Letters from Natives of New Zealand.
[Image of page 1]
LETTER I.
A LETTER FROM WAHANGA, A MARRIED NATIVE, LIVING IN MR KEMP'S FAMILY.
SIR. Mr. Yate, Listen to my speech to you. Great is my heart toward God because He has taken care of me all my days, and has shown the greatest extent of love for me. It is good for me to be sanctified by Him, and by being baptized, to be let go into His holy church on earth; in order that when I die, I may be taken into His church above in the heavens.
Who can bear the pain of the fire which burns for ever? I want to make haste to Jesus Christ, that I may be saved from it. As the wind digs up the waves of the sea, so the devil digs up sin in my heart, he is always, always, this day and that day, at work there. If I wake in the middle of the night, he wakes also, to contend with me, and to hold fast my soul, that I may
[Image of page 2]
not fly to the Saviour; or to stop my mouth, that I may not pray to Him.
This is all my letter to you. Mr. Yate, I love you, even I,
WAHANGA.
NOTE.
What great gratitude the writer of this letter expresses towards God! Let us ask ourselves, have we ever felt such an overflowing of love to God as is expressed in these words, "Great is my heart towards God?" It seems to say, my heart is so full of love, it is ready to burst.
We, who were born of Christian parents, were let go into Christ's church by baptism, when we were infants, but we must remember that "except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," (John iii. 5.) Therefore it is not only good, but necessary, that besides being baptized, we be also sanctified, that is, made holy by the Spirit of God, in order that when we die, we may be taken into His church above in the heavens. Reader, do you think that
[Image of page 3]
you are as anxious about this matter, as this poor newly converted heathen was?
It is a very natural and striking question, "Who can bear the pain of the fire which burns for ever?" and we should do well to put it often to ourselves; that we may make the more haste in going to Jesus, that we may be saved from what is so dreadful.
There is no salvation but by faith in Jesus Christ; and when we become so aware of our danger as to feel that the devil is at work day and night, trying to lead us wrong, and to ruin our souls, then we shall be in earnest to seek help from Christ; if we seek Him we shall find Him, and if He be for us, more are they that are with us, than they that are against us.
But alas, few are so watchful over their hearts, as to know that they are sinning always, this day, and that day; therefore they know not their need of a Saviour. Reader, if you have been awakened by the Spirit of God to know your heart, and to see your danger, so that you have fled for
[Image of page 4]
refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before you in the Gospel, then, be of good courage, for in the end you will be made more than conqueror, through Him that loved you.
LETTER II.
FROM PAHUIA, WIFE OF WAHANGA.
Mr. Yate. It is true, it is very true, that it is good to tell to Jehovah, all that is in our heart, whether it is good, or whether it is evil. My desire is that my soul may be saved in the day of judgment.
It will not be long before Jesus Christ appears to judge mankind, and I also shall be judged. It is right that I should be judged, and that I should be condemned, for my heart is very wicked, and will not do one good thing--not one, not one, not one, that Jesus Christ, and God, and the Holy Spirit say is good; if I am angered by them, it will be just. But will not the Son of God save me? You say
[Image of page 5]
He will, and I believe it. You say, that bad as it is, He will wash my soul in His blood, and make it good and clean. That is what I want; I want to be admitted into his church, and to be made His child, and to be taught his lessons, out of His book, and to be taken care of by Him; and to be done what with, done what with, done what with, thou O Lord Jesus say, what.
Mr. Yate, listen; this is all from me, from
PAHUIA.
NOTE.
It is much to be wished, that all who read this might have the same opinion of their hearts, and feel that by nature they go contrary to all which Jesus Christ, and God, and the Holy Spirit, say is good, and that therefore they deserve justly to be punished. But at the same time it is to be wished that they might have the same firm belief, that the Son of God will save them, and wash their souls, and make them good and clean. Reader, do stop and consider, what your opinion of your own heart is;
[Image of page 6]
do you see so much evil within you, that you can say with Pahuia, "it is right that I should be judged, and that I should be condemned?" then, if you have this deep sense of sin upon your heart, how pleasant it will be to think, Ah, "But will not the Son of God save me?" and if you can believe that He will save you, then you will be ready and willing to do, or suffer, whatever He may appoint for you; you will agree with her in saying, "Thou O Lord Jesus, say, what," your only desire will be to please Him, your only wish will be, to be guided by Him, who loved you, and gave Himself for you. It seems rather doubtful whether Pahuia understood clearly, that there is but one God, although there are three Persons in the Holy Trinity; each of whom have mercifully undertaken different offices for us. God the Father created, and protects us; God the Son, gave Himself to die for us; God the Holy Spirit is willing to change our hearts, to make us holy, to instruct, to guide and comfort us, and yet these three
[Image of page 7]
are one God. The easiest way of imagining how this can be, is by remembering that we are each of us only one person, and yet have two parts, a body and spirit. When our bodies are quite still in bed, our minds are very often a hundred miles off; which shows that we have two parts. And when we die, our body lies in the grave, but our spirits go elsewhere; and yet, these two parts make only one person: so likewise, there are not three Gods, but one God.
LETTER III.
FROM UNAHANGA, A YOUNG MAN LIVING WITH MR. YATE.
SIR. Mr. Yate, my heart is desirous of being permitted to enter the church of Jesus Christ. I wish altogether to turn to our Father which is in heaven, and to cast away all the evil speaking of this world,
[Image of page 8]
and the evil acting. I am thinking inside me what can be the reason I have two hearts, which are always struggling one with the other. The one is a very good heart, the other altogether bad. I am wondering which will be thrown down and put under most at last--perhaps the good one, perhaps the bad one; oh, how they fight! will you baptize me, or will you not? as I have two hearts perhaps you will not, and perhaps you will. My writing to you this time is finished.
From me, from your son,
UNAHANGA.
NOTE.
Whenever we really desire to put away all evil speaking, and evil acting, and to turn to God, then we shall find out, as this poor man did, that our natural heart is altogether bad, and we must pray to God, to give us a new heart, and then directly there will be a fight. In the Scriptures we are commanded to put off the old man, and to put on the new, (See Eph. iv. 22, 24,) and this will not be done in a day; the old
[Image of page 9]
man we are told must be crucified, which is a slow and painful death, and shows plainly that we must not expect our evil habits, and sinful tempers to be conquered without many bitter struggles, and long continued watchfulness and prayer; in fact, the battle with sin, ends only with our lives. So it is a good sign when we feel a warfare going on within. Unahanga seemed to doubt whether he were fit to be baptized, because he felt as if he had two hearts; but on the contrary, he would not have been fit unless he had; it was a proof that the work of the Spirit was begun in him, for if he had only been born of the flesh, his fleshly lusts and desires would have had their way, without any opposition; but because he was born of the Spirit also, that is to say, because a new nature was beginning in him, therefore there was a fight between the old man and the new. It is well for us to ask, whether we feel this struggle going on, if not, we have reason to fear, that our sinful natures have all their own way.
