several articles had been put on board which
might conduce to Mrs Hart's comfort. Among them was a small mattress
and a tarpaulin, which had served to protect their luggage when they
first landed. With this a cabin was fitted in the stern of the boat,
which, though narrow and confined, afforded her the shelter she so much
needed. Within, shaded from the rays of the sun, she could recline
during the heat of the day, while by lifting up the edges, sufficient
air was admitted. Not a murmur escaped her lips, while she warmly
expressed her thanks for the attention bestowed on her.
"We should be very ungrateful, marm, if we did not do our best to make
you comfortable; for if it had not been for you and Mr Hart, I am
pretty sure none of us would have been now alive. If we had landed on
another part of the island, the savages, judging from the way they
behaved last night, would have knocked us all on the head. I am sure,
lads, I say what you all feel."
The men acknowledged that old Tom spoke the truth, and promised to do
their best to take care of the missionary and his wife.
Mr Hart began the day by offering up a prayer for protection, and
thanking their Father in heaven for preserving their lives from the fury
of the savages. Then, opening his Bible, he read several portions
showing how full of loving-kindness and mercy God is; at the same time,
being just, He can by no means overlook iniquity. On this account it
was that He gave us the inestimable gift of His Son, the Lamb without
spot or blemish, to die instead of sinful man. And He requires now that
men should believe that Christ thus died for their sakes, that His blood
atones for all their sins, that God receives them, rebels though they
have hitherto been, as His dear children, and makes them holy by His own
good Spirit, fitted to enter the glorious heaven which He has prepared
for all those who love Him.
Again and again, with earnest prayer that they might receive it, Mr
Hart impressed these truths on his hearers. They had heard them before;
but their minds were so dull, and their hearts so hard even now, that
but slight impression appeared to have been made on them. Young Bass
alone at length murmured, "I do believe, and desire to give my heart to
Jesus; pray for me, Mr Hart, for I am afraid if I were to get back
among careless companions, that I should again become as they are."
"From that God will assuredly guard you, my young friend, if you
ea
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