228 The Trmniphs of the Gospel in Fiji, 
was gradually heaped up, and the men were buried alive, as 
sacrifices to their cruel deities. It took long and patient 
teaching, and much simple reiteration of the simplest truths, 
on the part of the teachers, before this cannibal-cursed 
people could realize that the Christian's God was one who 
**delighteth in mercy." Nothing could be more foreign to 
their ideas ; accustomed to connect the ideas of power and 
deity with cruelty and evil as they were, they listened at first 
with wonder and incredulity, — then with awe, and rever- 
ence, — then with thankfulness, and love. The story of that 
great change is one of intense interest, and illustrates most 
touchingly, and thoroughly, the transforming power of the 
Gospel of Christ. It also proves that no heathen nation is 
too vile to be raised, and Christianized, when brought under 
the influence and light of our holy religion. 
