s Government preserv'd, and
all the Mischief he could desire was effectually brought to pass, so
that every way they were the _Devil_'s Oracles, that's out of the
Question.

Indeed I have wonder'd sometimes why, since by this Sorcery the _Devil_
perform'd such Wonders, that is, play'd so many Tricks in the World, and
had such universal Success, he should set up no more of them; but there
might be a great many Reasons given for that, too long to tire you with
at present: 'Tis true, there were not many of them, and yet considering
what a great deal of Business they dispatch'd, it was enough, for six or
eight Oracles were more than sufficient to amuse all the World: The
chief Oracles we meet with in History are among the _Greeks_ and the
_Romans_, _viz._

That of _Jupiter Ammon_, in _Lybia_, as above.

The _Dordonian_, in _Epirus_.

_Apollo Delphicus_, in the Country of _Phocis_ in _Greece_.

_Apollo Clavius_, in _Asia Minor_.

_Serapis_, in _Alexandria_ in _Egypt_.

_Trophomis_, in _Baeotia_.

_Sybilla Cumaea_, in _Italy_.

_Diana_, at _Ephesus_.

_Apollo Daphneus_, at _Antioch_.

Besides many of lesser Note, in several other Places, as I have
hinted before.

I have nothing to do here with the Story mentioned by _Plutarch_, of a
Voice being heard at Sea, from some of the Islands call'd the
_Echinades_, and calling upon one _Thamuz_, an _Egyptian_, who was on
board a Ship, bidding him, when he came to the _Palodes_, other Islands
in the _Ionian_ Seas, tell them there that the great God PAN was dead;
and when _Thamuz_ perform'd it, great Groanings, and Howlings, and
Lamentation were heard from the Shore.

This Tale tells but indifferently, tho' indeed it looks more like _a
Christian Fable_, than a Pagan; because it seems as if made to honour
the Christian Worship, and blast all the Pagan Idolatry; and for that
Reason I reject it, the Christian Profession needing no such fabulous
Stuff to confirm it.

Nor is it true in fact, that the Oracles did cease immediately upon the
Death of Christ; but, as I noted before, the Sum of the Matter is this;
the Christian Religion spreading it self universally, as well as
miraculously, and that too _by the Foolishness of Preaching_, into all
Parts of the World, the Oracles ceas'd; that is to say, their Trade
ceas'd, their Rogueries were daily detected, the deluded People being
better taught, came no more after them,