The Magical-Astrological-Diviner Posed and Puzzled, Treatise · Chapter 27 · Section 13
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 praeſtigious Magician: the Divell (who was to be preſent at the ſolemnity) 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 preſence. 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 ſilence? 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 afterwards. 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 certaine darke cave or denne, viz. that the juſt which were upon the earth (meaning the Chriſtians) hindred him from his vaticinating, 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, repreſt 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: immediately 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 formerly, 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 deceived the world. And therein he takes the prophecy to be fulfilled, Iſa. 19. 1. &c.
Macarius of Aegypt, and Macarius of Alexandria, both theſe holymen were baniſhed into an Iſle that had no Chriſtian inhabitant in it. They were no ſooner entred there, but the Devils that had there their Temple, or grove, and their divining 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 expelled 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 together 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 fountaines.
Apollo himſelfe was forced to confeſſe, that the holy men which reſided thereabouts, were the onelyonly 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.