[Image of page 10]
LETTER IV.
FROM HONGI, A MARRIED NATIVE RIVING WITH MR. CLARKE; HE HAS BEEN WITH HIM UPWARDS OF SIX YEARS.
SIR. Mr. Yate, Listen to my thoughts; I am seeking a heart for the good things of God. I have heard with my ears His glad words, but I am not able to make myself His child, because I struggle so for sin. We have all heard His good news out of His Book. They are good, and gracious, and loving words; and are signs from the Holy Spirit to guide the spirit of man. When I think upon the writing my heart is glad within me: when they are fixed in my soul, joy wakes me in the very middle of the night, to think about it. How are your thoughts towards us? are they as they were? If they are, we have heard them. You say our souls must feel pain for having, by our sins,
[Image of page 11]
crucified the Lord of life and glory, the Son of God, our Saviour Jesus Christ. I say to you that my heart has been pained long ago, and is pained now, because I have wasted the blood of Him who died for me. And now my thoughts and my heart are very great to be made one of the baptized. I am very proud: I walk in pride; and sometimes say, "Ha! what are all the things of God to me? I am only a New Zealander; they will do very well for white and learned people, but as for us--!" This is the devil hardening and tempting me, that I may fall into his evil and burning residence. You tell us we must pray, so we do, but what have our prayers done? have they Christified our hearts, or made us love and serve God, and do His will.
Mr. Yate, I am one, and here I am sitting, and wishing to be by you baptized. I, your old companion in the boat to Paihia and Rangihoua.
HONGI.
[Image of page 12]
NOTE.
In this happy land all must have heard of the good news which is in God's book, but alas, there are but few who have those good, and gracious, and loving words so fixed in their souls, that joy wakes them in the middle of the night, to think of it. Scarcely any one of us can read this letter and not feel ashamed.
Let us then pray to have a heart move earnest in seeking the good things of God, and that our souls may feel more pain, for having, by our sins, crucified the Lord of life and glory. Reader, if you should ever be tempted to say, "What are the things of God to me, I am only a poor person; they do very well for rich and learned people, but as for me, I have no time, and I have had no schooling." Think of what Hongi says, for he says very true--this is the devil hardening and tempting you, that you may fall into his evil and burning residence; therefore, beware how you listen to him. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James iv. 7)
[Image of page 13]
LETTER V.
FROM KAHEKE, SON OF A CHIEF AT KAIKOHI, A CANDIDATE FOR BAPTISM.
Friend. Mr. Yate. My heart is very dark and sad; and the reason is, because God is not there. God resting in the heart, causes the heart to be glad; because, when He is there, evil is driven away. My will is to have nothing more to do with evil, but to forsake it altogether, and live as God and Jesus Christ say we must. I wish to talk with you, and for you to talk with me. I wish to ask you how I can be brought to stand nearest to the presence of the Saviour. Perhaps by baptism I may be brought near, perhaps by praying for a new heart. Mr. Yate, you say how. Let me take upon me a new name, for though the native Chiefs scoff at me, and say, "Who is Kaheke that he should believe? It is all nonsense."
[Image of page 14]
I am not ashamed of saying to every body that Jesus died for my sins, and is my Saviour and my God.
This is all to you Mr. Yate, from your friend, from
KAHEKE.
NOTE.
It is very true, that God, resting in the heart, causes the heart to be glad, because then evil is driven away: God and sin cannot reign together. Reader, is it your desire to have nothing more to do with evil? Do you want to know how you may be brought to stand nearest to the presence of your Saviour. This is quite the language of every true Christian, and there is no better way to obtain such an object than by praying for a new heart. Whoever is determined to take the Bible for the rule of his life, and to act as a true disciple of Christ, must expect to be scoffed at, even in this Christian land. But whatever we may endure for the sake of religion, we shall not be losers in the end. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Christ; if
[Image of page 15]
we deny Him, He also will deny us," (2 Tim. ii. 12.) As He says in Mark viii. 38, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels."
LETTER VI.
FROM PARU, A YOUNG MAN WHO LIVED WITH MR. YATE FROM THE TIME OF HIS FIRST ARRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND.
Father. From me, from Paru, is this letter. Great is the grace of God within my heart: therefore my heart is large with love, and is pricked on account of sin. The words of Jehovah are good; and they cause a desire in my heart to pray to Him, and to stick close to Him. This is my thought, that I should heap up the words of the Lord within me, and not forget them by day nor by night.
[Image of page 16]
Sir. Mr. Yate, listen. When will a good heart be deep within me, not to go away again? Sometimes I say within myself, my thoughts shall be fixed on God: then I think about sawing, and the payment I am to have for sawing, when I have finished my tree. This is the way I am, this day, and this day, and this day. Mr. Yate, what are your thoughts? perhaps, yes; perhaps, no. From me, from your man, from
PARU, is this letter to Mr. Yate.
NOTE.
We have great need to pray for the grace of God that our hearts may be pricked, on account of sin; and so, shall we the more love God, who is so ready, for Christ's sake, to pardon the sins we deplore.
Paru had discovered, that it was reading the word of God, which caused him to pray, and to desire to live close to God, and he made a resolution, which we cannot do better than follow, that he would heap up the words of the Lord within him.
[Image of page 17]
There is nothing more desirable than the learning of Scripture by heart, so that when sickness, or old age, makes reading difficult, we may have a store in our hearts to think upon.
Most people find that their worldly business, be it sawing, or what not, intrudes, when they are at their devotions. But, reader, is this your great grief? Do you find in yourself as earnest a desire as is expressed by the writer of this letter, to have a good heart, deep within you, which shall never go away.
A longing after holiness, and a desire to have our thoughts fixed on God, is a sign of the true Christian; and we should examine ourselves carefully, whether this be in us the object of our chief concern.
LETTER VII.
FROM ATUA HAERE TO THE REV. W. YATE.
