Nature and Use of Lots, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Of Extraordinary or Diuinatory Lots.
§ 1. HItherto hauehave we considered of the former sort of Lots, which we tearme Ordinary, be they serious or lusorious, because the vse of them requireth but an ordinary power onelyonly, for the effecting of that whereunto they are imployed; which we hauehave shewed to be lawfull, if they be lawfully vsed.
We are now to consider of the latter sort of them, which we tearme Extraordinary, and are by most Diuines commonly called aSors diuinatoria Thom. & alij, generalius quàm nō nulli, qui diuinam à diuinatoria distinguunt, vt Peucer. & Krakeuits.Diuinatory Lots.
Extraordinary Lots therefore are such as require an extraordinarie power and prouidence, for the disposing and directing of them or the euent of them, in regard of those things whereunto they are applied. Because it is not in the power of those that vse them, or in the nature of the Lot it selfe simply considered, to effect that thereby necessarily, whereunto it is imployed. And herein consisteth the maine difference betweene these Lots and the former, (which being not considered hath bred much confusion, and occasioned such diuersitie of opinion among Authors in this argument) that in the former Lots there is nothing necessarily required, but what is in the naturall power of the creatures vsing them and vsed in them to effect; it being in the naturall power of the one to fall this or that way, and of the other vponupon mutuall consent thereby to determine of such matters as are in their power: whereas in these latter Lots, which wee come now to consider of, it is not at all in the naturall power either of the persons vsing them or of the creatures vsed in them, to effect necessarily that whereunto they are vsed; but some other secret worke, either diuine or diabolicall, is of necessitie thereunto required. And these are those that are most commonly tearmed Diuinatorie Lots; vnderunder which head may we well comprehend also those that they call bConsultorias huc partim refert Lauat in Prou 16 & consultorias has appellat Thom. de sort. c. 2.consultorie; being vsed, as the former for diuision and distribution, so these for diuination, and consultation by way of diuination: the former were meere diuiding or deciding, these are also diuining Lots; those meerely ciuill, these either sacrilegious or sacred.
§ 2. Now these Lots Extraordinarie are vsed for two ends; either for the discouery of some hidden matter past, or present; or for the presaging and foretelling of some future euent. Of either sort we hauehave Examples great, and more then good, store, both in holy writ, and in prophane Writers, beside the daily practise of many as well among vsus as else-where.
In holy writ wee finde that they hauehave sometime beene vsed for the discouery of some hidden truth in things present or past, and that either in matter of distribution, or of retribution; of office or of iustice.
In the former case they hauehave beene vsed to discouer and make knowne, whom God deemeth fittest, or hath secretly fore-assigned to some place or estate. And herein is the difference betweene the former vsed ordinarily in election of officers and disposition of offices, and the vse of those in these cases that now we entreate of; that in the former it being in the power of the parties choosing to chuse where they list and like best, they agree to make their election by Lot, and there is nothing else required of the Lot, but to light vponupon any one of those that are by them propounded; whereas as in these latter it is not wholy in their power, but either there is required the further consent of some other whose good-will they are vncertaine of and seeke to know it by Lot, or the choise is to be made by Gods speciall appointment, whose secret will and purpose they desire by this meanes to discouer.
Examples we hauehave in Scripture of Lots vsed on this manner in matter of Mariage, and of Magistracie, or of Office as well ciuill as sacred.
In matter of Mariage it is somewhat of the nature of a Lot that Eliezer Abrahams seruant vsed, when cGenes. 24.12, 13, 14, 15.he desired of God, what time he was sent to fetch a wife for his young-master and stood by the well-side, that if of the Maidens that came thither to draw, she of whom he should request to drinke of her pitcher, should make him offer to water his Camels also, shee might thereby be knowne to be the party that God had appointed to be his Masters sonnes wife: which dIbid. vers. 17, 18, 19.falling out afterward with one of them accordingly, eIbid. vers. 42, … 48.he vseth it as an argument to perswade her parents that God had so appointed it; who being also thereby perswaded do likewise fIbid. vers. 50.rest thereupon and condescend thereunto.
For as for Iosephus his idle conceipts gIoseph. antiquit. lud. l. 1. c. 16.that Eliezer should desire by praier that Rebekka, whom his Master and he had made choise of before, if God approued that their choice, might be one of those wenches that came to draw water, and might hereby be knowne which of them she were, many comming together, by giuing him drinke when the rest should denie it him; and that accordingly when they refused all but shee to let him drinke, excusing themselues that they drew it for other necessarie vses, and that it was not easie to draw, she should thereupon rebuke the rest of them for their vncurteous demeanour, and offer her selfe kindly to fulfill his request; they are but meere surmises and fancies, hauing no ground in, nor well agreeing with the story, as hLiterae non consonat Gen. 24.15. Lyra & Martyr ibid.others also hauehave well obserued.
Those also of the iDiffert auguratio à …igni pe…ions &c. Aug. in Gen. quaest. 63. Eu…er. in Gen. l. 2. c. 40. Lyra in Gen. c. 24. & latissimè …mniū Musculus ibid.auncients that would distinguish this from the vsuall manner of diuination, spend much paines to small purpose: for it is apparent that it is vsed as a diuinatory signe for the manifestation of Gods minde concerning his hidden purpose and pleasure, as also concerning the issue and successe of that iourney and the busines for which it was vndertaken, and is of it selfe no more warrantable then those courses that they compare with it.
Neither is that sound that kforeign. Chrysost. in Gen. homil. 48 Vul… delectu vx…ē cognoscere. signis datur h…spitalitatis. Martyr in Gen. c. 24. Et id…m f…rè Zuingl Sed & O…e…st. ibid.some others hauehave conceipted of this example; as if his meaning and purpose had beene to pray vntounto God, that such a Maiden among them that came to draw water, as should by her behauiour in that particular shew her selfe to be of a free, courteous and ingenuous disposition, might be the wife that God had appointed for his young-master Isaak. And so it should not b… either a Lot, or a signe so much of Gods designement, as of the Maides inward disposition arguing one meete for such a match. Now there is great oddes indeed betweene these two, for one to pray that the party, that by such an answere shall shew her selfe to bee thus or thus disposed, may be wife to such an one; and to pray that that party that God in his prouidence hath appointed to bee such an ones wife, may be certainely knowne and distinguished by such a casuall signe from all others: as I hauehave heard of one that hauing cast his wandring affection in that kinde on a woman, would needes propound this as a signe to himselfe, that if at Church asking to see her booke she should point him withall to the Preachers text, she should be the woman that God had assigned to be his wife. In the former there is no Lot, nor diuination at all, to speake properly; but an humane and morall coniecture by outward behauiour of inward disposition, and a desire of matching with such an one, if God see it so good. In the other there is a signe set in nature of a Lot, to discouer what lieth hid in Gods secret counsell; and that by such a course as of it selfe hath no kinde of congruity in nature with the thing to be discouered. Eliezers act is rather of the latter kinde then of the former, not iustifiable vnlesse it were done, vponupon speciall instinct, knowne to the conceiuer of such praier, for the vse of such a signe in such sort.
§ 3. Againe thus hauehave Lots beene vsed as in matter of Mariage, so in matter of Magistracie and gouernment, for distribution of offices as well ciuill as sacred.
First ciuill: and so Saul was by Lot chosen King. Which Lot was not meerely diuisory, vsed barely to determine who should gouerne Gods people, but diuinatorie rather, vsed to discouer whom God had secretly appointed and set apart for that place as then fittest for the same. The busines was thus caried. l1. Sam. 10.17, to 22.Samuel that had the chiefe hand in the ordering of it, caused the people sorted into their seuerall Tribes to appeare before the Lord (mCoram arca & sacerdote s…mmo. Iun. that is, before the Arke of God, and the High-preist, say some) at Mispa nPer duces singularum faemiliarum. Id…m ex I…sh. 7.14.by the cheife heads of their houses: then oPreces praemissas. Idem …x vers. 22. Cùm rogarent Iehouamiteram.vponupon praier conceiued and Lots drawne or cast, the Tribe of Beniamin was taken: and of that Tribe appearing in the heads of her houses, by a second Lot the house of Matri: and the seuerall persons of that Familie being put all vponupon a third Lotery, Saul the sonne of Kish was taken, and pCùm ipse Demino reuelante regem cognouerat, praecipiente in regem vnxerat, cur adhuc eligendus p…r tribus & familias quaeritur? sed inuentus rex à solo propheta erat: inuentus ergò quaeritur, vt non inuentus à populo inueniatur. Sorte etiam quaeritur, vt cum quem propheta eligeret, dispensatione diuina prouisum populus dubitare non posset. Greg. M. in 1. Reg. l. 4. & Theodoret. in 1. Reg. q. 25.thereby manifested to bee the man whom God made choise of to be the Ruler of his people; as he had before signified qIn aurem reuelauit Sam. 1. Sam. 9.15, 16, 17.secretly so much vntounto Samuel, and r1. Sam. 9 10.Samuel had likewise afterward imparted to Saul, and had thereunto solemnely, though priuily and priuately, s1. Sam. 10.1.by a visible signe with tPsal 89.20.sacred oyle sanctified and set him apart to that office; as after he did u1. Sam. 16.13.Dauid also on the like occasion and in the like case.
