OF SERPENTS. 



gfcipher obferves. So Gefner from Paufanias. The Prieftefs 

 of Apollo^ that delivered the Sacred Oracles, was called Pythia 

 and Pythoniffa. This Pytboiiick Spirit among the Gentiles, was 

 cfleemed as a God, and by yuvefial is ftyled Vates^ a Prophet. 



The Prieftefs that delivered the Sacred Oracles, was called 

 Pythia^ from Apollo Pythias^ and muft be a pure Virgin. Moft 

 of the Fathers of the Church were of opinion, that it was the De- 

 vil gave the Anfwers, which were generally dubious, a Sign of his 

 Ignorance about Futurity. 



One Oc^nomaus^ a certain Pagan Philofopher, highly refenting. 

 it, that he had been fo often befooled by the Oracles, fpeaks to 

 Apollo thus — " When we come toconfult thee, either thou know- 

 ** efl; Things to come ornot. If thou knowefl them, why doft 

 " not thou fpeak fo as to be underftood ? If thou knowefl not, 

 " why doft thou pretend to it ? If Things neceftarily come to 

 " pafs, why doft thou amufe us with Ambiguities? *" 



F, BALTHUS^ a learned Jefuit, and F. Bouchet, fay there were 

 real Oracles, and fuch that can never be attributed to Priefts and 

 Prieftefles; and that the Devil ftill gives Oracles in the Indies^ and 

 that not by Idols, which, would be liable to Impofture, but by the 

 Mouths of Priefts, and By-Standers ^ and that the Devil becomes 

 mute, in proportion as the Gofpel prevails.' 



" It is generally believed among the more Learned, that the Pa- 

 " gan Oracles were mere Frauds and Impoftures, and calcu- 

 " iated to ferve the political Views of Princes, and covetous 

 *' Ends of Pagan Priefts." According to the learned Bayk 

 they w^ere meer human Artifices j and he is feconded by Van- 

 dale 2.w^ Fontenelle. But to return to the Oracle at Dt'//>Z;oj, which. 

 was very antient and much in vogue before the Trojan War : The 

 Situation of the Place, where People were made to believe God; 

 fpoke, was at ihe Mouth of a certain Cavern, whence they received 

 their Intelligence. The Prophetefs fat upon a Tripodiu?ny'3L three- 

 footed Stool, alTifted in her Fun(flion by divers Priefts. 



Under her Seat, 'tis faid, that fome time there appeared a. 

 Dragon, through whofe Throat Refponies were audibly deliver'd, 

 with a loud and ftrong Voice : According to EiifebiuSy a Serpent: 

 rolled itielf about the Tripod, on v/hich the Prieft fat.. 



Of 



* Eufehiut. 



77 



