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praise_v it_o yet_o whatever_o commendation_n they_o may_v deserve_v we_o can_v but_o confess_v that_o a_o just_a medium_n be_v much_o the_o safe_a course_n and_o that_o it_o be_v more_o reasonable_a to_o remove_v error_n from_o truth_n than_o to_o venerate_a error_n because_o it_o be_v mix_v with_o truth_n christianity_n have_v be_v always_o able_a to_o stand_v of_o its_o self_n without_o false_a proof_n but_o it_o be_v at_o present_a render_v more_o so_o than_o ever_o by_o the_o pain_n the_o great_a man_n of_o this_o age_n have_v take_v to_o establish_v it_o on_o true_a foundation_n with_o great_a power_n and_o force_n than_o ever_o the_o ancient_n do_v and_o we_o ought_v to_o be_v fill_v with_o so_o just_a a_o confidence_n of_o our_o religion_n as_o to_o reject_v all_o false_a advantage_n though_o they_o may_v be_v useful_a to_o a_o weak_a party_n have_v lay_v this_o foundation_n i_o advance_v bold_o to_o prove_v that_o oracle_n of_o what_o nature_n soever_o be_v not_o deliver_v by_o daemon_n and_o that_o they_o do_v not_o cease_v at_o the_o come_n of_o jesus_n christ._n each_o of_o which_o point_n deserve_v a_o particular_a discourse_n the_o first_o discourse_n that_o oracle_n be_v not_o give_v by_o daemon_n it_o be_v certain_a that_o there_o be_v daemon_n evil_a genii_n and_o spirit_n condemn_v to_o eternal_a punishment_n religion_n teach_v we_o that_o and_o if_o so_o than_o our_o reason_n must_v tell_v we_o that_o these_o daemon_n may_v have_v animate_v statue_n and_o deliver_v oracle_n if_o god_n have_v permit_v they_o so_o to_o do_v we_o be_v therefore_o only_o to_o inquire_v whether_o they_o have_v such_o a_o permission_n or_o not_o it_o be_v only_a than_o a_o matter_n of_o fact_n which_o be_v in_o dispute_n and_o this_o matter_n of_o fact_n depend_v whole_o on_o the_o will_n of_o god_n it_o be_v certain_a that_o it_o will_v have_v be_v reveal_v to_o we_o if_o the_o knowledge_n thereof_o be_v necessary_a but_o the_o holy_a scripture_n do_v not_o teach_v 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if_o they_o foresee_v this_o they_o do_v very_o well_o not_o to_o give_v themselves_o the_o trouble_n of_o reason_v too_o nice_o but_o let_v we_o inquire_v after_o the_o reason_n which_o oblige_v the_o primitive_a christian_n to_o believe_v that_o oracle_n have_v something_o supernatural_a in_o they_o and_o we_o shall_v afterward_o try_v whether_o they_o be_v sound_a and_o solid_a or_o not_o chap._n i._n the_o first_o reason_n why_o the_o primitive_a christian_n believe_v that_o oracle_n be_v deliver_v by_o daemon_n and_o the_o surprise_v history_n that_o be_v publish_v concern_v oracle_n and_o genii_n antiquity_n be_v full_a of_o abundance_n of_o wonderful_a history_n and_o oracle_n which_o as_o it_o be_v believe_v must_v needs_o be_v attribute_v to_o spirit_n i_o will_v relate_v some_o few_o example_n which_o shall_v serve_v for_o a_o taste_n of_o what_o the_o rest_n be_v all_o the_o world_n know_v what_o happen_v to_o the_o pilot_n thamus_n his_o ship_n be_v one_o evening_n near_o certain_a island_n in_o the_o aegean_a sea_n the_o wind_n be_v hush_v on_o a_o sudden_a and_o the_o wave_n cease_v their_o motion_n all_o the_o passenger_n be_v awake_a and_o the_o great_a part_n of_o they_o pass_v their_o time_n in_o drink_v one_o with_o another_o when_o on_o a_o sudden_a they_o hear_v a_o voice_n which_o come_v from_o the_o island_n and_o call_v aloud_o thamus_n thamus_n suffer_v himself_o to_o be_v call_v thrice_o before_o he_o return_v a_o answer_n and_o then_o the_o voice_n command_v he_o that_o when_o he_o do_v arrive_v at_o a_o certain_a place_n he_o shall_v cry_v out_o that_o the_o great_a pan_n be_v dead_a there_o be_v not_o a_o man_n in_o the_o ship_n who_o be_v not_o seize_v with_o fear_n and_o dread_n at_o these_o word_n and_o they_o all_o consult_v whether_o thamus_n ought_v to_o
