The importance attached by the Greeks and Romans to oracular responses is a striking feature in the history of those people. Hardly any enterprise, whether publio or private, of any moment, was under taken without recourse being had to them and their sanction being obtained. In later times, indeed, their influence was greatly dimi nished, and thus gradually fell into disrepute. Cicero affirms that long before his age even the Delphic oracle was regarded by many with contempt ; and there is little doubt that oracles were considered by philosophers as nothing different from what they really were, and by politicians as instruments which could be used for their purposes. The reply of Cato to Labienus, who wished him after the battle of Pharsalia to consult the oracle of Jupiter Ammon, embodies the opinion of that eminent Stoic respecting the propriety of thus ques tioning the gods. " On what account, Labienus, would you have me consult Jupiter ? Should I ask him whether it would be better to lose life than liberty ? Whether life be a real good T We have within us, Labienus, an oracle that can answer all these questions. Nothing happens but by the order of God. Let us not require of him to repeat to us what he has sufficiently engraved ou our hearts. Truth has not withdrawn into these deserts ; it is not engraver on the sands of Libya. . . . . Let the inconstant and those that are subject to waver according to events have recourse to oracles. For my part, I find in nature everything that can inspire the most constant resolution. The coward, as well as the brave, cannot escape death. Jupiter can tell us uo more." (Lucan, ' Pharsalia; lib. ix., v. 5(3(3-584.) The question has been gravely discussed, whether oracular responses ought to be ascribed to mere, human ingenuity and wisdom, or to diabolical agency. Most of the Christian fathers maintained that they ought to be ascribed to the latter. Allusion is made to this opinion in the first book of Paradise Lost,' where the spirits of Pandemonium are described as having taken possession of the various idols of the heathen world. There is nothing, however, in the history of the ancient
oracles to countenance such a notion, or to lead to the belief that a supernatural cunning and skill directed them. Their replies to those who consulted them were for the most part obscurely and equivocally expressed, and so as to admit of different explanations, according us the wishes of the inquirer might suggest or the event determine; arid even iu those instances where trial was designedly made of the reality of their pretensions, it is not difficult to account for the success with which they stood the test, without calling in the assistance of demoniacal instrumentality.
Another circumstance respecting the oracles, which has given birth to much controversy, is, the time when they ceased altogether to give responses. Eusebius was the first who propounded the opinion that they became silent ever after tho birth of Christ, and many writers, willing thus to do honour to tho author of Christianity, have given it their support. Milton makes allusion to this theory also in the most magnificent of all his minor poems, The Hymn of the Netivity ; ' and in lines of solemn and elevated beauty, of which the following are the commencement, pictures the consternation of the heathen idols at the advent of the Saviour :— But the circumstance that may thus be made available for the purposes of poetical ornament, happens unfortunately to be contrary to fact It appears from the edicts of the emperors Theodosius, Gratian, and Valentinian, that oracles existed, and were occasionally at least consulted, till so late as A.D. 358. About that period they entirely ceased, though for several centuries previous they had sunk very low in public esteem. So few resorted to them, that it was no longer a matter of interest to maintain them. Towards this consum mation Christianity powerfully contributed, by the superior enlighten ment which it carried along with it wherever it was introduced, and by the display which it made of the falsehood and folly of the superstitions which it was destined to overthrow.