Part 29 (1/2)

I come back now to the first part of his objections When we caether; and after soiven thes I had provided for them, and how they were distributed, which they were sensible of, and very thankful for; I began to talk to theave they how unchristian and irreligious a life it was, I first asked them if they were married men or bachelors? They soon explained their condition to me, and shewed me that two of thele men or bachelors I asked them hat conscience they could take these women, and lie with them as they had done, call them their wives, and have so many children by theave me the answer that I expected, viz that there was nobody to overnor to keep them as their wives; and to keep thes stood with theally married as if they had been married by a parson, and with all the formalities in the world

I told theht of God, and were bound in conscience to keep the otherwise, they ht pretend they were not married, and so desert the poor wo poor, desolate women, friendless and moneyless, would have no way to help themselves: I therefore told them, that unless I was assured of their honest intent, I could do nothing for them; but would take care that what I did should be for the woive some assurances that they would marry the women, I could not think it was convenient they should continue together as man and wife; for that it was both scandalous to men and offensive to God, who they could not think would bless them if they went on thus

All this passed as I expected; and they told me, especially Will Atkins, who seemed now to speak for the rest, that they loved their wives as well as if they had been born in their own native country, and would not leave them upon any account whatever; and they did verily believe their wives were as virtuous and as modest, and did to the utmost of their skill as much for them and for their children as any women could possibly do, and they would not part with them on any account: and Will Atkins for his own particular added, if any land, and to make hio with hiht not carry his wife and children with hiyman in the shi+p, he would be married to her noith all his heart

This was just as I would have it The priest was not with me at that moment, but was not far off So to try hiyman with me, and if he was sincere I would have hi, and bade him consider of it, and talk with the rest He said, as for himself, he need not consider of it at all, for he was very ready to do it, and was glad I had aalso I then told him that my friend the lish, but that I would act the clerk between them He never so much as asked me whether he was a Papist or Protestant, which was indeed what I was afraid of But I say they never inquired about it So we parted; I went back to yman, and Will Atkins went in to talk with his co to theh ripe, and I told hiiven me

Before I went from their quarter they all ca what I had said; that they were very glad to hear I had a clergyive me the satisfaction I desired, and to be formallyto part fro but as very honest when they chose the, and that in theof the e law; and that it was not only to prevent any scandal, but also to oblige theht happen

The wo, and were very well satisfied with it, as indeed they had reason to be; so they failed not to attend all together at yown, after the land, or the habit of a priest, after thelike a cassock, with a sash round it, he did not look very unlike a e I was interpreter

But the seriousness of his behaviour to the the women because they were not baptized, and professed Christians, gave the reverence for his person; and there was no need after that to inquire whether he was a clergyman or no

Indeed I was afraid his scruple would have been carried so far as that he would not haveall I was able to say to hih modestly, yet very steadily; and at last refused absolutely to marry them, unless he had first talked with the h at first I was a little backward to it, yet at last I agreed to it with a good will, perceiving the sincerity of his design

When he came to them, he let them know that I had acquainted hin; that he was very willing to perform that part of his function, and marry them as I had desired; but that before he could do it, he must take the liberty to talk with theht of all different men, and in the sense of the laws of society, they had lived all this while in an open adultery; and that it was true that nothing but the consenting tothem from one another now, could put an end to it; but there was a difficulty in it too, with respect to the laws of Christian matrimony, which he was not fully satisfied about, viz that of e, an idolater, and a heathen, one that is not baptized; and yet that he did not see that there was time left for it to endeavour to persuade the women to be baptized, or to profess the na of, and without which they could not be baptized

He told me he doubted they were but indifferent Christians thee of God or his ways, and therefore he could not expect that they had said much to their wives on that head yet; but that unless they would promise him to use their endeavours with their wives to persuade them to become Christians, and would as well as they could instruct thee and belief of God that made them, and to worshi+p Jesus Christ that redeemed them, he could notChristians with savages; nor was it consistent with the principles of the Christian religion, and was indeed expressly forbidden in God's law

They heard all this very attentively, and I delivered it very faithfully to them from hisso of my own, to convince them how just it was, and hoas of his uished bethat I said froyentleman had said, that they were but very indifferent Christians themselves, and that they had never talked to their wives about religion--”Lord, Sir,” says Will Atkins, ”how should we teach the ourselves; and besides, Sir,” said he, ”should we go to talk to them of God, and Jesus Christ, and heaven and hell, it would be to h at us, and ask us e believe ourselves? and if we should tell thes that we speak of to the to heaven, and wicked people to the devil, they would ask us, where we intended to go ourselves who believe all this, and yet are such wicked fellows, as we indeed are: why, Sir,” said Will, ”'tis enough to give the: folks ion themselves before they pretend to teach other people”--”Will Atkins,” said I to hih I am afraid what you say has too much truth in it, yet can you not tell your wife that she is in the wrong; that there is a God, and a religion better than her own; that her Gods are idols; that they can neither hear nor speak; that there is a great Being that s, and that can destroy all that he has ood, and punishes the bad; that we are to be judged by hinorant but even nature itself will teach you that all this is true; and I am satisfied you know it all to be true, and believe it yourself”

”That's true, Sir,” said Atkins; ”but hat face can I say any thing to my wife of all this, when she will tell me immediately it cannot be true?”