To Mr. Yate the parson at the Waimate. Atua Haere, the chief of the Ngati-
[Image of page 18]
tautahi at Kaikohi, is he, who is writing by his son's hand to you. These are my words, which my son marks with a pen upon a slate to you. Thirty-seven of us in this residence have, many moons, been wishing to be baptized. I am the old man, and the old chief of this tribe; and all my sons say, Atua Haere, write--Atua Haere, speak-- Atua Haere, be urgent before Mr. Yate goes on board ship, for all the--we cannot tell how great--way to England. You know us, and the thoughts of our hearts: you have erected your tent by my house at Kaikohi, and you know all our desires. We think within us, and our mouths say, it is good to believe, it is good to pray, it is good to listen, it is good to work. Our church, our house of prayer, is not finished. We native men are foolish; and took the props from under the roof before it was secured, and it fell in, and we took the sides, and the ends, and all down. And when the house of prayer was down, that I thought in my thoughts, would be ready in two weeks for you and Mr. Davis to
[Image of page 19]
come, and Mr. Clarke and Mr. Hamlin to come and instruct us in, I cried; and my heart and my people's hearts were pained, and became dark; and we said, "it is no use, we cannot build a house large enough and then you sent Kohuka, your son, whom you redeemed from slavery, to come and help us, and show us how: and our hearts became light, and we went to work again, and the roof is now fast. Mr. Yate, you must come to Kaikohi. Mura, and Wahanga, and Kaha, will come and carry your cloth-house, (meaning a tent,) and clothes. Waha is gone into the wood, to shoot some pigeons, and tuis for you. I have a little pig, that I will kill when your horse appears in sight; and Piro's wife will wash your potatoes, because you do not have them cooked with the skin scraped. Come, and point out, and call those who are to go to Waimate, that you say you will baptize. No more writing from Atua Haere to Mr. Yate.
Sit in peace. By Mura is this slate written: the words were spoken by Atua
[Image of page 20]
Haere, sitting by the side of Kekeao, from Pukenui.
NOTE.
The beauty of this letter is, that it shows how grateful and affectionate these poor converted heathens were to the servants of God, who had led them to think that, it is good to believe, good to pray; good to listen, and good to work; especially in such a work as they were employed in, namely, building a house of prayer, or, as we should call it, a church.
LETTER VIII.
Mr. Yate. --If you are willing to permit me to enter the sacred Church of Christ by baptism, my heart is very desirous to be baptized. I altogether believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; and that He died for my sins, and for the sins of the world. Here I am: and have been, of old, a very wicked woman; but now my heart
[Image of page 21]
is sore on account thereof. I have been thinking of Jesus Christ's love for me, though I am such a sinful woman, and that makes me sorrowful. It is my desire, for the future, to act as the Bible says, and to forsake all my sins, and to repent before God, for all I have done wrong; and to love Jesus Christ, because He loved me:-- These are my thoughts to you, Mr. Yate, from me, from Raru, who was so bad a woman, as to be always quarrelling with her husband, Paru, and teasing him; and who twice beat her mother for scolding her child; and who once stole things out of Mrs. Hamlin's place for food. It is not a desire to have a new name, but because I love the Saviour, makes me wish to be baptized. This is all,
RARU.
NOTE.
This letter shows what is the fruit of faith. If any man altogether believes that Jesus died for his sins, he will assuredly love our Saviour, and when he thinks upon his past wickedness, which has been blotted
[Image of page 22]
out at such a price, his heart will be sore thereat. But mark what follows: when we really repent of our evil ways, we turn from them. The first desire of every true believer is, to act as the Bible says, and to forsake all sin.
Let us ask ourselves do we thus repent? Do we thus love our Saviour?
LETTER IX.
SIR. Mr. Davis. --Though I am here, and you are there, very near me, I have not had many thoughts about the conversation I had with you: I have not gone backwards and forwards very often to you, to talk about the things of God, because the heart within me is evil, and I have no thoughts towards Him. I am only evil, I am altogether sin, sin is in my head, and sin is in my heart. The works, the words, the thoughts, the all things in my mind, are sin, and I love lying words more than truth. I cannot help sometimes crying at the sinfulness of my heart against God;
[Image of page 23]
and because my heart is inclined to tease the Saviour every day, and not to do His bidding. Do you remember telling me in the blacksmith's shop, when you and Mr. Clarke were making the plough, and when Pompey was kicking in the yard, that my heart was more stubborn than that horse's. I was angry then, and I thought Mr. Davies tells lies; but no it is true: I am stubborn to my teachers: I am stubborn with God: I am stubborn to do evil: I am deaf to good: how shall I escape the anger of God for the evil of my heart! I am not able to write, for I have no thoughts towards Jesus Christ; my thoughts turn more towards the father of lies. Will you not pray that Jesus would pour out his Holy Spirit upon me, that I may watch, and pray, and believe, altogether believe, and have belief fastened in my heart. I wish to sit in peace with men: I wish to do the bidding of God: I desire to be made a true believer by God's Spirit. Will you say to Mr. Yate, to let me enter the Church and be baptized.
[Image of page 24]
No more writing from Warerau, at Torangatira, to Mr. Davis, and to all the Missionaries at Waimate. By Pirikotaha in this book carried from Torangatira. Sit in peace.
Perhaps Mr. Yate will say, Aye; perhaps, No. Do you say to him to say, Aye.
NOTE.
We have gained much when we begin to see the evil of our hearts. It is no doubt very painful to find out that sin is in our head, and in our heart; that our works, and words, and thoughts, are sin. But we must know that we are sick before we shall be inclined to send for the physician, and so likewise we must painfully feel our sinfulness before we shall go in earnest unto our Saviour. When this poor man was angry, and thought Mr. Davis lied, he was in a very bad condition: but when he wrote this letter, though greatly distressed, he was yet much nearer the Kingdom of Heaven. Repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, are necessary for our salvation.
[Image of page 25]
Reader, has your heart been humbled, and grieved by sin, or is it stubborn still?
This young Christian reproaches himself, because, having had a friend near, willing to teach him, he had not made as much use of him as he might have done; he had not gone backwards and forwards, as often as he might, to talk of the things of God. Reader, have you ever thought over, and lamented the many opportunities you have neglected of learning your duty?
If we continue always to neglect the means of instruction, we shall never become true believers; and unless we repent, and believe, we must perish. Then we shall greatly regret our folly, when it will be too late.
LETTER X.
FROM JOHN TAUA AND MARY TAUA HIS WIFE.
