86 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
but the appeals and addresses, delivered at that 
period, manifest a deep conviction of human insuf¬ 
ficiency, and breathe a spirit of entire dependence 
upon the blessing of God. 
But although Tahiti was, by the departure of the 
Missionaries, surrendered, for a season, as a prey 
to the spoiler, and subjected to the rule of igno¬ 
rance, barbarism, and idolatry, it was not aban¬ 
doned by Him, in obedience to whose command to 
“ go and teach all nations,” the Mission had been 
undertaken. He had still “ thoughts of mercy” 
towards its inhabitants, and was, by this distress¬ 
ing event, teaching those who had undertaken the 
work—and instructing his church, in regard to all 
their future efforts to extend his gospel—that sin¬ 
gleness of aim, purity of motive, and patient dili¬ 
gence in labour, were of themselves insufficient 
for the work ; that it was by His Spirit that the 
heathen were to be converted ; and without His 
blessing, Paul might plant, and Apollos might 
water, in vain. 
