a conjecture or surmise, formed concerning future events,
from things which are supposed to presage them. The eastern people were
always fond of divination, magic, the curious arts of interpreting
dreams, and of obtaining a knowledge of future events. When Moses
published the law, this disposition had long been common in Egypt and
the neighbouring countries. To prevent the Israelites from consulting
diviners, fortune tellers, interpreters of dreams, &c, he forbade them,
under very severe penalties, to consult persons of this description, and
promised to them the true spirit of prophecy as infinitely superior. He
commanded those to be stoned who pretended to have a familiar spirit, or
the spirit of divination, Deut. xviii, 9, 10, 15. The writings of the
prophets are full of invectives against the Israelites who consulted
diviners, and against false prophets who by such means seduced the
people.
2. Different kinds of divination have passed for sciences, as 1.
Aëromancy, divining by the air. 2. Astrology, by the heavens. 3. Augury,
by the flight and singing of birds, &c. 4. Cheiromancy, by inspecting
the lines of the hand. 5. Geomancy, by observing cracks or clefts in the
earth. 6. Haruspicy, by inspecting the bowels of animals. 7. Horoscopy,
a branch of astrology, marking the position of the heavens when a person
is born. 8. Hydromancy, by water. 9. Physiognomy, by the countenance.
10. Pyromancy, a divination made by fire.
3. The kinds of divination, to which superstition in modern times has
given belief, are not less numerous, or less ridiculous, than those
which were practised in the days of profound ignorance. The divining
rod, which is mentioned in Scripture, is still in some repute in the
north of England, though its application is now confined principally to
the discovery of veins of lead ore, seams of coal, or springs. In order
that it may possess the full virtue for this purpose, it should be made
of hazel. Divination by Virgilian, Horatian, or Bible lots, was formerly
very common; and the last kind is still practised. The works are opened
by chance, and the words noticed which are covered by the thumb: if they
can be interpreted in any respect relating to the person, they are
reckoned prophetic. Charles I. is said to have used this kind of
divination to ascertain his fate. The ancient Christians were so much
addicted to the _sortes sanctorum_, or divining by the Bible, that it
was expressly forbidden by a council. Divination by the speal, or blade
bone of a sheep, is used in Scotland. In the Highlands it is called
_sleina-reached_, or reading the speal bone. It was very common in
England in the time of Drayton, particularly among the colony of
Flemings settled in Pembrokeshire. Camden relates of the Irish, that
they looked through the bare blade bone of a sheep; and if they saw any
spot in it darker than ordinary, they believed that somebody would be
buried out of the house. The Persians used this mode of divination.
4. Of all attempts to look into futurity by such means, as well as
resorting to charms and other methods of curing diseases, and
discovering secrets, we may say, that they are relics of Paganism, and
argue an ignorance, folly, or superstition, dishonourable to the
Christian name; and are therefore to be reproved and discouraged.
from things which are supposed to presage them. The eastern people were
always fond of divination, magic, the curious arts of interpreting
dreams, and of obtaining a knowledge of future events. When Moses
published the law, this disposition had long been common in Egypt and
the neighbouring countries. To prevent the Israelites from consulting
diviners, fortune tellers, interpreters of dreams, &c, he forbade them,
under very severe penalties, to consult persons of this description, and
promised to them the true spirit of prophecy as infinitely superior. He
commanded those to be stoned who pretended to have a familiar spirit, or
the spirit of divination, Deut. xviii, 9, 10, 15. The writings of the
prophets are full of invectives against the Israelites who consulted
diviners, and against false prophets who by such means seduced the
people.
2. Different kinds of divination have passed for sciences, as 1.
Aëromancy, divining by the air. 2. Astrology, by the heavens. 3. Augury,
by the flight and singing of birds, &c. 4. Cheiromancy, by inspecting
the lines of the hand. 5. Geomancy, by observing cracks or clefts in the
earth. 6. Haruspicy, by inspecting the bowels of animals. 7. Horoscopy,
a branch of astrology, marking the position of the heavens when a person
is born. 8. Hydromancy, by water. 9. Physiognomy, by the countenance.
10. Pyromancy, a divination made by fire.
3. The kinds of divination, to which superstition in modern times has
given belief, are not less numerous, or less ridiculous, than those
which were practised in the days of profound ignorance. The divining
rod, which is mentioned in Scripture, is still in some repute in the
north of England, though its application is now confined principally to
the discovery of veins of lead ore, seams of coal, or springs. In order
that it may possess the full virtue for this purpose, it should be made
of hazel. Divination by Virgilian, Horatian, or Bible lots, was formerly
very common; and the last kind is still practised. The works are opened
by chance, and the words noticed which are covered by the thumb: if they
can be interpreted in any respect relating to the person, they are
reckoned prophetic. Charles I. is said to have used this kind of
divination to ascertain his fate. The ancient Christians were so much
addicted to the _sortes sanctorum_, or divining by the Bible, that it
was expressly forbidden by a council. Divination by the speal, or blade
bone of a sheep, is used in Scotland. In the Highlands it is called
_sleina-reached_, or reading the speal bone. It was very common in
England in the time of Drayton, particularly among the colony of
Flemings settled in Pembrokeshire. Camden relates of the Irish, that
they looked through the bare blade bone of a sheep; and if they saw any
spot in it darker than ordinary, they believed that somebody would be
buried out of the house. The Persians used this mode of divination.
4. Of all attempts to look into futurity by such means, as well as
resorting to charms and other methods of curing diseases, and
discovering secrets, we may say, that they are relics of Paganism, and
argue an ignorance, folly, or superstition, dishonourable to the
Christian name; and are therefore to be reproved and discouraged.