The references to Hippolytus, made by King may be found in vol. vi., Ante-Nicene Library, Edinburgh, 1877, pp. 126-194, especially 150, 151. One should read the fifth book of his “Refutation of All Heresies” to see how much water, as a divine agency and power, entered into various phases of the gnostic system. The original of the quotations from the gnostic gospel, _Pistis-Sophia_, may be found in the London edition--Latin--of 1856. [76] _Ibid._, p. 106. [77] _Egyptian Belief and Modern Thought_, p. 416, London, 1878. [78] _Christ and Other Masters_, part iv., p. 84. [79] _Brahmanism and Hinduism_, by Sir Monier-Williams, M.A., D.C.L., London, 1887, p. 172. [80] See p. 447. [81] _Ibid._, p. 437 ff. [82] _Religious Thought and Life in India_, p. 346, London, 1883. [83] _Buddhism_, etc., p. 356, 357, New York, 1889. [84] _The Wheel of the Law; Buddhism, Illustrated from Siamese Sources_, by Henry Alabaster, London, 1871, pp. 30, 31. [85] _Modern Hinduism_, by W. J. Wilkins, p. 219, New York, 1887. Consult also, _Religions of India_, by A. Barth, p. 278 ff., New York, 1882. [86] _Buddhism in its Connection with Brahmanism and Hinduism, and in its Contrast with Christianity_, second edition, London, 1890. [87] See Mr. Scott’s _Burmah_, ii., 48. [88] Pp. 341, 342. [89] P. 344. [90] _The Progress of Religious Ideas_, New York, 1853, vol. i., p. 124. CHAPTER IV. WATER-WORSHIP IN NORTHERN EUROPE AND IN MEXICO. Water-Worship Prominent in Many Ways, and Associated with Holy Seasons--Infant Baptism among the Scandinavians and Teutons--Pagan “Christening of Children”--Sacred Water as a Safeguard against Disease, etc.--Virtue of Water Used for Mechanical Purposes--Water Sprites--Similarity between Roman Catholicism and Paganism of Mexico--Aztec Baptism--Prayer for “Baptismal Regeneration” of Child by Mexican Midwife. The existence of a widespread system of water worship in Northern Europe is attested by the direct history of paganism, by the history of Christianity at its first introduction, by the decrees of councils, capitularies, and similar documents. These sources show that the Allamanns, Franks, and others worshipped rivers and fountains, and used water in various ways for sacred purposes. They prayed upon the banks of sacred rivers and at sacred fountains. Springs which gushed from the earth were considered especially sacred, as being produced directly by divine agency. Lighted candles were used in the worship of fountains and wells. This custom continues until the present day in the semi-religious habits of the people, who gaze into wells by the light of a candle on Christmas and Easter nights. Sacred brooks and rivers were believed to have been produced from the pouring of water by the gods out of bowls and urns.