400 THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES

 

Atkins. That’s true, indeed; I will not laugh any more, my dear.

Wife. Why you say, you God make all?

Atkins. Yes, child, our God made the whole world, and you, and me,
and all things; for he is the only true God; there is no God but he;
he lives for ever in heaven.

Wife. Why you no tell me long ago?

Atkins. That’s true, indeed; but I have been a wicked wretch, and
have not only forgotten to acquaint thee with any thing before, but
have lived without God in the world myself.

Wife. What! have you de great God in your country, you no know
him? No say O to him? No do good ting for him? That no possible!

Atkins. It is too true though, for all that: we live as if there was
no God in heaven, or that he had no power on earth.

Wife. But why God let you do so? Why he no makee you good
live?

Atkins. It is all our own fault.

Wife. But you say me he is great, much great, have much great
power ; can make kill when he will: why he no makee kill when you no
serve him? no say O to him? no be good mans?

Atkins. That is true; he might strike me dead, and I ought to
- expect it; for I have been a wicked wretch, that is true: but God is
merciful, and does not deal with us as we deserve.

Wife. But then do not you tell God tankee for that too?

Atkins. No, indeed; I have not thanked God for his mercy any
more than I have feared God for his power.

Wife. Then you God no God; me no tink, believe he be such one,
great much power, strong; no makee kill you, though you makee him
much angry ?

Atkins. What! will my wicked life hinder you from believing in
God! What a dreadful creature am I! And what a sad truth is it,
that the horrid lives of Christians hinder the conversion of heathens!

Wife. How me tink you have great much God up there (she points
up to heaven), and yet no do well, no do good ting? Can he tell?
Sure he no tell what you do.

Atkins. Yes, yes, he knows and sees all things; he hears us speak,
sees what we do, knows what we think, though we do not speak.

Wife. What! he no hear you swear, curse, speak the great damn?

Atkins. Yes, yes, he hears it all.

Wife. Where be then the muchee great power strong?

Atkins. He is merciful; that is all we can say for it; and this
proves him to be the true God: he is God, and not man; and there-
fote we are not consumed.