388 UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



V. But this was not all. This dogma would 

 been of little confequence if they had not 

 fuppofed a direct, immediate and particular con- 

 nexion between the infernal court and mankind 

 who inhabit the earth. Now, as no mortal what- 

 ever could perceive this connexion by the aid of 

 his fenfes only, they made of it an occult fcience, 

 which naturally remained in the hands of the 

 priefts and prieftefies, the magi, the foothfayers, 

 the augurs, the vifionaries, the priefts of the 

 oracles, the falfe prophets, and other like pro- 

 feflbrs, till the time of the coming of Jefus 

 Chrift. The light of the gofpel, it is true, has 

 difTipated much of this darknefs ; but it is more 

 difficult, than is commonly conceived, to eradi- 

 cate from the human mind a deep rooted fuper- 

 flition, even though the truth be fet in the 

 ftrongeft light, efpecially when the error has 

 been believed almoft from the orign of the 

 world ; fo we ftill find exifting among us the 

 remains of this Pagan fuperftition, in the follow- 

 ing chimeras, which enthufiaftic and defigning 

 men have formed into arts and fciences : though 

 it muft be owned, to the honour of the eigh- 

 teenth century, that the pure doctrines of Chrift- 

 ianity, and the fpirit of philofophy, which be- 

 come, God be praifed, every day more diffufed, 

 equally concur in baniming thefe vifionary opi- 

 nions. The vogue for thefe pretended fciences 

 and arts, moreover, is paft, and they can no 

 longer be named withaut exciting ridicule in all 

 fenfible people. By^ relating them here, there- 

 fore, 



