POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
267 
as were either deceiving themselves or others, and, under 
cover of seeking the favour of God, were actually pursu¬ 
ing that which they imagined would improve their tem¬ 
poral condition, or add to their respectability in society. 
Some who had been baptized, we found it necessary to 
admonish, lest they should rest satisfied with the attain¬ 
ments already made, and neglect the more important 
considerations. 
In the interesting and critical duties now devolving upon 
us, we endeavoured to act with caution, taking the word 
of God for our directory, and bearing in mind at the same 
time the peculiar circumstances of the people ; avoiding 
precipitancy in our public measures : so that, if we erred, 
it might be on the side of extreme carefulness. The 
everlasting w^elfare of the people was our only object; 
this we considered would not eventually suffer, whatever 
might be the effect of withholding baptism from those 
who might be proper subjects for it. But by adminis¬ 
tering this rite to those who sought it from improper 
motives, should it render them satisfied with the sign, 
instead of the divine influence signified, we might become 
accessary to their fatal delusion. 
Under the influence of these impressions, we were per¬ 
haps led to defer the rite of baptism to those who applied 
for it, longer than we ought to have done ; and I have 
known many who have been candidates upwards of one 
or two years. Their views of the doctrine have been in 
general correct, in their conduct there has been nothing 
unchristian or immoral, and they have uniformly ex¬ 
pressed their desires to become the true disciples of 
Christ; but during that period we have not baptized 
them, merely because we have apprehended they did not 
feel the necessity of that purification of heart of which 
