POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES* 
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indistinct^ while with us^ from long familiarity, they are 
at once vivid and powerful. Without pausing to inquire 
into its cause, it seemed right to mention the fact| better 
reasons may perhaps hereafter be assigned. 
We have often also remarked, that there are but few 
of what would be called sudden conversions. In general, 
the process by which their views and feelings have been 
changed, has been gradual, and almost imperceptible, as 
to its precise manner of operation, though ultimately 
most decisive in its nature, and unquestionable in its 
tendency. Though these gradual transformations are the 
general means by which, through the Holy Spirit, we 
hope many have been .made partakers of the grace of 
eternal life, there have been exceptions. , Some have 
been melted under the truth, others have been led to 
rejoice in the promises of the gospel, and raised to glad¬ 
ness and praise. These facts are adapted to shew, that 
the Spirit of God is not limited, in the manner of His 
operations on the human mind, to any one particular 
kind of order and rule. 
The accounts of their views of Divine truth, and their 
reasons for desiring to join with us, have often been 
delightful and satisfactory, not only in the Society, but 
also in the northern isles of the Pacific. One from a 
native of the latter, although it has appeared in the 
American Missionary Herald, has not been given to the 
British public; and its character is so unequivocal, that I 
cannot deny myself the pleasure of inserting it. 
Buaiti, the individual to whom.it refers, is between 
thirty and forty years of age. I believe I had the honour 
of preaching the gospel in his native islands the first 
time he ever heard it. It, however, produced no salutary 
effect then I nor, indeed, until some time after. Since 
