POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
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doctrines of the gospel^ which had not been so fully 
exhibited before; but I have invariably learned^ that they 
were not aware of the least difference in the kind of 
instruction^ or the manner of representing the truths 
taught at this periodj^ and those inculcated during their 
former residence in Tahiti. 
Their aim had always been to exhibit fully^ 
and with the greatest possible simplicity^ the grand 
doctrines and precepts taught in the Bible^ giving 
each that share of attention which it appeared to 
have obtained in the volume of revelation. God^ they 
had always endeavoured to represent as a powerful, 
benevolent, and holy Being, justly requiring the grate¬ 
ful homage, and willing obedience, of his creatures. 
Man, they had represented as the Scripture described 
him, and their own observation represented him to be, 
a sinner against his Maker, and exposed to the conse¬ 
quences of his guilt —^the love of God, in the gift of his 
only begotten Son, as a propitiation for sin, and the 
only medium of reconciliation with God, restoration to the 
enjoyment of his favour, and the blessing of immor¬ 
tality ; faith in this atonement, and the sinner’s justifica¬ 
tion before God, were truths frequently exhibited. 
The doctrine of Divine benevolence thus displayed, 
was altogether new to the Tahitians j nothing analo¬ 
gous to it had ever entered into any part of their 
mythology. Its impression on their minds was at 
this time proportionate. The necessity also of Divine 
influences, to make the declaration of these truths 
effectual to conversion, and to meeten those who believed 
for the heavenly state, had ever been inculcated in the 
catechetical and other exercises of the school, in the 
meetings for reading the Scriptures and conversation, 
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