66 FAITH DEFINED BY A SAILOR. order of everything, and witnessed the quiet and solemnity that prevailed, I could almost fancy that I saw HOLINESS TO THE LORD" inscribed on the clouds of canvass spread to the breeze. Our public services were delightful; and what Christian would not have felt them to be so, when the bright tear of rapture might be seen starting in the eyes of some, and that of sorrow trembling in those of others; both of whom, till of late, " cared for none of these things." came R- is one of the happiest of creatures. All he says is worth twice its real value, from the manner in which it is communicated. He, last night, related to me a conversation he had with C- a few days since. Cto him, with a spirit greatly troubled, and wished to know in what manner he had obtained the light and liberty he appeared to enjoy, adding, "I believe the bible to be true, and every word of it to be from God. I know that I can be saved only by redemption of Jesus Christ. I feel my misery as a sinner, I believe everything, but how am I to believe so as to be saved? I want faith, and how am I to get it?" R- told him it was just so with himself once: I did not know what faith was, or how to obtain it; but I know now what it is, and believe I possess it. But I do not know that I can tell you what it is, or how to get it. I can tell you what it is not: it is not knocking off swearing, and drinking, and such like; and it is not reading the bible, nor praying, nor being good; it is none of these; for, even if they would answer for the time to come, there is the old score still, and how are you to get clear of that? It is not anything you have done or can do; it is only believing, and trusting to what Christ has done; it is forsaking your sins, and looking for their pardon and the salvation of your soul, because he died and shed his blood for sin; and it is nothing else." A doctor of divinity might have given poor C- a more technical and polished answer, but not one more simple or, probably, satisfactory. Tuesday, April 8. N. lat. 3 deg., W. long. 115 deg. We have bidden adieu to the southern hemisphere, most probably forever. We recrossed the equator on the night of Saturday, 5th instant- three months, to an hour, after having passed it in the Atlantic. MONTHLY CONCERT. 67 The last evening was devoted to the observance of the monthly meeting for prayer, a service not expected to recur again till we shall have left the Thames. It was an exceedingly interesting hour. While the burden of our petitions, in unison with the appointment, was, "Thy kingdom come!" the objects, and the end, of the missionary cause rose with all their moral sublimity on our view and caused us to sing with delighted animation the fine hymn, "Glorious things of thee are spoken, A set of verses composed by Kristnu, the first Hindoo convert at Serampore, also formed a part of the exercises, and while we chanted its simple stanzas, we could not but hope that similar knowledge and piety might yet characterize the productions of some who, through our instrumentality, should be turned, like him, from "darkness to light, and from the power of satan unto God." Every association connected with the peculiar services of this day, consecrated as it is by those who look for the salvation of the world, must produce a happy influence on the heart believing that "the fervent effectual prayer of the righteous man availeth much;" especially on that of the missionary, who, however unknown, however solitary and destitute, still feels that he is included among the scattered bands for whose special blessing the followers of Christ, unitedly, thus "Bend the knee and lift the hand in prayer." We were joined in this worship by all the officers and crew off duty, some of whom, we trust, have found access by the same spirit to our common Father and God. It was with no ordinary feelings of gratitude that we beheld so many of these rough but interesting men uniting with us, not only by an external attendance, but, as we believe, with the warm affections of the heart. Often during the evening I saw tears of joy glistening in the bright eyes of R, and could readily imagine the language of his soul to be, "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning; if I prefer not thee to my chief joy." Friday, April 11. N. lat. 8 deg. 30 min. W. lon. 134 deg. This date has been marked, my dear M, by an incident which will invest it, to those most nearly allied to us, with a deeper interest than any other I have yet recorded the birth of a son to our dear HThe captain determined that the young stranger should be by birth, as fully as possible, an American, and master C- first saw the light under the proud wavings of our national banner. April 15. About the period of the last date we entered the north-east trade winds, and ever since have been rushing onward before their freshness at the rate of more than two hundred miles a day. Should we continue to be thus prospered, we shall in a very short time make the land of our long expectation. Thursday, April 24. It is even so the island of Hawaii is before us. For two or three days past we have had many indications of being in the vicinity of land. Several times, yesterday, we imagined we could trace the outlines of a mountainous coast, but were as