Робинзон Крузо
Friday’s Education
AnotherthingIcannotrefrainfromobservingherealso,fromtheexperienceinthisretiredpartofmylife,viz.,howinfiniteandinexpressibleablessingitisthattheknowledgeofGod,andthedoctrineofsalvationofChristJesus,issoplainlylaiddownintheWordofGod,soeasytobereceivedandunderstood; thatasthebarereadingtheScripturemademecapableofunderstandingenoughofmydutytocarrymedirectlyontothegreatworkofsincererepentanceformysins,andlayingholdofaSaviourforlifeandsalvation,toastatedreformationinpractice,andobediencetoallGod’scommands,andthiswithoutanyteacherorinstructor(Imeanhuman); sothesameplaininstructionsufficientlyservedtotheenlighteningthissavagecreature,andbringinghimtobesuchaChristian,asIhaveknownfewequaltohiminmylife.
Astoallthedisputes,wranglings,strife,andcontentionwhichhashappenedintheworldaboutreligion,whethernicetiesindoctrinesorschemesofChurchgovernment,theywereallperfectlyuselesstous; as,foraughtIcanyetsee,theyhavebeentoalltherestintheworld. Wehadthesureguidetoheaven,viz.,theWordofGod;andwehad,blessedbyGod!comfortableviewsoftheSpiritofGodteachingandinstructingusbyHisWord,leadingusintoalltruth,andmakingusbothwillingandobedienttotheinstructionofHisWord; andIcannotseetheleastusethatthegreatestknowledgeofthedisputedpointsinreligion,whichhavemadesuchconfusionsintheworld,wouldhavebeentousifwecouldhaveobtainedit. ButImustgoonwiththehistoricalpartofthings,andtakeeverypartinitsorder.
AfterFridayandIbecamemoreintimatelyacquainted,andthathecouldunderstandalmostallIsaidtohim,andspeakfluently,thoughinbrokenEnglish,tome,Iacquaintedhimwithmyownstory,oratleastsomuchofitasrelatedtomycomingintotheplace; howIhadlivedthere,andhowlong.