Secondly sacred Offices of imployment hauehave beene disposed also by Lot. For so was Matthias set apart to succeede Iudas in his Apostles place. 1Act. 1.23, 24, 26.They (that is, 2foreign. C…rysost. in Act. hom. 3.the whole assembly) presented two, saith the text: and a solemne praier first conceiued, that God xAct. 15.8. 1. Reg. 8.39who knoweth all mens hearts, would vouchsafe to shew whether of the twaine he had appointed to that place, they gaue out their Lots; and the Lot lighted on Matthias, who was by common consent thereupon reckoned one of the twelue. A course reported yCircuibat Icann…s Apost. ab exilio reuersus, &c foreign. Clem. Alex. apud Euseb. …ist. Ecc…es. lib. 3. cap. 2….by some, (3Potest enim foreign intelligi de designatione qualicunque; quo modo de Timoth. & Tito vsurpauit i…ē hist. l. 3. c. 4 & foreign officiū ipsum significare, prout Act. 1.17, 25. if their words be not mistaken) and assented to zVise Bilson de perpet. Eccles. gubern. c. 7.by others, to hauehave beene vsed for some time afterward by the Apostles in the like cases for the supply of the ministry; but with little shew of probability; the holy Story of those times reporting things rather aAct 16.2, 3. & 14.23. & 6.5, 6. Post Matthiam electum nullus vuquam postea fuit in electionibus Ecclesiasticus sortium vsus. Serar. in Iosh. tom. 2. c. 7. q. 20.otherwise.
For as for that conceit that some of the auncients hauehave, that the Apostles should vse Lotery at the choise of Matthias bforeign. Chrysost. in Act. homil. 3. quia Spiritus plenitudo nondum erat effusa. Beda in Act. 1. Sed & Theophyl. in Ion. 1. Post spiritum enim acceptum electione non sorte ordinant. Act 6.3.5. Beda & Theophyl. ibid.for want of Gods Spirit, which they were not yet so baptised withall as after cAct. 1.5 & 2.4.at Pentecost they were; (that which the former report crosseth recording a later vse of it, as one falsehood commonly breaketh the necke of an other;) As also that which some others hauehave, that dforeign. Dionys. Hierarc. Eccles. c. 5. i. foreign. Georg. Pachym. par & Maxim. schol. meminit eiusdem, & Chrysost. in Act. hom. 3. & Theophyl. in Ion. 1. sed aliò inclinant.they should not vse any Lots at all, but make suite onelyonly to God by some visible signe, eRaedius luminis aut tale quiddam. Tutrian. ad Clem. constit. l. 8. c. 5.a streake of light or some such like to make knowne his owne choise; are the one without all ground of Scripture, and the other against the expresse fforeign. Act. 1.26. etiamsi Max. in quibusdam ait …igi foreign, quod vulga…a expressit, Et dederunt sort…s eis.tearmes in the text.
Neither is their iudgement herein sound that gQuiaministrorū el…c…io ab vno Deo pendet, & ad illum referri debet. Ecclesia Dei domꝰ est: quis in aliena domo famulum vel vilissimum instituat? In ministris animi ratio habenda est: at quis hominum de animo alterius iudicarit? Deus fuco nullo falli potest; nulli ergo tutius quàm illius iudicio causa haec tota committitur. Gualt. in Act. 1. Vise quae ille latius ibid. & quod ex Platone superiùs adduximꝰ cap. 4. §. 5. in sine.propound their practise for a precedent to be ordinarily imitated; no more then hDe quibus suprà cap. 5. §. 2 caut. 7.theirs that exclude all Lotery from Ecclesiasticall elections. The example was iNō exempl. Matthiae vel quod Ionae accidit, indifferenter sortibus credendum est, cùm priuilegia singulorū cō munem legem non faciant. Hieron. in Ion. c. 1. & Beda in Act. c. 1. & Alex Ales sum. par. 2. q. 185. m 2.extraordinary, done no doubt kQuod Matthias sorte electus est, diuina inspiratione factum est. Panorm. ad decretal. l. 5. t. 21. c 3 Non sine peculiari Spiritus Sancti instinctu vsurpata sors consultoria. Malder. de superstit. cap. 7. àub. 9.by speciall instinct and direction of Gods Spirit; and the Lot it selfe not meerely diuisory, but manifestly diuinatory, lSorte Ionas deprehenditur: sorte Matth. celsi…udine Apostolica dignus indicatur. Greg. M. in 1. Reg. l. 5.discouering Gods secret counsell and choise in that busines, as by mAct. 1.24. foreign. Chrysost. in Act. hom. 3. & Theophyl. in Act. Vise & Irenaeum l. 3. c. 12.the praier conceiued before it, plainely appeareth.
§ 4. And thus hauehave Lots diuinatorie beene vsed in matter of distribution, and of office: now there hath beene likewise further vse of them for matter of retribution, and of iustice, in question of offence: and that either where the offence is either altogether vncertaine whether there hauehave beene any committed or no; or where the offence is certaine in generall, that there hath beene some committed, but it is not knowne in particular either who the Offendor or what the offence is; or lastly where the offence is knowne in particular what it is, but the Offendor is not. So that the Lot hath in these cases beene vsed to discouer sometime whether there were any offence done or not; sometime who were the Offendors, and so what the offence was; sometime who were the Offendors in such an offence as was knowne to hauehave beene committed before.
Sometime a Lot hath beene vsed where it was wholy vncertaine whether any offence had beene committed or no, where both offence, Offendors, and party offended hauehave beene altogether vncertaine. Thus when there was n1. Sā. 5.6, 9, 12.a plague vponupon the Philistines, but they knew not well either from whence or for what it came, o1 Sā. 6.7, to 13.they were aduised by their Wisards, to send away the Arke of the God of ISRAEL p1. Sam. 4.11.taken before in fight by them, in a Cart drawne by two new-milch Kine that had calues, which if they drew it toward Bethshemesh, they might thereby know, that it was the GOD of ISRAEL that had plagued them; if any other way, that it was then but some chaunce that befell them. Which course being accordingly put vntounto triall, the Kine drew the Cart directly vntounto Beth-shemesh; and thereby discouered vntounto them both their offence, and the partie offended with them, the Author of the euill that had lately befalne them. Which practise of theirs though I dare not say as some doe, that it was vndertaken of them qNon fint Dei instinctu hoc sibi s…gnum constituunt. Martyr in 1. Sam. c. 6.by diuine instinct, much lesse by any such instinct that themselues were aware of, (for both these must concurre to make such an act as that warrantable to any) it seeming rather to hauehave risen from their wonted magicall superstitions; yet was it no doubt accompanied with a speciall prouidence of God, as rVise quae Chrys. hac dere ad Tit. hemil. 3. & Martyr latissimè in 1. Sā. 6.the same Authors with others hauehave well obserued, thereby conuincing them as it were by their owne euidences, and by their wicked courses gaining glory to himselfe.
§ 5. Sometime againe a Lot hath beene vsed, where the offence in generall hath beene certaine, but the particular of it vncertaine, for the finding out of the Offendor, that by his confession vponupon his apprehension the offence also might come to light.
