Idolatry and Ancient Scripture
Some of the Modes of Divination, Both Lawful and Unlawful, Practiced Amongst the Jews - First, Nebuah - Second, Rauch Hacodesch - Urim and Thummim.
This section is typed in exactly as in the book, including the really awful supposedly old spelling, the inconsistencies, and the improper punctuation and grammar. Proofreading this would be a waste of time. - ed.
"As Idolatrie originally sprang from mistaking of Scripture, so witchcraft and sorcery seemeth to have had its first beginning from an imitation of God's oracles. God spake in divers manners (Heb. i., 1); but the chief means of revealing himselfe observed by the Hebrew writers are foure, which they term foure degrees of prophecie or divine revelation.
The first degree was nebuah, which was, when God did by certaine visions and apparitions reveale his will.
The second was Ruach Hacodesch, or inspiration of the Holy Ghost, whereby the partie was enabled, without visions or apparitions, to prophecie. Some, shewing the difference between these two, adde, that the gift of prophecie did cast a man into a trance or extasie, all his senses being taken from him; but the inspiration of the Holy Ghost was without any such extasie or abolition of the senses, as appeareth in David and Daniel. Both these degrees, as likewise Urim and Thummim, ceased in the second Temple, whence their ancient Doctors say, that after the latter Prophets Haggai and Malachy were dead, the Holy Ghost went up, or departed from Israel. Howbeit they had the use of a voice or eccho from Heaven. In which speech we are not to understand that the Holy Ghost wrought not at all the sanctification of men, but that this extraordinary voice, enabling men to prophecie by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost then ceased; and in this sense the Holy Ghost was said to have departed from Israel.
The third degree was Urim and Thummim. Urim signifieth light, and Thummin perfection. That they were two ornaments in the High Priest's brest-plate, is generally agreed upon; but what manner of ornaments, or how they gave answer, is hard to resolve. Some thinke them to be the foure rowes of stones in the brest-plate, the splendor and brightnesse of which foreshewed victory, and by the rule of contraries, we may gather, that the darknesse of the stones not shining presaged evil. Others say it was the name Johovah, put in the doubling of the brest-plate, for that was double. Others declare the manner of consulting with Urim and Thummim consisted of all the Tribes' names, and likewise of the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaak and Jacob, so that no letter of the Alphabet was wanting. The question being proposed, some say that the letters which gave the answer did arise and eminently appear above the others. An example they take from the 2nd Sam, 2: 1. When David asked the Lord, "Shall I goe up into any of the Cities of Judah?" the Lord answered, "Goe up." herre did they, that the letters which represented the Oracle, did, after a strange manner, joyne themselves into perfect syllables and intire words, and made the answer compleat. The fourth degree was Bath Kol, "the daughter of a voice" or an echo; by it is meant a voice from heaven, declaring the will of God; it tooke place in the second Temple, when the three former degrees of prophecie ceased.