been previously characterized by contempt for every thing elegant, was found willing at once to admire, to imitate, and to preserve. The full purpose and beauty of the contrivance involved in these opposite processes, unfolded with the course of time. A season of drought was destined to arise, when the streams of knowledge, which gushed in different lands, would have been severally dried up and forgotten; they were therefore commissioned to poúr their separate rills into one vast channel, whose waters, however diminished, were yet sufficient, when a more genial hour arrived, to shed fertility abroad, and to infuse into these latter days the wisdom of the ancient world.

JOSEPH ANSTICE, B. A.

CHRIST CHURCH.

1834.

THE INFLUENCE OF

ANCIENT ORACLES IN PUBLIC

AND PRIVATE LIFE.

Καὶ οὐδέν γ ̓ ἂν ἦν θαυμαστὸν καταφρονεῖν τούτων, εἴ πῃ ζητοῦντες εἴχομεν αὐτῶν βελτίω καὶ ἀληθέστερα εὑρεῖν.

GORGIAS.

ARGUMENT.

PART I.

AN HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE INFLUENCE OF ORACLES.

Preface.-General object of divination.-Varies in different people. -Grecian Oracles.-The Delphic the ruling Oracle, and therefore our main subject.

First, Influence of the Oracle in Public Life.

I. Head of a Confederacy.

II. Guide of Single States.-1. Political interference.-2. Religious interference.

Secondly, Influence in Private Life.

I. Oracle, moral guide; (in this capacity it takes cognizance both of public and private life together.)-Examples of persons consulting it as such.-Duties and doctrines taught by the Oracle, how public opinion stood with respect to them.-Inference from this.

II. Inferior cases of private consultation.

Oracular theory.-Illicit influence exercised on the Oracle, how far it impaired the public faith in the Oracle. Causes which maintained Oracular influence.

PART II.

A CRITICAL EXAMINATION INTO THE REAL STATE OF FEELING

WITH RESPECT TO ORACLES.

Preliminary reasons in favour of intellectual men believing in them, though the evidence was slight.

1. Recorded sentiments of intellectual men.-2. Character of the believing and unbelieving sides.—3. Arguments of each.—Conclusion to be drawn from a comparison of them.

Some of the probable effects of Oracular influence.

THE INFLUENCE OF

ANCIENT ORACLES IN PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE LIFE.

MAN's ignorance and helplessness have generally directed him in one way or other to Religion. If he bows to his lot, the trial, of course, strengthens his belief. If he is impatient under it, still in the course of Providence his very impatience, in an inferior degree, works round to the same end. For in endeavouring to obtain a nearer view of the objects of his religion; in struggling to gratify curiosity, or relieve doubt, or mitigate distress; he gradually builds up a religious system of his own, far inferior indeed to that which was designed for him, but yet affording him in some degree a religious discipline.

From this source arose the Divination of the ancients. It was a scheme to give completeness to our present state of existence; and it varied accordingly as man's perception of his wants was more or less enlarged. The mere savage applied to diviners only when he had bodily pain to be