hall be unto them as
false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he
will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken," Ezek.
21:21-23. They observed times, _i.e._ they regarded some as lucky, and
others as unlucky times for the commencement of any work,--recognizing
distinctions which God had not made. The heathen divinities were regarded
as more propitious at some times than others. It is enumerated among the
sins of Manasseh, that he "made his sons pass through the fire, and
observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and
wizards," 2 Kings 21:6.

They practised various arts, whereby they thought to protect themselves
from evil, and to pry into the secrets of futurity. Because of these
things, ancient Babylon was suddenly overwhelmed,--"for the multitude of
thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments." These
could not save, as they supposed. Therefore God said to them: "Stand now
with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein
thou hast labored from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit,
if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy
counsels. Let now the astrologers, the star-gazers, the monthly
prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come
upon thee," Isa. 47:12, 13. All these practices were forbidden by God, who
said: "Neither shall ye use enchantments, nor observe times," Lev. 19:26.

Those who consulted with familiar spirits were termed wizards and
witches,--the practice of which was also expressly forbidden. To make
witchcraft a mere pretence, is to impute to Jehovah the making of laws
against pretences and nonentities. To suppose that he would legislate
against, and inflict capital punishment, because of mere pretences, is
incredible! God said to Moses, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,"
Ex. 22:18. And to the Jews he said, "Regard not them that have familiar
spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord
your God," Lev. 19:31. "And the soul that turneth after such as have
familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will
even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his
people." "A man, also, or a woman, that hath a familiar spirit, or that is
a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones:
their blood shall be upon them," Lev. 20:6,27. W