5. But all these sorts of Observations, Guessings, and Conjectures may be considered these three ways. 1. Some of them are natural, rational, and legal; as is the Prognostick part of the Art of Medicine, Political Predictions of the change, fall, and ruine of Kingdoms, States, and Empires. Some Civil taken from the course and carriage of men, as when one seeth a rich young Heir that followeth nothing but vice, luxury, and all sorts of debauchery, it is easie to foretel that his end will be beggery and misery. Some from the due observation of beasts and fowls, which live _sub dio_, may easily conjecture the alteration of the weather. And so by observing the change, or colour of the Stars and Planets, the Clouds and Elements, may easily foretel the change of weather. And we find that these predictions from the Signs gathered from natural causes, are not condemned by our Blessed Saviour, who saith: _When it is evening, ye say it will be fair weather, for the skie is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather to day, for the skie is red, and lowring._ And again: _When ye see a cloud rise out of the West, straightway ye say, there cometh a showre, and so it is. And when ye see the South wind blow, ye say, there will be heat, and it cometh to pass._ 2. There are some conjectures that are false, groundless, and superstitious, as were, and are all the predictions taken from the feeding, flying or noise of Fowls, or the signs appearing in the intrails of Beasts; for in all such like, there is no connexion betwixt the cause and effect, and they therefore are false and vain, and this was one of the reasons why they were forbidden amongst the Jews. 3. There were some that in regard of their use and end were wicked and Idolatrous, and in this respect all divinations and predictions are wicked and unlawful, if they be used (as was and is yet among the Heathen) to lead the people unto, or confirm them in, the worship of Idols, and false Gods. And from all this it appeareth, that yet we can find no proper or fit word for such a kind of Witch whose existence we have denied and are disproving. 5. The next word in this place of _Deuteronomy_ is ‏וּמְכַשֵּׁף‎ _Umechascheph_, which our Translators render a Witch, but in what sense or propriety, I think few can conjecture, for it comes from the Hebrew root, ‏כֹּשֵּׁף‎ _Coscheph_, which _Avenarius_ rendreth, _Fascinavit, effascinavit_, but _Schindlerus_ translates it, _Præstigias, maleficia aut magiam exercuit, mutavit aliquid naturale ad aspectum oculi, ut aliud appareat quàm est_. And by _Buxtorsius_ it is rendred, _Præstigiæ_, and the derivations from it through the whole Old Testament, which is the most certain propriety of the word, as these following considerations will make manifest. [Sidenote: Chap. 7. 11, 22.] [Sidenote: Chron. 2. 33. 6.] [Sidenote: 2 Kings 9. 22.]