”Not true!” said I; ”what do you mean by that?”--”Why, Sir,” said he, ”she will tell me it cannot be true: that this God (I shall tell her of) can be just, or can punish or reward, since I am not punished and sent to the devil, that have been such a wicked creature as she knows I have been, even to her, and to every body else; and that I should be suffered to live, that have been always acting so contrary to what I ht to have done”

”Why truly, Atkins,” said I, ”I am afraid thou speakest too yman knohat Atkins had said, for he was impatient to know ”O!” said the priest, ”tell hi will make him the best minister in the world to his wife, and that is repentance; for none teach repentance like true penitents He wants nothing but to repent, and then he will be so much the better qualified to instruct his wife; he will then be able to tell her, that there is not only a God, and that he is the just rewarder of good and evil; but that he is a , forbears to punish those that offend; waiting to be gracious, and willing not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should return and live; that he often suffers wickedtieneral day of retribution: that it is a clear evidence of God, and of a future state, that righteous men receive not their reward, or wicked men their punishment, till they come into another world; and this will lend him to teach his wife the doctrine of the resurrection, and of the last judgment: let him but repent for himself, he will be an excellent preacher of repentance to his wife”

I repeated all this to Atkins, who looked very serious all the while, and e could easily perceive, was er, and hardly suffering me to reat deal more; but I han't the impudence to talk thus to my wife, when God and my own conscience knows, and ainst me, that I have lived as if I never heard of God, or a future state, or any thing about it; and to talk of h; and I could see that tears stood in his eyes,) 'tis past all that with me”--”Past it, Atkins!” said I; ”what dost thou h what I mean, Sir,” says he; ”I mean 'tis too late; and that is too true”

I told yman word for hat he said The poor zealous priest (I must call him so; for, be his opinion what it will, he had certainly a ood of other men's souls; and it would be hard to think he had not the like for his own)--I say, this zealous, affectionatehimself, he said to me, ”Ask him but one question: Is he easy that it is too late, or is he troubled, and wishes it were not so?” I put the question fairly to Atkins; and he answered with a great deal of passion, ”How could any man be easy in a condition that certainlyeasy; but that, on the contrary, he believed it would one time or the other ruin him”

”What do you mean by that?” said I--”Why,” he said, ”he believed he should, one time or another, cut his own throat to put an end to the terror of it”

The clergyreat concern in his face, when I told hi quick to me upon it, said, ”If that be his case, you ive him repentance But pray,” says he, ”explain this to him, that as no man is saved but by Christ, and thedivine mercy for him, how can it be too late for any man to receive mercy? Does he think he is able to sin beyond the power or reach of divine mercy?

Pray tell hier strive, and when God may refuse to hear; but that 'tis never too late for men to ask mercy; and we that are Christ's servants are commanded to preach mercy at all times, in the name of Jesus Christ, to all those that sincerely repent: so that 'tis never too late to repent”

I told Atkins all this, and he heard reat earnestness; but it seemed as if he turned off the discourse to the rest; for he said to o and have some talk with his wife: so he went out awhile, and we talked to the rest I perceived they were all stupidly ignorant as toaway from my father; and yet that there were none of them backward to hear what had been said; and all of them seriously promised that they would talk with their wives about it, and do their endeavour to persuade theyave, but said nothing a good while; but at last shaking his head, ”We that are Christ's servants,” says he, ”can go no farther than to exhort and instruct; and when men comply, submit to the reproof, and promise e ask, 'tis all we can do; we are bound to accept their good words; but believe me, Sir,” said he, ”whatever you may have known of the life of that man you call Willia them; I take that man to be a true penitent; I won't despair of the rest; but that man is perfectly struck with the sense of his past life; and I doubt not but when he coion to his wife, he will talk hi to teach others is so ourselves I knew abut a suate to the last degree in his life,to convert a Jew: and if that poor Atkins begins but once to talk seriously of Jesus Christ to his wife, h convert, makes himself a penitent; and who knohat may follow?”

Upon this discourse, however, and their pro as above to endeavour to persuade their wives to embrace Christianity, he married the other three couple; but Will Atkins and his ere not yet co awhile, was curious to knohere Atkins was gone; and turning to me, says he, ”I entreat you, Sir, let us walk out of your labyrinth here and look; I dare say we shall find this poorseriously with his wife, and teaching her already soan to be of the saether, and I carried him a hich none knew but myself, and where the trees were so thick set, as that it was not easy to see through the thicket of leaves, and far harder to see in than to see out; when coe wife, sitting under the shade of a bush, very eager in discourse

I stopped short tillshewed him where they were, we stood and looked very steadily at theood while

We observed hi up to the sun, and to every quarter of the heavens; then down to the earth, then out to the sea, then to himself, then to her, to the woods, to the trees ”Now,”