Demonology and devil-lore . estored to his heavenly sphere, he would be onegreat brand plucked from the burning, but the burn-ing might still go on. Theology itself had filled theworld with other devils by diabolising all the gods andgoddesses of rival religions, and the compassionate heartwas thus left free to select such forms or fair names aspreserved some remnant of ancient majesty around them,or some ray from their once divine halo, and pray or hopefor their pardon and salvation. Fallen foes, no longerable to harm, can hardly fail to awaken pity and clemency. 394 DEVILS GOOD ADVICE. With
Demonology and devil-lore . estored to his heavenly sphere, he would be onegreat brand plucked from the burning, but the burn-ing might still go on. Theology itself had filled theworld with other devils by diabolising all the gods andgoddesses of rival religions, and the compassionate heartwas thus left free to select such forms or fair names aspreserved some remnant of ancient majesty around them,or some ray from their once divine halo, and pray or hopefor their pardon and salvation. Fallen foes, no longerable to harm, can hardly fail to awaken pity and clemency. 394 DEVILS GOOD ADVICE. With the picture of Dives and Lazarus presented else-where (vol. i. p. 281) may be instructively compared theaccompanying scene of a rich mans death-bed (Fig-. 24),taken from Ars Moriendi/ one of the early picture is very remarkable from the suggestion itcontains of an opposition between a devil on the dyingmans right and the hideous dragon on his left. Whilethe dragon holds up a scroll, bidding him think of his. * Fig. 24.—A Mediaeval Death-bed. treasure {Yntende thesaurd), the Devil suggests provisionfor his friends {Provideas amicis). This devil seems to bea representative of the rich mans relatives who stand near,and appears to be supported by his ugly superior, whopoints towards hell as the penalty of not making such pro-vision as is suggested. There would appear to be in thispicture a vague distinction between the mere bestial fiendwho tempts, and the ugly but good-natured devil whopunishes, and whom rich sinners cannot escape by bequeststo churches. One of the most notable signs of the appearance of the DEVIL STICKS TO HIS WORD. 395 good Devil was the universal belief that he invariablystuck to his word. In all European folklore there is noinstance of his having broken a promise. In this respecthis reputation stands far higher than that of the christians,seeing that it was a boast of the saints that, following theexample of their godhead, who outwitted Sata
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubje, booksubjectdemonology
