We shall find, Deut. 18. 10, 11. those Diviners, which are by the Law forbidden, distinguished into seven kinds; not because there were no other, but they were the most usual. 1. An observer of times. 2. An Inchanter. 3. A Witch. 4. A Charmer. 5. A consulter with familiar spirits. 6. A Wizard. 7. A Nigromancer. To these we may add an eighth, out of Hos. 4. 12. Consulting with the staff. and a ninth out of Ezek. 21. 21. A consulter with entrails. 1. The first is ‎‏מעונן‏‎, an observer of times,[500] one that distinguisheth times and seasons, saying Such a day is good, or such a day is naught; such an hour, such a week, such a month is luckie, and such and such unluckie for such and such businesses: whence those[501] that derive the word from ‎‏עין‏‎ Gnajin, signifying an eye (as if hereby we meant a Jugler, or Imposter, who deceived the eyes of his spectators by casting a mist before them) utterly mistake: more pertinently they speak, who derive it from ‎‏עונה‏‎ Gnona, signifying Time. But of all I approve those who derive it[502] from ‎‏ענן‏‎ Gnanan, A Cloud, as if the Original signified properly a Planetary, or Star-gazer. Hereby he is distinguished from the second sort of unlawful Diviners, for he also was an Observer of times; the first drawing his conclusions from the colour or motion of the Clouds: the second from his own superstitious observation of good and evil events, happening on such and such dayes, such and such times: the first seemeth to have drawn his conclusions, a priori, from the Clouds or Planets, causing good and bad events: the second, a posteriori, from the events themselves, happening upon such and such times. This Planetary, when he observed the clouds, seemeth to have stood with his face Eastward, his back Westward, his right hand towards the South, and his left hand towards the North: except it was from this positure of the Star-gazers body in time of observing, I find no reason why the Hebrews should term the Eastern part of the world ‎‏קדים‏‎, Kadim i. The former part of the world: the Western part ‎‏אחור‏‎, i. e. The back part; the South part ‎‏ימין‏‎ Jamin, i. e. The right hand; the North part ‎‏שמאל‏‎ Shemol, i. e. The left hand. That the reason of these denominations is, because Adam was created with his face toward the East, is as vain, as hard to prove.

[500] Jarchi. Lev. 19. 26.

[501] D. Kimchi. in rad.

[502] Aben. Esra. Levit. 19. 26.

2. The second is ‎‏מנחש‏‎, Menachesch, rendred an Inchanter; it importeth rather an Augur, or Soothsayer. The Original signifieth such an one who out of his own experience draweth observations to foretell good or evil to come, as Soothsayers do, by observing such and such events, by such and such flying of Birds, screechings, or kawings. The Rabbines speak in this wise:[503] He is Menachesch, a Soothsayer, who will say, because a morsel of bread is fallen out of his mouth, or his staff out of his hand, or his son called him back, or a Crow kawed unto him, or a Goat passed by him, or a Serpent was on his right hand, or a Fox on his left hand, therefore he will say, Do not this or that to day. This word is used, Gen. 30. 27. I have learned by experience, saith Laban, that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake. Again, Gen. 44. 5. Is not this the cup in which my Lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? that is, proveth, or maketh tryal or experience what manner of men ye are: The Heathen people were very superstitious in these observations: Some daies were Atri, others Albi, some unlucky, others lucky; on some daies they accounted it unfortunate to begin battel, on some months unfortunate to marry.

[503] D. Kimchi. radic.

Mense malum Maio nubere vulgus ait.

Ovid. Fast.

And as they were superstitious in observing unlucky signs, so likewise in the means used to avert the evil portended: the means were either words or deeds.[504] Deeds; thus if any unlucky Bird, or such like came in their way, they would fling stones at it; and of this sort is the scratching of a suspected Witch, which among the simple sort of people is thought to be a means to cure Witch-craft. By words, they thought to elude the evil, signified by such signs, when they say, Εἰς κεφαλὴν σοὶ, In caput tuum recidat hoc omen; This evil light on thy own head.

[504] Plura istiusmodi ἐνόδια σύμβολα vide apud Theophrastum Character. περὶ Δεισιδαιμ.