be fet on Foot in his Absence, to his Satisfacti on; and I told him, that now I thought it was put in a fair Way; for the Savages being thus divided among the Chriftians, if they would but every one of them do their Part with thofe which came under their Hands, I hop'd it might have a very good Effect.

He agreed prefently in that, if faid he, they will do their Part; but how, fays he, fhall we obtain that of them? I told him, we would call them altogether, and leave it in Charge with them, or go to them one by one, which he thought bett, fo we divided it; he to fpeak to the Spaniards, who were all Papifts, and I to the English, who were all Proteftants; and we recommended it earnestly to them, and made them promife, that they would never make any Diftinction of Papift or Proteftant, in their exhorting the Savages to turn Chriftians; but teach them the general Knowledge of the true God, and of their Saviour Jefus Chrift; and they likewife promis'd us, that they would never have any Differences or Difputes one with another, about Religion.

When I came to W. Atkins's Houfe, I may call it fo, for fuch a Houfe, or fuch a Piece of BasketWork, I believe, was not ftanding in the World again; I fay, when I came there, I found the young Woman I have mention'd above, and W. Atkins's Wife, were become Intimates; and this prudent religious young Woman, had perfected the Work Will. Atkins had begun; and tho' it was not above four Days after what I have related, yet the new baptiz'd Savage Woman was made fuch a Chriftian, as I have fel

dom

dom heard of any like her in all my Obfervation, or Converfation, in the World.

It came next into my Mind in the Morning before I went to them, that amongst all the needful Things I had to leave with them, I had not left them a Bible; in which, I fhew'd my felf lefs confidering for them, than my good Friend the Widow was for me, when fhe fent me the Cargo of an hundred Pounds from Lisbon, where the pack'd up 3 Eibles, and a Prayer-book: However, the good Woman's Charity had a greater Extent than ever the imagin'd; for they were referv'd for the Comfort and Inftruction of those, that made much better Ute of them than I had done

I took one of the Bibles in my Pocket, and when I came to Will. Atkins's Tent or Houfe, and found the young Woman, and Atkins's baptiz'd Wife, had been difcourfing of Religion together; for Will. Atkins, told it me, with a great deal of Joy: I asked if they were together now, and he faid, yes; fo I went into the Houle, and he with me, and we found them together very earneft in Difcourfe ; O sir, fays Will. Atkins, when God has Sinners to reconcile to himself, and Aliens to bring Home, He never wants a Meffenger; my Wife has got a new Inftructor; I knew I was unworthy, as I was uncapable of that Work ; that young Woman has been fent hither from Heaven; he is enough to convert a whole Ifland of Savages; the young Woman blufh'd, and rofe up to go away, but I defir'd her to fit ftill; I told her, he had a good Work upon her Hands, and I hop'd God would blefs her in it. © 2

We

We talk'd a little, and I did not perceive they had any Book among them, tho' I did not ask'; but I put my Hand in my Pocket, and pull'd out my Bible; here, Jays I, to Atkins, I have brought you an Affiftant that perhaps you had not before; the Man was fo confounded, that he was not able to fpeak for fome Time; but recovering himself, he takes it with both his Hands, and turning to his Wife, here, my Dear, fays he; did not I tell you, our God tho' he lives above, could hear what we faid? Here's the Book I pray'd for, when you and I kneel'd down under the Bufh; now God has heard us, and fent it; when he had faid fo, the Man fell into fuch tranfports of a paffionate Joy, that between the Joy of having it, and giving God Thanks for it, the Tears run down his Face like a Child that was crying.

The Woman was furprised, and was like to have run into a Mistake, that none of us were aware of; for the firmly believ'd God had fent the Book upon her Husband's Petition; It is true, that providentially it was fo, and might be taken fo in a confequent Senfe; but I believe, it would have been no difficult Matter at that Time, to have perfuaded the poor Woman to have believ'd, that an exprefs Meflenger came from Heaven, on Purpose to bring that individual Book ; but it was too ferious a Marter, to fuffer any Delufion to take Place; fo I turn'd to the young Woman and told her, we did not defire to impofe upon the new Convert, in her first, and more ignorant understanding of Things; and begg'd her to explain to her, that God may be very properly faid to answer our Petitions, when in the Courfe of his Providence, fuch Things are

in a particular Manner brought to pass, as we petition'd for; but we do not expect Returns from Heaven, in a miraculous and particular Manner, and that it is our Mercy, that it is not fo.

This the young Woman did afterwards effe&tually; fo that there was I affure you, no Prieftcraft ufed here; and I fhould have thought it one of the most unjustifiable Frauds in the World, to have had it fo; but the Surprise of Joy upon Will. Atkins, is really not to be expreffed; and there we may be fure, there was no Delusion: Sure, no Man was ever more thankful in the World for any Thing of its Kind, than he was for this Bible; nor I believe, never any Man was glad of a Bible from a better Principle; and tho' he had been a most profligate Creature, defperate, headftrong, outragious, furious, and wicked to a great Degree; yet this Man is a ftanding Rule to us all, for the well inftructing Children, (viz.) that Parents fhould never give over to teach and instruct, or ever detpair ofthe Succefs of their Endeavours, let the Children be ever fo obftinate, refractory, or to Appearance, infenfible of Inftruction; for if ever God in his Providence, touches the Confciences of fuch, the Force of their Education returns upon them, and the early Inftruction of Parents is not loft; tho' it may have been many Years laid afleep; but fome Time or other, they may find the Be

nefit of it.

Thus it was with this poor Man, however ignorant he was, or divefted of Religion and Chriftian Knowledge: He found he had fome to do, with now, more ignorant than himself; and that the lealt Part of the Inftruction of his good

Father that could now come to his Mind, was of Ufe to him.

Among the reft it occurr'd to him, he said, how his Father us'd to infilt much upon the inexpreffible Value of the Bible; the Privilege and Bleffing of it to Nations, Families, and Perfons; but he never entertain'd the leaft Notion of the Worth of it till now; when being to talk to Heathens, Savages, and Barbarians, he wanted the Help of the written Oracle for his Affiftance.

The young Woman was very glad of it also for the prefent Occafion, tho' fhe had one, and fo had the Youth on board our Ship among their Goods, which were not yet brought on Shore; and now having faid fo many Things of this young Woman, I cannot omit telling one Story more of her, and my felf, which has fomething in it very informing and remarkable.

I have related, to what Extremity the poor young Woman was reduced; how her Miftrefs was ftarv'd to Death, and did die on board that unhappy Ship we met at Sea; and how the whole Ship's Company being reduc'd to the laft Extremity; the Gentlewoman, and her Son, and this Maid, were firft hardly uted as to Provifions; and at laft totally neglected and ftarv'd; that is to fay, brought to the laft Extremity of Hunger.

One Day being difcourfing with her upon the Extremities they fuffer'd, I ask'd her, if the could defcribe by what the had' felt, what it was to ftaive, and how it appear'd; the told me, the

believ'd