POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
251 
The Missionaries considered the proper subjects for 
the ordinance to be those who professed their faith in 
Christy and the children of such individuals: but consider¬ 
able difficulty was experienced in determining what the 
moral or religious qualifications of the adults ought to 
be^ and the connection that should exist between their 
baptism and admission to the sacred communion. 
Although we read different authors on the subject, their 
views were seldom altogether adapted to our circum¬ 
stances, and I believe we derived but little real assistance 
from any. 
We desired to bow only to the authority of scripture, 
and to follow implicitly its directions. We considered 
our circumstances by no means dissimilar to those of 
the individuals for whose guidance those directions wei’e 
primarily given. Having the commission of our Hord 
to his disciples for our warrant, and the conduct of his 
apostles in the execution of it for our model; we hope 
we have been enabled to proceed according to the divine 
will, and in such a manner as to secure the approbation 
of the Christian churches by which we had been sent to 
preach Christ among the gentiles. Our situation at this 
time was regarded as most critical, and our procedure in 
this respect such, as it was presumed would have an 
important bearing on future generations. 
Happily, however, for tis, and for all placed in similar 
circumstances, the terms of the commission are unequi?*- 
vocal and explicit | and we could not but perceive, that 
by the same warrant, in virtue of which we preach the 
gospel, and, as the word is rendered in the Tahitian, 
proselyted those among whom we laboured, we were also 
bound to baptize in the name of the Father, and the Son, 
and the Holy Ghost. The intimate connexion between 
