The Fox and the Panther

Heathen Testimony to. The fox in Aesop, disputing with the panther for the superiority in beautiful variety, when the latter had shown his body, and his superficies curiously stained and spotted, whereas the fox’s tawny skin was ill-favored and unpleasant to the sight, said thus: “But if you, sir judge, will look within me, you will find me much fuller of variety than this leopard;” manifesting the nimble subtlety of his natural disposition, frequently changing as occasions require.

Devit, Works of the. The devil is the author of evil, the fountain of wickedness, the adversary of the truth, the corrupter of the world, man’s perpetual enemy; he planteth snares, diggeth ditches, spurreth bodies; he goadeth souls, he suggesteth thoughts, belcheth anger, exposeth virtues to hatred, maketh vices beloved, soweth error, nourisheth contention, disturbeth peace, and scattereth affliction. —Quarles. Devits, Guard of. A man dreamt he was traveling, and came to a little church, and on the cupola of that church there was a devil fast asleep.

He went along further, and came to a log cabin, and it was surrounded by devils all wide awake. He asked one of them what it meant; said the devil, “I will tell you. The fact is, the whole church is asleep, and one devil can take care of all the people; but here are a man and a woman who pray, and they have more power than the whole church.”