128 OP THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



either when the argument is coupled with a derivation 

 of causes, which is rational ; or when it is only grounded 

 upon a coincidence of the effect, which is experimental : 

 whereof the latter for the most part is superstitious; 

 such as were the heathen observations upon the inspec- 

 tion of sacrifices, the flights of birds, the swarming of 

 bees ; and such as was the Chaldean astrology, and the 

 like. For artificial divination, the several kinds thereof 

 are distributed amongst particular knowledges. The 

 astronomer hath his predictions, as of conjunctions, 

 aspects, eclipses, and the like. The physician hath his 

 predictions, of death, of recovery, of the accidents and 

 issues of diseases. The politique hath his predictions 

 ' O urbem venalem, et cito perituram, si emptorem 

 invenerit ! * which stayed not long to be performed, 

 in Sylla first, and after in Caesar. So as these predic 

 tions are now impertinent, and to be referred over, 

 But the divination which springeth from the internal 

 nature of the soul, is that which we now speak of 

 which hath been made to be of two sorts, primitive 

 and by influxion. Primitive is grounded upon the 

 supposition, that the mind, when it is withdrawn and 

 collected into itself, and not diffused into the organs 

 of the body, hath some extent and latitude of prenotion ; 

 which therefore appeareth most in sleep, in ecstasies, 

 and near death, and more rarely in waking apprehen- 

 sions ; and is induced and furthered by those abstin- 

 ences and observances which make the mind most to 

 consist in itself. By influxion, is grounded upon the 

 conceit that the mind, as a mirror or glass, should take 

 illumination from the foreknowledge of God and spirits : 

 unto which the same regiment doth likewise conduce. 

 For the retiring of the mind within itself is the state 

 which is most susceptible of divine influxions ; save 

 that it is accompanied in this case with a fervency 

 and elevation (which the ancients noted by fury), and 

 not with a repose and quiet, as it is in the other. 



3. Fascination is the power and act of imagination 

 intensive upon other bodies than the body of the 

 imaginant, for of that we spake in the proper place. 