Thus was Ionathan discouered, hauing s1. Sam 14 …7.tasted of the hony, that they met with in the wood, when his father Saul had t1. Sam 14 24.accursed all that eate ought till euen, because he would not hauehave his people hindred from pursuite of the aduersary whom they had then in chase. u1. Sā. 14.36, 37.Saul asking aduice of God whether he should follow them by night or no, God giueth him no answere. Hee concludeth hereupon that God was offended, but he knoweth not how, nor by whom. To finde it out *1. Sam. 14.38, to 45.he casteth Lots between himselfe and his on the one side, and the people on the other side: and hauing entreated God to xforeign vers. 41. da perfectionen…, i. sortem veram. Vatab- fac sortem venire pro veritate rei. Chald.giuegive a right or a perfect Lot, (though yCedo integram, i. declara quis sit ina…xius. Euphe…ismus hypocritis familiaris: qualis 1. R…g. 21.10 qu… ̄ tamen Deꝰ reuerâ praeslat, innocentem designando. Iun in not.some expound his words otherwise) he and his are at first taken, the people past by: and vponupon a second casting between himselfe and his sonne, the Lot lighteth on his son Ionathan, who thereupon confesseth his offence in tasting of the hony with the tip of his staffe, against his fathers charge in that behalfe, at that time to him vnknowne. Which Lot though zQuòd Abulensis Sauiem ait ex Spiritus Sa…cti instinctu sortem misisse, n…c suspicabitē habet probationē, ne… vllam meretur fidē. Malder. de superstit. c. 7. dub. 9.vsed without warrant (as the 1 praier was made without faith) yet was guided by God in speciall manner, thereby aTemere iactae, à Deo tamen sunt temperatae ad temeritatem illam puniendam. Malder. ibid.to punish Saul deseruedly for his vnaduised act, and to shew what snares men enwrap themselues in, as in bIudic. 11.35.Iephta by inconsiderate vowes, so, cVise quae latiffimè chry sost. ad pep. Ant homil. 14.in Saul by idle, rash and vnnecessarie Oathes.
dSorte Ionas deprehenditur. Greg. …d. in 1. R…g. l. 5.Thus was Ionas also discouered. eIon. 1.4.The ship being on a sodaine in strange danger and distresse, they presumed that it was Gods hand vponupon them for somewhat amisse with them; but for what sinne or whose they were not able to guesse, till that fIon. 17.Lots being cast by them, and the Lot lighting vponupon Ionas, both the Offendor, and his offence committed, in flying from God, when he should hauehave gone an other way on his errand, being gIon 1.10.by him thereupon confessed, were both by that meanes discouered.
That which hArias Montan. in Ion 1.a learned Linguist gathereth out of the change of the number in those words of that story, iMis…runt sortes; & cecid… sors. Ion. 1.7.They gaue out their Lots; and the Lot lighted on Ionas; to wit, that they should cast Lots oft ouer and ouer to be more fully assured of the certainetie of the thing, and that vponupon eueryevery casting the Lot lighted still vponupon the same partie; is not vnlike that which kR. Salomon Iarch… in Ion c. 1.one of the Rabbines gathereth from lforeign Ion. 1.17. foreign Ion. 2.1.the change of the Gender afterward in the same story, that mCum in piscis masculi ventre s…tis commodè ag…ret, ad orationem animum non adiccit: quod vbi Deus animaduertit, …ctum per vomitum à faemina faeta deglutiri procura…it, in cuius vtero cùm angustè se haberet, Deum deprecari cep…rat. Iarchi.Ionas should be in the bowels or belly of two seuerall Whales, a male and a female, the one after the other; the one an idle and senselesse, the other also a groundlesse conceipt. For as nforeign de pisce quo…ibet Gen. 1.26, 28. Exod. 7.18, 21.the Genders in that language are oft indifferent and indefinite, else there might bee three Whales as well as two picked out of the text, oIon. 2.10. foreignthe gender being also once againe afterward changed: so the enterchange of numbers in passing sometime pMalac. 2.2. 1. Cor. 41, 2.from the plurall to the singular, sometime from the singular to the plurall is a thing no lesse vsuall, qPsal. 12.75. 1. Tim. 2.15.as well with the penmen of holy writ, as with rSi tempus est vllum hominis n…candi, quae multa sunt. Cic. pro Milon. Eunuchum dixti velle te, quia solae his vtuntur reginae. Terent. Eunuch. Cuiꝰ maximè mos est consimilis vestrum, hi ad se vos applicant. Idem. Adeon'homines immut…ri ex am…re, vt non cognoseas eund…messe? idem.other prophane Writers, and those of the best note. And yet this helpe needeth not here neither: for there is sforeign ha foreign.an Article of some emphasis in the originall, They cast their Lots; which were, it may be, many, as vsually there are; and tforeign sicut Act. 1.26. foreign.the Lot, or, that Lot, to wit, that that was assigned to shew who was the delinquent, that Lot lighted vponupon Ionas; who being thereby discouered, discouered thereupon vntounto them, what had beene done by him.
Which course of Lotery as it was vndertaken of them, not uExluce naturali quam fid…m …ōmun…m appeliare possumus, sortitionem isti adhib…erunt. I…n. in Ion. c. 1.vponupon any generall light of naturall grounds, as some great ones without good ground hauehave deliuered, (for then might men imitate them now in the like case) or 1Diuina inspiratione factum est. Gloss. ad Grat. caus. 24 q. 3. Et Henr. Herp. in decal. praecept. 1. ser. 4. Deo inspirante. P. Palat in Ion. c. 1.by any speciall diuine inspiration; as some others with as little likelihood hauehave taught, but rather xAdsortem confugiunt, cui gentes assueu…rant. Theoph. in Ion.after the common manner of their owne heathenish superstitions, yCredibile est ethnicos, qui prius diuersos in…ocauerant Deos, in sortibꝰ etiam superstitiosiꝰ egisse. Gualter in Ion. c. 1.obserued (as is likely) by them then also in the vse of it; and therefore was it no zSortitione eiusunodi vti licuit. Iun. in Ion. c. 1.lawfull or warrantable, as some hauehave said, but a wicked rather and vnwarrantable course in them: so it tooke effect and fell out as it did, not, as some hauehave imagined, aVbi nec erat deprecatio, nec viri probi, tantum valuit tamen sort, to quòd recto animo f…eret. Chrysost. in Act. homil. 3. Quo mode senex ille apud Aug. confess. l. 4. c. 3. vim sortis hoc facere in rerum natura vsquequaque diffusam.by force of the Lot vsed; or through the faith of them by whom it was vsed; or bNon quòd illos D…us audiret, sed quòd sortes temperare sui muneris esse sciret. Per quas ideò quamuis nos falsi & mali simus, ipse tamon benè a… verè respondet. Martyr in 1. Sam. c. 14.by any ordinary course, duplicate page duplicate page that in that kinde God hath tied himselfe vntounto; or cConstat Ionam spiritu pr…pheuco ciar…m sor… huic interfu…sse, & in sortitionem c…nsensisse. Krak v…z in Ion. c. 1.in regard of any praier conceiued by Ionas as a Prophet, (a thing vnlikely, considering his estate at that instant, in Gods displeasure, and guiltie to himselfe that he was the man aimed at) but because dFugitiuus sorte deproh…nditur, non viribus sortium & maximè ethnico…ū, sed voluntate cius qui sortes regebat inc…rtas Hieron. in Ion. c. 1. Deus tamen qui elicit bona de m…lis, sic sortes temperaui… &c. Lyra ibid. Cum ipsis sortiri consuetum effet, Deus ipsis cō descendens, per indicium ipsis familiare tempestatis autorēprodidit. The ophyl. in Ion. c. 1. Superstitiosè nissas Deus sortes direait, quia Ion…m deprehendi voluit. Gualter. ibid.it pleased God extraordinarily making good vse of their wickednesse, secretly so to guide and dispose the euent of that action, not regarding them or any act of theirs; but thereby to effect and worke his owne ends, that his fugitiue seruant might by that meanes be reclaimed and brought backe to his obedience; and his power and prouidence bee proclaimed among those, that were before altogether ignorant of either.
And thus hath a diuinatory Lot beene vsed, where the offence and the Offendor hauehave been both equally vnknowne. Now the like hath beene vsed also where the offence hath beene knowne, but not the Offendor; where the offence hath both beene certainely knowne in generall that it is, and discouered in particular also what it is, but the party delinquent hath remained yet vndiscouered.
Thus was there a Lot vsed for the discouery of Achan. For eI…sh. 7.11, 12, 13when God had told Ioshua that an offence had beene committed, in retaining some part of the accursed spoiles of Iericho, which ought wholy to hauehave beene destroied, for which the wrath of God was kindled against the whole armie; but the Offender vnreuealed and vndiscouered lay hid; fIosh. 7.14.15.by Gods speciall appointment a Lot was vsed, (as gGratian. decr. c. 26. q. 2. Thom. sum 2… 2ae. q. 95. a 2. Alph. Abule…s. q 29 & 30. Iosep. antiq. l. 5. c. 1. Lauat. in Iosh. c. 7. M…sius ibid. Riber. in Ion. c. 1. n. 41. Serar. in Iosh. t…m. 2. c. 7. q. 16. Et è Rabbin… R. Leui Ben-Gersh…m.most agree, howsoeuer hVel de triburca ita s…bitò defixa vt se loco monere non posset, vel de obfuscato lapide, cui tribus illa inscriberetur, in amictu pontificali; in quo R. Salomonē resutant Lyra & Serar.some idle Rabbines dreame of other meanes of discouery) and Achan thereby made knowne to be the partie delinquent. For iIosh. 7.16, 17, 18.Lots being cast for the Tribes first, the Tribe of Iuda was taken; being cast againe for the Families of that Tribe, Zerachs Familie was taken; and cast lastly againe for the seuerall houses and persons of that Familie or Kindred, Zabdies house, and in it Achan was at length caught and discouered; who thereupon confessed his fault.
