that God, from
whom every such work proceeds, will sensibly touch his heart, and bring
him to the further knowledge of that truth in His own time; and if God
shall influence this poor man to convert and instruct the ignorant
savage, his wife, I can never believe that he shall be cast away himself.
And have I not reason, then, to rejoice, the nearer any are brought to
the knowledge of Christ, though they may not be brought quite home into
the bosom of the Catholic Church just at the time when I desire it,
leaving it to the goodness of Christ to perfect His work in His own time,
and in his own way? Certainly, I would rejoice if all the savages in
America were brought, like this poor woman, to pray to God, though they
were all to be Protestants at first, rather than they should continue
pagans or heathens; firmly believing, that He that had bestowed the first
light on them would farther illuminate them with a beam of His heavenly
grace, and bring them into the pale of His Church when He should see
good."

CHAPTER VII--CONVERSATION BETWIXT WILL ATKINS AND HIS WIFE

I was astonished at the sincerity and temper of this pious Papist, as
much as I was oppressed by the power of his reasoning; and it presently
occurred to my thoughts, that if such a temper was universal, we might be
all Catholic Christians, whatever Church or particular profession we
joined in; that a spirit of charity would soon work us all up into right
principles; and as he thought that the like charity would make us all
Catholics, so I told him I believed, had all the members of his Church
the like moderation, they would soon all be Protestants. And there we
left that part; for we never disputed at all. However, I talked to him
another way, and taking him by the hand, "My friend," says I, "I wish all
the clergy of the Romish Church were blessed with such moderation, and
had an equal share of your charity. I am entirely of your opinion; but I
must tell you that if you should preach such doctrine in Spain or Italy,
they would put you into the Inquisition."--"It may be so," said he; "I
know not what they would do in Spain or Italy; but I will not say they
would be the better Christians for that severity; for I am sure there is
no heresy in abounding with charity."

Well, as Will Atkins and his wife were gone, our business there was over,
so we went back our own way; and when we came back, we found them waiting
to be called in. Observing this, I a