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Show 238 » anal Grim/ties in the W eii-Indies. A Relation of the Spanifh Voyager offended with the Violence and Mailacres which the Spaniards have committed in the.1ndzes, where they have oppreft and flaughter'd innumerable multitudes of People. Thefe Indians have rational Souls form'd after the image andhkenefs of God, and ranfom'd by the Blood, of 1118 Son, who keeps an account of 'em, and will not think 'em of no value, _ 239 purpofe; and Experience ever y day furnlihes us with fuch marks of the Divine Difple afure as thefe. The Moon once over-run Spain, and this was interpreted as a judgment from Go d to punilh the Crime of King Roderick, who ravilh'd the Da of Count Don jalian, tho 'tis more probab ughter ' leit was to punilh the Crimes of the People of Spain, and the Inju ries they offer'd their Neighbours, and that the Crime of this King only fill'd up the meafur e of thofe Vices. 'Tis convenient to inform your Majefty what is thought by Perfons of the bet?r fenfe, who are trovern'd by no Prejudice, but only compailionate the how ignorant and barbarous foever they feern'to be. He was pleas'd to choofe Spam to the Servrce of carrying the Light of the Gofpel into the New World, and to engage thofe Nations toentertam the Chriftian Faith. And (It feemd as if .the Al- mighty had difcover'd all thefe Temporal Riches to the Spaniards, as a recompenfe for thofe Spiritual Pleafures with which they were to enrich the Indzes. But tho he open'd a way for "em mto thofe valt Regions, {'0 wealthy, fertil and-pleafant, fo.full of fuch‘lPerfons fay, I pray God thefe extravagant ~ Cruc'lties don't one day fall heav y upon Spain .' It , may he fuch words as thefc that drop from many Mines of Gold, Silver and precrous Stones; lnftead . wife Men of being thankful for all thefe Favors, they have committed the molt hainous Crimes to provoke him. Now 'tis ufual for God to diftributevhis Punilhments . from God, who has been highly incens'd againfl: this Nation by the Crimes of the Spaniards. And we j already fee that Spain is reduc'd to great Neceflities, by a rule of proportion, adjufting them to the na- : and Mony 15 very fcarce among us-7 tho more Trea- Sufijerings of the poor Indians. 1 have heard many are {0 many Advertifements and Mcnaces 'em with Confufion and Shame; If they get any fures have hin brought hither than Solomon pofl'efs'd in all his Glory: Molt of thofe that have brought thing unjuftly through Avarice, he often fufi'ers em to lofe their own Goods 3 and they that have ftolen, ‘ thefe Riches from the Indie: have made a miferabl e end, and their Children are reduc'd to extreme are in turn rob'd themfelves. Thofe that opprefs and murder others, he permits to fall into the hands i Poverty, which juitifies the old Maxim, Vix gander tertins Hares, the third Heir feldom enjoys an ill- of fuch as treat 'em with the like Cruelty: _Th€Y gotten Eitate; and that Paflage of holy Scripture, , He that opiate/firth the poor to inoreafe his Riches-[71a]! ture of the Offence. If Men fin by Fride, he covers that take away their Neighbors Wives and Violatg 'cm, have fometimes the fame Outrages committc on their own. And fuch as ufurp Kingdoms that don't belong to 'em, by God's Judgment come I? fee their own Kingdoms invaded by their Enemlei a and thus itis with other jud ‘ments which frequent ll anl'wer the dif'r‘erent kinds 0 Sin. The Holy Scrip- tare ;:"~Ii other Hiftor'ies are full of lnltances to this ' purpoies furcly come to want, Prov. 22. 16. Becaufe, as has bin laid, the Divine judgments bear fome proportion to the Crimes that Men commit. If your Ma- ielty have the curiolity to inform your felf of the 1 detail of all thefe matters, we can ihew you aLifl: of the principal Tyrants that have committed the greateit Diforders in the Indies, by pillaging End ' ma Elf |