CHA P. XLVI.

OF ORACLES.

HE ORACLES of the ancients were deemed

THE

predictions, and myfterious declarations of the will of the gods. It may, with a kind of certainty be admitted, that the natural bent of the mind of man to fearch into futurity, gave rife to this inftitution.

To whatever caufe, however, the origin may be afcribed, the inftitution of Oracles became general, among the idolatrous nations, and increafed over the face of the whole earth.

Not to mention other nations, the Oracles of the Egyptians and Greeks were numerous, especially of the latter people; at least we have a more full account of them.

The Oracle of Dodona, a city of Epirus in Greece, was facred to Jupiter. The Oracle of Jupiter Hammon was also of ancient date, and famous in Lybia. The Oracle of Apollo, at Heliopolis, was of great note. The Oracle alfo of Apollo at Delphi, if not the most ancient, was the most celebrated of all Greece, infomuch that it was called the Oracle of the whole earth.

And,

And, indeed, fo established was the character of thefe oracular declarations, that the enacting laws, the reformation of government, alfo peace or war, were not undertaken by states or princes; but even in the more common concerns of life, no material business was entered upon, without the fanction of the Oracle.

Each Oracle had its priest or priestess, who delivered out the answers of the gods. These answers, for the most part, were in verfe, and couched under fuch myfterious terms, that they admitted of a double interpretation; infomuch, that whether the prediction was completed, or the expectation of, the fupplicant difappointed, the Oracle was clear from blame.

The Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, being in the greatest reputation, was reforted to from all parts. The priestess of Apollo was named Pythia, from the ferpent Python, killed by that gcd, as is before mentioned.

The offerings to the gods, on these applications, were liberal, according to the ability of the fupplicant, or the importance of the answer required; and, it is faid, the temple and city of Delphi efpecially, was, by thefe means, filled with immenfe treasure.

The principal Oracle of the Egyptians was at Memphis, a royal city of Ægypt, where they erected an altar, and worshipped their god Apis, under the figure of an ox. His wife Ifis had also worship, and her priests were called Ifiaci.

CHAP. XLVII.

OF THE SYBILLINE ORACLES.

HE Sybilline Oracles were certain women,

THE

whom the ancients believed to be endued with the gift of prophecy. They are said to be ten in number, and were famous in all lands. They had no fixed refidence, but travelled into different countries, and delivered their predictions in verfe, in the Greek tongue. One of thefe Sybils, named Erythraa, or Cumaa, from Cuma, a city in the Ionian fea, according to Virgil, came into Italy, and was held in the highest esteem by the Romans, who confulted the Oracle of the Sybil on all occafions that related to the welfare of the republic.

CHAP.

CHA P. XLVIII.

OF AUGURY.

AUGURY, or the art of divination by birds,

the meteors of the heavens, or the entrails of beasts, was held in the highest veneration by the idolatrous nations. The Jews were not free from idolatry in the time of Mofes; and we read alfo in the facred writings, that Saul, being vexed in fpirit, applied to the Seers, or perfons skilled in the knowledge of futurity.

But not to go fo far back, Romulus and Remus. confulted the Auguries, before they built Rome; and the foundation of that city was determined by the flight of birds. Numa established a college of Augurs, and confirmed his regulation of the Roman state by their fanction.

It appears alfo in the hiftory of that people, that no national concern was entered upon, without first confulting the Auguries; and, according to the propitious or bad omen, they made peace or war, and appointed magiftrates. Indeed, the Augurs, and their declarations, were held in fo high regard by the Romans, that whoever contemned them, was accounted impious and profane. To conclude,

divina

divination, or the spirit of prediction, made a confiderable part of the pagan theology, especially among the Romans, thofe lords of the world, who fell into the general delusion, and adopted almost all the gods of every people they fubdued.

TH

CHAP. XLIX.

OF DEMI-GODS OR HEROES.

A

HE title of hero was given by the Greeks to those who had made themselves famous. demi-god was a man defcended of a god, or goddefs, by a mortal; of which there were great numbers. Æneas, Ulyffes, Hercules, Thefeus, Achilles and Jafon, were the most celebrated.

Eneas was a Trojan prince, fon of Anchifes and the goddefs Venus. He is memorable for his grateful care of his aged father, whom he bore through the flames of Troy upon his fhoulders, at the hazard of his life, and that of his fon Afcanius, a child, who was obliged to cling to his garments Arriving in Italy, he married

to escape them.

Lavinia, the daughter of Latinus, king of the La