BLIND GUIDES by R. F. Cottrell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1887

“BLIND GUIDES.”

By R. F. Cottrell

How forcible the words of Jesus! How just the comparison! How reasonable the apprehension that both will fall into the ditch together! Who would knowingly trust himself to the guidance of a blind guide? Yet in matters pertaining to religion, in that which relates to our highest interest, men choose to be led by the blind. In matters pertaining to earthly interests, to mammon, they do not thus; but they are keen-sighted and shrewd, and will trust no one to manage for them but those who have eyes and are accustomed to using them. But in religion they are willing to intrust the helm to those who are as morally blind as themselves, and fancy themselves safe without any watchfulness on their own part.

God sends his ministers to preach reform, to reprove sin, to correct the erring and turn them into the path of truth. But it is the business of blind guides to counteract and oppose the work of the servant of God, to tell the people that they are right and need no reform; and the people love to listen to them, and trust that they tell them the truth.

The poor minister of error is in a sad case. He must defend error, and teach the people that they are safe in breaking the commandments of God, or he will lose his flock. Should he, on the other hand, embrace the truth and keep the commandments, he will lose his salary. Poor man! He must be moved by higher motives, or he is doomed to see himself, and those he leads, in the ditch together. Until he can take a higher stand, until he can devote himself to God and truth, fearless of the consequences, the people will compel him to defend their errors, crying, Peace and safety! while they choose the road to death; and then, oh, how confidently they will trust themselves to his guidance! Our minister, say they, is a learned man, and we may safely confide in his judgment! They compel the man to sustain them in error and sin, and then how safe they feel with such a competent guide! He is what they have made him. They have educated him, and called him to preach the doctrines they believe, and to sustain them in their practices, however erroneous; and then they think he must be right, and that they can trust in him, as to a divine oracle, believing that whatever he says will be made good, and that following him, they will be delivered from all evil; just like a person that carves out a god with his own hands, and then trusts that his god is able to deliver him.

Ah! what can be done for poor, fallen, and deluded humanity? R. F. COTTRELL.