n, from
which the rest was a Digression.

1. The _Chascedin_ or _Chaldean_ Astronomers turned Astrologers,
Fortune-Tellers, Calculators of Nativities, and vile Deluders of
the People, as if the Wisdom of the holy God was in them, as
_Nebuchadnezzar_ said of _Daniel_ on that very Account.

2. The _Asaphim_ or Magi, or Magicians; _Sixtus Senensis_ says,
they were such as wrought by Covenants with Devils, but turn'd to
it from their Wisdom, which was to study the practical Part of
Natural Philosophy, working admirable Effects by the mutual
Application of Natural Causes.

3. The _Chartumim_ from being Reasoners or Disputers upon difficult
Points in Philosophy, became Enchanters and Conjurers. So,

4. The _Mecasphim_ or Prophets, they turn'd to be Sorcerers,
Raisers of Spirits, such as wounded by an evil Eye, and by bitter
Curses, and were afterwards fam'd for having familiar Converse with
the _Devil_, and were called Witches.

5. The _Gazarim_, from the bare observing of the good and bad
Omens, by the Entrails of Beasts, flying of Birds, _&c._ were
turn'd to Sacrists or Priests of the Heathen Idols and Sacrificers.

Thus, I say, first or last the _Devil_ engross'd all the Wise-Men of the
East, for so they are call'd; made them all his own, and by them he
work'd Wonders, that is, he fill'd the World with lying Wonders, as if
wrought by these Men, when indeed it was all his own, from Beginning to
the End, and set on Foot meerly to propagate Delusion, impose upon
blinded and ignorant Men; the God of this World blinded their Minds, and
they were led away by the Subtilty of the _Devil_, to say no worse of
it, till they became _Devils_ themselves, as to Mankind; for they
carried on the Devil's Work upon all Occasions, and the Race of them
still continue in other Nations, and some of them among our selves, as
we shall see presently.

The _Arabians_ follow'd the _Chaldeans_ in this Study, while it was kept
within its due Bounds, and after them the _Egyptians_; and among the
Latter we find that _Jannes_ and _Jambres_ were famous for their leading
_Pharaoh_ by their pretended magic Performances, to reject the real
Miracles of _Moses_; and History tells us of strange Pranks the
Wise-Men, the Magicians and the Southsayers plaid to delude the People
in the most early Ages of the World.

But, as I say, now, the _Devil_ has improv'd himsel