The real and hidden sense of this doctrine was known to all the initiates. The Tanaïm imparted it to their elect ones, the Isarim, in the solemn solitudes of crypts and deserted places. It was one of the most esoteric and jealously guarded, for human nature was the same then as it is now, and the sacerdotal caste as confident as now in the supremacy of its knowledge, and ambitious of ascendency over the weaker masses; with the difference perhaps that its hierophants could prove the legitimacy of their claims and the plausibility of their doctrines, whereas now, _believers_ must be content with blind faith. While the kabalists called this mysterious and rare occurrence of the union of spirit with the mortal charge entrusted to its care, the “descent of the Angel Gabriel” (the latter being a kind of generic name for it), the _Messenger of Life_, and the angel Metatron; and while the Nazarenes termed the same Abel-Zivo,[259] the _Delegatus_ sent by the Lord of Celsitude, it was universally known as the “Anointed Spirit.” Thus it is the acceptation of this doctrine which caused the Gnostics to maintain that Jesus was a man overshadowed by the Christos or Messenger of Life, and that his despairing cry from the cross “Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani,” was wrung from him at the instant when he felt that this inspiring Presence had finally abandoned him, for--as some affirmed--his faith _had_ also abandoned him when on the cross. The early Nazarenes, who must be numbered among the Gnostic sects, believing that Jesus was a prophet, held, nevertheless, in relation to him the same doctrine of the divine “overshadowing,” of certain “men of God,” sent for the salvation of nations, and to recall them to the path of righteousness. “The Divine mind is eternal,” says the _Codex_,[260] “And it is pure light, and poured out through splendid _and immense space_ (pleroma). It is Genetrix of the Æons. But one of them went to matter (chaos) stirring up confused (turbulentos) movements; and by a certain portion of _heavenly_ light fashioned it, properly constituted for use and appearance, but the beginning of every evil. The Demiurg (of matter) claimed divine honor.[261] Therefore Christus (“the anointed”), the prince of the Æons (powers), was sent (expeditus), who _taking on the person_ of a most devout Jew, Iesu, _was to conquer him_; but who having _laid it_ (the body) _aside_, departed on high.” We will explain further on the full significance of the name Christos and its mystic meaning.