POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
263 
same time and in the same way as with the natives; that 
they might perceive that in this respect there was no dif¬ 
ference between us. 
The baptism of infants has certainly been among the 
most interesting religious exercises in which we have 
engaged. It was generally performed after morning ser¬ 
vice on the Sabbath. We usually addressed a short and 
affectionate exhortation to the parents, enforcing their 
responsibility, and duty towards the dear children they 
were thus offering ; not indeed as an innocent child was 
formerly offered in sacrifice to senseless idols, or to a 
cruel imaginary deity, but to be trained up in the nur¬ 
ture and admonition of that Divine Parent, who has 
said, I love them that love me, and those that seek me 
early shall find me.^’ 
I have been sometimes almost overwhelmed on be¬ 
holding the intensity of mingled feeling, with which 
three or four sweet smiling infants have been brought 
by their respective parents to the rustic baptismal font. 
I have fancied, in the strongly expressive countenances 
of the parents, the lively emotions of gratitude, and the 
bright ray of hope and anticipated joy in the future pro¬ 
gress of the child, when it should exhibit the effects of 
that inward change, of which this was the outward sign. 
In strong and distressing contrast with sensations of 
this hallowed and delightful kind, I have supposed the 
memory of far different acts, in which, as parents, many 
of them had been engaged, has remained; I have sup¬ 
posed that recollection has presented the winning look 
of conscious innocence, which some dear babe has cast 
upon them, or the plaintive cry which from its lisping 
tongue first broke upon their ears,but which was unheeded, 
and they monstrously committed cool, inhuman mur- 
