Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian IslandsYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Religion
Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian Islands
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Missions -- Melanesia; Patteson, John Coleridge, 1827-1871
'This book, "Essays and Reviews," I have, but pray send your copy also;
also any good books that may be produced bearing on that great question
of the Atonement, and on Inspiration, Authority of Scripture, &c. How
sad it is to see that spirit of intellectualism thinking to deal with
religion in forgetfulness of the necessary conditions of humility and
faith! How different from the true gnosis!'
'Kohimarama: April 29, 1861.
'My dearest Father,--As I read your letters of Feb. 21-25, you are, I
trust, reading mine which tell you of what took place on Feb. 24. That
point is settled. I almost fear to write that I am a Bishop in the
Church of Christ. May God strengthen me for the duties of the office to
which I trust He has indeed called me!
'As I read of what you say so wisely and truly, and dear Joan and Fan
and Aunt James and all, of my having expected results too rapidly at
Mota, I had sitting with me that dear boy Tagalana, who for two months
last winter was in the great sacred enclosure, though, dear lad, not by
his own will, yet his faith was weak, and no wonder.
'Now, God's holy name be praised for it, he is, I verily believe, in his
very soul, taught by the Spirit to see and desire to do his duty. I feel
more confidence about him than I have done about anyone who has come
into my hands originally in a state of complete heathenism. It is
not that his knowledge only is accurate and clearly grasped, but the
humility, the loving spirit, the (apparent) personal appropriation of
the blessing of having been brought to know the love of God and the
redemption wrought for him by the death of Christ; this is what, as I
look upon his clear truthful eyes, makes me feel so full of thankfulness
and praise.
'"But Tagalana, if I should die, you used to say that without my help
you should perhaps fall back again: is that true?"
'"No, no; I did not feel it then as I do now in my heart. I can't tell
how it came there, only I know He can never die, and will always be with
me. You know you said you were only like a sign-post, to point out the
way that leads to Him, and I see that we ought to follow you, but to go
altogether to Him."
'I can't tell you, my dearest Father, what makes up the sum of my
reasons for thinking that God is in His mercy bringing this dear boy to
be the first-fruits of Mota unto the Christ, but I think that there is
an inward teaching going on now in his heart, which gives me sure hope,
for I know it is not my doing.
'All you all say about Mota is most true: I never thought otherwise
really, but I wrote down my emotions and impulses rather than my
deliberate thoughts, that my letter written under such strange
circumstances might become as a record of the effect produced day by day
upon us by outward circumstances.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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