OF ROBINSON CRUSOE. 383

 

do not acknowledge your religion, or you mine, yet we should be all
glad to see the devil’s servants, and the subjects of his kingdom, taught
to know the general principles of the Christian religion; that they
might at least hear of God, and of a Redeemer, and of the resurrec-
tion, and of a future state, things which we all believe; they had at
least been so much nearer coming into the bosom of the true church,
than they are now in the public profession of idolatry and devil-wor-
ship.”

I could hold no longer: I took him in my arms, and embraced him
with an excess of passion. ‘‘ How far,”’ said I to him, “have I been
from understanding the most essential part of a Christian, namely, to
love the interest of the Christian church, and the good of other men’s
souls! I scarce have known what belongs to being a Christian.”—
“Oh, sir, do not say so,” replied he; “this thing is not your fault.” —
“No!” said I; “but why did I never lay it to heart as well as you?”
—‘It is not too late yet,” said he; ‘“‘be not too forward to condemn
yourself.”"—‘‘ But what can be done now?” said I; “‘you see I am
going away.” —“‘ Will you give me leave,”’ said he, “to talk with these
poor men about it ?””—* Yes, with all my heart,” said I, “and I will
oblige them to give heed to what you say too.”—‘“‘As to that,” said
he, ‘“‘we must leave them to the mercy of Christ; but it is our business
to assist them, encourage them, and instruct them: and if you will.
give me leave, and God his blessing, I do not doubt but the poor igno-
rant souls shall be brought home into the great circle of Christianity,
if not into the particular faith that we all embrace; and that even
while you stay here.” —Upon this I said, “I shall not only give you
leave, but give you a thousand thanks for it.” What followed on this
account, I shall mention also again in its place.

I now pressed him for the third article in which we were to blame.—
“Why, really,” says he, “‘it is of the same nature, and I will proceed
(asking your leave) with the same plainness as before: it is about your.
poor savages yonder, who are, as I may say, your conquered subjects.
It is a maxim, sir, that is, or ought to be, received among all Chris-
tians, of what church or pretended church soever, namely, that Chris-'
tian knowledge ought to be propagated by all possible means, and on
all possible occasions. It is on this principle that our church sends
missionaries into Persia, India, and China; and that our clergy, ej
of the superior sort, willingly engage in the most hazardous voy
and the most dangerous residence among murderers and barbarians,
teach them the knowledge of the true God, and to bring them over re:
embrace the Christian faith. Now, sir, you have an opportunity: he
to have six or seven-and-thirty poor savages brought over from ‘dale.

 
 
  
  

sah ae
- “pict eae