ROBINSON CRUSOE. 87

more of the turtles’ eggs, which were very good. This even-
ing I renewed the medicine, which I had supposed did me
good the day before,—the tobacco steeped in rum ; only I did
not take so much as before, nor did I chew any of the leaf, or
hold my head over the smoke ; however, I was not so well the

next day, which was the rst of July, as I hoped I should have

been ; for I had a little spice of the cold fit, but it was not
much.

Fuly 2.—I renewed the medicine all the three ways; and
dosed myself with it as at first, and doubled the quantity which
I drank.

Fuly 3.—I missed the fit for good and all, though I did not
recover my full strength for some weeks after. While I was
thus gathering strength my thoughts ran exceedingly upon this
scripture, “I will deliver thee ;” and the impossibility of my
deliverance lay much upon my mind, in bar of my ever expect-
ing it; but as I was discouraging myself with such thoughts, it
occurred to my mind that I pored so much upon my deliver-
ance from the main affliction, that I disregarded the deliver-
ance I had received, and I was, as it were, made to ask myself
such questions as these ; viz.: Have I not been delivered,
and wonderfully too, from sickness? from the most distressed
condition that could be, and that was so frightful to me? and
what notice had I taken of it? Had I done my part? God
had delivered me, but I had not glorified Him; that is to say, I
had not owned and been thankful for that as a deliverance:
and how could I expect greater deliverance? This touched
my heart very much ; and immediately I knelt down and gave
God thanks aloud for the recovery from my sickness.

Fuly 4.—In the morning, I took the Bible ; and beginning
at the New Testament, I began seriously to read it, and im-
posed upon myself to read awhile every morning and every
night ; not tying myself to the number of chapters, but as
long as my thoughts should engage me. It was not long after
I set seriously to this work, till I found my heart more deeply and
sincerely affected with the wickedness of my past life. The im-
pression of my dream revived ; and the words, “ All these things
have not brought thee to repentance,” ran seriously in my
thoughts. I was earnestly begging of God to give me repentance,
when it happened providentially, the very day, that, reading the
Scripture, I came to these words: “ He is exalted a Prince anda
Saviour, to give repentance and give to reraission.” I threw down
the book ; and with my heart as well as my hands lifted up to

 

heaven, in a kind of ecstasy of joy, I cried out aloud. “Jesus,