按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
surround me； and that if I attempted to secure myself by fleeing from
my habitation； and acted contrary to these intimations； which I believe
to be Divine； it was a kind of flying from God； and that He could
cause His justice to overtake me when and where He thought fit。
These thoughts quite turned my resolutions again； and when I came
to discourse with my brother again I told him that I inclined to stay
and take my lot in that station in which God had placed me； and that
it seemed to be made more especially my duty； on the account of what
I have said。
My brother； though a very religious man himself； laughed at all I
had suggested about its being an intimation from Heaven； and told me
several stories of such foolhardy people； as he called them； as I was；
that I ought indeed to submit to it as a work of Heaven if I had been
any way disabled by distempers or diseases； and that then not being
able to go； I ought to acquiesce in the direction of Him； who； having
been my Maker； had an undisputed right of sovereignty in disposing
of me； and that then there had been no difficulty to determine which
was the call of His providence and which was not； but that I should
take it as an intimation from Heaven that I should not go out of town；
only because I could not hire a horse to go； or my fellow was run
away that was to attend me； was ridiculous； since at the time I had my
health and limbs； and other servants； and might with ease travel a day
or two on foot； and having a good certificate of being in perfect health；
might either hire a horse or take post on the road； as I thought fit。
Then he proceeded to tell me of the mischievous consequences
which attended the presumption of the Turks and Mahometans in Asia
and in other places where he had been （for my brother； being a
merchant； was a few years before； as I have already observed； returned
from abroad； coming last from Lisbon）； and how； presuming upon
their professed predestinating notions； and of every man's end being
predetermined and unalterably beforehand decreed； they would go
unconcerned into infected places and converse with infected persons；
by which means they died at the rate of ten or fifteen thousand a
week； whereas the Europeans or Christian merchants； who kept
themselves retired and reserved； generally escaped the contagion。
Upon these arguments my brother changed my resolutions again；
and I began to resolve to go； and accordingly made all things ready；
for； in short； the infection increased round me； and the bills were risen
to almost seven hundred a week； and my brother told me he would
venture to stay no longer。 I desired him to let me consider of it but till
the next day； and I would resolve： and as I had already prepared
everything as well as I could as to MY business； and whom to entrust
my affairs with； I had little to do but to resolve。
I went home that evening greatly oppressed in my mind； irresolute；
and not knowing what to do。 I had set the evening wholly …apart to
consider seriously about it； and was all alone； for already people had；
as it were by a general consent； taken up the custom of not going out
of doors after sunset； the reasons I shall have occasion to say more of
by…and…by。
In the retirement of this evening I endeavoured to resolve； first； what
was my duty to do； and I stated the arguments with which my brother
had pressed me to go into the country； and I set； against them the
strong impressions which I had on my mind for staying； the visible
call I seemed to have from the particular circumstance of my calling；
and the care due from me for the preservation of my effects； which
were； as I might say； my estate； also the intimations which I thought I
had from Heaven； that to me signified a kind of direction to venture；
and it occurred to me that if I had what I might call a direction to stay；
I ought to suppose it contained a promise of being preserved if I obeyed。
This lay close to me； and my mind seemed more and more encouraged
to stay than ever； and supported with a secret satisfaction
that I should be kept。 Add to this； that； turning over the Bible which
lay before me； and while my thoughts were more than ordinarily
serious upon the question； I cried out； 'Well； I know not what to do；
Lord； direct me I' and the like； and at that juncture I happened to stop
turning over the book at the gist Psalm； and casting my eye on the
second verse； I read on to the seventh verse exclusive； and after that
included the tenth； as follows： 'I will say of the Lord； He is my refuge
and my fortress： my God； in Him will I trust。 Surely He shall deliver
thee from the snare of the fowler； and from the noisome pestilence。
He shall cover thee with His feathers； and under His wings shalt thou
trust： His truth shall be thy shield and buckler。 Thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror by night； nor for the arrow that flieth by day； nor
for the pestilence that walketh in darkness； nor for the destruction that
wasteth at noonday。 A thousand shall fall at thy side； and ten
thousand at thy right hand； but it shall not come nigh thee。 Only with
thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked。
Because thou hast made the Lord； which is my refuge； even the most
High； thy habitation； there shall no evil befall thee； neither shall any
plague come nigh thy dwelling；' &C。
I scarce need tell the reader that from that moment I resolved that I
would stay in the town； and casting myself entirely upon the goodness
and protection of the Almighty； would not seek any other shelter
whatever； and that； as my times were in His hands； He was as able to
keep me in a time of the infection as in a time of health； and if He did
not think fit to deliver me； still I was in His hands； and it was meet He
should do with me as should seem good to Him。
With this resolution I went to bed； and I was further confirmed in it
the next day by the woman being taken ill with whom I had intended
to entrust my house and all my affairs。 But I had a further obligation
laid on me on the same side； for the next day I found myself very
much out of order also； so that if I would have gone away； I could
not；〃 and I continued ill three or four days； and this entirely
determined my stay； so I took my leave of my brother； who went away
to Dorking； in Surrey； and afterwards fetched a round farther into
Buckinghamshire or Bedfordshire； to a retreat he had found out there
for his family。
It was a very ill time to be sick in； for if any one complained； it was
immediately said he had the plague； and though I had indeed no
symptom of that distemper； yet being very ill； both in my head and in
my stomach； I was not without apprehension that I really was
infected； but in about three days I grew better； the third night I rested
well； sweated a little； and was much refreshed。 The apprehensions of
its being the infection went also quite away with my illness； and I
went about my