of_o origen_n in_o his_o seven_o book_n against_o celsus_n which_o sufficient_o prove_v that_o he_o attribute_v oracle_n to_o daemon_n only_o to_o accommodate_v himself_o to_o the_o time_n and_o to_o the_o dispute_n which_o in_o that_o age_n be_v between_o the_o christian_n and_o the_o pagan_n i_o may_v say_v he_o make_v use_n of_o the_o authority_n of_o aristotle_n and_o the_o peripatetic_n to_o render_v the_o pythian_a oracle_n suspect_v i_o can_v draw_v from_o epicurus_n and_o those_o of_o his_o sect_n a_o infinity_o of_o thing_n that_o will_v discredit_v oracle_n and_o i_o can_v easy_o make_v it_o appear_v that_o the_o greek_n themselves_o make_v no_o great_a account_n of_o they_o but_o concede_v that_o they_o be_v not_o fiction_n nor_o imposture_n let_v we_o examine_v the_o case_n a_o little_a more_o careful_o and_o consider_v whether_o there_o be_v any_o necessity_n that_o a_o god_n shall_v have_v any_o business_n there_o and_o if_o it_o be_v not_o more_o reasonable_a to_o 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and_o by_o that_o mean_n the_o great_a blow_n will_v indeed_o have_v be_v give_v to_o the_o pagan_a religion_n that_o can_v be_v imagine_v but_o all_o the_o world_n perhaps_o do_v not_o enter_v so_o deep_a into_o this_o matter_n and_o they_o think_v they_o have_v do_v enough_o when_o by_o the_o hypothesis_n of_o daemon_n which_o solve_v the_o whole_a business_n in_o two_o word_n they_o disparage_v all_o those_o miracle_n which_o the_o pagan_n can_v allege_v for_o their_o false_a worship_n this_o it_o be_v probable_a be_v the_o cause_n why_o in_o the_o first_o age_n of_o the_o church_n man_n so_o general_o embrace_v this_o opinion_n concern_v oracle_n for_o we_o see_v clear_o enough_o into_o the_o darkness_n of_o remote_a antiquity_n to_o discover_v that_o christian_n do_v not_o hold_v this_o opinion_n so_o much_o for_o the_o truth_n which_o they_o find_v in_o it_o as_o for_o the_o advantage_n which_o it_o give_v they_o in_o their_o dispute_n against_o paganism_n and_o can_v they_o be_v bear_v again_o in_o the_o age_n wherein_o we_o live_v i_o doubt_v not_o but_o that_o be_v then_o deliver_v like_o we_o from_o those_o strange_a notion_n that_o oblige_v they_o to_o that_o hypothesis_n they_o will_v have_v have_v almost_o all_o of_o they_o the_o same_o disesteem_a of_o oracle_n as_o we_o have_v at_o this_o time_n hitherto_o we_o have_v only_o take_v away_o the_o prejudices_fw-la that_o be_v contrary_a to_o our_o opinion_n and_o which_o be_v draw_v either_o from_o the_o system_fw-la of_o the_o christian_a religion_n or_o else_o from_o philosophy_n with_o the_o general_a consent_n of_o both_o pagan_n and_o christian_n we_o have_v answer_v all_o this_o not_o only_o by_o make_v a_o simple_a defence_n but_o very_o often_o by_o start_a objection_n but_o now_o we_o shall_v make_v our_o assault_n with_o great_a vigour_n and_o demonstrate_v by_o all_o those_o particular_a circumstance_n which_o we_o can_v remark_n in_o oracle_n that_o they_o never_o ought_v to_o have_v be_v attribute_v to_o daemon_n chap._n x._o that_o oracle_n be_v corrupt_v by_o bribery_n it_o be_v so_o easy_a a_o matter_n to_o corrupt_v these_o oracle_n that_o it_o be_v very_o evident_a that_o they_o be_v manage_v by_o men._n the_o pythian_a priestess_n philipise_v say_v demosthenes_n when_o he_o be_v complain_v that_o the_o oracle_n of_o delphos_n be_v always_o conformable_a to_o the_o interest_n of_o philip._n 6._o when_o cleomenes_n king_n of_o sparta_n be_v mind_v to_o dethrone_v demaratus_n the_o former_a king_n on_o pretence_n that_o he_o be_v not_o the_o son_n of_o ariston_n his_o predecessor_n and_o that_o ariston_n himself_o have_v complain_v that_o his_o son_n be_v bear_v a_o little_a too_o soon_o after_o his_o marriage_n the_o oracle_n be_v consult_v on_o so_o difficult_a a_o question_n for_o the_o thing_n be_v of_o such_o a_o nature_n that_o it_o can_v be_v decide_v only_o by_o the_o gods._n but_o cleomenes_n himself_o go_v beforehand_o to_o engage_v the_o chief_a priestess_n of_o delphos_n and_o so_o she_o declare_v that_o demaratus_n be_v not_o the_o son_n of_o ariston_n the_o cheat_n be_v sometime_o after_o discover_v and_o the_o priestess_n deprive_v of_o her_o dignity_n for_o they_o be_v bind_v to_o revenge_v this_o dishonour_n do_v to_o their_o oracle_n and_o to_o endeavour_v to_o repair_v their_o lose_a credit_n 5._o during_o the_o time_n that_o hippias_n be_v tyrant_n of_o athens_n some_o citizen_n who_o he_o have_v banish_v obtain_v of_o the_o pythian_a priestess_n by_o the_o force_n of_o money_n that_o when_o the_o lacedaemonian_n shall_v come_v to_o consult_v she_o no_o matter_n on_o