: are fond of the marvellous: Hence it is, that, to this day, the introduction of imaginary Beings, fuch as Genii, Necromancers, Witches, Fairies, Ghofts, &c. on the Stage, or in the legendary tale, is pleafing to the fancy. Here if they were confined, and were no otherwise employed than as fictions of amufement, the deception might be harmless; but when we bring them into real life, we only add to the miferies of it. : To the fame fuperftition we may ascribe the present belief of charms, in the cure of certain bodily disorders. But the absurdity of fuch an opinion is evident from this confideration it cannot happen, in the ordinary course of things, that any effect should take place without fome caufe. As well might we expect, that the Earth would produce Corn, where no grain had been fown. It is, therefore, unreafonable to look for miraculous. cures. We know that, in the practice of Phyfic, it is neceffary to difcover the cause and nature of difeafes; and then to adminifter thofe medicines, whofe virtues have been tried. But many, not fatisfied with this rational and probable method of cure, place confidence in the affurance of thofe, who pretend to be in poffeffion of a certain charm, which, if it act at all, must be by enchantment; because it re jects .: ous. jects all application of means; or, at least, admits only fuch as are fanciful and mysteriSometimes nothing more is necessary than to fee the Patient, or flightly to touch the part affected, or to wave the hand, like the Practitioners of animal magnetism, or to pronounce a certain form of words, with many other ridiculous incantations; all which feem very inadequate to produce the effect intended. Yet their fuccefs is frequently confirmed by the moft pofitive affeverations. But granting the cure, as afferted; yet it is more reasonable to impute it to an effort of nature at that period, than to the mystical efficacy of charms. Having already confidered the improbability of Predictions by Men endued, as fuppofed, with prophetic powers, let us next proceed to the doctrine of omens, prodigies and prognoftics; which have been confidered as the portentous symbols of what is to come; and have filled the minds of many with dreadful apprehenfions. The Ancients were great obfervers of thefe figns, which they interpreted as prefages of fature good or evil. The Romans adopted feveral methods of Divination; and even appointed a felect number of Perfons, whom they called Augurs, to examine those circumftances, which were thought thought portentous. The moft fenfelefs Beings and moft trifling accidents were prefages of future events. Birds were favourite objects of Augury. Great attention was paid to their flight and to their manner of eating; and from their different methods of performing each, good or evil was prognofticated. Amongst the winged tribes, the Owl and the Raven were ftigmatized as Birds of ill omen. It would feem very furprifing, that fo fenfible a People as the Romans fhould have been fond of these conceits, were we not furnished with the like inftances of folly amongst ourfelves. The howling of the Dog, the croaking of the Raven, or the ticking of the Deathwatch*, are to be confidered as nothing more than the several inarticulate founds peculiar to thefe creatures. But, * Death-watch, in Natural History, a little infect famous for a ticking noise, like the beat of a watch, which the vul gar have long taken for a prefage of death in the family where it is heard-It is a small beetle, five fixteenths of an inch long, of a dark brown colour, fpotted; having pellucid wings, a large cap or helmet on the head, and two antenna proceeding from beneath the eyes. The part it beats with is the extreme edge of the face. . ENCYCLOP. BRITAN. Why "Why are thofe tears? why droops your head "Alas! you know the cause too well; "My knife and fork were laid across ; If obfervation had not confirmed the fact, we fhould not fuppofe it poffible, that rational Beings could be difturbed by fuch accidental circumftances, which can never be the means of producing any future contingencies in the tranfactions of Men.-But, fay the fuperftitious advocates for Prodigies, we do not believe that these or fimilar incidents generate the events of futurity, but are only tokens of their coming. Upon what authority am I to believe this? I cannot affent to an opinion fo repugnant to common fenfe upon human tradition. Has the Deity, by any revelation, informed Mankind, that these things fhall ferve as omens of future good or ill? On the contrary, he made this declaration, by Mofes, ta † Gay's Fables. the :: the Ifraelites-When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou Shalt not learn to do after the abominations of these nations. There fhall not be found among you any one that maketh' his fon or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that ufeth divination, or an obferver of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a confulter with familiar Spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord*.-The Jews, indeed, had reafon to believe the figns that preceded the destruction of Jerufalem, because they were foretold, by one, who had given full demonftration, that he was authorized to declare them. Though we complain of the shortness of life, and the fwift progreffion of time, yet we fuffer a great part of it to be loft, by the fuperftitious obfervance of certain days; as if the Deity had thought proper to distinguish any of them by a greater portion of natural good or evil. They, who defer till to-mor row, what may be done to-day, becaufe their fears have marked it with black characters, may certainly be confidered as prodigal of their time. I fhall conclude this long detail of fuperftitious opinions with another, that feems to S Deut. chap. xviii, ver. 9—12. |