Aruspices, Constantine’s law concerning, associated with his Sunday edict, 222. Astarte, worship of, reproduced in worship of the “Virgin Mary,” 28; the worship of, at Rome, 199. Augustine, influence of, on formation of Christian doctrines, 64; evil effect of allegorizing Scriptures by, 64, 65; describes corrupting influence of paganism on Christians, 224, 225; excessive superstition of, regarding miracles wrought by baptism, 258. Aurelian, Emperor, “Triumph” of, 199; costly offerings to the Sun-god, 200. Aztecs, baptism as practised by, 109 _f_. B Baal, the worship of, corrupted the Israelites, 156. Baptism, character of, in the N. T., 71, 72; pagans sought spiritual purity by it, 77; mithraic and gnostic, 77; gnostics called it a “purifying fire,” 79; pagans initiated candidates to their “mysteries” by it, 82; by blood, a feature of mithraicism, 82; administered at death as a means of salvation, 83; performed for the dead, 83; associated with serpent worship, 85; pagan, in Egypt, 87; of young children in Thibet and Mongolia, 93; pagan, of the dying, 93; modern Buddhistic, 94 _f_; various forms of, in Oriental paganism, 97; an ancient Aryan rite, 103; pagan ideas and forms of, reproduced in the early Church, 128; pagano-Christian theories of, taught by Methodius, Clement of Alex., and others, 136; sign of the cross, and anointing connected with, 249; deemed invalid without sign of the cross upon the water and the candidate, 252; miracles said to be wrought by it, 253; believed to cure physical diseases, 255; delayed until near death, 256; “orientation” in connection with vows, 257; superstitious acceptance of miracles in connection with, 258 _f_; magical power of, 258; cancer, paralysis, and gout cured thereby, 258, 259; evil spirits exorcised by, 259; conclusions concerning, 290; pagan elements yet remaining in, 291; should be the symbol of new spiritual life, 300. Baptists, seventh-day, prominent in English Reformation, 293. Barnabas, closely allied to the Gnostics, 38; “Epistle” of, shows evil effect of allegorical interpretation, 43; foolish exegesis of Scripture by, 49; pagan fancies applied to the “cross,” and to baptism, by, 133 _f_. Baronius, Cardinal, defends the transfer of pagan ceremonies to Christianity, 8; on “lights” used in worship, 263, 264. Baur, F. C., describes influence of gnosticism on Christianity, 38. Benares, city of, surrounded by sacred wells, 89. Bible, the, written wholly by “Jews,” 177; must be more fully reinstated as the standard of Christian faith and practice, 283.