often deceived by the heaping of clouds only on the horizon. During most of this morning we were subject to the same illusions. The fixedness, however, of clouds and mist directly before us seemed to indicate the attraction of high land; and, at three o'clock this afternoon, as this thickness began to rise from the face of the ocean, the broad base of Hawaii, shrouded in Egyptian darkness, came peering through the gloom. The reality was too certain to admit of a question, and was accompanied by sensations never known before. In my own heart, with the joy there was a mingling of pain: the signal was given, as it were, for separation from those in whom I had become deeply interested, and many of whom are in a state the issue of which may be deeply connected with destinies of eternity. The first tumult of feeling was quickly succeeded by something that insensibly led to solemnity and silence. Several of the crew were seen to brush an unbidden tear from their eyes; and from one, as he turned away after a first gaze and hastened below, I overheard the exclamation, "Land indeed it is and the last and saddest sight I wish to see!" As the evening approached, the overshadowing mist and vapor slowly rose higher and higher, disclosing first the cultivated lands along the shore, some fifteen or twenty miles distant, and then woodland regions above, with here and there a projecting cascade. As the scene increased in interest and beauty, the language of our hearts was, "Hail and welcome!" And, after tea, becoming grouped along the gunwale of the ship next the land, we almost insensibly joined in singing the appropriate hymn, "O'er the gloomy hills of darkness, Look, my soul, be still, and gaze." We had scarce finished the first line, before we were encircled by officers and crew, with a seriousness that bespoke a participation in the sentiments on which we were dwelling. Some of their bosoms throbbed, I doubt not, with affections known only to the pious mind. The last rays of a glorious sun were gleaming from the west, and a fullorbed moon rising upon us in the east; before which, the haziness on the land suddenly gave way, without leaving a trace of the gloom which an hour before had overshadowed the whole island, except a light drapery of clouds on the highest point of the mountains. The change was too sudden and too remarkable not to be noticed; and we could not but hope and pray, that the greater spiritual gloom which we knew filled the land, might as speedily flee away before the mild light of the Gospel of Salvation. CHAPTER V. ARRIVAL AT HAWAII. Friday, April 25. The appearance of Hawaii, this morning, was exceedingly beautiful. We were within a few miles of the shore; and the whole of the eastern and northern parts of the island were distinctly in view, with an atmosphere perfectly clear, and a sky glowing with the freshness and splendor of sunrise. When I first went on deck, the grey of the morning still lingered on the lowlands, imparting to them a grave and sombre shade, while the region behind, rising into broader light, presented its precipices and forests in all their boldness and verdure. Over the still loftier heights, one broad mantle of purple was thrown; above which, the icy cliffs of MoUNA-KEA, at an elevation of some 16,000 feet, blazed like fire, from the strong reflection of the sun-beams, striking them long before they reached us on the waters below. As the morning advanced, plantations, villages, and scattered huts, were distinctly seen along the shore; and columns of white smoke began to rise here and there from the early fires of the inhabitants. At nine o'clock, the breeze being light, a boat was sent off from the Thames for refreshments. Not long afterwards the deck of our ship echoed with the cry, “A canoe -a canoe!" and one of the rude barks of the natives was seen rapidly approaching us. Every eye was instantly fixed on it with intense observation; and I hastened to assist H- from her state-room to the cabin windows, to view the uncultivated beings with whom we are to spend our lives. A first sight of these degraded creatures was almost overwhelming: their naked figures, wild expression of countenance, their black hair streaming in the wind as they hurried the canoe over the water with all the eager action and muscular power of savages, their rapid and unintelligible exclamations, and whole exhibition of uncivilized nature, gave to them the appearance of being half-man and half-beast, and irresistibly pressed on the thoughts the query "Can they be men- can they be women? -do they not form a link in creation, connecting man with the brute? This indeed seemed to be the general impression; and the officer heading the boat sent to the shore, on his return, exclaimed as he ascended the deck, "Well! if I never before saw brutes in the shape of men, I have seen them this morning!" and addressing himself to some of our company, added, "You can never live among such a people as this, we shall be obliged to take you back with us!” Other canoes soon arrived, and many gathered round us to gratify their curiosity, and dispose of fish, water-melons, bananas, sugar-cane, and sweet potatoes. They remained an hour or two, and notwithstanding our first impressions, greatly commended themselves to us by their artlessness |