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This, as we say, must have been the case in diabolic possessions, where the Body only was thus supernaturally affected. Yet in those, where the mind alone, or equally with the body, suffered by these disorders, I confess, we might expect some extraordinary marks or symptoms of supernatural Agency, when it was for the purpose of the EVIL SPIRIT to display his Power. Here the immaterial principle within us affords larger room, and more conveniences to be acted upon, by an exterior agent: although the irregular efforts of the mind itself are so wonderful as to be frequently mistaken for a foreign agency.

Yet this notwithstanding, there are, in these mental disorders, powers exhibited, that can never be mistaken, by a careful observer, for its own.

Some of which, are, in fact, recorded to have been exerted; in order, as it were, to confute these learned men, who seem to think we ought to reject all diabolic possessions but such as are ascertained by Symptoms supernatural.

An instance of such we have in* the Damsel possessed. with the Spirit of DIVINATION, who brought her Master much gain by sOOTHSAYING. This Woman, Paul dispossessed, and so spoiled her Master's trade; who thereupon raised a fierce persecution against the Apostle.

The symptoms of Divination and Soothsaying, that is, telling of things absent, and foretelling things future, were certainly supernatural; and, for such, must be acknowledged by the Objectors; who I hope will not yet forget the Personages, they have assumed, of Believers: against whom only this reasoning on the Demoniacs is directed and addressed.

Having now seen what these learned Writers have to oppose to my System of the Gospel-Demoniacs:

I crave leave, in the next place, to bespeak their attention to what I have to urge against theirs. Enough hath been said to shew that this is no trifling or unimportant Question.

The untoward consequences being these, which unavoidably follow the Concession, that Jesus and his Dis

Acts xvi. 16, & seq.

ciples did only accommodate themselves to the fanciful and superstitious opinions of the times, in placing natural distempers in the visionary Class of Supernatural.

1. Unbelievers may conclude (and by too many they will be supposed not to conclude amiss) that much advantage is hereby gained over the Evidences of our Faith. While it is believed, from the testimony of the Evangelists, that Jesus cast out Devils, and healed such as were possessed with them, that plausible subterfuge against his miraculous cures, which pretends that the relief afforded*

* See Sermon On the Fall of Satan, (vol. x. of this Edit.) which completes this Note.

The Reader will pleuse to observe, that to the fol• lowing INDEX, is subjoined un Alphabetical LIST of AUTHORS, &c. quoted in The DIVINE LEGATION; which quotations are not referred to in the Index.

INDEX

TO THЕ

DIVINE LEGATION.

A.

ABIMELE CH, account of him

Abraham, a brief historical view of the call of God to him and

his family

by some authors taken for Zoroaster

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supposed by M. Fourmont to be Cronon

pointed out

-

vol. iv. p. 88

iii. 342

iv. 366

iv. 438

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the true meaning of the blessing pronounced on him,

-

v. 394

vi. 3-24

exposition of the history of the command to sacrifice his
son Isaac
-explanation of "Our Father Abraham wished to see my
day"

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the import of God's revelation to him explained
in what sense said by Christ to have seen his day, vi.
reply to objections against the historical truth of his re-
lation

-

three distinct periods of his history pointed out
an advocate for toleration

summary of his history

Abraxas, (Egyptian Amulet) described

-

vi. 30

vi. 32

vi. 148

vi. 185

iv. 176

Academics and Pyrrhonians, their principles compared, iii. 47

Academies, Greek, their founders and various sects

on what principles erected

Academy Old and Peripatetics, their conformity
Academy, Old and New, their conformity -
Actions, signal instance of divine instruction
them in the case of Abraham
typical and significative distinguished

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Adoption, account of the practice of, in ancient and modern

-

- ii. 174

times
- ii. 91
Adoration, Prideaux's account of the ancient form of, iv. 199
Emilianus, character of
Eneas, exposition of the story of his descent into hell, ii. 78
enquiry into the nature of the poem of the Eneid,
the image of a perfect lawgiver conveyed in him,
personally alludes to Augustus

description of his shield

ibid.

ii. 85
ii. 98
- ii, 160

-

Esculapius, observation on the ancient story and character

of-

-

-

ii. 172

Africans, deductions from their knowledge of a future state
notwithstanding their barbarism

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ii. 209

iv. 229

Alcaus, why confounded with Hercules
Alexander the Great, the probable motive of his commu-
nicating to his mother the secrets of the myste-

ries

-

ii. 26

Hercules in
iv. 228

the stories of the exploits of Bacchus and
the Indies designed to aggrandize him
Allegories, often imputed when never intended
-for what purpose introduced in the ancient

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-

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adopted by Christians in the interpretation of

-

-

ii. 206
Pagan-
iii. 289

Scrip-
iii. 293

ture
controversial reflections on their nature with reference to
Job, and the Ode of Horace, " O Navis referunt," v. 447
religious, distinguished

66

vi. 48

argument deduced from the general passion for, vi. 101
Alliance of Church and State, mutual inducements to enter

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Hebrew, formed by Moses from an improvement on the
Egyptian
America, remarks on the religion of the Natives of, i. 304
the forests of a good nursery for philosophers and free-
thinkers

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remarks on the language of
Amos, a clear description of a particular providence quoted
from the book of

Anatomy, practised and studied by the ancient

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Ancients, enquiry into their opinions concerning the
tality of the soul

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