SIR. Mr. Yate. --It is now many moons since I and Mary, were by you, baptized in the chapel at Kerikeri: and since then, I
[Image of page 26]
have been thinking many things, and doing many things. Sometimes I think of the things of this world, and sometimes I think of the things of God: sometimes I do right, and then I do wrong; does anybody who has the love of Jesus Christ in his heart, ever do wrong, and laugh when he sees others do wrong? I do so: here am I, and I do so. It is when we two do not remember the love of the Saviour, that we sin. When I and Mary think of His love, we love Him, and try to do what He says in His Holy Book. If you let me, and my wife Mary, come to the sacred table, perhaps we shall remember more of Jesus' death, and love. Say, yes, Mr. Yate; or perhaps say, no. There are many mistakes in our two's letter: and Mary says, "do not send it: wait, and talk when he comes to the Kerikeri." Here are we writing to you, your friends,
JOHN TAUA, MARY TAUA.
NOTE.
It is a very natural question to ask-- "Does any body, who has the love of
[Image of page 27]
Jesus Christ in his heart, ever do wrong?" We may well be inclined to think that the the love of Christ in the heart ought to put an end to all sin; but we find St. Paul says, in Rom. vii. 21, "When I would do good, evil is present with me, for I delight in the Law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members." From this passage of Scripture, we see that entire victory over sin is not to be expected in this world. But unless we feel in our hearts an entire hatred of sin, and unless we do "delight in the Law of God after the inward man," we must not flatter ourselves that there is in us any true religion.
Every real Christian has a most longing desire to be holy.
Having the hope of being with God when he dies, he strives now, to purify himself even as God is pure, 1 John iii. 3. Sin does not rule in the heart of a Christian, though it continues to trouble him, and to
[Image of page 28]
cause a bitter struggle. In this battle with our evil nature, nothing is more helpful to us than thinking of the love of Christ; and we should do every thing we can to bring His love to our remembrance. John and Mary Taua felt this, and therefore they desired to partake of the Holy Sacrament. It is not possible that a person can long to be holy, and to be thinking of Jesus Christ, and yet neglect the Lord's Supper, of which our Saviour said, "This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."
LETTER XI.
FROM HENRY AND REBECCA WAHANGA.
FATHER. Mr. Yate. --Is the Sacred Supper a remembrance of Jesus the Saviour's dying upon a tree for us--for me, and for my wife Rebecca, and for you? My soul is happy, because it knows something of the love of God: and I wish to know more,
[Image of page 29]
and to remember more of the great and good things which God hath done for me by Jesus Christ; and I want more to fulfil His will, and to do His bidding. My old heart is not carried away yet; it remains inside me: and when I am on my bed at night, my heart says, "Henry, do something that is not good to morrow:" and then my thoughts think about it; and then to-morrow I think about it again: and my native heart says, "Do it:" and I think again, and then I do it: and then my thoughts tell me I was wrong; and my heart tells me I am an unbelieving, bad man; and then Satan comes, and tells me I am none of Jesus Christ's, but of his, and shall go to his place, and do his work for ever, and ever, and ever. Mr. Yate, what do you think? You have brought the Scriptures, printed, from the other side of the water, and I have got a book; and Rebecca says I must read it to her when she is ill, bringing to the birth; and I must look into it every day, every day, and pray more to God when I am reading; and
[Image of page 30]
I shall soon altogether know what I am to do, or to be done with. Your heart, and Mr. Kemp's, and Mr. Davis's, and all of your's, are always thinking good; but, as for our's! --Rebecca says, this is to be her letter and my letter; for they are our two's thoughts, and our hearts are one. This is all from us two, from Henry and Rebecca Wahanga, to our father, Mr. Yate, living at the Waimate.
NOTE.
Reader are you as anxious about your soul as Henry and Rebecca?
Do you mark the evil thoughts which lead on to evil doings? Do you think much of getting rid of your old heart? Are you wishing "to know more, and remember more, of the great and good things which God has done for you by Jesus Christ?"
Such questions may be very useful; we ought to judge ourselves, that we be not judged of the Lord. We may observe, that if we give way to bad thoughts, and then go on to bad doings, our enemy
[Image of page 31]
the devil is sure to be on the watch to take advantage of our fall; and one of his plans is, to try to drive us to despair; he would make us think we are so much under his power, that it is of no use to strive to resist him.
Whenever therefore we are so unhappy as to fall into sin, let us above all things, watch against despair; on the contrary let us most earnestly repent, and seek to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, who died upon the tree for us. Most certainly the Sacred Supper is a remembrance of this His great love for us all.
He died for New Zealanders, as well as for Englishmen; He gave Himself a ransom for all: and what He requires in return is, that we should prize His love, and have a constant remembrance of it in our hearts. And that we also should love Him.
Rebecca gives her husband very good advice when she bids him look into the Bible every day, and to pray more to God when reading. Many people
[Image of page 32]
read the Bible very constantly, but yet never ask God to help them to understand it; they think if they have read so many chapters, they have done their duty, and are very well pleased, although they are not a bit the wiser, or the better for it. This is the way in which many people deceive themselves with outward forms only, forgetting that the object of religion is to change the heart, and to influence the conduct. Reading the Bible is of no use, unless it be done with a desire to learn God's will; and with prayer for His help, that we may be able to know, and to do what He requires of us.
LETTER XII.
FROM JOHN TAUA, TO THE REV. W. YATE.
My Teacher. I have been many moons thinking about the Holy Feast which Jesus Christ gave to his disciples, and told every body to eat in remembrance of Him. It is not a native feast; for in New Zealand,
[Image of page 33]
every body eats as much as he is able, and as fast as he is able; but this is a feast of belief. If my body were hungry, I should not be satisfied with a piece like a crumb, nor with a drop that will go in a cockle shell; but my soul is satisfied, my heart is satisfied, though it be a crumb, and a drop. The thoughts within me yesterday were perhaps right, and perhaps wrong; I said to myself, I am going to eat and to drink, at a table placed before us by the Great Chief of the world. I must be very good and must make myself good within, or, when He sees me, He will show that He is angry. And then I thought, I will not think any thing that is not right, nor do any thing that is not straight to-day; and then God will see that my heart is becoming good. But, Mr. Yate, perhaps you will, and perhaps you will not, believe it; I thought no good thoughts, and I did no good works, all the day: and yet I was still, and not angry with myself, no, not at all. Now, my Teacher, you say what I am to do, before the next day of the Lord's
[Image of page 34]
Supper. I think I must pray to God for a new heart, and for his Holy Spirit.
