This Tale tells but indifferently, tho' indeed it looks more like _a Christian Fable_, than a Pagan; because it seems as if made to honour the Christian Worship, and blast all the Pagan Idolatry; and for that Reason I reject it, the Christian Profession needing no such fabulous Stuff to confirm it. Nor is it true in fact, that the Oracles did cease immediately upon the Death of Christ; but, as I noted before, the Sum of the Matter is this; the Christian Religion spreading it self universally, as well as miraculously, and that too _by the Foolishness of Preaching_, into all Parts of the World, the Oracles ceas'd; that is to say, their Trade ceas'd, their Rogueries were daily detected, the deluded People being better taught, came no more after them, and being asham'd, as well as discourag'd, they sneak'd out of the World as well as they could; in short the Customers fell off, and the Priests, who were the Shopkeepers, having no Business to do, shut up their Shops, broke, and went away; the Trade and the Tradesmen were hiss'd off the Stage together; so that the _Devil_, who, it must be confess'd, got infinitely by the Cheat, became bankrupt, and was oblig'd to set other Engines at work, as other Cheats and Deceivers do, who when one Trick grows stale, and will serve no longer, are forc'd to try another. Nor was the _Devil_ to seek in new Measures; for tho' he could not give out his delusive Trash as he did before, in Pomp and State, with the Solemnity of a Temple and a Set of Enthusiasts call'd Priests, who plaid a thousand Tricks to amuse the World, he then had Recourse to his old _Egyptian_ Method, which indeed was more antient than that of Oracles; and that was by Magic, Sorcery, Familiars, Witchcraft, and the like. Of this we find the people of the _South_, that is, of _Arabia_ and _Chaldea_ were the first, from whence we are told of the Wise Men, that is to say, Magicians, were call'd _Chaldeans_ and _Southsayers_. Hence also we find _Ahaziah_ the King of _Israel_ sent to _Baalzebub_ the God of _Ekron_, to enquire whether he should live or die? This some think was a kind of an Oracle, tho' others think it was only some over-grown Magician, who counterfeited himself to be a _Devil_, and obtain'd upon that Idol-hunting Age to make a Cunning Man of him; and for that Purpose he got himself made a Priest of _Baalzebub_, the God of _Ekron_, and gave out Answers in his Name. Thus those merry Fellows in _Egypt_, _Jannes_ and _Jambres_, are said to mimick _Moses_ and _Aaron_, when they work'd the miraculous Plagues upon the _Egyptians_; and we have some Instances in Scripture that support this, such as the Witch of _Endor_, the King _Manasses_, who dealt with the _Devil_ openly, and had a Familiar; the Woman mentioned _Acts_ xvi. who had a Spirit of _Divination_, and who got Money by playing the Oracle; that is, answering doubtful Questions, _&c._ which Spirit, or _Devil_, the Apostles cast out.