Twenty-four Discourses / On Some of the Important and Interesting Truths, Duties, and Institutions, of the Gospel, and the General Excellency of the Christian Religion; Calculated for the People of God of Every Communion, Particularly for the Benefit of Pious Families, and the Instruction of All in the Things Which Concern Their Salvation

by Nathan Perkins

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The pernicious tendency of error, especially in religion, is described by a writer of some eminence in the literary world—in the following allegorical representation, which I shall take the liberty to insert here for the reader’s benefit, in a note. The allegory is that the demon of error undertook to conduct a traveller over the Ocean of doubts into the land of confidence, and was by a magic power called forth from the earth by the genius of probability.—Not waiting for a reply, he, the genius of probability, stamped three times on the ground, and called forth the demon of Error, a gloomy fiend of the servants of Arimanes. The yawning earth gave up the reluctant savage, who seemed unable to bear the light of day. His stature was enormous, his colour black and hideous, his aspect betrayed a thousand varying passions, and he spread forth pinions that were fitted for the most rapid flight. The traveller, at first, was shocked at the spectre; but, finding him obedient to superior power, he assumed his former tranquility.

“I have called you to duty,” (cries the genius to the demon,) “to bear on your back a son of mortality, over the Ocean of doubts into the land of confidence. I expect you will perform your commission with punctuality. And as for you,” (continued the genius, addressing the traveller,) “when once I have bound this fillet round your eyes, let no voice of persuasion, nor threats, the most terrifying, persuade you to unbind it, in order to look round: keep the fillet fast; look not at the Ocean below, and you may certainly expect to arrive at a region of pleasure.”

Thus saying, and the traveller’s eyes being covered, the demon muttering curses, raised him on his back, and instantly upborne by his strong pinions, directed his flight among the clouds. Neither the loudest thunder, nor the most angry tempest, could persuade the traveller to unbind his eyes. The demon directed his flight downwards, and skimmed the surface of the Ocean: a thousand voices, some with loud invective, others in the sarcastic tones of contempt, vainly endeavoured to persuade him to look round; but he still continued to keep his eyes covered, and would, in all probability, have arrived at the happy land, had not flattery effected what other means could not perform. For now he heard himself welcomed on every side to the promised land, and an universal shout of joy was sent forth at his safe arrival; the wearied traveller desirous of seeing the long wished for country at length pulled the fillet from his eyes, and ventured to look round him. But he had unloosed the band too soon; he was not yet above the half way over. The demon was still hovering in the air, and had produced those sounds only in order to deceive, was now freed from his commission; wherefore, throwing the astonished traveller from his back, the unhappy youth fell headlong into the subjacent Ocean of doubt, from whence he was never after seen to rise.——