This is my writing to Mr. Yate, my father, mine.
JOHN TAUA.
NOTE.
John Taua says very truly that the Lord's Supper is a feast of faith.
The good which is to be gained from it is not what we can see; it is not the bit of bread, and drop of wine which will strengthen us. But if we have faith, we shall greatly benefit by it. We must believe, that as surely, as we eat bread, and drink wine, so surely, did Christ die for the sins of the whole world; and we must believe also, that as surely as we eat and drink, so surely, are our sins blotted out, upon these conditions: 1st, that we sincerely repent of them; 2ndly, that we most earnestly desire to be holy; 3rdly, that we really believe, that Jesus is able, and willing to save us, but that nothing else can. Every one who receives the Sacrament with these feelings, receives a token
[Image of page 35]
of the love of Christ, which is most strengthening, and refreshing to his soul; and he goes away better able to resist sin, and to perform his Christian duties, just as meat and drink strengthens a man for his work. John Taua says, "The thoughts within me yesterday were perhaps right, and perhaps wrong." They were certainly right, in as much as he desired to think and do what was good; but they were wrong, in as much as he fancied that he could make himself good. He trusted in his own strength, and therefore we may very easily believe that his good resolutions were all broken. If ever our hearts become holy it must be God that makes them so. He judged wisely when at the end he says, "I must pray to God for a new heart, and for His Holy Spirit."
LETTER XIII.
FROM THE CHIEF HOTAIWA TO THE REV. MR. YATE.
I send one of my slaves with this book, written for me by Thomas Reo, for Mr.
[Image of page 36]
Yate, at the Waimate. 1 Finished is the road through the wood, for your horse and you to come to my residence at Mangakahia. Gome, come, come, we are waiting to hear you say, "It is a good road." Perhaps you will say it is good--perhaps bad. We were thirty-five men, three weeks and four days, and we all say, "No--no payment must we have for this work." It is a road for the Teachers to come to teach us, and tell us about Jesus Christ. This is our payment: this is our satisfaction: you have only been four times to Mangakahia: but now the road is made, you must come every moon, that we may not forget your words, nor your books, nor the catechism which you teach us. Come soon, and hastily, our friend Mr. Yate. I have taken care of your axe and piece of soap.
No more writing from Hotaiwa to the preacher of the Gospel, sometimes at Mangakahia, and sometimes at the Waimate.
[Image of page 37]
To hear of such desire for religious instruction as this letter expresses, is delightful. These people were willing to work for nothing, so that they might but be taught to know more of Jesus Christ. Alas! how this conduct puts to shame, the covetous desire of money, and the indifference to religion which is so common in this country.
LETTER XIV.
FROM TEMORENGA, TO THE REV. MR. YATE.
From Temorenga, is this writing to Mr. Yate. My two friends carry on their back, in two baskets, nine two's of fouls. They are a gift-for-nothing from me to you, for you to eat on board the man-of-war, when on the great sea. Be jealous and careful of the waves on the great sea. Oh, how great they were when I went up to Mr. Marsden's at Port Jackson! Remember, that it was Temorenga, who sat in your verandah, at your house door and told you
[Image of page 38]
all about native men's ways. Do not forget who I am, and what I have said to you. Bring out one, two, three, perhaps more, Missionaries, to go to the Southern Tribes, that there may be no more fighting between us here, and them there. Bring your sister in the ship with you; and do not forget what I, Temorenga, have said, that you shall have a house at the Manawenua, if the other natives should ever be turned against you, and they should not let the Missionaries live in the land. A native man's heart is very deceitful, and very joking. Let my men, who carry the fowls for you to eat on board the man-of-war, carry me back one fig of tobacco, as my pipe is empty. Go in peace, and see your friends in England. Go in peace Mr. Yate; so says Temorenga, at Manawenua, his residence, where he sits.
NOTE.
"The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked," whether he be a native of New Zealand, or of Old England; therefore let us watch and pray
[Image of page 39]
that we enter not into temptation; lest after having made profession of loving Christ, and his religion, we should be led away by the wicked, and fall from our own steadfastness." For if after we have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we are again entangled therein, and overcome, then is our latter end worse than the beginning." 2. Pet. ii. 20.
LETTER XV.
FROM THE SON OF TEMORENGA, TO THE REV. W. YATE.
My Father, --Health to you. Rest in peace here, in this native man's land; and do not go to England. Let your European friends write letters, and send boxes; but as for you, sit at the Waimate, and come here to this place every week to teach us. The time is arrived, when light is coming into our hearts, and light is passing all through New Zealand. Sit here our Teacher, and do not go away. These are our thoughts at
[Image of page 40]
the Manawenua; and all the men say, and every body says, Mr. Yate is going, and he will go; and we shall all be dead, altogether swept away, before he comes back: and when he comes to his residence, the houses will be burnt down, and fern will cover the place, and all here, every where, will be a wilderness. Go to England and bring back with you a great many, let them be many Teachers, that every native residence may have a Missionary to tell them what is right, and to hold them from evil. Perhaps you will come back again-- perhaps not. This is all my book to you-- this is all my writing, mine, the son of Temorenga, sitting in the verandah of his house, at the Manawenua. Perhaps you can read this book--perhaps not. Bad are my fingers for writing, mine.
NOTE.
It is not possible to read these letters without feeling great joy, to think that "they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, on them hath the light shined." And shall we not also desire to spread this
[Image of page 41]
light? Shall we not do our utmost to help in sending them many Teachers? If we know the true value of the Gospel we shall certainly find pleasure in denying ourselves, that we may be able to send to them that sit in darkness the light of truth. Those many shillings which are so sinfully spent by men at the beer-shop, and by women in fine clothes, might, if they were given to the Missionary Society, prove a blessing, both to them that give, and to them that receive. Reader, have you ever thought how you could lessen your own expences, so as to give to others the true riches? Even a cup of cold water, given out of love to Christ, shall in no wise lose its reward.
[Image of page 42]
LETTER XVI.
FROM HENRY GEORGE WATKINS WARU, TO THE REV. MR. YATE.