§ 6. Now these were all extraordinary and diuining Lots: in regard whereof those that define a diuinatorie Lot to be that onelyonly whereby men enquire into future euents, (as the great kTh…m. Aquin. sum. par. 22 2ae. qu. 95. art. 8 & de sort. cap. 2. Sors diuinatoria quae quid futurum sit quaeritur.Scholeman doth, and lLyra in Num. c. 34. & in Prouer. cap. 16. Astesan. sum. l. 1 c. 14. Ludde Pruss. trilog. animae par. 3. c. 21. E. King in Ion. lect. 9. Perkins of witchcraft, & alij.the most treading his tracke,) come far short of the compasse and extent of this Lot. For it comprehendeth sundry others also beside such, to wit, mDiuinatoriae sortes oracula excudunt, abdita & abstrusa er…u…nt, ignota eliciunt, incerta scufirmant, impendentia prospiciu…t, &c. Peu…er. de diuinat. c. de sortib. Sortium genus illicitum, quando occulta ignotaque per sortes inuestigamus. Lauat. in Prou. c. 16.all those that tend to the discouery of any hidden truth by any casuall euent, which no power of humane wit or skill can of it selfe directly reach vntounto, or is able simply by such meanes to discouer.
Which course as it seemeth oScyphus in quo tentando tentat siue experiendo experitur per eum. R. Abraham. Experimento certo didicerit per illum quales s…ti…. Iun. in Genes.alluded vntounto rather, as some of the soundest take it, then indeed pScyphus quem furati est is ipse est, &c. in quo augurari solet. Vulg. iocosum mendaciū. Aug. in Gen. q. 145. Aequiucationis prudentis exemplum. Delrio mag. tom. 1. l. 1. c. 2. Quidā exponunt quod pro malo augurio habu…rit amiss… scyphum in quo bibere solebat. R. Dauid in radic. de quo augures interrogabit quis tum surripuerit. R. Dauid ibid. & Vatabl. in not.directly intended by Ioseph and his Steward, when the one saith of the cup pretended to be stolne either by Beniamin duplicate page duplicate page or his brethren, nGenes. 44.5.Is not this the cup that my Lord drinketh in; and whereby he diuineth, or coniectureth, what you are? and the other after to them, qGenes. 44 15.Knew ye not that such an one as I am rCerto posse experimento discere, i…rationes excogita re, quibus cer…ò cogn…scat, quod cognitu erat difficile. Ium. Sic Prou. 16.11. foreign Sagacitas (in rel us addiuinandis) insid…t labijs regijs. Et foreign in bonā pro Sagace Esai 3.…. Idem. Quin & foreign ipsum pr… obseruatione cauta callidaue vsurpatur. Gen. 30.27. & 1. R…g. 20.33.can certainely diuine? or, take some course as certainely to discouer your theenery, as if either I dealt with Diuiners or were such an one my selfe? So it hath beene an vsuall practise with sundry nations, to seeke by such courses to try or discouer persons suspected or guiltie of some crime.
For 1Fiant duo tali de virga praecisi, quorum vnus cruce innotatur, alius purꝰ dimittitur: & lana munda inuoluti super altare vel reliquias mittuntur; & presbyter si adfuerit, vel is si deest, puer quilibet vnum de sortibus de altari tollat, Deo interim exorato, si i…i 7. qui de homicidio commisso v…rum iurassent, euidenti signo ostendat. Si cruce signatum sustulit, tunc vnusquisque illorum 7. sortem suam faciat, & cuius sortem extremam presbyter puerue sustulerit, homicidij compositionem persoluat. Ex Frisonum leg. 14. Delrio mag. disq. tom. 2 l. 4 c. 4. q. 6.so were the auncient Frislanders accustomed to trie such as were suspected of or charged with manslaugter hauing offered to purge themselues by oath: and 2Si q…u de furti suspicione inculpatur, ad sortem veniat. Clotharij decret. art. 6. Si dubietas est de seruo furti inculpato, ad sortem ponatur. Pact. inter Childeb. & Cloth. art. 5.the French of old time were wont to vse the like triall with persons apprehended vponupon suspition of theft, where some grounds were of presumption, but pregnant proofes failed.
Yea 3Cyrill. monach. in vita Euthy…ij apud Surium Ian. 20. & Baronius annal. tom. 6. ann. 477.so Marcian a Nestorian Abbot would needs hauehave Lots cast, 4Apostolicum sequentes exemplum, sortes iaciamus. Marcianus Archimandrita ad monachos suos.after the example of the Apostles forsooth, betweene his hereticall Monkes and the orthodox Bishops, to be thereby informed whether of them held the truth: which being cast, saith the story, it went with the Bishops, whereupon he and his Monkes, the most of them, came home vntounto them. 5Henricus Clarauall. in epist. apud R…g. Houeden par. 2. anno 1 178.And so lastly in our English Writers wee read that one Peter of T…loose being accused of heresie, and hauing denied it vponupon his oath, one of those that stood by for the triall of the truth of his oath 6Occurrent is literae praen▪ sticum perquirens.opened sodainely at aduenture the booke that he had sworne vponupon, wherein the first wordes he lighted on were those of the Deuill to our Sauiour, 7Mark. 1.24.What hauehave we to doe with thee, thou Son of God, Iesus? Which, saith the reporter of it, sorted well with such an Heretike, who indeed hath nothing to doe with Christ. But of this manner of booke Lotery we shall entreat further 8Infra §. 10.hereafter.
For the thing it selfe, it is too too common among vsus euen to this day, sIn furta & res amissas sortibus inquirere. Aret. problem p. 1. loc. 67. caut. 3.by Lot to make enquiry after theeues, and for things stolne or lost, some vsing tforeign, de qua Del…io mag. disq. tom. 2. l. 4. c. 2. q. 6. §. 4. …. 12.an holow key and a booke, some *foreign. de qua Delrio ibid. n. 10 & Plin. hist. nat. l. 36. c. 19.an axe and an helue, some uforeign. de quae Delrio ibid. n 9. Georg. Pictor. epitom. Mag. & Erasm. adag. chil. 1. cent. 10. adag. 8.a fiue and a paire of sheeres or other like toies, and some repeating 1Psal. 50.18.part of a Psalm, others abusing the name of xPeter & Paul.some Saints; of which practise well saith yB. King on Ion. lect. 9.that reuerend Prelate before oft alleadged, that the Deuill whom such Persons as vse it, gratifie by this their Sorcery, and who also produced zMatth. 4.6.Scripture and 2Act. 19.15.Saints names to as good purpose as they doe, hath 3Luk 22.31.sifted them to the bran and scarce left a graine of good Christianitie in them: and the lawes both aSortes quibꝰ …uncta vos vestris discriminatis prouincijs, quas patres damnau…runt, nihil aliud quàm diuinationes & maleficia esse decernimus: omninò itaque damnamus, & sub anathemate prohibemus. Leo 3. ad Episcopos Britanniae apud Grat. c. …6. q. 5. In tabulis, codicibus, alijsue sorte furata non sunt requirenda: nec diuinationes vllis in rebus obseruanda. Theodor. poenitential. in decretal. l. 5. tit. 21. c. 1. Suspensione & poenitentia multatur ibid. c. 2. sacerd…s ab Alex. 3. qui astrolabium de furto consuluerat.Canon and bAcerbioris iniminebit supplicij …ruciatus eis qui c…ntra veti…um, p…aesentium vel futurarum rerum expl…rare tentauerint veritatem. Cod. lib. 1. tit. 14. leg. 2. Si quis astrologus vel qui aliquam illicitam diuinationem pollicetur, consulius aliquem furem dixisset, qui non erat; iniuriarum cum eo agi non potest; sed constitutiones cum tenent. Vlpian. ff. lib. 47. tit. 9. leg. 15. Vitore gladio puniendum ex C. Gloss. Quastio facti non committitur sorti. Gloss. ad ff. lib. 5. tit. 1. leg. 14.Ciuill condemne it.
