CHAP. VI, THEIR STANDARD OF MOKAL CHARACTER . 157 



worlds. Intimately associated with their careful study of 

 the Scriptures seems to have been their constant habit of 

 prayer. It often appeared to me that they might have been 

 appropriately called by the same name as that by which the 

 early Christians in the South Sea Islands were universally 

 designated, the praying people. The Word of God and 

 prayer seem to have been the two sources whence they 

 derived that vigour and maturity of Christian character which 

 they have presented to the world. 



In these men, as well as elsewhere. Divine truth had pro- 

 duced those astonishing transformations of character which 

 rendered them witnesses for God, living evidences, the un- 

 equivocal, unmistakable subjects of a wonderful moral 

 change. 



The standard of moral excellence which, so far as I could 

 learn, the Christians had selected, was simply that which is 

 presented by the Scriptures, and to attain this standard and 

 practically but most unobtrusively to exhibit it to others, 

 appears to have been their constant aim, at the same time 

 that it proved one iindeniable source of their sufferings ; for 

 the introduction and exemplification of the morality of the 

 Bible was said to be changing the customs of the country. 

 Still it was even acknowledged by some whose office it was 

 to try, condemn, and punish the professors of this faith, 

 that their conduct was indeed different from that of others. 

 We do not wonder at the observation of one of these judges 

 who, when remarking on the scrupulous exactness with which 

 property committed to their trust had been returned, ob- 

 served, " These people would be good servants indeed if it 

 were not for their praying." 



Besides intercourse with the people in reference to what 

 had been the aspect which the Gospel had presented in those 

 who professed it, I addressed a number of inquiries to persons 

 of different classes, and their testimony confirmed the views 