My altogether friend, Mr. Yate--I do not know whether to say my heart is hot or cold; it is both. I am grieved because it is hot towards the things of this passing world, and cold towards God and the things of that there world, where His residence is. I have more love for earth than for heaven; I think more of my body which must soon die, and melt to nothing, than of my spirit which is to live for ever. We native men all knew, before you came to our land, that the spirit lives after the body is dead, but our thoughts and our words, were not straight about it. I will say what my thoughts now are. If I believe on Jesus Christ, and lean on him, and altogether inside of my heart believe him, and then do his bidding, my spirit will not be driven into darkness at last; but if I believe jokingly, and my belief does not make me do
[Image of page 43]
the bidding of Jesus Christ, then I think I shall not see God: I shall be full of fear to look at him, and no joy will ever come to my heart. This is my thought about the last. Now, my father, who art good to me, and to my two children, Caroline and Cosmo, say you, is this right? I want every day to be taught, and to have my heart more christified, as I shall not live long. My sickness in my throat is killing me; and before you come back from England to this New Zealand land, I shall die. Remember, I have been your boy ever since the day you first came to the Kerikeri; and if I die before you come back, my children are to be yours; and you are to teach them all about God and Jesus Christ; that, if I go to hell, I may not see them there; and if I go to heaven, as I have thoughts in me which say I shall, I may see them, and you in that light, and tearless, and not sickly place; when I shall not say my neck is bad, nor my heart cold towards God. This is my farewell letter to you, before you go to England.--
[Image of page 44]
Tell the English Mr. Watkins, that I think of him, as he is my name; and give him this Rewarewa box for his wife to put her needles and thread in. Tell him a New Zealander has no locks, nor hinges, nor fastenings; and he must put them on for his wife himself. This is all I write to you, my Father and friend, mine.
HENRY GEORGE WATKINS WARU.
To Mr. Yate, sitting at Mr. Clarke's house, till he goes in the Buffalo, 2 at Wangaroa, to England.
NOTE.
This letter shows exactly what Christianity had done for the New Zealanders. The writer says, that they knew before, that their spirits would live for ever, but they knew nothing more. Now, when he saw death approaching, he could look forward to the hope that he was going to a
[Image of page 45]
light and tearless place where "none shall say I am sick." He knew exactly by what means he could reach that blessed place, for he was right when he said, "If I believe on Jesus Christ and lean on Him, and then do his bidding, my spirit will not be driven into darkness." If any one wants to know how he may be saved, the answer is clear, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved. [Acts xvi. 31.] "He that believeth on him shall not be confounded." [1 Pet. ii. 6.] "By grace are ye saved through faith." [Eph. ii. 8.] By grace, that is to say by the favour and goodness of God, eternal life is offered, as a free gift, Jesus Christ having borne the punishment, which was due to our sins, and we accept this offered gift and make it ours by faith; that is to say, by believing this message of love. But the truth of our faith must be proved by our loving this Saviour in return, and by our striving in every way to please Him, who has done such great things for us. Reader, this message of love has often sounded in your
[Image of page 46]
ears, but have you cared to listen to it? Have you rejoiced in it? Do you feel sure that Jesus Christ died for you? Is your heart continually filled with the blessed thought, that now, God is reconciled to you, and counts you, for Christs sake, holy and unblameable, and unreproveable, (see Col. i. 22.)
If this be the case, you have a peace which the world can neither give, nor take away; you must be truly happy, living, or dying; for, being "justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." [Rom. v. i.] So when the sickness comes which you feel to be killing you, you will rejoice, because "to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord, and to depart and be with Christ is far better" than any thing this world can give.
O how truly are they blessed who believe in Jesus!
[Image of page 47]
LETTER XVI.
FROM THOMAS REO, TO THE REV. W. YATE.
Our old teacher and friend--I will be your companion on the way to Wangaroa, to the Buffalo. When will the Buffalo sail? you were the man who said to Mr. Kemp, "send Henry Kemp to England." Do not forget him, and do not let him be angered by you when on the sea. Remember, he was my little playing companion, and when I say farewell to him and you, I shall cry, and we shall all cry; and Henry's mother will always, this day and that day, and every day be saying, "Oh where is Henry,? when shall I hear from him?" Go, Mr. Yate, to England, and see your friends, and hear either of their sickness or their health. Remember native men, and this native land; say to God when you pray to him, to be very merciful to ignorant native men; say to Jesus Christ,
[Image of page 48]
to make Himself native men's Saviour; say to the Holy Spirit, to cause Himself to be native men's teacher, and leader, and to show the way above to heaven. Mr. Yate, this is my last saying to you. Hurry back again, and come and talk to us, and make our hearts light and glad, this is all my book. Here am I, and Titohea my wife, to whom you married me, and my child, whom you baptized last sacred day. Go, Mr. Yate, farewell; go to England, and leave our hearts to be pained while you are away; from me is this writing, from Thomas Reo, sitting at Mr. Kemp's house, and saying; "I will go to Wangaroa with Mr. Yate and Henry Kemp."
NOTE.
It is striking to observe how clearly Thomas Reo understood what the Bible teaches us to look for, from God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Alas, there are many in this country, who are much more ignorant. Many persons when they are asked upon what they build their hopes of going to heaven, will answer,
[Image of page 49]
that they trust in the mercy of God. But if God be so merciful as not to punish sin, why did Jesus Christ die upon the cross? Oh, it is a fearful thing in this manner to overlook the wonderful love which brought the Son of God to earth! He came to suffer in our stead; He bore the punishment which was our due, that He might become our Saviour. And yet men think nothing at all about Him. Jesus, who is the sinner's only hope, is quite forgotten. Those who trust in nothing but the mercy of God, have no idea how horrible a thing sin is. God is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity without abhorrence, and unless we have found a refuge in Jesus, as our Saviour, His wrath will surely overtake us. Neither can we hope to be saved by Christ, unless God the Holy Ghost, will be our teacher and leader. He it is who must teach us that we are sinners, and therefore ready to perish; He it is who must lead us to Christ, to save us from the guilt and power of sin. Englishmen, as well as native Zealanders, have need therefore to pray,
[Image of page 50]
not only that God would be merciful unto them, but also, that Jesus Christ would make Himself their Saviour, and that God, the Holy Spirit, would cause Himself to become their teacher and leader.
LETTER XVII.
FROM PARU TO THE REV. W. YATE.