§ 7. Now further Lots Extraordinarie hauehave sometime beene vsed as for the discouery of some hidden matter past or present, so for the presaging or foretelling of some future euent, thereby to direct men what course to take in their affaires, or what successe they might therein expect. So that cHinc Thom. de sort. c. 2. sortes super Iona, Ionathan, Achane, Matthia iactas diuisorias facit: ab Hamane iactas consultorijs annumerat.as the former extraordinary Lots were partly diuisory and partly diuinatorie, so these latter are partly consultory and partly diuinatory, being vsed partly for consultation and partly for diuination, or for consultation by way of diuination. For to diuide ought by Lot barely is ordinarie, and maketh a Lot meerely diuisory: but to diuide or share out ought by Lot, expecting to hauehave the diuision by Lot made exactly and precisely according to the right of the thing diuided in regard of those among whom it is diuided, or according to the truth of some thing that is thereby enquired into, is extraordinary and maketh it a diuinatory Lot. Againe to distribute offices by Lot barely, as to designe thereby who shall hauehave this place who that place, or who be admitted and who excluded, is ordinary and but diuisory; but to expect that God should thereby reueale whom hee deemeth fit or vnfit, or whom he hath fore-assigned to any office, is extraordinarie and diuinatory. And so here to determine by Lot what course a man shal take of two equally and indifferently propounded, is ordinary, and maketh a Lot meerely diuisory; or if consultory, but improperly so tearmed: but to enquire or determine by it what course is best to take as likely to proue luckiest and most successefull, is extraordinarie, and maketh a Lot diuinatorie and consultorie properly so tearmed.
Now to this purpose are Lots found vsed, either where the attempt it selfe is questioned, or where the attempt and busines it selfe is resolued, but the circumstances of time place and person are yet vndetermined.
First where the attempt it selfe is not fully resolued on. As d1. Sam. 14.6, to 16.where Ionathan and his armour-bearer agree to shew themselues to a garrison of the Philistines, who if vponupon discouery of them they should will them to stay till they come to them, they would then stay their attempt and not proceede on with it; but if they should call them to come vp to them, they would go on in their attempt, taking that as a signe that God would giuegive them victory against them. Which when they had accordingly made triall of, and the Philistines inuited them to come vp vntounto them, they clambered vp the rocke on their hands and their feete to them, and GOD discomfited the Philistines that they fled before them, and they slew a twentie of them within compasse of an aker of ground. It was not eIllud animi f…r…u & ad pugnam parati, hoc indicium esseremissi & fracti. R. Leui & alij quos refellit Martyr ad 1. Sam. c. 14.a coniecturing of the mindes or courage of their aduersaries by their answere, as some of the Rabbines hauehave supposed, but gOmen: genus diuinandi non nonū. Mart. ibid.a signe that Ionathan set himselfe, much like fGenes. 24.14.that of Eliezer Abrahams man before mentioned, whereby he minded to discouer whether God were pleased to further and giuegive successe to them in that enterprise or no.
§ 8. Secondly Lots hauehave beene thus vsed where the attempt or busines it selfe hath beene resolued on; but the circumstances of time, place, or persons hauehave beene vndetermined.
Sometime they are found vsed where the persons against whom the attempt should be giuen are vndetermined, and question being of twaine or more, it is decided by Lot, which of them shall bee first dealt withall.
Thus it is said of the King of Babel Nebuchadnezar, that hEzech. 21.19, to 24.he should stand at the head of a crosseway where two turnings were, the one leading toward Iury and Ierusalem, the other toward Ammon and Rabba their head City: there he should consult with his Diuines, that is, his Soothsaiers or Sorcerers; and among other courses, beside inspection of the liuer and entrailes of beasts sacrificed, (a practise among the Heathen likewise much vsed) thereby to coniecture what successe he should hauehave; hee should draw iHuc facit quod Seru Ae…. 10. Clarigationem, parum solidè tamen, foreign deducit. Nam per bellicam, inquit, sortē agros hostium inuad…bāt.Lots also to trie which way were best for him to take, whether to bend his forces in the first place against Ammon or against Iuda, against Ierusalem or against Rabba: and the Lot in his right hand should come forth for Ierusalem; God in his secret prouidence so disposing it, as he fore-telleth by the Prophet, for the deserued destruction of his owne rebellious people.
Now this diuination of theirs was performed and practised, as some thinke, *Commiscens sagittas. Vulg. ri…u gentis suae sagittas nominibus ins…ri… tas commiscendo: quam Graeci foreign v…cant. Hieron. in Ezech c. 21. quem vise si vacat.by mingling of arowes with seuerall inscriptions, which being first secretly shuffled were after openly drawne out: as others thinke, by kforeign. Sept. Virga in aerem proiecta. Cyril. & Theoph… lact. in illud H…sh. 4.12. Populꝰ meꝰ virgas suas consulit. quod ipsi cum Hieronymo foreign dictum censent.casting vp of a rod or lIecit sagittas. Chald. h…in aere volare fecit, vt videret in quam partem caderet. R. I…seph Kimchi.shooting of an arow as directly as could be plum vpward into the aire, obseruing on which side it lighted when it came downe: (mforeign the clause that both build on is somewhat ambiguous, and by diuers eSagittas siue tela tersit, pol…uit, vt Eccles. 10.10. R. Menachem & Vatabl. Et hoc est quod Polychron. en Ebr. foreign. non, misit aut iecit, vt D…lrio mag disq. tom. 2. l 4. c. 2. q 7. §. 3. n. 4. quod est foreign ferrum tersit te…orum, vt in eo splendente aliquid contuerentur diuinantes, vti in vngue, gladio, speculo, &c. ass…lent. R. Dauid in radi…. At Iunius, terget diuisorios, cultros scil. i. sacrificia quam plurima & extispicia adhibebit. Ego pro sagittis foreign frequens reperio, pro cultris nusquam.others turned otherwaies:) as others againe thinke, fCalculis inscriptis. Iun.by stones with inscriptions or markes on them, the one for Ierusalem, the other for Rabba: which is not altogether vnlikely. Howsoeuer it were, it is apparent by the place, that some kinde of Lotery or other was vsed in that consultation of his, and therein Authors all agree.
The like course may be thought to hauehave beene vsed also gEsai 36.10. Vise Iustin. orthodox. quaest. 2▪ & 146.by Senacherib King of Assur: howbeit the one tooke not the same effect with the other, because it pleased not God to grant that successe to the one, that hee thought good to vouchsafe the other.
Sometime againe are Lots vsed where all other circumstances are resolued on, and the time onelyonly vndetermined.
Thus …hen hEst. 3.6, 7.Haman had resolued to doe what he could for the destroying and rooting out of the whole Iewish nation, he caused Lots to be cast for the day and the time; that is, by Lot he made enquiry what time would be fittest and most fortunate for the enterprising or executing of that his exploite. And the Lots being cast in the first month Nisan about our March from day to day and from month to month, fell out vponupon Adar the twelfth Month much about our February, neere vponupon a twelue-month betweene; iEst. 9.2.what time it fell out contrarie to Hamans expectation, and to that successe that his Sorcerers had by their sorceries promised him: As the like delay vponupon the like ground was a meane kIs (Val. Proc…llꝰ Caesaris Legatus ab Ariouisto detenuꝰ) se praesente de se ter sortibus consultum diceba…, vtr…migni statim necaretur, an in aliud tempus reseruaretur: sortiū beneficio in…olumē se esse Caesar d… bell. Gallic. l. 1.to saue a noble Romane in the enemies hands; and lApud Germanos consuetudinem esse, vt matre…familias …orum sortibus vati…inantibus declare…t, v…tum praeliū committi ex vsu esset, necne: eas dixisse, non esse fas Germanos superare si aete n…sam lunam praelio contendissent. Ibid. Sed haec illis m…ra fa…alis & le…halis ex…itit.gaue Caesar a famous victorie against the Germanes when they looked to hauehave had the like against him. Which custome the auncient 1Frisonum mos neminem neci tradere nisi quem sor… prius indicasset. Baron. annal. tom. 8. ann. 697. num. …. sorte arreptum Dijs immolarisolitum. ex Surio & Innae Monach. Ibid ann. 700. num. ….Frislanders are reported also to hauehave ordinarily vsed; and 2R…dbodus Fris…rum rex in Willebrordum cum socijs suis per diessemper tribus vicibus suo more ci…m sortes mitteret, nec in eum nec in vllum ex socijs praeter vnum damnatoria sors vnqua… cecidit. ex Albin… & Surio Baron. ibid. ann. 697. num. 7.that a certaine Christian Bishop with diuers his Disciples being oft put vponupon it, the casting Lot neuer lighted either vponupon him, or vponupon any of his companie, saue one alone, who by that meanes was made a Martyr.
