Page:Williams and Calvert, Fiji and the Fijians, New York, 1860.djvu/526

 490 FIJI AND THE FIJIANS. his Queen were publicly baptized on the 11th of January, 1857. The scene is powerfully described by Mr. Waterhouse. " In the afternoon the King was publicly baptized. In the presence of God, he promised to ' renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh.' He engaged to believe all the articles of Christian faith ; and solemnly vowed, in the name of the Holy Trinity, ' to keep God's holy will and commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of his life.' " In accordance with my request, previously conveyed, the King then addressed thessembly. It must have cost him many a struggle to stand up before his court, his ambassadors, and the flower of his people, to confess his former sins. And, in time past, he had con- sidered himself a god, and had received honours, almost divine, from his people; now he humbles himself, and adores his great Creator and merciful Preserver. " And what a congregation he had ! Husbands, whose wives he had dishonoured ! widows, whose husbands he had slain ! sisters, whose relatives had been strangled by his orders ! relatives, whose friends he had eaten ! and children, the descendants of those he had murdered, and who had vowed to avenge the wrongs inflicted on their fathers ! " A thousand stony hearts heaved with fear and astonishment, as Tliakombau gave utterance to the following sentiments : — ' I have been a bad man. I disturbed the country. The Missionaries came and invited me to embrace Christianity ; but I said to them, " I will continue to fight." God has singularly preserved my life. At one time I thought that I had myself been the instrument of my own preservation ; but now I know that it was the Lord's doing. I desire to acknowledge Him as the only and the true God. I have scourged the world.' He was deeply affected, and spoke with great diffidence. " The King chose the name of Ebenezer, as an expressive acknowl- edgment of the help of God vouchsafed to him, in preserving him from the hands of his enemies, during the troubles of 1854-5. " The Queen was baptized by the name of Lydia, in remembrance of Lydia Vatea. She was neatly attired in the appropriate dress and man- tle furnished by the kindness of some ladies in Adelaide, South Australia. " To God be all glory ! Your unworthy servant greatly feels his increased responsibility. He solicits the prayers of the friends of Missions, that his strength may be proportioned to his day. ' Who is sufficient for these things ? ' "