Робінзон Крузо
A Boat
andwhenIlookedaboutmeandconsideredwhatparticularprovidenceshadattendedmesincecomingintotheplace,andhowGodhaddealtbountifullywithme,hadnotonlypunishedmelessthanmyiniquityhaddeserved,buthadsoplentifullyprovidedforme; thisgavemegreathopesthatmyrepentancewasaccepted,andthatGodhadyetmercyinstoreforme.
Withthesereflections,Iworkedmymindup,notonlytoresignationtothewillofGodinthepresentdispositionofmycircumstances,buteventoasincerethankfulnessformycondition; andthatI,whowasyetalivingman,oughtnottocomplain,seeingIhadnottheduepunishmentofmysins; thatIenjoyedsomanymercies,whichIhadnoreasontohaveexpectedinthatplace; thatIoughtnevermoretorepineatmycondition,buttorejoice,andtogivedailythanksforthatdailybread,whichnothingbutacrowdofwonderscouldhavebrought; thatIoughttoconsiderIhadbeenfedevenbymiracle,evenasgreatasthatoffeedingElijahbyravens; nay,byalongseriesofmiracles;andthatIcouldhardlyhavenamedaplaceintheunhabitablepartoftheworldwhereIcouldhavebeencastmoretomyadvantage; aplacewhere,asIhadnosociety,whichwasmyafflictionononehad,soIfoundnoravenousbeasts,nofuriouswolvesortigers,tothreatenmylife; novenomouscreatures,orpoisonous,whichImightfeedontomyhurt;nosavagestomurderanddevourme.
Inaword,asmylifewasalifeofsorrowoneway,soitwasalifeofmercyanother;andIwantednothingtomakeitalifeofcomfort; buttobeabletomakemysenseofGod’sgoodnesstome,andcareovermeinthiscondition,bemydailyconsolation; andafterIdidmakeajustimprovementofthesethings,Iwentaway,andwasnomoresad.
