Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/97

1832.] Though, in the course of our travels, we were sometimes present when thanksgiving was uttered in a formal way, which left upon the mind, the impression, that God was drawn nigh unto with the lip, while the heart was far from him; yet we were often sensible of a measure of the influence of the Holy Spirit, when thanksgiving was devoutly uttered by those who were in the constant practice of using expression on such occasions. Nevertheless, when we were present, where the attention of the company was individually turned to the Lord, in a short period of silence, in order to feel thankful, and to acknowledge this feeling in the secret of the heart, we were sensible of a greater measure of divine influence, which comforted our minds, under the belief that the Father of mercies condescended more decidedly, to mark this homage with approbation.

One of the pensioners who came to this land by the Science, died in the Hospital about this time. He came under powerful convictions for sin, on the passage hither, and appeared to rind a measure of peace through faith in Christ, and to be seeking help from God, in a humble frame of mind. At that time he abstained from drunkenness, but he could not be persuaded to give up taking his ration of spirits, alleging that the water was bad, and required qualifying. He had formerly been affected with dropsy, and having kept alive an appetite for intoxicating drink, his old shipmates succeeded, after he landed, in prevailing upon him to drink largely. This soon produced a recurrence of the disease, and again brought darkness over his mind, and in his last days, nothing could be learned to afford any ground of hope in his death.

Meeting with a young man who had thoughts of entering the artillery, I endeavoured to dissuade him. Nothing seems to me more clear, than that if we 'do to others as we would that they should do to us,' we cannot fight; and that if we love our neighbour as ourselves, we cannot make war upon him. That if the keeping of the commandments of Jesus be a proof of our love to him, it is impossible to make war, and love him; for this evil is as much opposed to his commandment, 'If thine enemy hunger, feed him, and if he thirst, give him drink,' as darkness is to light. It seems a vain attempt