparent. He was born in innocence, of an immaculate conception, of a ray of the Divine Reason. As soon as he was born, the glory arising from his body enlightened the room, and he laughed at his mother. He was called a _Splendid Light from the Tree of Knowledge_, and, in fine, he or his soul was _suspensus a lingo_, hung upon a tree, and this was the Tree of Knowledge."[195:2] How much this resembles "the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints."[195:3] _Hermes_ was called "_The Saviour_." On the altar of Pepi (B. C. 3500) are to be found prayers to Hermes--"_He who is the good Saviour._"[195:4] He was also called "_The Logos._" The church fathers, Hippolytus, Justin Martyr, and Plutarch (_de Iside et Osir_) assert that the _Logos_ is _Hermes_.[195:5] The term "_Logos_" is Greek, and signifies literally "_Word_."[195:6] He was also "_The Messenger of God_."[195:7] Dr. Inman says: "There are few words which strike more strongly upon the senses of an inquirer into the nature of ancient faiths, than _Salvation_ and _Saviour_. Both were used long before the birth of Christ, and they are still common among those who never heard of Jesus, or of that which is known among us as the Gospels."[195:8] He also tells us that there is a very remarkable figure copied in Payne Knight's work, in which we see on a man's shoulders a _cock's_ head, whilst on the pediment are placed the words: "_The Saviour of the World._"[195:9] Besides the titles of "God's First-Born," "Only Begotten," the "Mediator," the "Shepherd," the "Advocate," the "Paraclete or Comforter," the "Son of God," the "Logos," &c.,[195:10] being applied to heathen virgin-born gods, before the time assigned for the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, we have also that of _Christ_ and _Jesus_. _Cyrus_, King of Persia, was called the "Christ," or the "Anointed of God."[196:1] As Dr. Giles says, "_Christ_" is "a name having no spiritual signification, and importing nothing more than an _ordinary surname_."[196:2] The worshipers of _Serapis_ were called "_Christians_," and those devoted to Serapis were called "Bishops of Christ."[196:3] _Eusebius_, the ecclesiastical historian, says, that the names of "Jesus" and "Christ," were both known and honored among the ancients.[196:4]