4. Next the more fully to explain this we may consider the place in the _Acts_ which is rendred thus, Παιδίσκην τινὰ ἔχουσαν πνεῦμα Πύθωνος of which the learned and judicious _Isaac Casaubon_ saith thus: “An ancient interpreter readeth Πόθωνα, and the _Syrian_ version rendereth _spiritum divinationis_. It may be quere’d, seeing _Apollo_ is understood, why S. _Luke_ doth use the Epithete of him rather than the proper name: And the reason is because the ancients did call the Ventriloquists Πύθωνες Pythonists.” And it is plain that it was Divination, that was telling of secret things, whether past, present or to come, that the Maid pretended and undertook: for the text saith, _Which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying_; μαντευομένη, that is, by Vaticination. _Beza_ in his Latine translation saith in his Marginal Notes, “That that Spirit of Oracling, was only an expression alluding to the Idol _Apollo_, which was called _Python_, and gave answers unto them that asked, namely, by the Priests that belonged unto it, of which Idol the Poets feigned many things; so that they that had the Imposture of Divination were said by the Heathen to be inspired by the spirit of _Apollo_. And in this place of the _Acts_, S. _Luke_ speaketh after the common Phrase of the Heathen, because he delivereth the error of the common people, but not by what instinct the Maid gave Divinations; for it is certain that under the Mask of that Idol, the Devil plaid his deluding pranks, and this spirit of _Apollo_ was nothing, but as much as to say, an Imposture, or deluding trick of the Devil practised by the Priests of _Apollo_.” So much saith _Beza_, who plainly expoundeth, “That that Spirit of Divination or Oracling, was only a Devilish deluding Imposture, and not a familiar Devil as many do fondly imagine: And whereas it is said in the verse following, that S. _Paul_ did cast that Spirit out of the Maid, it was, that he by the power of the Gospel of _Jesus_ rebuked her wickedness: so that her Conscience being terrified, she was either converted, or else at the least dared not to follow that deluding craft of Divination any longer: as when Christ did cast out seven Devils out of _Mary Magdalen_, it is to be understood that he did convert her from many devilish sinful courses in which she had walked.” Thus far learned _Beza_ and Mr. _Ady_, who both seem to understand no other Demon in the case than only a crafty and devilish Imposture and Cheat, and most certainly it could be nothing else. [Sidenote: 2 Kings 10. 18, to 26.]