186 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
civil aspect of our world. This great and import¬ 
ant event, confirmed in its results, and strength¬ 
ened in its character, by the extension of its influ¬ 
ence, and the increasing power of the principles it 
implanted, during the last fourteen years, already 
occupies no inferior place among the modern evi- „ 
dences of Christianity, and the demonstrations of 
its legitimate tendency to ameliorate the condition, 
and elevate the moral and intellectual character, 
of the most wretched and depraved among man- 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and thus 
explicitly enjoined the exhibition of the doctrine of the 
Trinity, which every Unitarian professes to deny : and, so 
far as Polynesian Researches is concerned, the affirmation 
appears without the least foundation. 
In confirmation of this, it is unnecessary to do more 
than refer to the work itself. The passage, in con¬ 
nexion with which these remarks are introduced, together 
with every other, in which the sentiments held or taught 
by the Missionaries are stated, are sufficient to shew that 
they have not promulgated a mutilated gospel—the vast 
accession of enjoyment to all classes, shews that is not a 
melancholy system—wdiile the opinions expressed by the 
converts themselves, shew that their faith is not what 
is usually denominated Unitarian. This is abundantly 
proved by the statements made in seasons when men 
are most likely to be sincere—the near approach to the 
unseen world, and the direct appeal to the Most High in 
prayer. Illustrations of this remark may be found in Po¬ 
rn are’s prayer, recorded in page 163 ; his letter, page 173 ; 
the experience of the dying Areoi, page 172; the conduct 
of the astonished native, on hearing the 3d Chapter of 
St. John’s Gospel, as given in page 187 of the present 
volume ; and other places, which it is needless to enu¬ 
merate. On the tenets of Unitarians, their adaptation 
to the circumstances of ignorance, depravity, guilt, and 
wretchedness, inseparable from paganism, even in its 
most favourable circumstances, I make no remarks. 
The foregoing statement of the teaching of the Mission¬ 
aries in the South Sea Islands, I have deemed not less 
just to them than due to my readers. 
