Page:Joutel's journal of La Salle's last voyage, 1684-7 (IA joutelsjournalof00jout).pdf/55

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and Grain; of an admirable Temperature as to the Air, which appears by the very numerous Inhabitants being scarce subject to any Diseases, and in that the Sex, which among us is weak, is there Strong and Vigorous, bringing forth their Children with little or no Pain, and suckling them amidst Labour and Fatigues, without any of those Miseries they are liable to in our Countries. Yet that vast and beautiful Country, describ'd in this Journal, so much favour'd with Worldly Blessings, has been for so many Ages destitute of the Heavenly.

The infinite Numbers of People inhabiting it are Men, and have scarce any thing but the Shape; they are God's Creatures, and do not so much as know, much less serve him. Those who have the Courage and Boldness to travell through the Countries of such Savages, and those who read the Relations of such Travellers, ought to take Care how they make any rash Reflections upon this Point, or pry too deeply into it; for they may chance to lose themselves in their Thoughts. The shortest and the safest Course is, in such Cases, to adore the inconceivable Profoundness of the Creator's Wisdom; to give a Check to all our Enquiries and Curiosities, with the Apostle's Exclamation, ''O the Depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out!'' And never ceasing to return Thanks to his Goodness, for having so abundantly supply'd us with his Light and Grace, to conjure him to impart the same to those poor distress'd Americans, and that he who is Almighty, will of those Stones make Children of Abraham. This all Christians are oblig'd incessantly to pray for, because as Brutish and Stupid as those Savages are, they are still our Brethren, since like us descended from Adam and Noah.

How much are we then oblig'd to those bold Travellers, who undertake new Discoveries, who to the Hazard of their Lives, at their own Expence, and with such extraordinary Toils, go to find out for us, not only numerous Objects of