CHAP. I X . ]
CHRISTOPHER
COLUMBUS.
367
“ Wearied and sighing,” says he, “I fell into a slumber, when I heard a piteous voice saying to me, ‘ O fool, and slow to believe and serve thy God, who is the God of all ! What did he more for Moses, or for his servant David, than he has done for thee ? From the time of thy birth he has ever had thee under his pecu liar care. When he saw thee of a fitting age he made thy name to resound marvelously throughout the earth, and thou wert obeyed in many lands, and didst acquire honorable fame among Christians. Of the gates of the Ocean Sea, shut up with such mighty chains, he delivered thee the keys ; the Indies, those wealthy regions of the world, he gave thee for thine own, and empowered thee to dispose of them to others, according to thy pleasure. What did he more for the great people of Israel when he led them forth from Egypt ? Or for David, whom, from being a shepherd, he made a king in Judea ? Turn to him, then, and acknowledge thine error ; his mercy is infinite. He has many and vast inheritances, yet in reserve. Fear not to seek them. Thine age shall be no impediment to any great undertaking Abraham was above an hundred years when he begat Isaac ; and was Sarah youthful ? Thou urgest despondingly for succor. Answer ! who hath afflicted thee so much, and so many times ?— God, or the world ? The privileges and promises which God hath made thee he hath never broken ; neither hath he said, after having received thy services, that his meaning was different, and to be understood in a different sense. He performs to the very letter. He fulfills all that he promises, and with increase. Such is his custom. I have shown thee what thy Creator hath done for thee, and what he doeth for all. The present is the reward of the toils and perils thou hast endured in serving others.’ I heard all this," adds Columbus, “ as one almost dead, and had no power