§ 9. mHinc Pindar pyth. od. …. foreign Adquē locū Schol. foreign Priscoiū institutorebꝰ diuinis opera datur, cùm aliquid commendandum est precatione; cúm exposcendum, voto; cùm soluendum gratula…ione; cùm inquirendū, extis vel sortihꝰ: impertito, cum soleuni ritu p…ragendum, sacrificio, &c. Val. Max. l. 1. c. 1. De his latissimè Cic. in libris de diuinatione: quarū vsum tamen su…tempore refrixiss… testatur.This kinde of diuination was very common and vsuall among the Heathen; whose Idoles also vsed to giuegive their answeres oft times nHinc sortes Praen…stinae. Cic. de diuin. l. 2. Dodonae…. Ibid. l. 1. Antiatinae Suet. Caio c. 57. Aponiana. Idem Tib. c. 14.by Lot. Whence it came to passe that their oSortes, foreign Gloss. Sors à Deis responsum sign Festus. - placuit coeleste p recari Numen, & auxiliū per sacras quarere sortes. Mota Dea est, sorten que d…dit. O…id. met. l. 1. Consulat vt sacras, h…minū oblectamina, sortes I…. 11. Et Cic. de diuin. l. 2. Auspicia restant, & sortes hae quae dicuntur, non illae quae vaticinali…ue sunduntur, quae oracula veriùs dicimꝰ. - dictae per carmina sortes. Hor. art.Oracles were in generall called Sortes or Lots, though giuen many of them otherwise; and their Wisards or Soothsaiers were called pAb his sortibus s…rtilegi. Vatro de ling. Lat. l. 5. Vtiliumque sagax rerū & diuina futuri, Sortilegis non dis…repuit sententia Delphis. Hor. de art. poet.Sortilegi or Sortiarij; which name of Sorcerers and qHinc in iure Canonico titulus de sortilegijs. Decretal. l. 5. tit. 21.Sorcery we likewise now giuegive generally to Witches and Wit chery of all kindes▪
The meanes and manner of their performance thereof were manifold; as were also the matters and affaires wherein they made vse of it. For the Sclauonians, as the rR. Moses ad praecept. neg. 52. Vise Munsteri praec…pt. Mos.Iewish Rabbines write of them, vsed to pill a sticke or a greene-peice of wood on the one side leauing the barke on the other side, and then casting it vp into the aire, by it to coniecture of the good or bad successe of their busines intended, as it lighted with the barke or the bare side of it vpward. Not altogether vnlike that which is reported sHugo Lins…h… tan. part. 2. Indiae Oriental.of the Chinois, that they vse to the like purpose two stickes tied together with a string of some length, on the one side flat, and round on the other; which stickes if they light and lye both alike on the flat side, they account it a good signe, if vnalike, an euill signe. As also diuers barbarous people in Germanie are recorded, tNec sorti…ra e…s vsus ignotus; s…g…ide…n tribꝰ ligni porticulis parte aliera a…bis, altera nigr…, in gremiū coniectis, candidis prosperae furuis aduersae signab…nt. de Rugijs Saxo hist. Dā. l. 14.some of them by little peices of wood white on the one side & blacke on the other; and uFaminae foco assidentes sortui…as in cinere lincas ducebant, quas si pares num…rassent, prosperae rei praesci…s, si impares, sinistra praenuncias antumab…nt. Ibid.their women by lines drawne at all aduentures in the Ashes, as they fel out euen or od, and *Auspiciae & sortes, vt qui manimē obseruant. Virgam frugifera arbori… decisam in surcul…s amputant; e…s … quibusdam discretos s…per candidam vestem temerè ac fortuit… spargun…. Mox sipublic… c…nsulaetur, sacerdos ci…itatis, sin pri…atim, paterfamiliae precatus Deos, c…lumque suspicient, tersingulos …ollit: sublat…sque se…undùm impressam ante …otam interpretatur. Tacit. de mor. German.others by little sticks or sprigs marked with seuerall inscriptions first shuffled together and then solemnely drawne; the Scythians, some of them xforeign Herodot. de Scythis l. 4.with bundles of wilow-wands; others of them yforeign Ibid.with the rinde or barke of the Teil-tree; and zVerb…nacae vtraqu… sortiuntur Galli, & praecinunt responsa. Plin. bist. …a…. l. 25.9.the Galls with Lots of Veruen-leaues; to hauehave vsually presaged in their businesses of seuerall natures what successe they were like to hauehave.
Among other superstitions practises of this kind (to passe by many) famous is that example by aVise Ammian. l. 29. Socrist. l. 4. c. …9. S…z m. l. 6. c. 35 Niceph. l. 11. c. 45. Zon…r. tom. 3. in Valent.diuers diuersly reported, whereby not Valens the Emperour himselfe, as bCassiodor: an Epiphan. Inst. …ripart. l. 7. c. 35. ex Socrate; qui tamen ipse non Valent…m, sed alios foreign id quaesi…isse asserit.some hauehave misreported it, but cPer Fidustium, Irenaeum, Perganium, Hilarium, Aminianum, Libanium & lambly…hum. Zonat.some other in his time made inquiri…, who should succeede him in the Empire: which was done, say some, dAnnulo prudulo ex filo Carpathio libra…e, qul per interualla distincta literis incidens saltoati… sylla…as ist…s perstrinxerat. Anontian. l. 29.by an inchanted ring hung by a silken thred in the middest of a basin with an alphabet of letters engrauen round about on the sides of it, which letters the ring struck vponupon as it was stirred to and fro; or as others say, eforeign &c Zonar. tom. 3. in Vulent.by letters drawne in the dust with a corne of some graine wheate, or barly, laid on each of them, and a cocke turned in to them to pick vp of them which he would: both herein agree that these foure Greeke letters θ Ε Ο δ were in that order as they here stand, either strucke vponupon by the ring, or picked vponupon by the Cocke, whereupon they concluded that one Theodorus a noble man of speciall note was the person whom that Oracle of theirs then aimed at: which comming by some meanes or other to the Emperours eare, was occasion not of the death of that Theodore alone, but of many others also whose names began with those letters; and yet missed he of Theodosius, who afterward did indeed succeed him in the Empire.
Of speciall note among the Romanes and so famous that fEx Chromacho refers Cie de diuināt. l. 2.Carneades vsed to say of them gNunquam fortanatiorem se vi…isse Fortunam.that he neuer knew Fortune any where so fortunate as there, were the Lots at Praeneste, hNumerium Suffus… so…i…ijs …rebris filicem caedere iussu…: perfract… sam sortes crupissein rob…re insculpt… priscarum literarum notis. Cic. de diuin. l. 2.whose fabulous originall Tullie reporteth and derideth: they were certaine iTaleola è ligne tanijs lancis inuol…t…. Vnda inter pr…digia, Cara sor… …. Li…. l. 21. …s, Pra…est… … scripta…, … tit. Ide… l. a… … nijs … … … 25.1…. …, prodigij ins…li… l…to habitu… … Ded…d… sori… … sulentibus … si…ia disturbauerat. Cic. de…i…i…, l. 1. & ….o…en pins or the like, with seuerall inscriptions; which they kept in a box or a che…t wrapped vp seuerally in wooden fillers; kSor tiem, Prae… srimaerum … obsignat… … Roma… non reporiss… in a…a, … relat…s ra…su… ad templum. Suc…. Tib. c. 63.which Ti…erius, say some, assaying to remoue from thence, when the box or chist was brought to Rome, the Lote were found wanting, and so cont…nued, till the box was brought backe againe to their wonted place of abode. These they vsed to draw as at other times, so of ordinary course at eueryevery New yeares-tide, to fore-tell them what should betide them the yeere following; lPraenestius Fortuna to…o imperij spat i… annum nonū c…mmendanti la…ā semper sortem dor… assueta, extremo tristissimam reddidit, nec same sang…lu… menti…ne. Sueton. Domitian. c. 15.at which time drawne by Domitian the last yeere of his raig…e they are said to hauehave giuen him an heauy and a bloudy Channce, that which accordingly fell out afterward; whereas they had euer giuen him light some and luckie ones before.
In steed of these woodden-pins or wands, in some other places were dice vsed or mInde foreign dicti Artemidor. de insonen. l. 2.buckle-bones of the same vse with dice. For so among others nforeign Pausan, in Achaic, quem vise.at an Oracle of Hercules his in Ach…ia, they vsed to cast dice with certaine markes vponupon them; which according as they lighted, directed them to a Table, wherein they found thereby their Fortunes. And so oS…rte tracta qua moncbatur vt in. Apon fontein talos aureos inceret, euenit vt sum…um numerum iacti ab …o ostend…r…nt. Sueton. Tiber. cap. 14.at Padua Tiberius willed by a Lot, drawne at an Oracle of Ger…ens, to cast golden dice into a spring there at hand, had the Empire foreshewed him by the fall of the dice affording him the highest Chaunce.
