Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/341

 LAKEMBA. 311 died suddenly, and, in spite of every effort on the part of the Mission- aries, his principal wife was strangled. This Chief resolutely opposed Christianity to the last. He drank yaqona to such an excess that his body was covered with a white scurf. In the following month, Lajike, the head Tongan Chief, of equal rank with King George, died at La- kemba. He was a professed Christian ; but had led an idle and unprofitable life, and his end, in the midst of his days, was with little hope. It was found impossible to prevent the observance of many heathen abominations at his funeral. The District Meeting in 1845 was found, like those previously, to be a source of much good and encouragement to the Missionaries, who were greatly cheered in thus meeting together, and strengthening one another's hands in the Lord. The following is an extract from one of their journals : " July 6th. — During our District Meeting Mr. Hunt preached by far the best sermon I have heard from any person on entire sanctifica- tion, and decidedly the best sermon I have heard him preach on any sub- ject. ' Best of all is, God is with us.' His saving truths are clearly declared, and pressed upon us, accompanied with the Holy Ghost and with power. This is by far the most spirtually profitable District Meeting that we have had. It is very evident that our brethren at Viwa have been much with Jesus during the year. I hope Mr. Hunt will publish his ' Thoughts on Entire Sanctification.' He has written copiously, and, I am sure, in a way that cannot fail, by God's blessing, to tell effectually on English Methodists. I trust that we all shall be much in earnest for full salvation, and shall be God's living witnesses when sin is all destroyed. What a help in, and blessing to, our work ! May the Lord wholly sanctify, and preserve us in that state of salva- tion, even to the coming of our Lord Jesus ! " About this time a Welshman, who had been under the influence of the Romish Priests, received medicine for his sick child, and teaching for himself, from the Missionaries, whereby his faith in Popery was greatly shaken, so that he afterwards became truly converted to God at Vavau. An American also came to Lakemba, and was led to seek the pardon of his sins through Christ, in whom, before long, he greatly rejoiced, and lived a good and useful life. The work w^as now fairly progressing in the islands, and in some of the towns on Lakemba the Gospel was preached " with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven " in a remarkable degree. Some showed great distress on account of their sins, and wept bitterly, not sleeping because of their sorrow. Many who had hitherto stood aloof were induced to