The 18. Chapter.208
Fond distinctions of the heathen writers, concerning augurie.
HE heathen made a distinction betweene divine, naturall, and casuall auguries. Divine auguries were such, as men were made beleeve were done miraculouslie, as when dogs spake; as at the expulsion of TarquiniusC. Epidius.
Homer. Iliad. 19. out of his kingdome; or when trees spake, as before the death of Cæsar; or when horsses spake, as did a horsse, whose name was Zanthus. Manie learned christians confesse, that such things as may indeed have divine cause, may be called divine auguries; or rather forewarnings of God, and tokens either of his blessings or discontentation: as the starre was a token of a safe passage to the magicians that sought Christ; so was the cockcrowing an augurie to Peter for his conversion. And manie such other divinations or auguries (if it be lawfull so to terme them) are in the scriptures to be found.
The 19. Chapter.
Of naturall and casuall augurie, the one allowed, and the other disallowed.
ATURALL augurie is a physicall or philosophicall observation; bicause humane and naturall reason may be yeelded for such events: as if one heare the cocke crow manie times together, a man may ghesse that raine will followe shortlie; as by the crieng of rooks, and by their extraordinarie using of their wings in their flight, bicause through a naturall instinct, provoked by the impression of the heavenlie bodies, they are mooved to know the/209. times, according to the disposition of the weather, as it is necessarie for their natures. And therefore Jeremie saith; Milvus in cœlo cognovit tempus suum. The physician may argue a strength towards in his patient, when he heareth him neeze twise, which is a naturall cause to judge by, and conjecture upon. But sure it is meere casuall, and also verie foolish and incredible, that by two neezings, a man should be sure of good lucke or successe in his businesse; or by meeting of a tode, a man should escape a danger, or atchieve an enterprise, &c./
The xx. Chapter.152.
A confutation of casuall augurie which is meere witchcraft, and upon what uncertaintie those divinations are grounded.