Робінзон Крузо
Finds Print of Man’s Foot on the Sand
IthenreflectedthatGod,whowasnotonlyrighteous,butomnipotent,asHehadthoughtfitthustopunishandafflictme,soHewasabletodeliverme; thatifHedidnotthinkfittodoit,ItwasmyunquestioneddutytoresignmyselfabsolutelyandentirelytoHiswill; and,ontheotherhand,itwasmydutyalsotohopeinHim,praytoHim,andquietlytoattendthedictatesanddirectionsofHisdailyprovidence.
Thesethoughtstookmeupmanyhours,days,nay,Imaysay,weeksandmonths; andoneparticulareffectofmycogitationsofthisoccasionIcannotomit,viz., onemorningearly,lyinginmybed,andfilledwiththoughtaboutmydangerfromtheappearanceofsavages,Ifounditdiscomposedmeverymuch;uponwhichthosewordsoftheScripturecameintomythoughts, "CalluponMeinthedayoftrouble,andIwilldeliver,andthoushaltglorifyMe."
Uponthis,risingcheerfullyoutofmybed,myheartwasnotonlycomforted,butIwasguidedandencouragedtoprayearnestlytoGodfordeliverance. WhenIhaddonepraying,ItookupmyBible,andopeningittoread,thefirstwordsthatpresentedtomewere, "WaitontheLord,andbeofgoodcheer,andHeshallstrengthenthyheart;wait,Isay,ontheLord." Itisimpossibletoexpressthecomfortthisgaveme. Inanswer,Ithankfullylaiddownthebook,andwasnomoresad,atleast,notonthatoccasion.
Inthemiddleofthesecogitations,apprehensions,andreflections,itcameintomythoughtoneday,thatallthismightbeamerechimeraofmyown;andthatthisfootmightbetheprintofmyownfoot,whenIcameonshorefrommyboat. Thischeeredmeupalittletoo,andIbegantopersuademyselfitwasalladelusion,thatitwasnothingelsebutmyownfoot;andwhymightnotIcomethatwayfromtheboat,aswellasIwasgoingthatwaytotheboat?
