THese thoughts of Eusebius suggested so many to Lindamor, and me, that to entertain our selves with them, we walk’d silently a good way along the River-side; but at length, not hearing any more the Noise his Feet were wont to make in going, turning my self to see what was become of him, I perceiv’d him to be a pretty way behind me upon the Rivers brink, where he stood in a fixt Posture, as if he were very intent upon what he was doing. And ‘twas well for him, that my curiosity prompted me to see what it was that made him so attentive; for, before I could quite come up to him, me-thought I saw him begin to stagger, and though that sight added wings to my Feet, yet I could scarce come time enough to lay hold on him, and, by pulling him down backwards, rescue him from falling into the River. The shrieck I gave at the sight of my Friends danger, was, it seems, loud enough to reach Eusebius’s Ears, who, turning his Eyes towards the place whence the Noise came, and seeing Lindamor upon the Ground, made hastily towards us, and came up to us by that time I had help’d Lindamor up, and before I had receiv’d from him the obliging Acknowledgments he was pleas’d to make me for a piece of service that I thought had in it more of Recompence than Merit. Eusebius hearing what pass’d betwixt us, joyn’d his thanks to Lindamor’s, and at the same time congratulated my Friend for his escape, and me for having, to use his Expressions, had the honour and satisfaction to be such a Person as Lindamor’s Deliverer. But after our Expressions of Joy for his escape were over, Eusebius and I had both a curiosity to learn particularly the occasion of his Danger, which he told us in these words; As I was thinking, Eusebius, on your last Reflection, I was diverted from prosecuting my Walk in Philaretus’s Company, by happening to cast my Eyes on a part of the River, where the Stream runs far more swiftly than I have all this Day taken notice of it to do any where else, which induc’d me to stop a while, to observe it the more leisurely: And coming nearer, I found the Rapidness of the Current to be such, notwithstanding the depth of the Water, that I stood thinking with my self, how hard it were for one to escape, that should be so unlucky as to fall into it: But whilst I was thus musing, and attentively looking upon the Water, to try whether I could discover the Bottom, it happened to me, as it often does to those that gaze too stedfastly on swift Streams, that my Head began to grow giddy, and my Leggs to stagger towards the River, into which questionless I had fell, if Philaretus had not seasonably and obligingly prevented it. Something like this (says Eusebius) does not unfrequently happen in the unwary consideration of some sorts of sinfull Objects, especially those suggested by Atheism and Lust: For not only we oftentimes consider Atheistical suggestions, and entertain Libidinous fancies, without any intention to quit our Station, or the secure and solid Basis of Religion, and Chastity; but we are often inclinable to think, that we converse with these Objects only to discern their Formidableness the better, and fortifie our Resolutions to shun them. And yet such is the pernicious Nature of Atheism, and of Lust, that they turn our Brains, and oftentimes, if Providence, or Christian prudence, do not seasonably interpose, we may unawares fall into the Mischief, even by too attentively surveying its greatness, and may be swallowed up by the danger, even whilst we were considering how great it is. To parley with such fascinating Enemies, though with a design to refuse them, and strengthen our Aversion to them, is against the Laws of our Christian warfare: And though it be not as criminal, may often prove as fatal, as to hold Intelligence with the Enemy. ‘Tis true, that the deformity of both these Sins is such, that all their Ugliness cannot be taken notice of at first sight: But the discovery is more dangerous than necessary, since a little knowledge of their Hideousness is enough to make every honest Heart abhor them. And since their less obvious Deformities are more dangerous to be pry’d into, than necessary to be known, let us fear to learn of these deluding Sins, more than we need know to hate them, and remember, that even those that are frighted by seeing Faces recently mark’d with the small Pox, may, notwithstanding that fear, catch the Disease with that sight.
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