472 GOOD WORK TO BE DONE.

I was now struck dumb indeed, and had not one word to say,
I had here a spirit of true Christian zeal for God and religion be-
fore me, let his particular principles be of what kind soever. As
for me, I had not so much as entertained a thought of this in my
heart before, and I believe should not have thought of it; for I
looked upon those savages as slaves, and people whom, had we had
any work for them to do, we would have used as such, or would
have been glad to have transported them to any other part of the
world; for our business was to get rid of them, and we would all
have been satisfied if they had been sent to any country, so they
had never seen their own. But to the ease. I say I was con-
founded at his discourse, and knew not what answer to make him,
He looked carnestly at me, seeing me in some disorder. “ Sir,”
says he, “ T shall be very sorry if what I have said gives you any
offence.” “ No, no,” says I, “T am offended with nobody but
myself; but I am perfectly confounded, not only to think that I
should never take any notice of this before, but with reflecting
what notice T am able to take of it now. You know, sir,” said T.
“what cireumstances Iam in. I am bound to the East Indies, ina
ship freighted by merchants, and to whom it would be an unsuffer-
able piece of injustice to detain their ship here, the men lying
all this while at victuals and wages upon the owners’ account,
It is true I agreed to be allowed twelve days here, and if I stay
more Timust pay £8 sterling per diem demurrage, nor can I stay
upon demurrage above cight days more, and I have been here
thirteen days already ; so that Iam perfectly unable to engage in
this work, unless IT would suffer myself to be left behind here again ;
in which case, if this single ship should miscarry in any part. of
her voyage, I should be just in the same condition that I was left
in here at first, and from which I have been so wonderfully de-
livered.”

He owned the case was very hard upon me as to my voyage, but
laid it home upon my conscience whether the blessing of saving
seven and thirty souls was not worth my venturing all I had in the
world for? I was not so sensible of that as he was. I returned
upon him thus: “ Why, sir, it is a valuable thing, indeed, to be an
instrument in God’s hand to convert seven and thirty heathens to