HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
471 
other parts of the country. Wherever the native Chris¬ 
tians went, they carried with them the New Testament, 
and other portions of the Scriptures, as well as spelling- 
books, catechisms, and hymn-books. Unfolding in their 
conversation, and exhibiting in their example, the doctrines 
and tendencies of the gospel, they acted as Missionaries, and 
induced many to learn to read, to believe on the living God, 
to trust in the only Saviour, and to unite with them in the 
observance of the Sabbath, and other means of honouring 
God, and promoting their own spiritual improvement. 
Sometimes these Christians met together for the purpose 
of instruction or worship in each other’s dwellings, and at 
other times they erected their little sanctuaries in the 
midst of the heathen villages, where they assembled to call 
upon the name of the Lord, and, in dependence upon the 
teaching of the Holy Spirit, to instruct others in the know¬ 
ledge of his will, and the way of salvation. 
Desirous to assist and encourage the native Christians 
in these truly commendable exertions on behalf of their 
countrymen, and to promote the extension of Christianity, 
the Missionaries made occasional journeys of considerable 
extent, for the purpose of visiting the Christians, and 
preaching to the people. These visits were joyfully re¬ 
ceived, and in many instances proved highly advantageous 
to the Christian cause. Finding the instructions given by 
their countrymen confirmed by the European Missionary, 
and, it is hoped, influenced by the Holy Spirit’s operation 
in their hearts, many were induced to renounce their adhe¬ 
rence to the idols, to place themselves under Christian 
instruction, to declare their belief in the Holy Scriptures, 
and to unite themselves with the professed disciples of 
Christ. They threw away their charms, and other emblems 
of idolatry; some burned, some destroyed their idols, others 
