n."

"In its _first_ years, the Christian church fancied its
Lord's visage and form _marred more than those of other men_;
and that he must have had no attractions of personal beauty.
Justin Martyr (A. D. 150-160) speaks of him as _without beauty
or attractiveness_, and of _mean appearance_. Clement of
Alexandria (A. D. 200), describes him as of an _uninviting
appearance_, and _almost repulsive_. Tertullian (A. D.
200-210) says he had not even _ordinary human beauty_, far
less heavenly. Origen (A. D. 230) went so far as to say that
he was '_small in body and deformed_', as well as low-born,
and that, '_his only beauty was in his soul and
life_.'"[502:1]

One of the favorite ways finally, of depicting him, was, as Mr. Lundy
remarks:

"Under the figure of a beautiful and adorable youth, of about
fifteen or eighteen years of age, beardless, with a sweet
expression of countenance, _and long and abundant hair flowing
in curls over his shoulders_. His brow is sometimes encircled
by a diadem or bandeau, _like a young priest of the Pagan
gods_; that is, in fact, the favorite figure. On sculptured
sarcophagi, in fresco paintings and Mosaics, Christ is thus
represented as a graceful youth, _just as Apollo was figured
by the Pagans_, and as angels are represented by
Christians."[502:2]

Thus we see that the Christians took the paintings and statues of the
Sun-gods Serapis and Apollo _as models_, when they wished to represent
_their_ Saviour. That the former is the favorite at the present day need
not be doubted when we glance at Fig. No. 11, page 194.

Mr. King, speaking of this god, and his worshipers, says:

"There is very good reason to believe that in the _East_ the
worship of _Serapis_ was at first combined with
_Christianity_, and gradually merged into it with an entire
change of name, _not substance_, carrying with it many of its
ancient notions and rites."[502:3]

Again he says:

"In the second century the syncretistic sects that had sprung
up in _Alexandria_, the very hotbed of Gnosticism, found out
in _Serapis_ a prophetic _type_ of Christ, or the Lord and
Creator of all."[502:4]

The early _Christians_, or worshipers of the Sun, under the name of
"_Christ_," had, as all Sun-worshipers, _a peculiar regard to the
East_--the quarter in which their god rose-