The darker superstitions of Scotland, illustrated from history and practice / By John Graham Dalyell, F.A.S.E.

  • John Graham Dalyell
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The darker superstitions of Scotland, illustrated from history and practice / By John Graham Dalyell, F.A.S.E. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/720 page 2
    pletive of remarkable incidents; nor was there any ap- peal made to reason, though matured by experience. Inconsistency unhinged the mind, which, in its dis- turbance, invested contemptible products with mira- culous virtues; and yielded to the most extravagant ceremonies, in the vain confidence of deriving infalli- ble efficacy from their practice. Dreams and visions originating in a morbid constitution, were accepted as divine inspirations; oracles emanated from ebriety; angelic concerts floated on the moaning of the winds ; atmospheric coruscations announced spiritual presence ; destiny was read in the stars. An indiscreet precipitation in forming false conclu- sions, shook the foundations of truth. Impostors, wil- fully arrogating prophetic powers, or a pretended hea- venly mission, contributed to the common error; or they were themselves the victims of self-delusion. Incorporating fanaticism in its train, the blindness of superstition intermixed its baneful influence with the total series of worldly arrangements ; it subverted the resolution of the rational, by inculcating belief in things incompatible with the appointed order and the admir- able harmonies of the universe. Yet because weak, ignorant, and prejudiced mortals, knew not the disquieter by its proper name, they bore its banners willingly, and were as eager to fight in its de- fence as if having sworn unalienable fealty under them. A frightful chaos followed.—It was not then, as now, that science, courting scrutiny, widened the
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3