THROUGH HAWAII. 
99 
and we only know, that there is a place called heaven, 
where God makes glorious manifestations of his per¬ 
fections, and where all good men are perfectly happy; 
and that there is a place were wicked men are shut up 
in darkness, and endure endless misery. He then said, 
“How do you know these things?” I asked for his 
bible, and translated the passages which inculcate the 
doctrine of the resurrection. See. and told him it was 
from that book We obtained all our knowledge of these 
things; and that it was the contents of that book 
which we had come to teach the people of Hawaii. 
He then asked if all the people in our native countries 
•were acquainted with the bible. I answered, that from 
the abundant means of instruction enjoyed there, the 
greater portion of the people had either read the book, 
or had in some other way become acquainted with its 
principal contents. He then said. How is it that such 
numbers of them swear, get intoxicated, and do so 
many things prohibited in that book ? He was told, 
that there was a vast difference between knowing the 
word of God, and obeying it; and that it was most 
likely, those persons knew their conduct was displeas¬ 
ing to God, yet persisted in it, because agreeable to 
their corrupt inclinations. He asked if God would not 
be angry with us for troubling him so frequently with 
our prayers? If he was like man, he said, he was sure 
he would. I replied, that God was always “waiting 
to be gracious,” more ready to hear than we were to 
pray; that indeed he was not like man, or his patience 
would have been exhausted long ago by the wickedness 
of men; but that he continued exercising long-suffering 
and forbearance towards sinners, that they might turn 
from their wickedness and live. 
