Men endowed with Prophetic Spirits—The Jews forbidden to
consult the Oracles of the Heathen—Schools of Prophets—Influence
of Music—The Prophetic Mantle—Way Revelations
were made—Bath Kol—Urim and Thummim—False
Prophets Strangled or Stoned—Diabolical Art—Moloch—Seething
a Kid in its Mother's Milk—The Smooth Stones
mentioned by Isaiah—Sheep-head and Sheep-head Broth—Casting
Sins into the Sea—Fasting among the Pharisees—Dust
of Heathen Countries—The number 10—Angels that had the
Care of Men—Predictions by Hebrew Women—Punishment in
the Grave10
Egypt steeped in Superstition—Power of Magicians—Obtaining
Visions—Demons—Departed Heroes—Gods and Demi-gods—Altars
or Living Stones—Sacred Animals—Isis searching for
Osiris—Leeks and Onions—Priests, Physicians, and Interpreters
of Oracles—Sacrificing Human Victims—Wax Figures—Magic—Teaching
of the Egyptian Priests—Transmigration14
Babylon—The Chaldeans—Downfall of Babylon predicted—Worship
of the Medes and Persians—Sacred Fire—The Gaures—Births
and Deaths in Early Times—A Narrow Bridge—An
Immense Tree—Creation of Prophets—A Stone to which
Abraham tied his Camel—Adam and Eve's Trysting Place—Black
Art—Ways of discovering whether a supposed Criminal
was Guilty or Innocent—Looking into Futurity—Canaanites,
Syrians, and Arabians—Strange Fables—Abraham breaking
Heathen Idols—Altars—Religion of the Carthagenians and
Tyrians—Supremacy of the Gods20
Greek Religion and Superstition—Jupiter regarded as the
President of the Law and Protector of Cities—Dreams and
Charms—Sacred Stones—Omens of Evil—Sacrificing the Hair—Flight
of Birds—Compassing the Altar to the Right—Love
secured by Magic—Marriage Ceremonies—Way of protecting a
Child from Evil Spirits—Divers Magical Ceremonies—Laws as
to Dead Bodies—Fingers and Toes of Dead Men worn as
Charms—Preparing a Body for Burial—Swine and Swine's
Flesh—Drinking Toasts—Prophets consulted before Armies
marched to Battle—Certain Words avoided—Sneezing—Evil
Omens—Throwing a Person overboard to save a Ship26
Roman Delusions and Customs—Tokens of Futurity—Drawing
of Lots—Events foretold by reading the first passage that
turned up on opening a Book—Lucky and Unlucky Stars—Fortune-tellers—Dreams—Omens
drawn from the Appearance of
parts of Animals offered in Sacrifice—Sibylline Books, Charms,
and Incantations—Spirits observers of Men's Actions—Unlucky
Days—Dress of a Bride—Anointing Door-posts and crossing
the Threshold—Fire and Water—Bridal Feast and Nuptial
Songs—Funeral Rites—Souls of Unburied Persons—Customs
at a Deathbed, and Funeral Observances—Hobgoblins—Purifying
with Water and Fire—Appeasing the Manes—Dead
Bodies used for Magical purposes34