A CHRISTIAN’S ENTHUSIASM. 478

the knowledge of Christ, but as you are an ecclesiastic, and are
given over to the work, so that it seems so naturally to fall into
the way of your profession, how is it that you do not rather offer
yourself to undertake it than press me to it?” i

Upon this he faced about, just before me, as we walked along,
and putting me to a full stop, made me a very low bow. “I most
heartily thank God and you, sir,” says he, “for giving me so
evident a call to so blessed a work; and if you think yourself dis-
charged from it, and desire me to undertake it, I will most readily
do it, and think it a happy reward for all the hazards and dif-
ficulties of such a broken, disappointed voyage as I have met with,
that I may be dropped at last into so glorious a work.”

I discovered a kind of rapture in his face while he spoke this to
me; his eyes sparkled like fire, his face glowed, and his colour
came and went, as if he had been falling into fits. In a word, he
was fired with the joy of being embarked in such a work. I
paused a considerable while before I could tell what to say to him,
for I was really surprised to find a man of such sincerity and zeal,
and carried out in his zeal beyond the ordinary rate of men, not of
his profession only, but even of any profession whatsoever. But,
alter I had considered it awhile, I asked him seriously if he was in
earnest, and that he would venture, on the single consideration of
any attempt on those poor people, to be locked up in an un-
planted island for, perhaps, his life, and at last might not know
whether he should be able to do them any good or not ?

He tumed short upon me, and asked me what I called a venture?
“Pray, sir,” said he, “what do you think I consented to go in your
ship to the Hast Indies for?” ‘ Nay,”’ said I, “ that I know not,
unless it was to preach to the Indians.” ‘‘ Doubtless it was,” said
he; “and do you think, if I can convert these seven and thirty
men to the faith of Christ, it is not worth my time, though I shall
never be fetched off the island again; nay, is it not infinitely of
more worth to save so many souls than my life is, or the life of
twenty more of the same profession? Yes, sir,” says he, “ I would
give Christ and the Blessed Virgin thanks all my days if I could
be made the least happy instrument of saving the souls of these
poor men, though I was never to set my foot off this island, or see