Verani as a Christian 
NAMOSIMALUA and some of the other chiefs, while pro- 
fessing Christianity and having given up many of their 
heathen ways, were never admitted to membership in the 
church. They still clung to practices which made this im- 
possible. But with Verani it was far different. 
“Not policy or novelty, but the urgency of intense con- 
viction, had bent Verani’s heart to the gospel. He sought 
its blessings in the full recognition of its requirements, and 
repenting bitterly of his great sins, brought forth ‘works 
meet for repentance.’ Of his own accord he resolved law- 
fully to marry his chief wife, and to set the others at lib- 
erty. Old men of rank and influence, to whose judgment 
he had been wont to submit, remonstrated with him, and 
advised him to keep the rest as servants. But they spoke to 
a man whose whole heart was set against evil too fully to 
allow him to keep temptation, under any form, in his way. 
“You,” said he to these counselors, ‘are on the devil’s side. If 
my wife cannot manage in our house, I will help her to get 
wood and cook our food; but I will not continue to sin 
against God.’ 
“Verani’s crimes had been of no ordinary kind and num- 
ber. Few men’s history had been so blackened with every 
kind of outrage and abomination, and few men’s hands were 
so stained with blood. His grief and penitence were pro- 
portionate to the enormity of his sins, and amounted to 
agony, as he wept bitterly before God, while every remem- 
brance of the Saviour’s love drove the stings of remorse 
deeper into his broken heart. If few men had ever sinned 
more, no man ever repented more deeply. His high-souled 
pride was gone, and in his lowliness ‘this poor man cried, 
68 
