Робінзон Крузо
A Boat
andwhichItakenoticeofhere,toputthosediscontentedpeopleinmindofit,whocannotenjoycomfortablywhatGodhasgiventhem,becausetheyseeandcovetsomethingthatHehasnotgiventhem. Allourdiscontentsaboutwhatwewantappearedtometospringfromthewantofthankfulnessforwhatwehave.
Anotherreflectionwasofgreatusetome,anddoubtlesswouldbesotoanythatshouldfallintosuchdistressasminewas; andthiswas,tocomparemypresentconditionwithwhatIatfirstexpecteditshouldbe; nay,withwhatitwouldcertainlyhavebeen,ifthegoodprovidenceofGodhadnotwonderfullyorderedtheshiptobecastupnearertotheshore; whereInotonlycouldcomeather,butcouldbringwhatIgotoutofhertotheshore,formyreliefandcomfort; withoutwhichIhadwantedfortoolstowork,weaponsfordefence,orgunpowderandshotforgettingmyfood.
Ispentwholehours,Imaysaywholedays,inrepresentingtomyself,inthemostlivelycolors,howImusthaveactedifIhadgotnothingoutoftheship. HowIcouldnothavesomuchasgotanyfood,exceptfishandturtles; andthatasitwaslongbeforeIfoundanyofthem,Imusthaveperishedfirst; thatIshouldhavelived,ifIhadnotperished,likeameresavage; thatifIhadkilledagoatorafowl,byanycontrivance,Ihadnowaytoflayoropenthem,orpartthefleshfromtheskinandthebowels,ortocutitup; butmustgnawitwithmyteeth,andpullitwithmyclaws,likeabeast.
ThesereflectionsmademeverysensibleofthegoodnessofProvidencetome,andverythankfulformypresentcondition,withallitshardshipsandmisfortunes; andthispartalsoIcannotbutrecommendtothereflectionofthosewhoareapt,intheirmisery,tosay,Isanyafflictionlikemine? Letthemconsiderhowmuchworsethecasesofsomepeopleare,andtheircasemighthavebeen,ifProvidencehadthoughtfit.
