thing, He no be angry at you when He be angry at other mans.
W.A. – No, indeed, my sins are all presumptions upon His goodness;
and He would be infinitely just if He destroyed me, as He has done
other men.
WIFE. – Well, and yet no kill, no makee you dead: what you say to
Him for that? You no tell Him thankee for all that too?
W.A. – I am an unthankful, ungrateful dog, that is true.
WIFE. – Why He no makee you much good better? you say He makee you.
W.A. – He made me as He made all the world: it is I have deformed
myself and abused His goodness, and made myself an abominable
wretch.
WIFE. – I wish you makee God know me. I no makee Him angry – I no
do bad wicked thing.
[Here Will Atkins said his heart sunk within him to hear a poor
untaught creature desire to be taught to know God, and he such a
wicked wretch, that he could not say one word to her about God, but
what the reproach of his own carriage would make most irrational to
her to believe; nay, that already she had told him that she could
not believe in God, because he, that was so wicked, was not
destroyed.]
W.A. – My dear, you mean, you wish I could teach you to know God,
not God to know you; for He knows you already, and every thought in
your heart.
WIFE. – Why, then, He know what I say to you now: He know me wish
to know Him. How shall me know who makee me?
W.A. – Poor creature, He must teach thee: I cannot teach thee. I
will pray to Him to teach thee to know Him, and forgive me, that am
unworthy to teach thee.
[The poor fellow was in such an agony at her desiring him to make
her know God, and her wishing to know Him, that he said he fell
down on his knees before her, and prayed to God to enlighten her
mind with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to pardon his
sins, and accept of his being the unworthy instrument of
instructing her in the principles of religion: after which he sat
down by her again, and their dialogue went on. This was the time
when we saw him kneel down and hold up his hands.]
Wife. – What you put down the knee for? What you hold up the hand
for? What you say? Who you speak to? What is all that?
W.A. – My dear, I bow my knees in token of my submission to Him
that made me: I said O to Him, as you call it, and as your old men
do to their idol Benamuckee; that is, I prayed to Him.
WIFE. – What say you O to Him for?
W.A. – I prayed to Him to open your eyes and your understanding,
that you may know Him, and be accepted by Him.
WIFE. – Can He do that too?
W.A. – Yes, He can: He can do all things.
WIFE. – But now He hear what you say?
W.A. – Yes, He has bid us pray to Him, and promised to hear us.
WIFE. – Bid you pray? When He bid you? How He bid you? What you
hear Him speak?
W.A. – No, we do not hear Him speak; but He has revealed Himself
many ways to us.
[Here he was at a great loss to make her understand that God has
revealed Himself to us by His word, and what His word was; but at
last he told it to her thus.]
W.A. – God has spoken to some good men in former days, even from
heaven, by plain words; and God has inspired good men by His
Spirit; and they have written all His laws down in a book.
WIFE. – Me no understand that; where is book?
W.A. – Alas! my poor creature, I have not this book; but I hope I
shall one time or other get it for you, and help you to read it.
[Here he embraced her with great affection, but with inexpressible