Робінзон Крузо
Ill and Conscience–Stricken
HadIdonemypart? Godhaddeliveredme,butIhadnotglorifiedHim;thatistosay,Ihadnotownedandbeenthankfulforthatasadeliverance;andhowcouldIexpectgreaterdeliverance?
Thistouchedmyheartverymuch;andimmediatelyIkneeleddown,andgaveGodthanksaloudformyrecoveryfrommysickness.
July4. —InthemorningItooktheBible;andbeginningatthenewTestament,Ibeganseriouslytoreadit,andimposeduponmyselftoreadawhileeverymorningandeverynight,nottyingmyselftothenumberofchapters,butaslongasmythoughtsshouldengageme.
ItwasnotlongafterIsetseriouslytothiswork,butIfoundmyheartmoredeeplyandsincerelyaffectedwiththewickednessofmypastlife. Theimpressionofmydreamrevived,andthewords, "Allthesethingshavenotbroughttheetorepentance,"ranseriouslyinmythought. IwasearnestlybeggingofGodtogivemerepentance,whenithappenedprovidentially,theveryday,that,readingtheIcametothesewords, "HeisexaltedaPrinceandaSaviour,togiverepentance,andtogiveremission." Ithrewdownthebook; andwithmyheartaswellasmyhandslifteduptoheaven,inakindofecstasyofjoy,Icriedoutaloud, "Jesus,ThousonofDavid!Jesus,ThouexaltedPrinceandSaviour,givemerepentance!"
ThiswasthefirsttimethatIcouldsay,inthetruesenseofthewords,thatIprayedinallmylife;fornowIprayedwithasenseofmycondition,andwithatrueScriptureviewofhopefoundedontheencouragementoftheWordofGod; andfromthistime,Imaysay,IbegantohavehopethatGodwouldhearme.