§ 10 But none, it seemeth was more vsuall both there and else-where then their pforeign. Casaub. …d Spartiaen. foreign. D…r. tom 2. l. 4. c. 2. q. 7. §. 3. …. 6booke or verse-Loteries, when qDe Paeganis Poetae cuiuspiam longè aliud canentis at que intendentis, cum serte quis consulit, exit seze versus negotio mirabiliter consonꝰ. Senex quidam apud August. confess. lib 4. cap. 3 Fallitur tamen Delri… mag. disq. tom. 2. l. 4. c. 2. q. 7. §. 3. n. 6. dum hue refert Socratis ex versu Homerico de di… mortis suae coniecturam. Ex insomnio siquidem versuque per insomnium prelatoid ariolatus est: vt Plaso Criton & Cic. denat. Deor. l. 1.taking a booke of some famous Poet as sEu Gracis. Lamprid. Alex.Homer or rSortes Vergiliana Sparti…m, Adrian.Vergill, tAlij…x Sibillon is libris prouenisse ei dicunt. Ib.or of some of the supposed Sibils, Nobilis alicuiꝰ Poetae versibꝰ in pi…t… descriptis. … in vruā coniectis. …nd… foreign, sors extitis, excidit. Casaub. ibid.they either writ out diuers verses into seuerall scroles and afterward drew of them; or uTemerè a…repto & aperto libro, ve quidque primum se oculis obieceret. Casaub. ibid.opening the booke sodainely tooke that which they first lighted on for an answere to their present doubt or demand. So Adrian is reported 2Qu…is precul i…e autens ramis insignis. oliue? &c. Missus in imperium magnum, cui deinde s…bioit …or…ex…uit. Spartiam. Adrian.by certaine verses of Virgill to hauehave had his aduancement by Traian to the Empire foretold him: so xQuum sortem de fato suo toileret; Hic rem Roma…am magno turbante tumultu Sistet eques, sternet Poenos, Gallumque rebellem. Iul. Capitol. … L. Albine.Clodius Albinus his stay of further tumult vponupon the death of Pertinax, and his victory against the Galls by the like: so Alexander Seuerus yVatem censulens versus adhuc puer accepit & primis quidem sortibus: Te manet impe…ium …oeli, terraque, ma…isque: Te manet imperium quod tenet imperium. Lamprid. Alex. Seu.yet a childe his vniuersall Soueraignety by certaine Greeke verses; confirmed after to him, vsing the like consultation zQuum parentis hortatu animum à philosophia & musica ad alias artes trad…ceret, Vergilij sortibus huiusmodi illustratus est; Excudent alij spirantia m…ius aera, &c. Orabunt causas melius, &c. Tu regero imperia populos, Romane memento. Ibid. ex Aencid. lib. 6.at the change of his studies, by the like verses of Vergil; as also 3Huis sors in templo Praenestinae talis exti…it, quum Heliogabalus insidiaretur; … si qu… fata aspera rampas, Tu Marcellus eris. — Ibid. ex Aeneid. lib. 6.by the same againe, when by Heliogabalus laid for, hee sought againe to the same courses to be informed what should then betide him: and so lastly Claudius the latter is said to hauehave beene informed, aDe se consulens quamdiu imperaturus esset, responsum accepit; Tertiae dum Latio regnan…em v…derit actus. Trebell. Claud.of the iust length of his owne raigne; bDe fratre, quem imperij consortem volébat; Ostendens terris hune tantum fata. — Ibid. ex Aen. 6.of the short continuance of his brother Quintillus his authoritie; cSors talis emersit; Tu qui nunc patrias gubernus ora…, &c. Regnabunt etenim tui minotes, Et R…ges faciunt suos minores. Ibid.of his Nephewes succeeding him in place of supreame gouernment; and dDeposteris suis; His ego nec metas r…rum nec tempora p…no. Ibid ex Aen. lib. 1.of their continuance therein for many descents.
Now herein was verified what the Psalmist saith of the Iewes, that ePsal. 106.35.being mingled among the Heathen, they learned their superstitions. For this superstitious practise vsed first by the Gentiles, grew after to too common a custome not fHoc a Paganis …cceptum Rabbin… rum curiositas frequentauit. Casa…b. ad Spartian.among the Iewes and their Rabbines alone, but among Christians also, and those many of them of no very euill note otherwise. For to passe by that popish practise of casting Lots among the Saints for some of them gConiectis in vrnam Apost…lorum neminibus quum estate comites … suffragia sortirentur; Ioannis Euangel. nomen est sortita … cuius patrocinio it a exhilarata est, vt nibil eius nomins quisquam in cassum …am exerarit. de Elisabetha Andrea R. f…lia. Eonsin. rerum Hungar. decad. 2. lib. 7.to bee their speciall Patrones and Protectors to depend principally vponupon; or hFerdinandum Cortesium puerum morbo quasi desperato labora…teni cum 12. Apostelis vouissent parentes, sorte ducta exijt B. Petrus, cui post oblat…s missus soliunos, so…ua…us est puer, qui h…ne diu…m eo impensius coluit. Fr. Lope… hist. Mexic. l. 21. Et Cardan de serum var. c. 92.to commend themselues or their deare friends vntounto in some danger & distresse; or iSancti a… imitationem & inuocationem sorte delecti: prout olim publicè in templis fieri solitum patet ex coronis versa…ibus cam ad rem factis, & fit bodie quot-mansibus in sodalitate Marie & societate Iesu. Serar. in Iosh. tom 2. c. 7. q. 17.to performe their daily seruice vntounto; which though differing from that their manner in circumstance, yet for superstition is with it the same. To passe, I say, by that that may seeme farther off, and to come neerer home; in steed of Poets workes vsed (or abused rather) by Heathen in this kinde, Christians hauehave done the like by the Bible Gods owne booke, and the seuerall parts of it, kSortes ex vtroque Testamento à mo deducisolent. Cardan… de rerum var. c. 87.the old and the new Testament, the Epistles and the lHis qui de paginis Euangelicis sortes legunt, &c. Aug. Epist. 119Gospels, the mVt nullus in Psalterio vel Euangelio, vel in alijs rebus sortiri praesumat, nec diuinationes aliquas obseruare. Carol. M. …ō sti…. an. 2. l. 2. c. 4.Psalmes and the Prophets. And oDelrio mag. tom. 2. l. 4. c. 2. q. 7. § 3.hence, (nor from the Apostles vse of Lots sometime in Ecclesiasticall elections, as nBaronius annal. anno 34.some hauehave supposed) sprung that tearme of the Apostles Lots, and of the Lots of the Saints, which we finde in so many pSortilegi sunt qui sub nomine fictae religionis per quasdā quas Sancterum seu Apostotorum sortes vocant diuinationis scientiam profite…tur, aut quarumcunque Scripturarum inspectione futura premittunt. Isidor. orig. l. 8. c. 9. Et apud Grat. c 26. q. 1. & in Con…. Venet. c. 16. Non licet ad sortilegos vel auguria respicero, nec ad sortes quas sancto, num vocant, vel quas de ligno aut pane faciunt. Conc. Autisiodor. sap. 4. Clericus vel Laicus augurijs studens, vel per sanctorum patrū quas vocant sortes diuinationem profitens, vel consulans, ab Ecclesia eijciendus. Coucil. Agath. c. 38. Et idem ferè Concil. Aurelian apud Grat. ibid.Canons and Constitutions condemned.
Thus the Emperour qAperta, Psalterio dubitat…onum suarum explication…m qua…enti …bla …ost versus primus, &c. Greg Niceph. hist. Rom. l. 8.Andronicus the elder being at jarre with his Nephew and in some doubt what to doe in the busines, had recourse to his Psalter, and by chance lighting on that verse, as the Greeke hath it, rforeign. Psal. 68.14.When the God of heauen dis…ineth Kings, they shall be snowed vponupon, or ouer-whelmed with snow, in Salmon, he was thereby perswaded to giuegive way to a reconcilement.
Thus sforeign. Georg. Cedren. annal. in Heracl.Heraclius the Emperour in his war against the Persians being at a stand, and in doubt of going backe or staying by it, after a three daies publike fast, betaking him to the Gospells, opened vponupon a text, which, as hee tooke it, aduised him to winter in Albanie.