what_o affair_n she_o shall_v always_o tell_v they_o they_o must_v deliver_v athens_n from_o tyranny_n and_o the_o lacedaemonian_n to_o who_o the_o same_o thing_n be_v always_o repeat_v whatever_o they_o come_v about_o believe_v at_o last_o that_o the_o god_n will_v never_o pardon_v they_o if_o they_o contemn_v their_o so_o frequent_a order_n and_o thereupon_o they_o take_v up_o arm_n against_o hippias_n though_o he_o be_v their_o ally_n if_o the_o daemon_n deliver_v oracle_n they_o be_v always_o full_a of_o complaisance_n to_o those_o prince_n that_o be_v once_o become_v redoubt_a and_o it_o be_v to_o be_v note_v that_o hell_n have_v a_o very_a great_a regard_n for_o alexander_n and_o augustus_n some_o historian_n tell_v we_o plain_o that_o alexander_n have_v a_o mind_n by_o his_o absolute_a authority_n to_o make_v himself_o the_o son_n of_o jupiter_n ammon_n both_o for_o his_o interest_n and_o the_o honour_n of_o his_o mother_n who_o be_v suspect_v to_o have_v have_v a_o gallant_a much_o less_o considerable_a than_o jupiter_n and_o they_o add_v that_o before_o he_o go_v to_o the_o temple_n he_o cause_v the_o god_n to_o be_v advertise_v of_o his_o will_n and_o pleasure_n and_o the_o god_n very_o honest_o obey_v his_o command_n other_o author_n hold_v that_o the_o priest_n find_v out_o of_o themselves_o this_o way_n of_o flatter_a alexander_n there_o be_v none_o but_o plutarch_n that_o ground_n this_o divinity_n of_o alexander_n on_o a_o mistake_n of_o the_o priest_n of_o ammon_n who_o salute_v this_o king_n and_o intend_v to_o say_v to_o he_o in_o greek_a oh_o my_o son_n pronounce_v a_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d for_o a_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d for_o he_o be_v a_o lybian_a and_o know_v not_o well_o how_o to_o pronounce_v the_o greek_a and_o the_o word_n with_o this_o change_n signify_v oh_o son_n of_o jupiter_n and_o the_o whole_a court_n fail_v not_o to_o construe_v this_o mistake_n of_o the_o priest_n to_o the_o advantage_n of_o alexander_n and_o without_o doubt_v the_o priest_n himself_o make_v it_o pass_v for_o a_o inspiration_n of_o the_o god_n who_o have_v direct_v his_o tongue_n and_o so_o by_o oracle_n afterward_o confirm_v his_o ill_a pronounciation_n this_o last_o manner_n of_o relate_v this_o history_n please_v i_o extreme_o for_o i_o love_v to_o find_v very_o little_a 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which_o decide_v the_o question_n against_o which_o people_n he_o shall_v make_v war._n in_o greece_n and_o italy_n they_o often_o draw_v the_o lot_n from_o some_o famous_a poet_n as_o homer_n or_o euripides_n and_o what_o first_o present_v itself_o at_o the_o open_n of_o the_o book_n be_v look_v upon_o to_o be_v the_o decree_n of_o heaven_n and_o history_n furnish_v we_o with_o a_o thousand_o example_n of_o this_o kind_n it_o be_v evident_a that_o about_o two_o hundred_o year_n after_o the_o death_n of_o virgil_n they_o set_v a_o great_a value_n on_o his_o verse_n and_o begin_v to_o believe_v they_o prophetic_a and_o to_o use_v they_o in_o stead_n of_o the_o ancient_a lot_n of_o praeneste_n pridius_fw-la lam_n alexander_n severus_n in_o particular_a at_o a_o time_n when_o heliogabalus_n be_v not_o much_o
day_n one_o serve_v the_o turn_n beside_o he_o confess_v that_o the_o oracle_n be_v fall_v to_o decay_v in_o boeotia_n a_o country_n which_o have_v former_o be_v famous_a for_o produce_v a_o great_a number_n of_o they_o all_o this_o it_o be_v true_a prove_v the_o cessation_n of_o some_o oracle_n and_o the_o diminution_n of_o the_o credit_n of_o other_o but_o not_o the_o entire_a cessation_n of_o all_o which_o however_o there_o be_v a_o absolute_a necessity_n for_o those_o to_o prove_v who_o maintain_v the_o common_a opinion_n the_o oracle_n of_o delphos_n be_v not_o so_o mighty_o decay_v in_o plutarch_n time_n for_o he_o himself_o tell_v we_o in_o another_o treatise_n that_o the_o temple_n of_o delphos_n be_v then_o far_o more_o magnificent_a than_o ever_o it_o have_v be_v that_o they_o have_v repair_v the_o ancient_a building_n which_o time_n begin_v to_o ruin_v and_o that_o they_o have_v add_v other_o to_o it_o which_o be_v altogether_o after_o the_o modern_a mode_n that_o there_o 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