AN INTERESTING SCENE. 225 



and the princely ; with a splendour and pageantry of 

 train befitting the magnificence of the Cathedrals in 

 which they bowed, to the humblest c two or three' 

 who ever came together at a place ' where prayer 

 is ivont to be made.'' I have listened with de- 

 lighted attention to some of the highest eloquence, 

 the pulpits of America and England of the pre- 

 sent day can boast, and have watched with sym- 

 pathetic excitement the effect produced by it, till 

 all w T ho heard were rapt into an enthusiasm of 

 high-toned feeling, at the sublimity of the theme pre- 

 sented. I have seen tears of conviction and of peni- 

 tence flow freely even to the seeming breaking of 

 the heart, under the sterner truths of the word of 

 God ; and not unfrequently too have I witnessed, as 

 the annunciation of ' Peace — be of good cheer, thy 

 sins are forgiven thee,' has fallen on the soul, smiles 

 of hope and joy, such as would adorn an angel's 

 brow, rapidly take their place. But it was left for 

 a worshipping assembly at Hido, the most obscure 

 corner of these distant islands, to excite the liveliest 

 emotions ever experienced, and leave the deepest 

 impressions of the extent and unsearchable riches of 

 the Gospel, which I have ever known." 



" The simple appearance and the whole deport- 

 ment of that obscure congregation whom I had once 

 known, and at no remote period, only as a set of 

 rude, licentious, and wild pagans, did more to rivet 

 the conviction of the Divine origin of the Bible, and 



VOL. i. Q 



