POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
333 
vah^ in sparing such merciless creatures as they had 
been. They would also express their astonishment at 
the love of Christ in dying for them 5 and the abun¬ 
dance of his compassion, in continuing to send them the 
intelligence of his salvation, and, after they had long 
disregarded it, not only forbearing, but making them 
willing in the day of his power ; melting their hearts, 
drawing them with cords of affection, and now causing 
them to rejoice in his love shed abroad in their hearts. 
Occasionally they would, in most affecting strains, 
allude to the anguish which the sight of their neighbours’ 
children produced, by recalling to remembrance those 
whom they had destroyed. The contrast they often drew 
between their own childless and desolate condition 
through their former cruel practice of infant murder—and 
that of those happy parents—who, under the reign of the 
Messiah, were surrounded by their children, was touch¬ 
ing and painful. These were topics that could not be 
discussed without emotion, either by those who brought 
them forward, or by those from whom direction and 
advice were sought. 
There was another matter connected with this, of 
scarcely inferior interest, and that was, the state of those 
infants after death. Are their spirits, they would say, 
in outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing 
of teeth, or are they happy ? In reply to this, though 
opinions were not given with confidence, they were 
informed, that though they had not sinned, they had 
suffered death as the effect of Adam’s transgression, yet 
that there was reason to hope and believe they were 
interested in the covenant of redemption, the condition 
of which the Lord Jesus Christ had fulfilled, and that 
therefore they were happy. 
