Of the nature and use of lots a treatise historical and theologicalOf the nature and vse of lots a treatise historicall and theologicall

We are now to consider of the latter sort of them, which we term Extraordinary, and are by most Divines commonly called ^aDivinatory Lots.

We are now to consider of the latter sort of them, which we tearme Extraordinary, and are by most Diuines commonly called ^aDiuinatory Lots.

1. aSors divinatoria Thom. & alij, generalius quàm nō nulli, qui divinam à divinatoria distinguunt, ut Peucer. & Krakevits.Sors diuinatoria Thom. & alij, generalius quàm nō nulli, qui diuinam à diuinatoria distinguunt, vt Peucer. & Krakeuits.

Extraordinary Lots therefore are such as require an extraordinary power and providence, for the disposing and directing of them or the event of them, in regard of those things whereunto they are applied. Because it is not in the power of those that use them, or in the nature of the Lot it self simply considered, to effect that thereby necessarily, whereunto it is employed. And herein consisteth the main difference between these Lots and the former, (which being not considered hath bred much confusion, and occasioned such diversity of opinion among Authors in this argument) that in the former Lots there is nothing necessarily required, but what is in the natural power of the creatures ⟨p. 269⟩using them and used in them to effect; it being in the natural power of the one to fall this or that way, and of the other upon mutual consent thereby to determine of such matters as are in their power: whereas in these latter Lots, which we come now to consider of, it is not at all in the natural power either of the persons using them or of the creatures used in them, to effect necessarily that whereunto they are used; but some other secret work, either divine or diabolical, is of necessity thereunto required. And these are those that are most commonly termed Divinatory Lots; under which head may we well comprehend also those that they call