PO L YN ES [AN R ES EA RCHES. 
3*21 
nothing in the Scripture directly referring to our recom¬ 
mendation, but that it was according to the general 
tenour and spirit of the Scriptures, or corresponding 
with the practice of Christians in England; they would 
sometimes answer, That may be very good, but as it is 
only a matter of opinion with you, we will think about 
it.” On the other hand, so far as those who were 
members of our churches, or had been baptized, were con¬ 
cerned, I cannot recollect any measure we ever proposed, 
for which we could refer to the explicit declaration of 
Scripture as our authority, that they did not at once 
unhesitatingly adopt. It was much more satisfactory 
to us that the conduct of their lives should be regulated 
by principles derived from the Scripture, than by the 
opinion of their teachers, however highly they might 
respect them; and we had always rather that they should 
ask, What says the word of God ?” than, What say 
the Missionaries ?” The opinions of their teachers may 
change, or teachers of different opinions may succeed 
them, but the word of God will endure unalterably the 
same, being a more sure word, whereunto they do well to 
take heed. 
What the experience of my predecessors in the field 
may have been, with regard to the manner in which the 
natives were disposed to admit the claims of the Scrip¬ 
tures to a divine origin, I am not prepared to state with 
confidence. I believe, however, it was not so much to 
the divine authority, as to the doctrines of the sacred 
volume, that they objected. So far as my recollection 
serves, with regard to the island of Huahine, the inhabi¬ 
tants, though not idolaters, certainly were not Christians, 
except in name; and in the Sandwich Islands, where, on 
my first arrival, the people were more opposed than 
II. 2 T 
