Робінзон Крузо
Finds Print of Man’s Foot on the Sand
Howstrangeachecker-workofProvidenceisthelifeofman! andbywhatsecretdifferingspringsaretheaffectionshurriedaboutasdifferingcircumstancespresent! To-daywelovewhatto-morrowwehate; to-dayweseekwhatto-morrowweshun; to-daywedesirewhattomorrowwefear;nay,eventrembleattheapprehensionsof. Thiswasexemplifiedinmeatthistime,inthemostlivelymannerimaginable; forI,whoseonlyafflictionwasthatIseemedbanishedfromHumansociety,thatIwasalone,circumscribedbytheboundlessocean,cutofffrommankind,andcondemnedtowhatIcalledsilentlife; thatIwasasonewhomHeaventhoughtnotworthytobenumberedamongtheliving,ortoappearamongtherestofHiscreatures; thattohaveseenoneofmyownspecieswouldhaveseemedtomearaisingmefromdeathtolife,andthegreatestblessingthatHeavenitself,nexttothesupremeblessingofsalvation,couldbestow; Isay,thatIshouldnowtrembleattheveryapprehensionsofseeingaman,andwasreadytosinkintothegroundatbuttheshadoworsilentappearanceofaman’shavingsethisfootintheisland!
Suchistheunevenstateofhumanlife; anditaffordedmeagreatmanycuriousspeculationsafterwards,whenIhadalittlerecoveredmyfirstsurprise. IconsideredthatthiswasthestationoflifetheinfinitelywiseandgoodprovidenceofGodhaddeterminedforme; that,asIcouldnotforseewhattheendsofDivinewisdommightbeinallthis,soIwasnottodisputeHissovereignty,who,asIwasHiscreature,hadanundoubtedright,bycreation,togovernanddisposeofmeabsolutelyasHethoughtfit,andwho,asIwasacreaturewhohadoffendedHim,hadlikewiseajudicialrighttocondemnmetowhatpunishmentHethoughtfit; andthatitwasmyparttosubmittobearHisindignation,becauseIhadsinnedagainstHim.
