EARNESTNESS IN RELIGION. 31 
after the first administration, and widely circulated, 
apparently with good effect. The weekly meeting 
for instructing those who desired baptism, was 
continued, and the first dispensing of that ordi¬ 
nance produced an astonishing effect upon the 
people. Multitudes, who had heretofore been in¬ 
different, now appeared in earnest about religion, 
and the number who attended our preparatory 
meeting soon amounted to four hundred. Those 
who had been baptized, also, in general attended. 
A state of religious feeling, such as I never wit¬ 
nessed elsewhere, and equal to any accounts of 
revivals in America or other parts, of which I ever 
read, now prevailed, not only in Huahine, but in 
the other Missionary stations. The schools and 
meetings were punctually and regularly attended. 
The inhabitants of remote districts came and took 
up their abode at the Missionary settlement; and 
nothing could repress the ardour of the people in 
what appeared to us their search after the means 
of obtaining the Divine favour. Often have we 
been aroused at break of day, by persons coming 
to inquire what they must do to be saved—how 
they might obtain the forgiveness of their sins, and 
the favour of God; expressing their desires to 
become the people of God, and to renounce every 
practice contrary to Christian consistency. 
Many were undoubtedly influenced by a desire 
of baptism; this had introduced a new distinction, 
which, notwithstanding our endeavours to prevent 
it, they probably thought must confer some temporal 
or spiritual advantage on those who received it. 
But with others it was not so, as the event has 
satisfactorily proved : many who at this time were 
awakened to an extraordinary religious concern, 
have ever since remained stedfast in their prin- 
