Divination

Chapter 5 of Demonology and Theology (1650) by Nathanael Homes (1599–1678), edited and modernized.

Of divination by immediate help of the Devil.

The Devil, in this art of divination, either makes the witch or diviner his instrument, or else makes other things the instruments of the witch or diviner; the Devil still concurring.

Immediate Instruments of the Devil

The Devil makes the witch or diviner his immediate instrument in divination when he, immediately informing the witches and diviners, enables them to tell many hidden things by speaking either in or by them. In this respect in part, the Devil is called a familiar spirit, and the diviner is called one who has a familiar spirit so frequently in Scripture, as we touched before; showing there that the ground of this familiarity was a diabolical covenant. Now we add that the Devil's continual presence either in or with the diviner or witch to assist in divination is the manner of the familiarity.

The Devil's Presence in Diviners

…a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying

Acts 16:16

The Devil's presence is in the diviner, giving answers and predictions, as here in Acts 16:16. Sooth is an old English word to signify truth, as instead of "in good truth" men were accustomed to say, "in good sooth." Mark it, in this text she is said to have a spirit of divination, and it was in her, for it possessed her, and that spirit gave answers thence, for she brought her masters profit by soothsaying. And in verse 18 that spirit is commanded, and accordingly remanded out of her. By this it is plain that from within her the spirit gave the answers. Of this manner we spoke previously. Weigh well Isaiah 29:4.

The Devil's Presence with Diviners

The Devil is with the diviners or witches when he, by his wonderful inspirations and putting them into strange trances and furies, reveals hidden things to them, as we have histories of experiences in this kind. These trances of diviners are far different from divine, heavenly raptures in that the latter preserve and speak distinctly to the saint's reason and are altogether for the manifestation and confirmation of the truth, whereas the former deprive the witches of their reason for their duration, mixing a kind of madness and frenzy with their imaginations (Isa. 45:25; Hos. 9:7). We read in the Scriptures and in history what mad fits diviners have had, crying out and clamoring like frenzied men. And while they may utter some pieces of truth, they at the same time tend to disparage it or draw men to doubt of it.

Consider, for example, how the Devil, in the man whom he possessed, confessed Jesus (Mk. 1:24), yet with a prejudice cast upon him that he was of Nazareth, which as in Galilee (Mt. 2:22-23), the names of which were prejudicial to the Jews receiving Christ, because it was prophesied that he should come out of Bethlehem, which he did (Mt. 2:1). Yet this the Devil would not confess, but proclaimed him to be of Nazareth, and this took with the people generally (especially since he had dwelt there a while due to persecution). When he came into Jerusalem, the multitude said, "This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee" (Mt. 21:10-11). One of Peter's accusers said, "Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee" and another, "This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth" (Mt. 26:69, 71). This even made good men (who were yet ignorant of his birth in Bethlehem) to wonder at a good Prophet's arising out of Nazareth, as was the case with good Nathanael, who asked, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (Jn. 1:46). But the unbelievers, upon this account, refused him, and endeavored to keep off Nicodemus, "Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet" (Jn. 7:52).

This is just like those furies that are in the Ranters of this present generation, who pretend to preach and speak good things, but mix many abominable blasphemies to the dishonor of God and religion. But divine raptures in good men are wholly for the revelation and confirmation of the truth. See in that of Peter (Acts 10), by which the call of the Gentiles was revealed, and that of Paul (2Co. 12), by which the call of the apostle, the knowledge of the excellency of Christ, and the glory of local heaven was confirmed (which are things now being doubted by this present generation).

Thus you see how in divination the Devil makes diviners or witches his immediate instruments, by speaking in them or to them, to inform their clients.

Instruments of Divination

Next follows how, in divination, the Devil makes other things the instruments of diviners or witches, whereby his mind is made known to them for predictions given to those who would seek them for that purpose. These instruments, along with their practice, are as much the doctrines of devils (as the apostle speaks) as any of all that has been said touching witchery, enchantment, etc. Indeed, they are as much the doctrine of devils as are doctrines of heresy and impiety, if not more immediately of the Devil than heresies and impieties which are compounded partly of the wicked reason and lusts in men, and partly of the Devil's suggestions.

These instruments, ways, and devices, with the artifice of using and understanding them, are specifically and principally eight:

1. Auspicy – divination by the flight of birds
2. Augury – divination by the noise of birds
3. Alectryomancy – divination by chickens
4. Haruspicy – to divine by looking on and into sacrifices on altars
5. Sortilegy – divination by lots
6. Necromancy – a divining by the dead, making (as is pretended) the dead to rise and declare that which is desired; which we English men commonly call the Black Art
7. Oneiromancy, or Oneirology; that is, a divining by an interpretation given upon dreams
8. Astrology – to divine by the interpretation of the effects of planets, etc. Lawful astronomy having another name, is the measure, motion, distances, etc. of the stars, obvious to sight. And because there is a lawful natural meteorology, from apparent causes—as touching weather, tides of the sea, etc.—therefore, for more distinction, the unlawful astrology of secret events from pretended hidden virtues in the stars and their power upon the arbitrary wills and judgments in men is called judiciary astrology.

Of these eight we shall speak, both because all other magical doctrines of the Devil may be reduced to these, and because most of these, in whole or in part, are in these most evil days esteemed by those who profess to be Christians.