[111] “The objection which Celsus makes (c. _Cels._, i., 1, Keim, p. 3) to the secrecy of the Christian associations would hardly have held good in the apostolic age. Origen admits (c. _Cels._, i., 7) that there are exoteric and esoteric doctrines in Christianity, and justifies it by (1) the philosophies, (2) the mysteries. On the rise of this conception of Christian teaching as something to be hidden from the mass, _cf._ the Valentians in Tert., c. _Valent._, i., where there is a direct parallel drawn between them and the mysteries; also the distinction of men into two classes--πνευματικοὶ and ψυχικοὶ or ὑλικοί,--among the Gnostics. Yet this very secrecy was naturalized in the Church. _Cf._ Cyril Hier., _Catech._, vi., 30; Aug. in _Psalm_ ciii.; _Hom._, xcvi., in _Joan_; Theodoret, _Quæst._ xv., in _Num._, and _Dial._, ii., (_Inconfusus_); Chry., _Hom._, xix., in _Matt._ Sozomen’s (i., 20, 3) reason for not giving the Nicene creed is significant alike as regards motive and language.”--Hibbert Lectures, 1888, p. 293 and footnote. [112] _Cf._ Hatch, p. 294 ff. [113] _Apol._, i., 61. [114] _Cf._ Clem. of Alex., _Stroma._, bk. ii., chap. iii. [115] Chrysostom, _Hom._, 85, in _Joan_, xix., 34. [116] _Cf._ _Apostol. Const._ and _Bingham Antiq. in loco._ [117] Hatch, p. 298. [118] _Cf._ _Dic. Chris. Antiq._, “Baptism” and “Creed.” [119] Com. Praev. Ad. Ord. Rom. Museum, Ital., ii., xcix. [120] Hatch, p. 299. [121] Pp. 307-308. [122] _Vestiges of Ancient Manners and Customs in Italy and Sicily_, by John James Blunt, pp. 164, 165, and 167. London, 1823. [123] Perseus, Satire ii., 31. [124] _Natural History_, book vii., chap. ii., vol. ii., p. 126. London, edition 1856. [125] _Natural History_, book xxviii., chap. vii., vol. v., pp. 288-90. London, 1856. CHAPTER VI. PAGAN WATER-WORSHIP TRANSFERRED TO CHRISTIANITY. Testimony from Tertullian, Barnabas, Justin, Methodius, the Apostolic Constitutions, etc.--Holy Water, or Repeated Baptism, Borrowed without Change--Magical Effects of Holy Water, the Same in Christian as in Pagan Cult--Baptism of Animals by Holy Water, to Produce Magical Results--Holy Water Prepared after the Pagan Method--Consecration of Baptismal Waters Borrowed from Pagan Combination of Sun- and Water-Worship--The Church Filled with Baptized but Unconverted Pagans, and so Passed under Pagan Control. Baptism in the Early Church. Turning to the earlier Church fathers, who formulated much which has come to us as Christian doctrine, we find the pagan idea of baptism repeated in all its essential characteristics. We have seen that the Greek fathers came to Christianity by way of Neo-Platonism rather than the New Testament. They accepted Christianity as containing many excellent things, but not as the only authoritative system of faith. They followed the popular syncretic tendency, and combined Christianity with the pagan faith in which they had been educated.