Робінзон Крузо
Surveys His Position
ButnowIbegantoexercisemyselfwithnewthoughts. IdailyreadtheWordofGod,andappliedallthecomfortsofittomypresentstate. Onemorning,beingverysad,IopenedtheBibleuponthesewords, "Iwillnever,neverleavethee,norforsakethee." Immediatelyitoccurredthatthesewordsweretome;whyelseshouldtheybedirectedinsuchamanner,justatthemomentwhenIwasmourningovermycondition,asoneforsakeofGodandman? "Well,then,"saidI,"ifGoddoesnotforsakeme,ofwhatillconsequencecanitbe,orwhatmattersit,thoughtheworldshouldallforsakeme, seeingontheotherhand,ifIhadalltheworld,andshouldlosethefavorandblessingofGod,therewouldbenocomparisonintheloss?"
FromthismomentIbegantoconcludeinmymindthatitwaspossibleformetobemorehappyinthisforsakensolitarycondition, thatitwasprobableIshouldeverhavebeeninanyotherparticularstateintheworld,andwiththisthoughtIwasgoingtogivethankstoGodforbringingmetothisplace.
Iknownotwhatitwas,butsomethingshockedmymindatthatthought,andIdurstnotspeakthewords."Howcanstthoubesuchahypocrite,"saidI,evenaudibly,"topretendtobethankfulforaconditionwhich,howeverthoumayestendeavortobecontentedwith,thouwouldestratherprayheartilytobedeliveredfrom? "SoIstoppedthere; butthoughIcouldnotsayIthankedGodforbeingthere,yetIsincerelygavethankstoGodforopeningmyeyes,bywhateverafflictingprovidences,toseetheformerconditionofmylife,andtomournformywickedness,andrepent. IneveropenedtheBible,orshutit,butmyverysoulwithinmeblessedGodfordirectingmyfriendinEngland,withoutanyorderofmine,topackitupamongmygoods,andforassistingmeafterwardstosaveitoutofthewreckoftheship.
