_Nahas_, is To observe the flieng of birds, & comprehendeth all such other observations, where men do ghesse upon uncerteine toies. It is found in _Deut._ 18. and in 2. _Chron._ 33. and else-where. Of this art of augurie _Tyresias_ the king of the _Thebans_ is said to be the first inventor: but _Tages_ first published the discipline thereof, being but a little boie; as _Cicero_ reporteth out of the bookes of the _Hetruscans_ themselves. Some points of this art are more high and profound than some others, and yet are they more homelie and slovenlie than the rest; as namelie, the divination upon the entrailes of beasts, which the Gentiles in their sacrifices speciallie observed. Insomuch as _Marcus Varro_, seeing the absurditie thereof, said that these gods were not onlie idle, but verie slovens, that used so to hide their secrets and counsels in the guts and bowels of beasts. ♦The slovenlie art of augurie.♦ How vainlie, absurdlie, and superstitiouslie the heathen used this kind of divination in their sacrifices, is manifested by their actions & ceremonies in that behalfe practised, as well in times past, as at this houre. The _Aegyptians_ had 666. severall sorts and kinds of sacrifices; the _Romans_ had almost as manie; the _Græcians_ had not so few as they; the _Persians_ and the _Medes_ were not behind them; the _Indies_ and other nations have at this instant their sacrifices full of varietie, and more full of barbarous impietie. For in sundrie places, these offer sacrifices to the divell, hoping thereby to moove him to lenitie: yea, these commonlie sacrifice such of their enimies, as they have taken in warre: as we read that the Gentiles in ancient time did offer sacrifice, to appease the wrath and indignation of their feigned gods. The second Chapter. _Of the Jewes sacrifice to Moloch, a discourse thereupon, and of Purgatorie._