Pus-mantia the mag-astro-mancer, or, The magicall-astrologicall-diviner posed, and puzzled by John Gaule ...

13. Of oraculous arts, and divinatory artifices, silenced, and confounded, at the presence, and by the vertue of wise and holy men and things.

IƲlian apostatizing from Christianity, and being now to be initiated in the Paganish way, by the consecration of a prae∣stigious Magician: the Divell (who was to be present at the so∣lemnity) disappeared at the signe of the Crosse (which might then be of more vertue, because of lesse superstition) at which power Iulian was more troubled, then he was at the Divels pre∣sence. But the praestigious pseudomantist excused it; and would not have him to think that the divel fled or avoyded the place for feare of it, but in hatred to it.

Iulian again sacrificing to Apollo, and no answer being given of any thing whereof he enquired, he then demanded of the daemoniacall Priests what might be the cause of such his si∣lence? They answered, that no answer was given by the Oracle, because the Sepulchre of the Martyr Babylas stood so nigh. Whereupon he commanded that the Galilaeans (for so he called the Christians, should come and remove his Sepulchre from thence, which they did with great exultation, singing (even in the eares of the profane Prince) Confounded be all they that serve graven Images, and that boast themselves of Idols.

At the incarnation of Christ all the divining Oracles of the Panym gods were shut up; as the Oracle of Delphos, among others, was constrained to confesse; and so never spake after∣wards. Wherewith Augustus being afraid, caused a great Altar to be erected in the Capitoll; signifying that it was the Altar of the God, the first born.

A jugling impostor carried about a Dragon, perswading the people it was Aesculapius, saying it would give answers of all that was demanded, that whensoever he moved him in any of his circles, O yes was made (after the manner of Athens) in these termes: If any mocker, flouter or Christian be here, let him goe forth; for no prankes could be playd while they were by.

About the time of Constantine, Apollo spake this Oracle, not out of the mouth of his Priest, as formerly; but out of a cer∣taine darke cave or denne, viz. that the just which were upon the earth (meaning the Christians) hindred him from his vati∣cinating, or presaging power.

Valentinian, who was at first somewhat favourable to the Christians, was afterwards greatly incensed against them, by the Magicians, Astrologers, and Diviners, that urged him to forbid them his house, to banish them far away, and to put them to the Sword: because indeed they were obstacles to their incantations, and praestigious practices. For there were some of those holy professors, that with their very sight, and voyce, re∣prest all that their diabolicall art and efficacy.

Thaumaturgus, with his companions, driven (by reason of the night approaching, and an hasty shower falling) into a Temple where divination was wont to be exercised: immedi∣ately upon their entrance the Divell gave over his answer, and departed the place. The next morning, after they were gone from thence, the Priest of the Temple began his sacrifices, to adjure the spirit to his predicting responsals againe, who cried out that he could not now have accesse to the place, as former∣ly, and all because of his entrance that remained there the last night.

St. Hierome sayes, that upon our Saviours entrance into Aegypt, all the Idols there fell down, and so their divining arts and offices were undone: wherewith they had so long decei∣ved the world. And therein he takes the prophecy to be ful∣filled, Isa. 19. 1. &c.

Macarius of Aegypt, and Macarius of Alexandria, both these holymen were banished into an Isle that had no Christian in∣habitant in it. They were no sooner entred there, but the Devils that had there their Temple, or grove, and their divi∣ning Priest) began forthwith to quake for feare. Yea the Priests daughter being suddenly obsessed with a fury, and crying out why came ye hither, to drive ue hence? They ex∣pelled the Divell out of the Damosell. which occasioned the conversion of the Priest, and the inhabitants of the whole Isle, to the Christian faith. The like story is of these two toge∣ther with Isidorus; and the Devils own confession by the

tongue of the obsessed Damosell much more large. O your power! ye servants of Christ! every where are we expelled by you, out of Cities and Villages, Mountaines and Valleys, and desart places. We had hopes that this strange place of ours might have escaped your presence and power, but hither you are driven by your persecutors, that you might be a means to drive us hence, &c.

Astyrius, by his presence and prayer, plainly detected, and utterly frustrated the praestigious conveyance of the victimes, that in certaine festivals, were cast into the enchanted foun∣taines.

Apollo himselfe was forced to confesse, that the holy men which resided thereabouts, were the onely obstacles why he could utter no more his presaging truths; and being asked how those kind of men might be discerned, he answered, by their profession of Iesus Christ.