74 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
scripture directly referring to our recommendation, 
but that it was according to the general tenor and 
spirit of the scriptures, or corresponding with the 
practice of Christians in England, or that we 
thought it would prove beneficial,—they would 
sometimes answer, “ That maybe 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 concerned, 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 V* than, “ What say the Missionaries V 9 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, w T hereunto 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 scriptures to a divine origin, I am 
not prepared to state with confidence. I believe, 
however, it was not so much to the divine autho¬ 
rity, 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 inhabit¬ 
ants, though not idolaters, certainly were not 
Christians, except in name; and in the Sandwich 
