Accidents > Life and most surprising adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, mariner, who lived eight and twenty years in an uninhabited island on the coast of America, near the mouth of the great river Oroonoque

248 ROBINSON CRUSOE.
Thefe words I interpreted to the prieft ! O ! faid he,
tell him, his repentance will make him a very good
minifter to his fpoufe, and qualify him to preach on
the mercy and long-fuffering of a merciful Being,
who defires not the death of a finner, and even de¬
fers damnation to the laft judgment; this will lead
him to the above do&rine, and will make him an ex¬
cellent preacher to his wife. I repeated this to
Atkins, who, being more than ordinarily affected
with it, replied, I know all this, Sir, and a great
deal more ; but how can I have the impudence to
talk thus to my wife, when my confcience witneffes
againft me ? alas ! faid he (with tears in his
eyes and giving a great figh), as for repenting, that
is for ever paft me. Faff you ! Atkins, faid I, what
do yon mean ? You know well enough, faid he,
what I mean ; / mean it is too late.
When I told the prieft what he faid, the poor af-
feiftionate man could not refrain from weeping ; but
recovering himfelf, Pray, Sir, faid he, q/k him if he
is contented that it is too late; or is he concerned, and
nvifhes it were not fo ? This queftion I put fairly to
Atkins, who replied in a pafiion, How can I be eafy
in a fate which I know mu ft terminate in my ruin? For
I really believe, fome time or other, 1 pall cut my throat,
to put a period to my life and to the terrors of my con¬
fcience.
At this the clergyman {hook his head. Sir, faid
he, pray tell him it is not too late ; Chrijl will give
him repentance, if he has recourfe to the merit of his
paffnn. Does he think he is beyond the power of divine
mercy ? There may indeed be a time when provoked
mercy will no lon'ger frive, but never too late jor men
to repe?it in this world. I told Atkins every word
the prieft had faid, who then parted from us to talk
to his wife, while we difeourfed with the reft. But
thefe were very ftupid in religious matters, yet all of
them promifed to do their endeavours to make their