Робінзон Крузо
Ill and Conscience–Stricken
Thenitfollowedmostnaturally,ItisGodthathasmadeitall. Well,butthenitcameonstrangely, ifGodhasmadeallthesethings,Heguidesandgovernsthemall,andallthingsthatconcernthem;forthePowerthatcouldmakeallthings,mustcertainlyhavepowertoguideanddirectthem.
Ifso,nothingcanhappeninthegreatcircuitofHisworks,eitherwithoutHisknowledgeorappointment. AndifnothinghappenswithoutHisknowledge,HeknowsthatIamhere,andaminthisdreadfulcondition. AndifnothinghappenswithoutHisappointment,Hehasappointedallthistobefallme.
Nothingoccurredtomythoughtstocontradictanyoftheseconclusions; andthereforeitresteduponmewiththegreaterforce,thatitmustneedsbethatGodhasappointedallthistobefallme;thatIwasbroughttothismiserablecircumstancebyHisdirection,Hehavingthesolepower,notofmeonly,butofeverythingthathappenedintheworld. Immediatelyitfollowed,WhyhasGoddonethistome? WhathaveIdonetobethusused?
Myconsciencepresentlycheckedmeinthatinquiry,asifIhadblasphemed,andmethoughtitspoketomelikeavoice: Wretch!dostthouaskwhatthouhastdone? Lookbackuponadreadfulmisspentlife,andaskthyselfwhatthouhastdone? Ask,whyisitthatthouwertnotlongagodestroyed?WhywertthounotdrownedinYarmouthRoads; killedinthefightwhentheshipwastakenbytheSalleeman-of-war; devouredbythewildbeastsonthecoastofAfrica; ordrownedhere,whenallthecrewperishedbutthyselfDostthouask,WhathaveIdone?
Iwasstruckdumbwiththesereflections,asoneastonished,andhadnotawordtosay,no,nottoanswertomyself, butroseuppensiveandsad,walkedbacktomyretreat,andwentupovermywall,asifIhadbeengoingtobed.
