VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 
285 
" grace you have incurred with your own people, and throuo;hout 
" the whole country, by your abominable practices, which you now 
" seek to wipe off, by being again received as an inhabitant of 
" Gnadenthal? But your contrivances are vain. You are dreaded 
" by the whole congregation, and there are few, who would for- 
" give us, if we were to admit so dangerous a man to dwell in this 
" place ; out of which, drunkenness, lewdness, brawling and fighting, 
" shall, by God's blessing upon our present regulations, be totally 
" expelled, together with every one, who does not chuse to lead 
" a life, consistent with Christian principles." I thought it was 
all over with Philip, whose countenance shovv'ed the deepest con- 
viction and humility. But I was mistaken. He granted every 
word the venerable missionary had spoken, to be true, and that he 
deserved to be suspected of falsehood and pretence, but proceeded 
to make such protestations of his sincerity, and the remorse he felt, 
on account of his former trangressions, that Father Marsveld, per- 
ceiving by our looks, that we were disposed to relent, ordered 
Philip to withdraw, that we might consult together in private. 
He then observed, that he did not wonder at our being moved by 
the Hottentot's speech, since we were yet unacquainted with that 
particular character, but that, if a real change was wrought in the 
man's heart, it would appear to him one of the greatest miracles he 
had ever heard of, or seen. The result was, that Philip was per- 
mitted to stay till Monday, when we should inform him of our 
decision. Meanwhile, the opzieners were convened, and the case 
laid before them. The missionaries supposed, that they would un- 
animously protest against his re-admission, when, to our surpsise, 
they all pleaded for a third trial. We afterwards discovered, that 
Philip had informed himself of their appointment, and waited 
upon each, when, by his penitential declarations, he had quieted 
their minds and moved their compassion. 
On Monday morning, he appeared before us, to hear our determi- 
nation, being directed to bring his wife with him. She was addressed 
by Father Marsveld in a suitable manner, but looked very sulky, and 
