168 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
might be called their Christian experience—the effect 
of texts of Scripture committed to memory^ in stimu¬ 
lating to duty^ and restraining from sin. Often they 
would ask^ ^^How can we attain true repentance^ and 
a change of heart ? How may we know that we are 
not deceiving ourselves ? How can we be preserved 
from forsaking God and committing sin ? We desire 
genuine faith 5 where can we obtain it? Once they 
observed^—Adam fell in Paradise^ and angels fell even 
in heaven itself; how then can we be preserved from 
sinning against God? Tell us how we may be safe 
from Satan?—^how we may be safe for heaven^ and 
secure of admission there ?’^ I refrain from comments 
on the numerous inquiries brought fcrward at these 
meetings, which have been proved essmtially service¬ 
able to the nation—stimulating inquiry, giving a pro¬ 
per direction to their researches after iruth, expand¬ 
ing the mind and strengthening the intdlect, yet re¬ 
straining them within the limitations sf revelation. 
Their inquiries shew, if evidence were vanting, that 
their mental capabilities are not conteaiptible, and 
demonstrate the influence of the high^t order of 
Christian principles upon the exercise of tie mind and 
the affections of the heart. ^ 
Mr. Orsmond having removed to Raiatea n the close 
of 1816, and‘Mr. Nott to Tahiti in the sumner of 1819, 
those of us who remained at Huahine endeavoured to 
engage as extensively as possible in the insiruction of 
the people. We therefore went to several of fhe remote 
villages to preach to the people on the Salbath, and 
frequently visited the district of Maeva, situated on the 
margin of an extensive lake, surrounded' by most rich 
and varied scenery. 
