ers obtained a footing among
the Jews. Such wicked people were accustomed to fast, go to
burying-places, and there lie down, fall asleep, and pretend that the
dead appeared to them in dreams or otherwise, and told them what was
desired. They also pretended to call up the dead by means of certain
fumes and particular words. In cases where the spirits of dead men
were obstinate and refused to appear or answer when summoned in the
more simple form, recourse was had to the burning of portions of black
cats, or the still more cruel method of cutting up young boys and
virgins.

CHAPTER II.

Men endowed with Prophetic Spirits--The Jews forbidden
to consult the Oracles of the Heathen--Succession and
Schools of Prophets--Burial of Prophets--Influence of
Music--The Prophetic Mantle--Way through which
Revelations were made--Bath Kol--Urim and
Thummim--False Prophets Strangled or Stoned--How False
Prophets were discovered--Recourse to Diabolical
Art--Moloch--Seething a Kid in its Mother's Milk--The
Smooth Stones mentioned by Isaiah--Oil and Candles
supposed to possess peculiar Virtues--The Saint
entombed near the Barbary shore--Sheep-head and
Sheep-head Broth--Casting Sins into the Sea--Custom of
Fasting among the Pharisees--Dust of Heathen
Countries--The number 10--Angels that had the care of
Men--Souls of Dead Persons whispered with a feeble
Voice--Hebrew Women who predicted when one would
die--Punishment in the Grave by the Devil.

Every person who has read the Old Testament, knows that the Hebrews
had among them extraordinary men really endowed with prophetic
spirits. The Jews were forbidden to consult the oracles of the heathen
nations round about them, but they were permitted to consult their own
true prophets concerning that which was concealed from ordinary
persons. There was a constant succession of prophets, and there were
schools where young persons aspiring to the office of a seer were
instructed. Over each of these institutions a venerable prophet
presided. At first the scholars were not inspired, but received
prophecies from the mouth of their master or president. At Jerusalem
there was one of these schools within the second wall of the city. So
great respect was paid to the prophetic character, that none were
suffered to be buried in Jerusalem but kings, descendants of David,
and prophets. Though old p