SIR. Mr. Yate, is it indeed true? Is the Waimate not to see you again for how many moons--perhaps fifty, perhaps one hundred? I said, when you went to Port Jackson, "Oh, he will come back soon. It is only two week's journey there, and his father does not live in that place, nor his sister, and he will not stay." But as to this, Henry says, "We shall not see you any more," and Cosmo says "We shall," and Edward says, "Do not be in a hurry, and the wind will cause the sails of the ship to be filled, which will bring him to Waimate," and George says, "he shall die
[Image of page 51]
before Mr. Yate comes again." But I say, perhaps God will say, Come, and perhaps He will say, Do not. I am very dark, and sorry within me that a ship is going to sail with you in her from this native land. My wife has made some bands for parsons, and a pair of something for the wrists of English women, such as Mrs. Matthews and Mrs. Busby wear. You must give them in England to them that your heart says you love. Go in peace, Mr. Yate; go, and do not be overtaken by storms and hurricanes. Go in peace to England, and leave us all to cry when you are gone. This is all my last slate to you, from me,
From PARU, whom you sometimes call POKE.
LETTER XVIII.
FROM HONGI TO THE REV. W. YATE.
To the man whose name is Yate, and who comes to teach us here.
[Image of page 52]
Here am I, sitting in the verandah of my house at Ohaiawai, thinking within me that I shall not see your face again, nor hear the sound of your horse's feet. The soles of his feet, with you upon his back, will not leave a mark behind them on my ground again, till I am dead. Perhaps I shall die, perhaps not. You say you shall return, but I am thinking, no: you will not leave again your good country, for this bad country, and this very bad and unbelieving people. You will love your own friends more than the New Zealanders, and will not again leave them for this. These are our thoughts; we have love in our hearts for you; we have love in our words; and all our thoughts to you are one at this residence. We are not good to your going; we are not satisfied with the Buffalo for sailing from Wangaroa, when you are within. Go in peace, Mr. Yate, and see your friends in England; and say my How-do-you-do to the whole of them, not passing over one. This is all, from him who was
[Image of page 53]
once your boy, but is now married to a wife at Mangakauakaua, me,
HONGI.
NOTE.
No wonder Hongi was fearful lest Mr. Yate should not be inclined again to leave his country and his friends, to cross the world for their sakes. It would naturally be supposed that his own family would be dearer to him, than the natives of New Zealand. But Mr. Yate had given himself up to the service of his Master in Heaven: and the Christian, though he loves his relations more than other men; loves, above all things, to obey his Lord's commands; and He has said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." [Mark xvi. 15.]
All are not fitted to be missionaries, but unto all, it has been said by our Lord Jesus, "He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me." (Mat. x.. 37.)
Every one has not so great an opportunity, of showing, how truly the Saviour is
[Image of page 54]
dearer to them, than all the world besides; but while we admire the devoted love to God which all missionaries show, let us pray for the same spirit; let us pray that the love of God may indeed rule in our hearts; and that we may be willing to make any sacrifice sooner than lose his favour. Let us also imitate missionaries in making known as far as we can, the Gospel of the grace of God; if we have received the glad tidings with joy, let us spread them. People are ready enough to tell the news of the day; how much better to tell to those who are in ignorance, the news that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, and that a crown of life is waiting their acceptance, if they will but care to have it. Indifference or despair must end in ruin; but we may confidently say to every one, "Believe, on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," (Acts xvi. 31.) And surely it ought to be our greatest pleasure to tell men these things, "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." and if our hearts are
[Image of page 55]
full of the things of God we shall speak of them with our tongues.
LETTER XIX.
FROM HAMO KOHI RAWITI TO THE REV. W. YATE.
Our Father, -Mr. Yate. Be strong in contention with your friends in England, whom you say you are going to ask to build us a house of Prayer, at the Waimate. Why are English people loving in their hearts to us native men, whom they have not seen? Why do they wish us to have a large House of Prayer here? Is it God that makes them love us, and give their money to help us? We will cause the sweat to run down our bodies, when making bricks to build God's House with; and we will work by day and by night to build it, and make it large, if you will say how, and Mr. Clarke will say how. Go in peace, Mr. Yate, go to England, and pray for us, while we pray for ourselves. Perhaps we shall forget to pray for ourselves--perhaps not. This is all from your son,
HAMO KOHI RAWITI.
[Image of page 56]
LETTER XX.
FROM WARAKI TO MR. CLARKE AND THE REV. W. YATE.
Mr. Clarke and Mr. Yate. This is the beginning of my saying any thing to you in a book. How is it that I am so deaf to what you say? If I had listened to your various callings, I should many times have done the things which God bids me do; and should not have obeyed my heart, which is a deaf and a lying heart, and very joking: and my heart sometimes ridicules me for saying, I wish to believe right, and to do right. How is it? how is it? Sometimes I say Aye, and sometimes the thoughts within me cause me to say No, to the things of God: and then, there is a grumbling and a contention within, whether Aye, or No, is to be the greatest, or which is to be overturned. The more I turn my eyes within, and continue looking, I the more wonder, and think perhaps I have never prayed, perhaps I have. I have this day, and
[Image of page 57]
many days, kneeled down and my mouth has whispered and has said loud prayers: but I wish to know and am saying within me, if I have prayed with my heart. Say you, if I have prayed to God with my heart, should I say no, and not do His bidding as the Bible says we must, and tells us how. And should I flutter about here like a bird without wings, or like a beast without legs, or like a fish whose tail and fins a native man has cut off, if I had love in my heart towards God? Oh! I wish that I was not all lip and mouth in my prayers to God. I am thinking that I may be likened to stagnant water that is not good, that nobody drinks, and that does not run down in brooks, upon the banks of which, Kumara, and trees grow. My heart is all rock, all rock, and no trees grow upon it. The lizard and the snail run over the rocks, and all evil runs over my heart. Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Yate, teach me more of the gospel of God, that I may try if I cannot do good, and not do evil. Perhaps God does not listen to native speaking; perhaps He
[Image of page 58]
does not open his ears to the native language; and therefore He does not hear my prayers. Perhaps, if I talked English, He would listen to what I ask: perhaps He would not. I am jealous of my sayings: I am fearful that I say wrong. I know that I do wrong. Tell me how to work right, and to think straight. My book is covered with writing. No more writing from me, from Wariki to Mr. Clarke, at the Waimate; and to Mr. Yate, sitting at Mr. Clarke's house. Let me not be angered by you two for this book, written with my pencil at the Ahuahu. This is all.
NOTE.
There are many true Christians who feel the same distress as poor Wariki, from the contention within, between the old man and the new. Finding that the new and holy life does not grow as they could wish, they begin to doubt whether they have ever really prayed; and again they doubt whether God hears their prayers: perhaps they may say, "If I were more learned and could pray better, then perhaps God would
[Image of page 59]
hear me." But these are all the temptations of Satan. Our great enemy tries many ways to make us leave off praying, because he knows that whoever continues to pray and not to faint, will, in the end, get the victory.
