which can neither speak nor understand; but that our God, who has made, can destroy all things; that he rewards the good and punishes the wicked; and at last will bring us to judgment; cannot you tell her these things?  That’s true, said Atkins, but then she’ll tell me it is utterly false, since I am not punished and sent to the devil, who hath been such a wicked creature. These words I interpreted to the priest.  “Oh!” said he, “tell him, his repentance will make him a very good minister to his spouse, and qualify him to preach on the mercy and long suffering of a merciful Being, who desires not the death of a sinner, and even defers damnation to the last judgment; this will lead him to the doctrine of the resurrection and will make him an excellent preacher to his wife.”  I repeated this to Atkins, who being more than ordinary 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, given my conscience witnesses against me?  Alas! said he (with tears in his eye, and giving a great sigh) as for repenting, that is for ever past me.  Past you!  Atkins, said I, what do you mean?  You know well enough, said he, what I mean, I mean it is too late.

When I told the priest what he said, the poor affectionate man could not refrain from weeping; but recovering himself “Pray, Sir,” said he, “ask him if he is contented that it is too late; or is he concerned, and wishes it were not so?” This question I put fairly to Atkins, who replied in a passion, How can I be easy in a state which I know must terminate in my ruin? for I really believe, some time or other, I shall cut my threat, to put a period both to my life, and to the terrors of my conscience.

At this, the clergyman shook his head, “Sir,” said he, “pray tell him it is not too late; Christ will give him repentance, if he has recourse to the merit of his passion.  Does he think he is beyond the power of Divine mercy?  There may indeed be a time when provoked mercy will no longer strive, but never too late for men to repent in this world.”  I told Atkins every word the priest had said, who then parted from us to walk with his wife, while we discoursed with the rest.  But these were very stupid in religious matters; yet all of them promised to do their endeavours to make their wives turn Christians; and upon which promises the priest married the three couple.  But as Atkins was the only sincere convert and of more sense than the rest, my clergyman was earnestly inquiring after him:  “Sir,” said he, “let us walk out of this labyrinth, & I dare say we shall find this poor man preaching to his wife already.”  And indeed we found it true; for coming to the edge of the wood, we perceived Atkins and his savage wife sitting under the shade of a bush, in very earnest discourse; he pointed to the sun, to the quarters of the earth, to himself, to her, the woods, and the trees.  Immediately we could perceive him start