Thus tGreg. Turen. hist. l. 5. c. 14.Gregorie of Taures reporteth that Morouaus thirsting after his Father Chilpericks royall estate, and hauing receiued an answere from a Witch that gaue him good hope of it; to make yet further triall of the truth therein, caused the Psalter, the booke of Kings and the Gospells to be laide on Saint Marius shrine, and uContinuato trid…e in i…iuni…s, vigilijs & orationibꝰ.after fasting and solemne praier comming to open them, he lighted, little to his comfort, on these words in the first of them, *Quae nondum repori.Because ye hauehave left the Lord your God, and walked after other Gods, and done euill in his sight, therefore … hath God deliuered you into the hands of your enemies; In the second vponupon these, as the vulgar Latine hath them; xVeruntamen prō pter delositatem posusti eis mala: deiecisti …os dum allenarentor, &c. Psal. 73.18, 19.But for their deceitfulnesse hast thou laid euils vponupon them: Thou hast cast them downe, when they were aduanced: How become they desolate? they perish for their iniquities; In the third vponupon these; yMatth. 26.2.Yee know that after two daies the Paschall feast shall be; and the So…e of man shall be deliuered vp to bee crucified. Which sayings somewhat sorted with those things that then afterward befell.
Yea this Gregorie himselfe (though zDelrio mag. disq. tom. … l. 4. c. 2. q. 7. § 3. n. 6.some seeke to excuse him) was 1Auspicium ex sacris literis Ma… gar. Bigue not. a… Greg.not free from some spice of superstition in this kinde, 2Greg. Turon. hist. Franc. lib. 5. c. 49. quod & Serat. interꝰ sortes statuit diuinatorias. Ad Iosh. tom. 2. c. 7. q 17.who vponupon report brought him that some of his Clerkes were by one Leudastes apprehended, resorted to his Psalter, and therein lighted on that verse, aPsal. 78 53.He led them out in hope, and they feared not: and their enemies the sea ouer-whelmed: Which he noteth to hauehave taken in part effect in Leudastes, in great danger shortly after of being vtterly drowned.
As also the like course he reporteth (whereby it may appeare that it was no strange or vnusuall matter euen with the best in those times) that bGreg. Turon. hist. Franc. l. 4. c. 16. ad quem locum Margar. biblioth. tom. 7. Auspicium ex Prophet. & Euang.Tetricus Bishop of Aruer… and his Clerkes tooke, who hauing laid the bookes of the Prophets, the Apostles, and the Evangelists on the Altar, desired God thereby to shew them what should become of Chram…us then in armes for the crowne; and that opening the bookes they lighted on the song of the vineyard to be laid wast, in cEsai 5.4, 5.Esay; the prophecie of Christs second comming to the sodaine destruction of secure persons, in d1. Thess. 5.2, 3.Paul; and the Parable of our Sauiour of the house built on the sand, in eMatt. 7.26, 27.the Gospell.
Thus fPetrus Blesens. Epist. 30.Peter of Blese sometime Arch-deacon of Bath reporteth of himselfe, that hauing dreamed once or twise of a friend of his, that he saw him inuested as a Byshop, but with omission of some ceremonies, gCum curi…sicatis humanae sorti…ꝰ & reuolution: Psalterij visionis euentum diligentius explorarem.out of a naturall curiositie hee betooke himselfe to his Psalme-booke by way of Lotery; wherein the first words that offered themselues to his view were those; hPsal. 99.6.Moses and Aaron among his Priests.
Thus iSymion Metaphrast. & Su…ius tom 5. in Theodora Septemb… 1 & Lipoman. tom 6. & Iacob. Gau…e…s. hist. Lombard.Saint Theodore, as they stile her, (if wee may beleeue their reports of her) hauing by vngodly perswasions yeelded to an adulterous act, repaired to a Priores and kDa r…ti librum Euangelij vt sortiar m…metipsam: aper…ens reperit, Quod scripse, seripsi. Ioan 19.22. Iacob. Gen.desired from her by an Euangelicall Lotery to know what should become of her; and thereupon putting her selfe into mans apparell, she ran away from her Husband, and became a professed Monke, and so liued vndiscouered to her dying day.
And thus lastly, to make vp this troupe, foolish Saint Fraunces, (I may well so tearme him, if all be true that lLege Antonin. hist. part. 3. tit. 24. & Specul. Franc. & socio, & librut…s conf…rm Franc.Papists themselues report of him) mAntonin. hist. p. 3. tit. 24. c. 7. & Bonauentur. vita Franc. c. 13. ex Chron. Minoram.when one Bernard a man of wealth would needes be a follower of his; aduised him first to consult with God about so weighty a worke; which he did, saith the story, by repairing with Saint Frances to a Priest, who after Masse ended making a crosse on his Masse-booke, and then opening it at aduentures three seuerall times one after an other, lighted still on nMatth. 19.21. & 16.24. & Mark. 6.8.some text or other that tended to that purpose; whereupon that Bernard, by Saint Francis his aduice, left all, and became one of his followers. As also 1Specul. Franc. & Socier. c. 4.the same Saint Francis, as they say, reporteth of himselfe that being tempted to hauehave a booke, which seemed contrary to his vow, that denied him ought but 2Tunisas, & chordam, & femoralia, & in necessitate, calceos.coats and a cord and hose, and (in case of necessitie onelyonly) shoes, he resorted for aduice, after praier premised, to the Gospell; and there lighting on that sentence; 3Matth. 13.11.To you it is giuen to know the mysteries of the kingdome of God; but to others by parables; hee thereupon concluded that he should doe well enough without bookes, and suffered none of his followers therefore to hauehave so much as either a Bible or a Breuiary or a 4Postquam habueris Psalteriū, concupisces & Breuiarium habere, &c.Psalter.
So that it is not much to be maruelled if other oCardan. de re…ū var. c. 87. vsitatum sibi morē hunc s…rtiū ducenda…ū profitetur, quem taxat Delr. mag. disq. tom. 2. l. 4. c. 2. q. 7. §. 3.ordinary persons and ignorant people hauehave beene caried away with such superstitious fooleries, when we see such Bishops and other learned men addicted vntounto them, as were both for knowledge and holines esteemed of the greatest note in their times: Notwithstanding that all such kinds & courses of diuination & Loterie were both by the pNemo aruspicem consulat, aut mathematicū, nemo ariolum: augurū & vatū praua confessio conticescat. Chaldai & Magi nec ad hanc partem aliquid moliantur. Sileat omnibus perpetuò diuinandi curiositas: etenim supplicio capitis ferietur gladio vltere prostra…us, quicunque iussis nostris obsequium denegabit. Constantin Cod. l. 9. tit 18. leg. 5. Aruspex concremandus, consultor deportandus. Ibid. leg. 3. Acerbtoris imminebit supplis ij eruciatus eis qui contra vetitum, presentiū vel futurarum rerū explorare tent amerint verita. ē. Gratian. Valent. & Theodos. Cod. l. 1. tit. 14. leg. 2.Ciuill & qSortilegi & diuini, s…cessare noluerint, excommunicandi sunt. Gratian. caus. 26. quaest. 5. Arioli, aruspices, sortilegi, &c. ab Ecclesia sunt eliminandi, & nis… r…ipuerint, perpetuò excommunicandi. Ibid. Et à Greg. iuniore in decretis anathema dictum ciusmodi. Ibid. Sed & Greg. senior opist. 47. lib. 9. Adrianum landat quòd sortilegos persecutus sit, & vt vlterius corripiat, tanquam Christiinimicos, hortatur. Ibid. Contra idolerum cultores atque sortilegos pastoralis inuigilet custodia. Greg. idem ibid. ex Epist. 66. lib. 7. indict. 2.Canon Law, as also by diuers and sundry rArtem magicam & sortilegam, à Zabulo inuentam, vt pestem Ecclesiae eradicare studeant, monentur Episcopi Concil. Ancyr can. 1. Eis qui diuinationes expetunt, vel homines eiusmodi exquirendi aliquid vel expiandi causa admittunt, p…nitentia quinquemalis iniungitur. Ibid. can. 34. En qui sortilegos vel diuinos domum duxerit, paenitentia quinquennalis iniungitur. Concil. sub Martino Papa. Clerious qui sortilegos consuluerit, suspensus in monasterium conijciatur. Concil. Tolet. 4 can. 30. Sortilgia, qua ad iniuriam religionis nostra detestando malorum demonīa commercio exercentur, omnibus Christianis prohibenda, in cleritis acerbius etiam toer cenda. Concil. Moguntian. can. 101. Omnem diuinationem ex aere, aqua, terra, igue, &c. ex somnijs, sortibus, mortuis, & quibus futura praedicere, furta, thesaurosue absconditos common strare profitentur & coerceant Episcopi & eijciant: iu eos etiam qui eiusmodi diuinatores, coniectores, sortilegos, ariolos, &c. de re aliqua consuluerint, vel vt consulerentur, alicui autores fuerint, vel eis sidem habuerint, seuerè animaduertant. Concil. Mediolan. 1. part. 1.Synodicall constitutions from time to time, generally prohibited and condemned.