God sometimes makes, as though He heard not, in order to try us, to see whether we will still trust in His written word, where He has said, "Ask and ye shall have," (Matt. vii. 7.) Prayer is the means He has appointed for procuring every good gift; and when we pray for help to resist sin, and for holiness of heart and life, we must not doubt but that He hears us; only it may be His pleasure to delay giving us what we want, that we may show our trust in Him. It is very grievous to a true Christian, to feel sin running over his heart, as lizards and snails run over a rock; but the sin which we abhor, and which we desire above all things to have grace to resist, we shall certainly, by degrees, overcome; and we may be sure that the sin which is our grief now, will not be our
[Image of page 60]
ruin in the end, if we look by faith to the Saviour, who died for sinners.
If we can believe that for Christ's sake God is reconciled unto us, then we must remember that we are His adopted children, and though we may be greatly troubled on account of sin all our lives, yet if we are constantly fighting against it, and mourning over it, we shall not, on that account, lose our heavenly inheritance. An earthly parent does not cast his children out of doors, though they are often very naughty.
The case is quite different with those who commit wilful sin, without repentance; or who let their evil tempers master them, without an effort to resist. Such should remember, that God will not be mocked; He will surely take fearful vengeance on them, whether they have made outward profession of religion, or whether they have not. Let the careless sinner, therefore, tremble, but let the sincere penitent take courage, for though "weeping may endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning." Godliness
[Image of page 61]
has the promise of the life which now is, as well as of that which is to come. A Christian may at times be in heaviness through manifold temptations, but still, he, only, is the truly happy man; though the lusts of the flesh may war against the soul, and trouble him, yet the victory to him is sure; in the strength of the Lord he shall prevail; he knows that he shall be made more than conqueror through Him that strengtheneth him. It is certain whoever takes the Lord for his portion, will, in due time, find rest unto his soul; for "the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." But "the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt;" amidst all the trials and disappointments of life they have no where to look for comfort, and with no power to help themselves, they are restless and unhappy, and will to the end continue beating about like a bird without wings, or a fish without a tail. Whereas, when the love of God is established in the
[Image of page 62]
heart, it produces that peace which passeth all understanding. A Christian in all circumstances is satisfied because he can cast his care upon one who careth for him; he can say, "Lord, I am oppressed, undertake for me;" and he is sure that infinite love and wisdom will provide what is best, and make all things work together for good: he has no wish in any thing to choose for himself, but says, rather, "O Lord, Not my will, but Thine be done." "Happy are the people who are in such a case, yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God."
LETTER XXI.
FROM JAMES AND ROBERT TO THE REV. W. YATE.
To our friend, our teacher, the person who comes on Selim, to talk to us. -There are two things in our hearts at Mawekair-
[Image of page 63]
angi this day. Joy and sorrow, light and darkness. We are glad that you are going to beg for other missionaries to come out from England to teach the New Zealanders down at the southward all the same things of God that you have taught us: Perhaps their hearts will not be so like stones as ours have been; perhaps they will. Perhaps they will listen, perhaps not. We are all dark and sorry within us, that you are going over furlongs of water, more than we native men can count, and will be so many moons from the land of us natives. Hurry, Mr. Yate-- hurry there; be altogether in a hurry to get to England, and be altogether in a hurry to come back again. Pray to your God--now us native men's God--to give you always a straight wind, and no watery mountains. I have dug up a bundle of best fern-root, which all, every body, white people and native men, say is very good, when sick with the ship's rocking. Go, Mr. Yate, go in peace; and take God in your heart; and we native men will ask
[Image of page 64]
our Saviour to send you back again. Go, go in peace.
So write JAMES, and ROBERT, whom, last sacred day, you baptized.
LETTER XXII.
FROM WILLIAM TO MR. CLARKE.
Mr. Clarke. Do you ask Mr. Yate for some medicine for my child, and for Paparangi's shoulder. All a native man's thoughts are about the body, which tomorrow, perhaps, or perhaps next year, will be nothing. How great are our hearts towards the things of this world, and how our desires are tied on to possessions here. Does not the Bible say, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth and behold I have more love for my child than for God; more thoughts about my child than about God. Say you, is this right? Perhaps it is; perhaps it is not. I have very great desires for another book:
[Image of page 65]
my wife always wants to read mine, when I am reading it myself, and she reads it in the morning, in the middle of the day, and all day. I have said to her, I must tie my Bible in my garment, and take it to all places that I go to; and when I am tired, I sit down in the fern and read it. Do you say, if you will let me have another Bible for my wife, and one for Paparangi, who can now read. Paparangi has a large pig for a payment, and I will work for my wife's book.
Ashamed am I of this writing on a slate to you; this is all from,
WILLIAM.
NOTE.
Whoever reads this letter will be ready enough to allows that it is not native men only, who think too much of the body, which, after a few short days, or years, will be turned into dust: it is a very common sin. But, though even Christians are too often guilty of it, yet no one who is awake to understand the true value of his soul, but will lament and grieve over it.
[Image of page 66]
But poor William does not seem quite sure whether to love his child more than God, be sin or not. An answer to this doubt may be found in Matt. x. 37. "He that loveth son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me." And as he expresses such interest in his Bible, and such a desire to read it at all times, we may suppose that he would soon be led to see what God requires of us. It is very certain, that the first place in our hearts, must be given to Him, but this cannot be done without His help; by nature we are all inclined to love the gifts, and to forget the Giver.
For His help, therefore, we must earnestly pray; we must ask the Holy Spirit to change our hearts, and to turn our love into the right course.
Reader, do you value your Bible as much as this New Zealander? is it your constant and best companion?
[Image of page 67]
LETTER XXIII.
A NEW ZEALAND CHIEF TO THE KING OF ENGLAND.
KING WILLIAM. Here am I, the friend of Captain Sadler; the ship is full, and is now about to sail. I have heard that you afore time, were the captain of a ship. Do you therefore examine the spars, whether they are good, or whether they are bad. Should you and the French quarrel, here are some trees for your battle-ships. I am now beginning to think about a ship for myself. A native canoe is my vessel, and I have nothing else. The native canoes upset, when they are filled with potatoes, and other matters for your people, I have put on board the Buffalo, a mere pounamu and two garments; these are all the things which New Zealanders possess. If I
[Image of page 68]
had anything better, I would give it to Captain Sadler for you.
This is all mine to you, --mine TITORE, to WILLIAM, the King of England.
